Twisted Scriptures: A Path to Freedom from Abusive Churches (Paperback)

by Mary Alice Chrnalogar (Author) "Let's start by playing a game..." (more)
Key Phrases: controlling discipleships, abusive groups, shepherding leaders, Holy Spirit, New Testament, Experiencing God (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
Leaders of many religious groups (even including several mainstream churches) are twisting the Scriptures to subtly coerce cooperation from their members. In the process, personalities are changed and lives ruined. Mary Alice Chrnalogar is a deprogrammer with an international reputation. Chrnalogar reveals how classic mind control techniques are used to systematically seduce followers into total obedience. Twisted Scriptures: A Path To Freedom From Abusive Churches shows readers how to tell when churches are suppressing freedom of speech, intimidating followers, and distorting the Bible. Twisted Scriptures is invaluable as a self-help guide and as a tool for families and friends to free loved ones from destructive groups. -- Midwest Book Review

Product Description
Dangerous leaders - some even in mainstream chruches - are twisting the scriptures to coerce their members into subordination. In the process, once-promising lives can become mired in a distorted religious reality that supresses human freedom and destroys lives.

Give this self-help guide to anyone trapped in an abusive, unhealthy group. It can restore critical thinking, and bring loved ones back from what may seem like an impossible situation. Chrnalogar's powerful book has - and will continue to - set lives free.

The author reveals the subtle control techniques that manipulate and intimidate followers. Mary Alice identifies the very persuasive and deceptive practices of pwerful groups, and then arms the reader with the tools to overcome them.

17 comprehensive chapters show the way, along with an epilogue and appendices that include further resources.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 273 pages
• Publisher: Control Technique, Inc.; 2nd edition (January 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0964958805
• ISBN-13: 978-0964958807
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,368,370 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Clearly written, logical, and freeing!, July 29, 2003

By	L. L Teuling "meloroze" (McAllen, TX) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Twisted Scriptures (Paperback)

I wish I could have read this book about 30 years ago.

For my own part, I was raised in a loving Christian home, but I had to put up with a lot of "do's" and "don'ts" in my church, most of which were not anywhere to be found in the Bible (including the statement that a praying knee and a dancing foot never grow on the same leg). My parents, however, were not controlling and we were a fairly happy family. Our comittment to Jesus Christ bound us even closer together.

I went to Bible school and one of the courses I studied was enitled Biblical Interpretation. It was an excellent course and well taught, and we learned the logical, common sense way to interpret the Bible.

However, I still managed to get involved in what I thought was a loving prayer group who later got caught up in the "Discipleship" controversey. I later was given the "left foot of fellowship" from the group when I made a remark that they interpreted as questioning their teachings. (By the way, the "left foot of fellowship" means that I was unceremoniously booted out!)

If I had been able to have this book back then, I would have recovered from that bad experience much more quickly. But I am glad that others are able to read it and recover from their traumatic experiences.

I am still 100% sold on the Christian faith, even though I'm not sold on some of the garbage that goes on in the name of Christianity.

43 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A valuable book, March 17, 2001

By	Eric Weiss - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have read this book, and I would say (not being too familiar with the field of "exit counseling/abusive church counseling" literature, though I read Steve Hassan's book (Jew former-Moonie) - COMBATTING CULT MIND CONTROL - years ago) that it's a pretty good book. If you deal with people who are or were in controlling churches (a lot of the book focuses on the Shepherding/Discipleship movement), or if you yourself were a victim or member of such a group, or even any abusive church, then you should buy this book.

In fact, this book is good to read if you're involved in most conservative Christian denominations/churches/movements, even "good" ones, as it will prompt you to continue to "prove all things [and] hold fast that which is good" as the Scriptures teach us to do, and not just accept leaders' statements or teachings. If you are discipling someone, or if you yourself are being discipled, this book has many good checks and balances and insights that should help you discern between good discipling and abusive or poor discipling. If you are in a small group that is designed to help you and others grow spiritually, this book will also be of value.

We were in a church that had some serious problems, and we finally left it. Skimming through her 6-page checklist at the back of the book of abusive characteristics, I would say that for us at least (I can't speak for the persons in our church who lived together at the "Bible School") we experienced few of these things, at least not in as overt a way as many controlling groups, but I would bet that if I sent Ms. Chrnalogar all my documentation of the things that happened that led to our decision to leave, she would agree that we were in an abusive church situation. She used to be a member of an abusive church or sect or cult (she never names the group) and was rescued by family intervention. She has helped rescue people for 17 years (as of 1997 when the book was written).

She only mentions a few names. She explicitly criticizes several items from the book/workbook EXPERIENCING GOD by Henry Blackaby, a very popular book that my wife and I studied from for a time. She seems to criticize Campus Crusade for Christ, as some of the items she comments on are from their literature (based on the footnotes). One comment, I think, criticizes Navigators literature. She criticizes YWAM at several points. She is apparently now a Catholic, which may explain these criticisms of Evangelical Protestantism. I couldn't tell if she is Charismatic.

The Appendix on the history of the Shepherding/Discipleship Movement is fascinating. A particularly relevant item for us these days, as the "Five-Fold Ministries" and "New Apostolic Reformation" movements are continuing to gain adherents, is this one:

"During this same time [i.e., late 1960's and early 10970's], former leaders of the aberrant 1950s Pentecostal 'Latter Rain Movement' taught that the proper church governmental model was the 'Five-Fold Ministries.' The phrase refers to the presumed hierarchical ordering of the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers found in Ephesians 4:11-13. This group taught that the ultimate purpose of these ministries was to unite all believers, and to acquire a divine nature. The Five-Fold Ministries doctrine also held that there are living apostles who are to rule the church and eventually the world."

Chrnalogar's book is such that you could give it to a person in a controlling group and, if they read it, they would be challenged, but not harshly or forcefully or stridently, to examine what their church does and why, and they would be led, if they allow themselves, to do an objective (if that's possible) evaluation of what their group does and teaches - which could result in loosening the hold their group has on them. This book is said to be the foundation of her exit counseling program.

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Getting Free From Control by Religious Dictators, December 17, 1999

By	Laurie Hobey (New England, USA) - See all my reviews

An informative, highly original book, Twisted Scriptures gives information to help people evaluate what the Bible actually teaches, as opposed to what controlling religious leaders teach. This book exposes shepherding, a practice that has crept into many churches. Ideas which are widely taught and accepted as being from the Bible, but which are not Biblical, are refuted. The author shows that submission is to be made to God alone and to His Word, not to leaders who attempt to control people with guilt and manipulation. The author raises a clarion call for the freedom of the individual and his or her freedom of choice. A groundbreaking book. This book will protect you from religous abuse, and give you firm Biblical ground for your boundaries. If you have been manipulated by controlling religious leaders, this book will set you free.