Manipulation is common but spiritual manipulation is rare. If you want to learn some of the major Signs of Spiritual Manipulation, keep reading.
Spirituality has become a new fashion in today’s modern time due to the need for time. Every here and there you will see people with a bunch of crystals around their bodies, wearing orange clothes, and so on.
No need to say that falling for such a false guru or spiritual teacher is easy these days. It is happening everywhere around the world, and spreading rapidly due to the internet.
After Learning about Signs of Spiritual Manipulation you will be able to recognize fake people easily and protect yourself. Before we jump to the signs, let’s understand what spiritual manipulation is in the first place.
What is Spiritual Manipulation?
Unlike emotional and psychological manipulation, spiritual manipulation is real. Spiritual manipulation happens when someone uses your religion, spiritual tools, your beliefs to gain control over you.
In other words, when someone fakes their spirituality to be in touch with you, spend time with you be a part of your inner circle is spiritual manipulation.
You may fall for it because of your faith and before you understand the true intention a lot of damage is already being done.
Also Read More about How to Turn Back to God after Falling away.
Here are nine common signs that may indicate spiritual manipulation.
9 Crucial Signs of Spiritual Manipulation
1- Use of Fear and Guilt
People who try to influence and manipulate your beliefs use fear and guilt as tools. They might try to convince you that God punishes those who don’t follow this or that.
Or they might keep warning you for action to prove that you are doing wrong by giving certain examples and scaring you. A Godly person easily gets manipulated if someone uses the words God in their conversations.
However, such people are unhealthy and not right for you. Such behavior is one of the signs of spiritual manipulation. Know that God never punishes His children but the bad days are the results of our own past wrongdoing.
2- Questioning is Discouraged
A spiritual journey starts with questions so being curious about the next is good when it’s honest. However, if the person is asking questions to make you feel weak or not right is manipulation.
The spiritual journey is all about seeking guidance by questioning, understanding, and following the path. If someone makes you feel you are wrong path by provoking or making you feel bad, be aware.
Such behaviors are signs of spiritual manipulation which might mislead you. Therefore, recognize such people and politely take a leave from them.
3- Leader is Viewed as Infallible
A group or organization that doesn’t give you the opportunity to explore and develop your own understanding can be harmful to your mental health.
Every genuine person or organization who truly wants you to grow spiritually will give you a chance to question, think, and then grow by understanding.
One of the signs of spiritual manipulation is to claim that I am the chosen one or divinely anointed. God always gives His children to explore, think, and accept by enhancing their wisdom, now to become a blind follower.
Also Read amore about 10 Things God Wants You To Do in Life.
4- Emphasis on Exclusive Truth
Manipulators who try to win others’ faith claim that their organizations or groups are the only genuine ones. Real or genuine organizations respect others’ faith and listen to them respectfully while presenting their own faith.
The claim that we are only truth creates a dependency on the leaders which means losing your own inner power. Such presentation of power is one of the signs of spiritual manipulation, you must be aware of.
Such organizations or people put limitations on your faith and suppress your inner power to some extent. You are a divine being full of unlimited potential so explore but never limit them.
5- Isolation from the Outside World
Spiritual journey is all about being alone but it comes naturally from within. However, if any person or group pushes you to lessen your contact or isolate yourself, it’s one of the signs of spiritual manipulation.
Some groups or organizations believe that certain types of friends, family, or community can be a bad influence. Such recommendations are damaging, especially for those who haven’t walked much on a spiritual path.
For a person who hasn’t experienced the soul’s depth, it’s one of the signs of spiritual manipulation. Spirituality is all about a person’s experiences while walking through the teaching and learning the truth by yourself.
6- Excessive Focus on Financial Contributions
It’s easy to feel like contributing your monthly earnings to the place where that helps you feel better. However, if you are forced or suggested to share a significant amount, it’s one of the signs of spiritual manipulation.
Financial sharing with organizations does bless you or give you more but only when you do the donations willingly and do it without pressure. Manipulative leaders or community might claim that their suggestions may give you more but use your own consciousness.
If your donations don’t make you feel more blessed or satisfied, it may be one of the signs of spiritual manipulation. A red flag simply means to give yourself time and figure it out by yourself.
7- Shame and Public Humiliation
There are organizations that in the name of spirituality, humiliate people by shaming them. Shaming people, and pointing out their mistakes is one of the signs of spiritual manipulation to control gain over the person.
The spiritual journey is all about questions about the things that are visible but if the organizations don’t fulfill your soul’s craving, don’t answer you, you think twice. Pointing out the mistake is a way.
In such an environment people don’t grow but shrink more, fear more, and suppress their emotions instead of releasing them. In other words, instead of growth you might lose your current charm.
Also Read More about 10 Benefits of Having Faith in God.
8-Conditional Acceptance
One of the ways to manipulate followers is to force people to follow their terms and conditions, even if it doesn’t feel right. If you don’t follow the rules they have decided for you, you might encounter rejection and avoidance.
This conditional acceptance can break you inside if you are attached to the organization. Be very sure about which area you want to grow, study deeply, and see if it healing you or hurting you more, and then decide.
Conditional acceptance is one of the signs of spiritual manipulation you may encounter during your spiritual journey. Never lose your value because of others’ rules, give yourself. Time, understand the situation, and if it feels right then go otherwise feed your soul’s purpose.
Also Read More about 7 Ways to Hear God’s Voice .
9- Spiritual Elitism and Favoritism
It’s one of the common things you will encounter in most of the spiritual organizations. From my experience I will suggest, sticking to your goal so that you don’t get distracted by Elitism and Favoritism.
Often when you become regular to any organization, you want to get involved in the inner circle but you might not be welcomed there. Now that every organization has some rules, they trust those who have been there for years and follow everything.
However, if the organization praises only a few people and considers them divine, do not treat everyone equally, you need to be aware. It’s one of the signs of spiritual manipulation that you might entangled with.
1- How to Guard Against Spiritual Manipulation?
All the above signs will help you recognize the intention and be aware of not getting trapped. In order to protect yourself from any of such circumstances, stick to your intentions and follow them strictly.
Follow your intentions, read related books, and stay on track with your values and dignity. Follow healthy spiritual guidance which nourishes your soul not tear it apart.
Be sure to stay grounded, it will help you understand things and situations with more clarity. Stay Connected to God, and your core values and have faith that God will always protect you from such manipulators.
Final Words: Being spiritual is a blessing and everyone must connect to an organization for growth and community service. However, the community requires a lot of strength, patience, and understanding.
Therefore, give yourself time to understand the rules, regulations, and math teachings with your intention. Stay focused so to your growth so that you don’t get trapped wrongly.
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