On Spiritual Abuse: In Conversation w/ Katherine Spearing

Join us at Village Well Books & Coffee for a conversation on spiritual abuse and recovery with author and activist Katherine Spearing.

Spearing's new book, A Thousand Tiny Paper Cuts, explores the insidious underbelly of American evangelicalism, how faith is often used as a weapon, and how victims can thrive in the aftermath of abuse.

About Katherine Spearing:

Katherine Spearing, MA, CTRC, is the founder of Tears of Eden, a nonprofit supporting survivors of spiritual abuse and is a Certified Trauma Recovery Practitioner with a Master of Arts in Religion and Cultures. For five seasons, she hosted the groundbreaking podcast Uncertain, pioneering pivotal conversations around abuse in churches. In addition to working with survivors of trauma and abuse, she is an author, sought-after podcast guest, and advocate for women reclaiming their autonomy after systemic oppression.

About the book:

A Thousand Tiny Paper Cuts is a raw, arresting dive beneath the glossy surface of American evangelicalism, exposing the often-invisible damage of spiritual abuse. Drawing on her upbringing in the Christian Patriarchy Movement, her former role as a ministry leader, and her work founding the nonprofit Tears of Eden, Katherine Spearing offers an unflinching look at the wounds that religious institutions cause, which are impossible to ignore, and helps you name and understand them.

The book’s title evokes the nature of these injuries—small, subtle, and nefarious— cuts that bleed out over a lifetime. With piercing insight and a voice both tender and fierce, Spearing unpacks power imbalances, spiritual gaslighting, and the silent corrosion of autonomy under abusive religious systems.

From the application of shame to the shattering of trust, she exposes what happens when faith is used as a weapon—and what it takes to walk away. With moments of wit, clarity, and deep compassion, this survivor-centered narrative doesn’t just ex- pose abuse—it provides a path toward a thriving life.

A Thousand Tiny Paper Cuts is essential reading for anyone deconstructing harmful faith, supporting survivors, or daring to imagine a life beyond the confines of religious control.

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