Closed Communication

Toxic Characteristic #7 (of 10)

Communication is from the top down or from the inside out. Communication in a toxic-faith system is not a two-way street. Information is considered valid only if it comes from the top of the organization and passes down to the bottom, or issues from within the organization and is shared with the outside. Religious addicts stake out their positions and refuse to honour differences of opinion. Those at the top no longer hear of the perception and needs of the people and the addicts on the inside no longer care about the needs of those on the outside.

Religious addicts develop extremely selective hearing and respond only to those things they perceive as important. Anything that doesn’t fit into what they already believe will probably go unheard. With an attitude of spiritual superiority, religious addicts tell themselves that they are always in greater touch with God’s truth, more sensitive to God’s will, and more worthy of being listened to than anyone else.

In many toxic organizations, someone is “assigned” to close off unwanted communication for the leader. This individual is to placate those who disagree and satisfy those who want a direct voice to the leader. The person running interference knows that his or her job is to never tell the leader anything other than what is desired. The toxic system discounts the importance of the individual.

Open communication values people and allows them to be heard and feel heard. They are treated as equals and the organization or ministry truly listens so it can focus on those needs. In closed communication, the top of the organization loses touch with human needs because those at the top do not care about the people they are supposed to serve. The religious addicts who follow also cease to care for people in need.

(From Toxic Faith, Chapter 6)