Coercive Control in Charismatic Evangelical Churches with the RTC

About this episode

This episode discusses coercive control in charismatic evangelical churches with insights from the Religious Trauma Collective.

When we talk about cults, we tend to picture the ones that make headlines: isolated compounds, charismatic leaders, dramatic exits. But what about the church down the street? The one with the worship band and the small groups and the Instagram presence? In this episode, Sam Sellers and Elise Heerde, co-founders of the Religious Trauma Collective , talk about what happens when coercive control operates inside institutions that look, from the outside, like ordinary community. We also touch on evangelical support for Trump in the USA, and how Australia is not immune from those who would like to see a theocracy here. Links Religious Trauma Collective — official website RTC Annual Online Event — running 19-21 June 2026 Sam Sellers — Anchored Counselling Services Elise Heerde — official website Credits: Produced by Sarah Steel Music by Joe Gould You can support Let's Talk About Sects here . If you have been personally affected by involvement in a cult, or would like to support those who have been, you can find support with or donate to Cult Information and Family Support if you’re in Australia (via www.cifs.org.au ), and you can find resources outside of Australia with the…

People in this episode

Host: Sarah Steel

Guests: Sam Sellers, Elise Heerde

Topics covered

• coercive control
• charismatic evangelical churches
• religious trauma
• community
• theocracy
• evangelical support for Trump

Keywords

• cult
• coercive control
• evangelical churches
• religious trauma
• community
• theocracy
• Trump
• Australia

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Religious Trauma Collective, Anchored Counselling Services, Cult Information and Family Support, International Cultic Studies Association

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