Spiritual Abuse in Cult Recruitment: How Faith Can Be Twisted into Coercion

Faith can uplift. Spirituality can heal. But in the hands of high-control groups, these same forces can become tools of subtle—and sometimes devastating—coercion. In a time when mental health challenges, global uncertainty, and disconnection are on the rise, people are seeking answers, hope, and meaning more than ever. This very hunger makes us vulnerable not just to belief systems, but to those who wield belief as a weapon.

The recent Victorian Inquiry into Cults and Fringe Groups made an important distinction: the state has no interest in policing beliefs. It is behaviours—particularly coercive, deceptive, and controlling behaviours—that are the concern. Still, the grey area where faith transitions into manipulation is where many people get trapped. Understanding how spirituality can be used both to heal and to harm is a critical step forward. This grey area is often where spiritual abuse in cults begins.

Faith as an Effective Entry Point

Spirituality appeals to the deepest parts of our humanity: our longing for connection, for purpose, for transcendence. In times of emotional vulnerability—grief, loneliness, trauma, or transition—we often reach for something bigger than ourselves. That instinct is not the problem. In fact, it is part of what makes us beautifully human.

What becomes problematic is when that instinct is exploited.

Cultic or high-demand groups understand that faith can bypass critical thinking. While most people would question an aggressive sales pitch or reject a stranger asking for money, we don’t question as quickly when someone says, "God led me to you," or "This is a divine appointment."

Common phrases used in recruitment include:

• "We are the remnant/the chosen/the only ones with truth."

• "The world is lost; only we are following the narrow path."

• "To question is to doubt God."

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These statements can draw people in by giving them a sense of special purpose, but they also begin to isolate them from the wider world.

Spiritual Bait, Coercive Hook

The early stages of recruitment often feel benign, even euphoric. Groups provide instant community, a moral compass, and a life mission. But once you're inside, the rules change.

Obedience to group leaders is reframed as obedience to God. Fear-based doctrine emerges. Doubt becomes dangerous. And leaving? Unthinkable.

My own brush with QAnon came at a difficult emotional time. As someone spiritually inclined, I was drawn in by its utopian ideals—a vision of a better world, justice, and awakening. It wasn’t framed as a conspiracy at first. It was spiritual. Redemptive. Hopeful.

But soon, coercion crept in. Pseudoscientific ideas were used to delegitimise my questions. When I challenged what I was being told, I wasn’t met with evidence or respect. I was told I was too "left-brained" to understand. This wasn’t just anti-intellectualism; it was a manipulation of spiritual language to gaslight and silence me.

Belief vs Behaviour: The Victorian Inquiry's Focus

The Victorian Inquiry draws a firm line: belief, no matter how unusual or fringe, is not the issue. But when belief becomes a tool of coercion, when it's used to strip people of autonomy, isolate them, or pressure them into harmful actions, that is abuse.

Too often, spiritual coercion hides in plain sight:

• Framing exit as damnation or spiritual death

• Using illness or misfortune as evidence of weak faith

• Discouraging medical treatment in favour of divine healing

  
  

These are not theological questions; they are public health and human rights concerns.

The Inquiry seeks not to infringe on religious freedom, but to protect people from wolves in sheep's clothing. That metaphor is apt. It is not belief itself that is the threat, but belief used as camouflage for coercion.

A Tale of Two Spiritual Encounters: Contrasting Spiritual Abuse in Cults with Healthy Faith

By contrast, I've had experiences with healthy, life-affirming spirituality. One such experience came through a devout Christian friend. They invited me to church but made it abundantly clear: the Holy Spirit, in their view, is a gift meant to be shared, never imposed. I was encouraged but not pressured. They were open to my questions. My boundaries were respected.

This was faith at its best: expansive, humble, and generous.

It's an important contrast. Because coercion in faith doesn't just harm individuals—it damages the public perception of spirituality as a whole. When people are manipulated or spiritually abused, they often leave not just the group, but faith altogether. And who could blame them?

Understanding this distinction isn't just important for survivors. It is critical for faith communities who want to grow, heal, and remain relevant in an era increasingly wary of religion.

What Healthy Spirituality Looks Like

• Freedom to choose or walk away without fear of social or spiritual punishment

• Room for doubt and questioning

• No secrecy, no hierarchy of "spiritual knowledge"

• Supportive, not controlling leadership

  
  

It is possible to hold firm beliefs and still allow others the space to journey at their own pace. That is not weakness. That is faith without fear.

Conclusion: Belief Isn’t the Enemy, Coercion Is

People deserve the right to believe in something greater than themselves without fear of exploitation. Faith can be a force for good, but when it is used to recruit, control, or abuse, it becomes a cage.

It’s time we got better at telling the difference between a shepherd and a wolf. And that starts with honest conversations about how even our most sacred instincts can be manipulated when we’re not paying attention.

*If you've had a coercive experience with a cult or fringe group connected to Victoria, please consider putting in a submission. Feel free to reach out for support or ask question if your not sure how to go about doing so. 

** If you'd like to explore which groups are more likely to use coercion and those that don't, check out my how to spot a cult rubric.