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Spiritual abuse

Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2025 4:18 pm
by stuck
I was reading info on forms of abuse as I am in the healthcare field. Anyway they referenced the national domestic violence hotline. Here is a link: https://www.thehotline.org/resources/types-of-abuse/ Anyhow, you will see there that there is one in there titled spiritual abuse. Specifically where it says one spouse is raising kids in a religion that the other spouse doesn't agree with. This seems to fit with a lot of mixed faith marriages. Anyway, it is a bit depressing. But, I think most of us understand where our believing spouses are coming from and mine specifically feels the need to raise our kids in the church because she feels that "responsibility" since I no longer believe. I think she gets pressure from family and friends. Anyway, it is kind of a bummer and I think eventually my kids will find out that I don't believe and then that may change things somewhat. We'll see. I want to keep my marriage and family intact if possible but this grates on me at times, so it makes me want to find a solution. Hopefully we can bridge the gap and keep things peaceful and happy.

Thoughts?

Re: Spiritual abuse

Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2025 6:04 pm
by deacon blues
That can be a real challenge. Especially because the LDS can be overbearing about raising children in their version of "the Truth."
My wife (TBM) and I (deist) have some real interesting discussions, but my shelf didn't break until our kids were all raised.
I watch our kids in mixed marriages, and generally the LDS culture, with its comprehensive lifestyle wins out, at least temporarily, but then some of the Grandkids chose to distance themselves from the Church anyway. For example, we still say prayers at family events.
The Amazing thing, to me, is that all 16 kids and and spouses, and all 25 grandkids plus 8 spouses still love being together, and rarely argue openly.
I believe there may are issues that I don't know about, but so far our unabashed love and respect for each other is winning. :D

Love, kindness, empathy, humility, and patience may be the solution.