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Survey: Experiences of Harm in Spiritual and Religious Community

Introduction and Informed Consent

This preliminary survey explores the dynamics of power, accountability, safety, and harm within spiritual and religious communities. Participation is voluntary and anonymous. We are not asking for personal information or assessing demographics at this time. All responses are confidential.

This information provided in this survey will help identify areas where our community can better align with the values of safety, trustworthiness, transparency, respect, fairness, consistency, peer support, collaboration, community, and empowerment.

The data collected in this survey will be used to craft research for a presentation at Harvard University and may be used to develop future studies and research.

We are grateful for any information that you share with us. We recognize that reflecting on these experiences may elicit an emotional response may be a reminder of past, painful harm. Please participate to your comfort level. You have full control over what you choose to share. Please prioritize your well-being. If you feel activated, please pause, ground yourself, and step away. You may skip any question or stop at any time.

This survey will remain open until September 20th.

Instructions

Please use the following scale to reflect on your experiences.

Scale: 1 = Not at all | 2 = Slightly | 3 = Moderately | 4 = Very much | 5 = Extremely

Please note that questions 23-25 are set up in a different format.
1.I sought out spiritual or religious community with the intention of finding authentic connection and shared values.
2.I felt the community culture encouraged critical thinking, autonomy, and the questioning of authority.
3.I felt empowered to express my own spiritual discernment and personal truths.
4.I felt that the community prioritized "right relationship" (integrity, honesty, and mutual care) in its daily operations.
5.I felt pressured to align with beliefs or behaviors that conflicted with my own conscience.
6.I felt that spiritual authority (scripture, teachings, or connection to the divine) was used to influence my choices or isolate me from outside support.
7.I experienced instances where my personal autonomy was disregarded by those in positions of influence.
8.I experienced financial pressure or exploitation (e.g., demands for money or paid access to status).
9.I experienced boundary violations or conduct that felt sexually or physically inappropriate.
10.I felt subjected to public shaming, humiliation, or pressure to disclose private information.
11.I was told my own discernment or memory of events was invalid or untrustworthy.
12.I experienced a cycle of intense approval followed by withdrawal or rejection as a means of influence.
13.I felt safe to share my expeirences and concerns with leadership.
14.I felt that leadership took meaningful action to address harm when it was identified.
15.I felt that those responsible for harm were held accountable in a way that prioritized the safety of the community.
16.I felt that the community offered genuine support to those who were experiencing harm.
17.I felt that my concerns were acknowledged and validated by others in the community.
18.This experience has influenced my personal relationship with my faith or spiritual practice.
19.This experience contributed to a sense of social or emotional isolation.
20.This experience has impacted my ability to trust spiritual or religious organizations.
21.This experience has impacted my ability to trust myself.
22.I felt that raising concerns or setting personal boundaries was met with dismissal, shame, or social retaliation.
23.Please indicate the source of the experience.
24.If you are willing to share, please provide any additional context regarding your experience.
25.Please provide any feedback that you may have that could improve the content of this survey or ideas for future research