The Christian Abuser's Favorite Emotional Abuse Weapon (And How to Neutralize It!) - Emotional Abuse 101 | Part 6 [361]
Flying Free
Natalie Hoffman
5 • 1K Ratings
🗓️ 6 January 2026
⏱️ 24 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
What is the weapon Christian abusers most commonly use?
In this sixth installment of the Emotional Abuse 101 series, Natalie Hoffman talks about a subtle weapon many Christian men wield in emotionally abusive relationships: criticism. But not the obvious, name-calling type. This is the more insidious, underhanded kind that’s drenched in misogyny and spiritual distortion.
If you've ever wondered why your husband criticizes you, even while appearing like a “good Christian man,” this episode will show you the truth behind the curtain. And it will help you take your power back.
🔑 Key Takeaways:
- Criticism is not always loud: Subtle criticism such as eye rolls, dismissive sighs, mansplaining, and “just joking” jabs can be more damaging than overt name-calling.
- This weapon is cultural and spiritual: Christian men are often raised to believe that anything “feminine” is weak, emotional, and inferior. This deep-rooted belief forms the foundation of their contempt.
- The misogyny is systemic: From Sunday school to locker rooms, boys are programmed to equate masculinity with power and femininity with weakness.
- The wife becomes the target: Once married, that learned disdain manifests as chronic correction, condescension, and disregard.
- You are not responsible for fixing him: Understanding the root of his behavior doesn’t mean justifying it. You have a right to healing, boundaries, and truth.
📒 Take a free Emotional Abuse Assessment by going to emotionalabusequiz.com
I will also send you my weekly Freedom Notes Newsletter for Christian women in emotionally and spiritually abusive marriages.
📌 Relevant Links and Resources:
🎙️ Watch the rest of this Emotional Abuse 101 series (as it comes out) HERE.
💡 Join the Flying Free Kaleidoscope community — Get the education and support you need to reclaim your identity and heal.
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | Hi, this is Natalie Hoffman of Flying FreeNow.com, and you're listening to the Flying Free |
| 0:10.0 | Podcast, a support resource for women of faith looking for hope and healing from hidden emotional |
| 0:17.1 | and spiritual abuse. Welcome to episode 361 of the Flying Free Podcast. |
| 0:26.5 | I want to start by thanking everyone who's left a rating and review on your podcast app. |
| 0:32.4 | I'm not sure what app you're using if you're on Apple Podcasts or maybe Spotify. But this, leaving a rating and review is really |
| 0:40.3 | the best way that you can actually share the podcast with others. Because ratings and reviews |
| 0:46.1 | signal to whatever podcast platform you're on that this podcast, flying free is helpful. And then |
| 0:53.3 | they will place it in suggestions for others |
| 0:56.1 | who might be looking for this kind of content that we provide here. So this means we're talking |
| 1:01.2 | about women of faith who are feeling alone and isolated. And maybe they aren't able to access |
| 1:06.8 | help in any other way because of their situation, but they can listen to a podcast like this |
| 1:13.3 | in the privacy of their homes and they can get some validation and support so that they don't |
| 1:17.5 | feel quite so alone. So again, I just want to thank you, those of you who have left ratings |
| 1:22.6 | and reviews. And I think anyone who found the podcast that way, I think they would want to be able to thank you |
| 1:29.8 | too. We're going to talk about something I think that is much more insidious and also pervasive |
| 1:36.2 | and I think more damaging in the long run. Because when a man childishly calls his wife's names, |
| 1:49.6 | as horrible as that is, she can often see it for what it is. |
| 1:53.1 | It's immature, a lack of self-control on his part. |
| 1:55.8 | It's hard for us to respect a man who does that. |
| 2:02.9 | But the more subtle type of criticism, the kind that men who would never call you a name or men who would never swear at you, the kind of criticism that they might use, that is something I think |
| 2:08.9 | that can really change the way a woman views herself and her world. Not that obvious name |
| 2:15.0 | calling can't do that as well, but it's harder for us when we can't |
... |
Transcript will be available on the free plan in 15 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Natalie Hoffman, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of Natalie Hoffman and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.