Breaking Their Will

Shedding Light on Religious Child Maltreatment

Janet Heimlich

• Publisher: Prometheus
• Year: 2011
• eBook ISBN: 9781616144067
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Religion

This revealing, disturbing, and thoroughly researched book exposes a dark side of faith that most Americans do not know exists or have ignored for a long time-religious child maltreatment. After speaking with dozens of victims, perpetrators, and experts, and reviewing a myriad of court cases and studies, the author explains how religious child maltreatment happens. She then takes an in-depth look at the many forms of child maltreatment found in religious contexts, including biblically-prescribed corporal punishment and beliefs about the necessity of "breaking the wills" of children; scaring kids into faith and other types of emotional maltreatment such as spurning, isolating, and withholding love; pedophilic abuse by religious authorities and the failure of religious organizations to support the victims and punish the perpetrators; and religiously-motivated medical neglect in cases of serious health problems. In a concluding chapter, Heimlich raises questions about children's rights and proposes changes in societal attitudes and improved legislation to protect children from harm. While fully acknowledging that religion can be a source of great comfort, strength, and inspiration to many young people, Heimlich makes a compelling case that, regardless of one's religious or secular orientation, maltreatment of children under the cloak of religion can never be justified and should not be tolerated.

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Praise Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• Acknowledgments
• Author's Notes
• Introduction
• Chapter 1: What is Religious Child Maltreatment?
• Chapter 2: A Country in Denial
• Chapter 3: When Religion Becomes Harmful
• Chapter 4: Child Maltreatment and the Bible
• Part 1: The Pain of Chastisement—Religious Child Physical Abuse
• Part 2: Harm without Hitting—Religious Child Emotional Abuse
• Part 3: Violating a Sacred Trust—Religious Child Sexual Abuse
• Part 4: Sin of Denial—Religious Child Medical Neglect
• Chapter 20: Sorting Out the Demons of Child Ritual Abuse
• Chapter 21: Is Male or Female Circumcision Religious Child Maltreatment?
• Chapter 22: Train Up the Church and Everybody Else
• Chapter 23: Acknowledging Children's Rights
• Notes
• Bibliography
• Back Cover