Geoffrey W. Sutton PhD, Psychology and Culture

Posts

Women in Second Place

Before Punishment When I was born, women could vote in some countries but they definitely were in second place when it came to having the same rights as men. After significant progress in many nations, she remains a solid number two when it comes to sacred places. When I was writing Eve, a Serpent, and a Woman's Place , I was struck by the power of men's narratives and interpretations of the Bible to remain in control of women's lives. Following is an excerpt from Chapter 2 of the book illustrating where inequality began for women in nations where Christian denominations and groups had strong influence over laws and customs. ***** Five days have gone by. God has been busy creating the heavens and planet earth then filling the fertile empty spaces with heavenly bodies, plants, and animals. Then, on the sixth day, God speaks to his heavenly council and says (Genesis 1, verse 26): “Let us make man in Our image…” The rest is history—a story pregnant with a plethora of meani...

When Institutions Protect Power, Not People

The Psychological Mechanisms that Lead Institutions to Side with Abusers Organizations often respond to allegations of abuse with surprising defensiveness, offering protection to powerful insiders while showing little compassion for the people who report harm. This pattern appears across sectors—politics, religion, business—and raises a difficult question: why do groups so often rally around the accused rather than support the victim? Consider three familiar scenarios: A political aide reports sexual abuse by a well liked male politician. Party leaders quickly close ranks, defending him publicly while circulating stories that cast doubt on her credibility. A charismatic megachurch pastor engages in a six month sexual relationship with a woman who sought him out for pastoral care. When she later names the experience as abuse, the church board emphasizes his community impact and stands firmly behind him. An employee tells a board member that the CEO misrepresented salary and benefits dur...

The Importance of Religion Plummets in U.S. Culture.

About half find religion to be important Dominated by the Christian faith, religion has been important in the U.S. and most of the world for centuries. However, in recent years the level of importance has declined in the U.S. What’s different now is the size of the drop in the past 10 years. Just under half (49%) of American adults report that religion is important in their daily life. Chart based on Gallup data- See Reference How much did the level of importance drop? 17% What is the time frame? 10 years What are the basic facts? 66% in 2015, 49% in 2025. How common is that size of a drop? Rare. Less than 10% of 160 nations see a drop that large in 10 years. How does the US compare with other nations? On average, religion is highly important at 83% in most countries, but the US at 49% is above the 36% average in countries with advanced economies. What’s the source? Gallup as reported by Vigers and Ray (2025, November 13) Read more at the reference link. Reference Vigers, B. &...

Clergy Sexual Abuse November 2025

Sexual abuse is a deeply troubling event found across human societies. Stories of child abuse are especially impactful because children are inherently vulnerable, and we naturally respond compassionately to those who have suffered. When such incidents occur, as recently reported by NBC regarding allegations against a Pentecostal organization, they unsettle our sense of safety, morality, and security. Our reactions are shaped by cultural values that prioritize caring for and nurturing young people, and by the understanding that the trauma from child sexual abuse often lasts into adulthood, affecting relationships and well-being long-term. In the context of Christian ministry, sexual abuse is one form of spiritual abuse. Although the focus of concern is often on the abuse of children, adults have also been abused in seminaries, churches, and other locations by ordained clergy and church leaders. Clergy-congregant sex cannot be consensual because clergy are in a position of authority. NBC...

SPIRITUAL ABUSE: An Investigation

Investigating Spiritual Harassment and Abuse WP Post Article In an exclusive article, Ian Shapira reported on problems within the US Anglican Church (2025, October 24). Two leaders in the Anglican church are identified early in the WP report. [Ruch, who has been a bishop for 12 years, is one of two top leaders in the continent’s Anglican denomination confronting allegations of wrongdoing. The other is its senior-most official, Archbishop Stephen Wood. A married father of four sons, Wood, 62, has been accused by a former employee of trying to kiss her last year inside his church office in South Carolina, according to a new church presentment, which The Washington Post obtained in advance of its Monday submission. The accusations, which include plagiarizing sermons and demeaning colleagues, could prompt an ecclesiastical trial against Wood and his removal from ministry, according to the denomination’s laws. (Shapira, 2025).] ***** My concern is for people who have exper...

Don’t Just Let It Go—Let It Teach You First

Let it go? AI Image Geoffrey W. Sutton 2025 Don’t Just Let It Go—Let It Teach You First When ‘Let It Go’ Isn’t Enough Several weeks ago, I was in the middle of a heated pickleball match when a grumpy opponent blatantly cheated on a call. I grew up in a black-and-white moral world of “right or wrong,” so my first instinct was to call him out. But my partner just shrugged and said, “Let it go.” I hated that advice. I paused. Reflected. And, reluctantly, “I let it go.” My partner was right. But over the years I’ve noticed that friends and bosses love to tell anyone who’s been hurt or offended to “just let it go.” I agree when it’s minor—why sweat the small stuff?—but when the offense is serious, rushing past it can backfire. Before you hit “play on,” here’s why I recommend pressing pause on the big ones. Lessons Hidden in the Hurt Pain often signals that something needs correcting. If we instantly discard every slight, we risk missing lessons that protect us from repeating bad choices—whe...