The Religious Power & Control Wheel: Threats, Accusations & Intimidation in Religious Systems
Spirituality can be a source of comfort, connection, and purpose. But when fear becomes the primary method of influence, something sacred is turned into something coercive.
Many people navigating religious trauma describe being told that questioning, doubting, or leaving would result in divine punishment, community rejection, or eternal damnation. These threats aren't always loud or obvious. Often, they're subtle—woven into sermons, teachings, or private conversations. But their effects can be profound.
At Embodied Therapy Group, we help clients identify the tactics used in harmful spiritual systems so they can begin to reclaim their voice, trust, and sense of self. One framework we return to often is the Religious Power & Control Wheel.
What Is the Religious Power & Control Wheel?
Adapted from the original Power & Control Wheel developed in the domestic violence field, the Religious Power & Control Wheel outlines specific strategies used to dominate and control individuals within faith communities.
One of these strategies—and one of the most psychologically damaging—is Threats, Accusations & Intimidation.
Understanding Threats and Spiritual Intimidation
What It Can Look Like
This tactic often includes:
Threats of excommunication or being cut off from the religious community
Accusations of being "against God" for asking questions or expressing doubt
Warnings of hell, spiritual attack, or divine punishment for leaving the faith or challenging authority
Fear-based teachings that frame the outside world as dangerous or evil
Using religious roles or spiritual authority to silence disagreement or dissent
Discouraging external support (like therapy or medical care) as unfaithful or unnecessary
These methods aren't always overt. Sometimes they show up as offhand remarks, parables used as warnings, or vague allusions to spiritual danger. Over time, these messages teach individuals to stay small, silent, and compliant.
How It Works
Fear is a powerful motivator. When someone is told that their safety, belonging, or salvation depends on obedience, it becomes extremely difficult to make autonomous decisions.
You may know, logically, that walking away from a harmful system is the right thing. But emotionally and psychologically, the fear of what might happen—to your soul, your relationships, your future—can feel paralyzing.
This is especially true if you grew up in the system or if your entire support network is tied to your faith community. These fears aren’t irrational. They're learned.
The Impact of Spiritual Intimidation
Long-Term Psychological Effects
Living under spiritual threat can result in:
Chronic anxiety and hypervigilance
Deep spiritual confusion and guilt
Shame around questioning or seeking autonomy
Loss of trust in your own intuition or decision-making
Isolation from outside relationships and support systems
Many clients in religious trauma therapy share that even years after leaving, they still feel a lingering fear that something bad will happen if they let go. This is not a personal failure—it’s the result of deeply embedded fear conditioning.
Reclaiming Safety and Self-Trust
Healing from this kind of control involves more than just "changing your beliefs." It requires untangling fear from faith, rebuilding trust in your own body and mind, and giving yourself permission to question, feel, and choose freely.
At Embodied Therapy Group, we support this healing through somatic, trauma-informed approaches that center your safety and autonomy.
1. Name What Happened
Naming spiritual abuse is often the first step toward healing. When clients see the Religious Power & Control Wheel, many express relief: "That’s what I went through—and I never knew how to describe it."
Acknowledgment helps break the shame and isolation.
2. Reconnect with Your Body
Fear-based systems often teach us to disconnect from our emotions, sensations, and inner knowing. Through somatic therapy in Colorado, we help clients re-learn how to feel safe in their bodies again.
This might include noticing how fear shows up physically, practicing grounding exercises, or exploring the difference between anxiety and intuition.
3. Explore Spirituality on Your Terms
Not everyone wants to leave their faith. Others do. Healing isn't about pushing any agenda—it's about helping you feel empowered in your choices.
That might mean redefining spirituality, stepping away from it entirely, or finding new practices that support your well-being.
We also offer relationship counseling in Fort Collins for those navigating family, partner, or community tension around faith and boundaries.
You Deserve Safety in Your Spiritual Life
If your faith was weaponized to control, silence, or isolate you—that wasn’t your fault. You didn’t fail. You were manipulated.
You deserve a spiritual life (or a non-spiritual life) that honors your full humanity. One where questions aren’t punishable. One where fear isn’t the price of belonging.
Begin Your Healing Journey with Embodied Therapy Group
At Embodied Therapy Group, we support individuals across Colorado with trauma-informed, LGBTQ+ affirming therapy grounded in curiosity, compassion, and somatic healing.
If you’re ready to reclaim your voice and step out of spiritual fear, schedule a consultation today. We’re here to walk with you—at your pace, on your terms.
