In this episode of The Flying Free Podcast, we’re talking about a book that forever changed my understanding of evil—M. Scott Peck’s People of the Lie. 

This isn’t about cartoon villains or obvious monsters. I’m talking about the kind of evil that sits in church pews, leads Bible studies, and goes home to emotionally destroy their families while maintaining a pristine public image.

Have you ever felt crazy for questioning someone’s “godly” behavior when it leaves you feeling diminished and confused? You’re not alone, and you’re not imagining things. In this episode, I break down the subtle patterns of evil that hide behind masks of righteousness, especially in Christian contexts.

In this powerful episode, you’ll discover:

• Why the most dangerous form of evil isn’t loud or obvious, but subtle, polite, and often dressed in religious language and “concern” for your spiritual wellbeing
• How to recognize scapegoating—the psychological process where someone transfers their shame onto you, making you carry the emotional burden for the entire relationship
• The chilling reality of how evil people use virtue and spiritual leadership as masks to hide their true nature, and why religious communities often protect the abuser rather than the abused
• Practical ways to trust your own perceptions again after years of having your reality denied and twisted

If you’ve ever been told you’re overreacting, too sensitive, or not spiritual enough when trying to address harmful behavior, this episode will validate your experience and give you the language to understand what you’ve been through.

The journey toward freedom begins with recognizing the lies for what they are. Join me as we unpack this transformative book and discover how naming evil is the first step toward reclaiming your life and your truth.

Related Resources: 

• Grab your copy of M. Scott Peck’s People of the Lie
• Want to check out some other books I recommend? I have a whole laundry list. 

Article: Spiritual Abuse, Scapegoating, and the Mask of Virtue

What if the people who hurt you the most were the ones who seemed the most virtuous? What if evil wasn’t loud, obvious, or aggressive but instead wore a polite smile, carried a Bible, and talked about “doing what’s best”?

In this week’s Flying Free Podcast episode, we’re diving into the groundbreaking work of psychiatrist M. Scott Peck: People of the Lie: The Hope for Healing Human Evil. This book shines a floodlight on the subtle, manipulative, soul-destroying patterns of behavior we often don’t know how to name.

Let’s walk you through the most powerful insights from People of the Lie, how they apply to real-life emotional and spiritual abuse, and why this book might be the clarity bomb you’ve been praying for.

What Is People of the Lie About?

At its core, People of the Lie is about naming and understanding human evil. Not the sensationalized version we see in true crime documentaries, but the quiet, socially accepted, and religiously cloaked kind that many women experience in their families, marriages, and churches.

Dr. Peck describes evil not as people who sin, but as people who refuse to acknowledge their sin and instead project it onto others.

“The central defect of the evil is not the sin but the refusal to acknowledge it.”
— M. Scott Peck, People of the Lie

These people are what Peck calls “people of the lie.” They construct and maintain a false image of perfection, and to keep that mask intact, they sacrifice others. Often, that means scapegoating the most emotionally aware, truth-telling person in the room.

Sound familiar?

The Subtle Characteristics of Evil People

Here are just a few characteristics Peck highlights and how they play out in real life:

1. Scapegoating

“A predominant characteristic of the behavior that I call evil is scapegoating.”
— M. Scott Peck

Evil people cannot tolerate being wrong. Instead, they shift blame onto someone else—often their children, spouse, or the most empathetic person around.

Real-life example: Your partner consistently neglects or criticizes you, but when you bring it up, you’re told you’re “too sensitive” or “never happy.” Over time, you start questioning your own sanity, and that’s exactly the point.

2. A Mask of Virtue

“They are unceasingly engaged in the effort to maintain the appearance of moral purity.”
— M. Scott Peck

Evil people are often obsessed with their public image. They’ll go to church every Sunday, volunteer in the community, and quote scripture, but inside their own homes they belittle, control, and manipulate.

Real-life example: Your abusive ex was a church elder, respected and admired. No one believed you when you finally spoke up because “he was such a godly man.”

3. The Destruction of Truth

“Evil is the force, residing either inside or outside of human beings, that seeks to kill life or liveliness.”
— M. Scott Peck

They don’t just lie. They destroy truth. They manufacture alternate realities where they’re always the victim, and you’re always the villain.

Real-life example: After standing up for yourself, your spouse calls a family meeting to tell everyone how “unstable” you’ve become. Suddenly, you’re the problem in everyone’s eyes.

Why You Need to Read This Book

This book gives you something abuse survivors deeply need: language. Language for the confusion. For the pain. For the way your world turned upside down while everyone else acted like it was right-side up.

It validates your experience by explaining exactly how evil hides in plain sight and why it targets people like you: truth-tellers, feelers, empaths.

“Evil people would be defined not so much by the magnitude of their sins, but by the way they cover them up.”
— M. Scott Peck

How to Know You’re Dealing with a “Person of the Lie”

Here are just a few patterns to look for:

• They never take responsibility, even when confronted with facts.
• They blame others (especially you) for their failures or misdeeds.
• They twist your words and call your honesty “anger” or “bitterness.”
• They use religion or morality as weapons of control.
• They lie with such skill and conviction that even you begin to believe them.

Discernment Is Not Judgment. It’s Survival

“We must make judgments if we are to survive and live well.”
— M. Scott Peck

If you’ve ever been told not to “judge” someone while you were silently suffering in an abusive marriage or church system, Peck’s writing will liberate you. Calling evil what it is doesn’t make you unloving. It makes you wise.

Want to Go Deeper? Listen or Watch the Full Podcast Episode Above

In this episode, I walk through the major themes of People of the Lie, share how they relate to spiritual abuse and emotional trauma, and explain how this book has helped hundreds of women find freedom.