Gaslighted by God

Gaslighted by God
Author: Tiffany Yecke Brooks
Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing
Total Pages: 242
Release: 2022-05-03
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 146746497X

“We have a right to encounter God where we are. We have a sacred responsibility to experience God authentically." What happens when the God we’ve been taught to believe in seems powerless to help us in the struggles of life? What do we do when the God we personally encounter no longer resembles the God we’ve been shown in narrow interpretations of the Bible? Many of those raised in the world of fundamentalist Christianity have been manipulated into accepting a false reality that runs counter to lived experience. The result is confusion, isolation, fear, shame, and trauma, often carried throughout one’s entire life. This book is for the victims of this spiritual abuse—anyone looking to reclaim their faith from legalism, nationalism, sexism, anxiety, intolerance, and other mechanisms of control utilized by God’s self-appointed gatekeepers. It’s for anyone who has learned that the real God is infinitely complex, that authentic faith is perfectly compatible with doubt, and that our suffering is not something we’ve earned. Gaslighted by God is not a book of easy answers—it’s a companion for those mourning the loss of a belief system who need their pain recognized and legitimized. Tiffany Yecke Brooks shows—through stories from her own life, conversations with Christians from a variety of backgrounds, historical anecdotes, and messy episodes from Scripture—that there can be faith after disillusionment. But it will be a different faith—bruised, battered, nuanced, and real, rather than one wrapped in tissue-thin platitudes and three-point sermons. It will be a faith empowered to see beyond who God “should” be to who God is.

Gaslighted

Gaslighted
Author: David L Brown
Publisher:
Total Pages: 32
Release: 2020-09-11
Genre:
ISBN: 9781735672311

"Gaslighting" is used to describe abusive behavior, specifically when an abuser manipulates information in such a way as to make a victim question his or her sanity. Gaslighting intentionally makes someone doubt their memories or perception of reality. The term Gaslighting originates in the systematic psychological manipulation of a victim by her husband in Patrick Hamilton's 1938 stage play Gaslight, and the film adaptations released in 1940 and 1944. In the story, the husband attempts to convince his wife and others that she is insane by manipulating small elements of their environment and insisting that she is mistaken, remembering things incorrectly, or delusional when she points out these changes. The play's title alludes to how the abusive husband slowly dims the gas lights in their home, while pretending nothing has changed, in an effort to make his wife doubt her own perceptions. The wife repeatedly asks her husband to confirm her perceptions about the dimming lights, but in defiance of reality, he keeps insisting that the lights are the same and instead it is she who is going insane.

The Deconstruction of Christianity

The Deconstruction of Christianity
Author: Alisa Childers
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Total Pages: 223
Release: 2024-01-30
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1496474996

A groundbreaking book on the true nature of faith deconstruction Alisa and Tim help the reader to deconstruct the deconstructionists and thus to respond to them, both with arguments and with love and sensitivity. This is a timely book! -- Carl Trueman, author of The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self A movement called ‘deconstruction’ is sweeping through our churches and it is affecting our loved ones. It has disrupted, dismantled, and destroyed the faith of so many, and this book can help you not only understand what’s happening but also stand your ground and respond with clarity and confidence. Maybe you have a loved one who is deconstructing their faith, and you are struggling to know how to respond; Maybe you are trying to understand the radical spiritual makeover your friend or family member is going through; Maybe your relationship with a loved one has been strained or even cut off because of your “toxic” Christian beliefs and you don’t know what to do; Maybe you’re experiencing doubt yourself and facing hard questions about truth, God, the Bible, theology and the gospel. Some who leave the faith feel wounded by the church. Others feel repressed by some of the moral imperatives found in Scripture. For some, it leads to a custom-made spirituality. For others, deconstructing their faith leads them away from the truth into agnosticism, atheism, the occult, or humanism. In this seminal book, Alisa Childers, author of Another Gospel?, and Tim Barnett, creator of Red Pen Logic, will help you understand what deconstruction is, where it comes from, why it is compelling to some, and how it disorients the lives of so many. You will be able to think through the main issues around faith deconstruction and explore wise and loving ways to respond from a biblical worldview.

The Upper Room Disciplines 2024

The Upper Room Disciplines 2024
Author:
Publisher: Upper Room Books
Total Pages: 701
Release: 2023-09-01
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0835820149

"I pray you find the same poetic beauty, awe-inspiring wisdom, and challenge to deeper discipleship that I have discovered in the lectionary and the pages of Disciplines." —Kara Lassen Oliver Challenge yourself to a deeper relationship with Christ each day with The Upper Room Disciplines. Readings in this year-long devotional will awaken and strengthen your awareness of God’s presence in your daily life. Each week a different Christian thought leader offers daily meditations and prayers that will help you engage in God's Word. Based on the Revised Common Lectionary, a three-year cycle of scripture readings, Disciplines features: A focal scripture passage for each day of the year Brief, insightful meditations from 53 thought leaders from diverse Christian traditions A prayer or reflection to carry with you each day Weekly scripture overviews An index of scripture readings A guide to daily prayer Among the writers for the 2024 edition of Disciplines are Gabby Cudjoe-Wilkes, Johnathan Wilson-Hartgrove, Will Willimon, Tracy Malone, David Dark, Whitney Simpson, and Ray Buckley.

The Gaslight Effect

The Gaslight Effect
Author: Dr. Robin Stern
Publisher: Harmony
Total Pages: 306
Release: 2018-01-09
Genre: Psychology
ISBN: 0767924460

In this groundbreaking guide, the prominent therapist Dr. Robin Stern shows how the Gaslight Effect works, how you can decide which relationships can be saved and which you have to walk away from—and how to gasproof your life so you'll avoid gaslighting relationship. Your husband crosses the line in his flirtations with another woman at a dinner party. When you confront him, he asks you to stop being insecure and controlling. After a long argument, you apologize for giving him a hard time. Your mother belittles your clothes, your job, and your boyfriend. But instead of fighting back, you wonder if your mother is right and figure that a mature person should be able to take a little criticism. If you think things like this can’t happen to you, think again. Gaslighting is an insidious form of emotional abuse and manipulation that is difficult to recognize and even harder to break free from. Are you being gaslighted? Check for these telltale signs: 1) Does your opinion of yourself change according to approval or disapproval from your spouse? 2) When your boss praises you, do you feel as if you could conquer the world? 3) Do you dread having small things go wrong at home—buying the wrong brand of toothpaste, not having dinner ready on time, a mistaken appointment written on the calendar? 4) Do you have trouble making simple decisions and constantly second guess yourself? 5) Do you frequently make excuses for your partner's behavior to your family and friends? 6) Do you feel hopeless and joyless?

Holy Ghosted

Holy Ghosted
Author: Tiffany Yecke Brooks
Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing
Total Pages: 291
Release: 2024-04-16
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1467465968

How to recognize the tactics of spiritual abuse—and save your faith Are you questioning the church of your upbringing but want to maintain your faith? Do you want to cut ties with your denomination, but fear abandonment by God? Are you struggling with spiritual anxiety—fear of hell, obsessive religious ritual, or feelings of never measuring up? Tiffany Yecke Brooks first explored reconstructing faith in Gaslighted by God. In this much needed follow-up, she equips readers to understand and name tactics of spiritual abuse and manipulation. Each chapter covers a different method of control found in toxic religious communities—including legalism, indoctrination, praise, and fear—and how to identify and respond to it in a healthy way. Brooks also reframes scriptural passages commonly weaponized by those in power. Weaving together interviews with diverse Christians and her own experience, Brooks offers a voice to those feeling isolated by spiritual anxiety. Empowered by this guide, readers will learn to trust their intuition, seek truth fearlessly, and love God and neighbor without restraint or fear.

Recovering from Purity Culture

Recovering from Purity Culture
Author: Dr. Camden Morgante
Publisher: Baker Books
Total Pages: 189
Release: 2024-10-15
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 149344705X

We know what is wrong with purity culture--now we need to know how to heal. Drawing on historical and psychological research, her own personal experience, and therapy case studies, Dr. Camden Morgante tackles what comes next in reclaiming our sexuality from the harmful teachings so many evangelical Christians grew up believing. With great compassion and insight, Dr. Camden · exposes five myths of purity culture and their effects on individuals and relationships · offers proven therapy techniques to replace harmful lies with healing truth · provides strategies to overcome shame in the mind and body · explores the connection between purity culture, trauma, and faith deconstruction · helps the hurting reconstruct their faith with peace and acceptance A healthy sexuality is not out of reach for those who have been harmed by purity culture. You can find freedom from shame, restrictive gender roles, and stunted relationships. Dr. Camden shows you the way forward.

Godbreathed

Godbreathed
Author: Zack Hunt
Publisher: MennoMedia, Inc.
Total Pages: 171
Release: 2023-05-09
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1513811851

Could there be good news in biblical imperfections? What if the imperfections and contradictions in Scripture aren’t an accident? What if they were allowed to be there by the Holy Spirit in order to draw us beyond the literal words on the page and deeper into the spiritual truth God is trying to teach us? As provocative or unorthodox as that might sound, it is in fact a very ancient way of understanding what it means for the Bible to be divinely inspired. In this thorough and disarming book, author Zack Hunt explains how we got here and offers a practical and easily accessible approach for reading and understanding the Bible that doesn’t require a PhD in biblical languages. ​ As the disillusioned leave the Church in droves and the deconstructing search for better answers to eternal questions, this book repositions Scripture in the life of the Church to allow it to be what it was meant to be all along: a source of life, hope, and freedom for all. Godbreathed will reclaim the idea of biblical truth and reveal it to be not a list of beliefs to affirm or laws to be followed, but an invitation into a new way of living and loving on earth as it is in heaven.

A Desperate God

A Desperate God
Author: Clay Mize
Publisher: Thorn Hill Books
Total Pages: 258
Release: 2018-07-30
Genre:
ISBN: 9780692148501

An American boy is introduced to God by his mother through prayer. He grows up and takes a look back on his prayers through time. He assesses how answered and unanswered prayers shaped his relationship with God. While writing the book the man perceives he has missed something about God. This realization changes everything for him. What he perceived was that God's action were different from what some clergy led him to believe about God. They portrayed to him an in-control, passionless genius playing a great game in which we are all pawns. Instead, he discovered something else in the Bible...a desperate God. First the flood and then the crucifixion of his only begotten son. He realized these are not the acts of someone with a pedestrian interest in the outcome of events on earth. These are desperate actions of one who is playing for keeps and playing to win. In the book he lays out his conclusions and the reasons why and an incredible list of answered prayer that goes far beyond coincidence.

Resisting the Devil with a Steadfast Faith

Resisting the Devil with a Steadfast Faith
Author: George Gifford
Publisher: Puritan Publications
Total Pages: 96
Release: 2020-10-05
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1626633762

When anyone acts in accordance with the devil, they become of a “devilish quality,” (John 6:70). When Christians are enticed by the devil, they are pulled away from God by honors, profits, pleasures, or whatever other things the devil uses to hinder their profiting by the Word, (Luke 8:12). These wicked spirits have such a heinous effect on the world, that the same condemnation that will befall them, will befall those who follow them. The proud fall into the condemnation of the devil, that is, by means of pride and high mindedness they too will be cast into hell fire, in the same manner as the devil will be. In consideration of such vile and wicked practices following the devil and his practices, Gifford directs the reader to resist such assaults and submit before God with the weapon of steadfast faith. His text is a famous one, “Be sober and watch: for your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist steadfast in the faith,” (1 Peter 5:8-9). Gifford expounds on how the Apostle Peter, 1) begins with an admonition or exhortation by which he stirs up all the faithful to sobriety and watchfulness with these words, “Be sober and watch,” 2) why it is important to move all men into this position of sobriety and watchfulness, seeing they have such a terrible and cruel adversary who continually seeks their eternal misery and destruction, “For your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” And, 3) teaching how Christians shall withstand him, overcome him, and put him to flight, that so they may escape from his cruel tyranny, “Whom resist steadfast in the faith.” This is an exceedingly helpful work, that will arm the Christian in due manner to fight steadfastly in the power of Jesus Christ through his Spirit against the works and wiles of the devil. And Gifford will not only show how to do this, but how to do it effectively, with victory, through true Christian faith empowered by God’s Christ.