When Religion Teaches You Not to Recognise Abuse

About this episode

Sam examines the overlap between domestic violence and high-control religious environments, highlighting how these systems can prevent women from recognizing abuse.

In this solo episode, Sam examines the deeply uncomfortable overlap between domestic violence and high-control religious environments. Specifically, how the same systems that teach women what love looks like also teach them not to recognise abuse when it's happening to them. From submission doctrine to male headship theology, Sam unpacks how religious frameworks don't just fail to protect women from coercive control, they actively provide the language that legitimises it. It's a sharp, necessary episode that pushes back on the tendency to treat domestic violence and religious trauma as separate issues, and reinforces why survivors navigating both deserve support that understands the full picture of what they've been through. Resources Australia: 1800RESPECT - National domestic, family and sexual violence counselling, information and support. 24/7. Call 1800 737 732 or visit 1800respect.org.au 13YARN - Confidential crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. A safe place to yarn, no shame, no judgement. 24/7. Call 13 92 76 Rainbow Sexual, Domestic and Family Violence Helpline - National telephone support for LGBTQ+ people who have experienced sexual, domestic…

People in this episode

Host: Samantha Sellers

Topics covered

• domestic violence
• religious trauma
• coercive control
• women's rights
• high-control environments
• support for survivors

Keywords

• domestic violence
• religion
• abuse recognition
• coercive control
• women's support
• high-control groups
• religious frameworks

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: 1800RESPECT, 13YARN, Rainbow Sexual, Domestic and Family Violence Helpline, New Zealand Shine, Are You OK, Shakti

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