Unfortunately, when disagreeing with most religious types, you can often see a glaze come over their eyes when you are attempting to present a logical argument.  They usually don't even hear the question.

That theory actually sounds very accurate.

In criminal law, psychological or emotional abuse refers to a long-term situation in which one person uses his or her power or influence to adversely affect the mental well-being of another. Emotional abuse can appear in a variety of forms, including rejection, degradation, isolation, corruption, exploitation, and invoking terror. (from wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emotional_abuse)

Life experience, as well as much research, has shown me, without a doubt, that the religious institutions clearly and openly use their various descriptions of hell to invoke terror in people. Also, rejection is used quite frequently by the religious orginizations in instances where a potential follower isn't buying into their scheme. To me, it's very clear that psychological abuse of children and adults is, indeed, taking place.

I've always found it fascinating how the ten commandments and the buddhist tenets, along with the "basic rules of thumb" from other religions is in all actuality what should be considered plain old common sense. Of course, they usually throw in their self-protective elements...the "no other god" rules and such. I've taught my daughter from the day she could understand me, all of those basic things. Don't kill people, say please and thank you, don't lie, etc. We don't need some guy or a book to tell us that. If every single parent did that, every child would come out of the process knowing right from wrong. It is as sinple and straightforward as that. The book and the god could safely be taken out of the equasion with absolutely no ill effects.

I, too, am very interested on the results of this work.  May I suggest a regular posting as a forum topic to keep all interested parties abreast of your progress.  

As for the topic at hand, I know of nothing that actually makes them stop running at the mouth (mis)quoting scripture.  You need to shut up to listen, or in other cases they just refuse to listen and shut you out.  So frustrating!!!  These are the reasons I usually refrain from even bringing up the subject, or avoid it all together if possible.  As well, I was chastised by many a peer growing up about my non-religious viewpoints, so I gave up rationalizing with the closed minded a long time ago.  I think those with a strong enough mind will do some research and come to their own conclusions, or at least I hope, but my "faith" in humanity also ran out long ago.

It would seem to me that the two likeliest places to find a group and or person to undergo such a study would be either a school or a think tank.

I know a psychologist who dares, but I'm currently not very sure of her integrity or motives. She calls us ACoF (adult children of fundamentalists). As an adult child of fundamentalists, my "truster" is broken.

She recently did and said a rash of things that made me back off. The final straw was a somewhat snippy e-mail message that literally told me to "suck it up." Because my "truster" is broken, I took the e-mail she wrote me to three uninvolved people to ask their opinion. I wanted to make sure I wasn't overreacting. The first, a psychologist, said that what she said was "unfortunate." The second, a friend of mine who is also a psychologist, said he would only interact with her on an intellectual level and not share deep feelings. The third friend was not a psychologist and said, "She's a self-righteous, arrogant phony."

Great.

I'd thought I'd finally found someone who understands all the ins and outs of having been mind-raped by fundies and she doesn't "get" strong emotions. Sigh.

There was a psychologist interviewed on Dawkins' second installment of The Root of All Evil? who deals with ex-fundies. When I told the other psychologist that the woman still has some residual pain from being indoctrinated to believe in hell, the psychologist I know said, "She shouldn't be counseling other people." Oh really? I guess not everyone can be perfect. *shrug*

At this point, I'd get the name of the British psychologist who appeared with Dawkins. She seems more human and caring than the lady I know. For a long time the local lady's book was my bible of recovery. Now I'm confused as...well, as hell. Apparently, Christians don't have a monopoly on self-righteousness.

Of course, I could be wrong. Because my truster is broken, I could have partially or entirely misread the situation. I think I'm too gunshy to look into it further. I'm tired of being gutshot.

I just got a note from this lady that she wants to "use" some of my writings and drawings.  She's updating her book and is a film maker.  Right now, I think she just wants to use me and it pisses me off.  Of course, "pissed off" is my current modus operandi.