A TEENAGE girl has been ordered by the Family Court to live with her father in a religious community, despite her mother's claims it was a ''destructive cult'' that exposed the girl to harm.

The 14-year-old was born into the community her parents joined 30 years ago. The father insisted it was a nurturing environment teaching Christian ideals; the mother claimed it was controlled by a "self-proclaimed prophet'' and rife with psychological and emotional abuse.

After the mother left and moved in with a new partner, the father warned she would ''burn in hell''. For legal reasons, the family cannot be named.

Each parent sought sole responsibility for the girl, who divided her time between them.

A judge in Sydney has made orders for her protection but ruled it was not necessary to put the girl into her mother's care.