Dr. Grisel Lopez-Escobar, PhD (in Counseling),
Licensed Mental Health Counselor Providing Virtual Therapy to Adult Clients
in the States of AK, AZ, CA, CO, DE, FL, ID, IN, LA, MA, ME, NV, OR, SC, TX, UT, VT, WI & WY, USA
Specializing in Supporting Clients who are Newly Secular or Deconstructing from High Control Religions, Groups or Cults: Religious Trauma / Faith Crisis, Religious Deconstruction / Purity Culture / Religious Residue / Mixed-Faith Relationships / Secular Therapy
Backslider
A derogatory term for someone who is seen as regressing spiritually or failing to maintain religious standards
You stop attending church and are warned that you are “falling away.”
You resume previous lifestyle choices (e.g., dating outside the faith) and are judged harshly.
You are told that your suffering is due to your disobedience.
Potential clinical implications (especially in high control settings)
Persistent guilt cycles may arise, as attempts to "redeem" oneself through good behavior can reinforce feelings of spiritual failure.
Religious OCD tendencies can develop, where intrusive thoughts lead to compulsive spiritual practices to regain favor.
Emotional numbness or despair could result from repeated messaging that one's value is conditional on adherence.