Thanks everyone for the responses to this question. It is child abuse. No question about it in my mind. I would label it as cruel.

Scare them into their love of God. Lol

I suspect it is not only telling your children that if they do this/don't do that they'll burn in hell that causes the extreme life long trauma everyone here is referring to. I have Christian friends who are raising their children with the concept of hell and heaven and all the shit that goes with it and while I may find it ridiculous, I would not ever suggest these people are bad parents. They are wonderful and loving parents. Just kinda dumb.
The kids that are coming out of their childhood all fucked up and tormented by imaginary demons are being subjected to many other cruelties from their parents, their churches, authority figures and whoever else is running those secret child-raping cults under the guise of Holiness and God's Will. These are not your average run of the mill Go To Church on Sunday Morning, Say Your Prayers Before Bed and Remember God is Watching kinda Christians. There are extremes in all things and religion is the most glaring example of that but many religious folks are able to explain heaven and hell without putting their children through it. These other ones are not only religious but also mentally ill.

yes!!

Yes it is

Yes, absolutely. The religious trauma syndrome is one of the examples. Being told from early days that you are worthless and dirty and bad just because you are human, also not accepting a cruel being as your savior would automatically land you in hell... If that's not psychological abuse I don't know what is

Yes

Well yes

Beyond any doubt.

Probably. But in some ways maybe a good lesson- if your parents will lie straight to your face, anyone will. Enter into all social settings and relationships knowing everyone will fuck you in the end! Ha! That might be a joke...?
What isn't child abuse? And who hasn't abused their child in some way or another or felt they weren't abused as a child? Or as adult for that matter?! Christians truly believe without God they will be condemned to hell FOREVER! They think they are saving their child from an eternity of torment. While in my opinion, misguided, they are trying to protect their children just like I chase off hornets and glare at other kids that look like punks coming too close to my son. He will have to find the courage to do these things for himself some day and my fears for him probably hinder what ever natural instinct of self-preservation he has but I also have an instinct to protect my spawn at all costs. One day he's going to get the shit beat out of him by some motherless bully and he's going to realize this world sucks and people suck and in the end, he's on his own and the sooner he starts thinking and acting for himself, the better he'll be. But until then I am going to keep telling him there is a shark in the lake that is scared of adults so stay the fuck out of it when I'm not around. And since you're not swimming, fetch me a beer, little slave boy.

Yes. It can cause all manner of psychological and emotional damage. There are professional counselors out there who specialize in treating issues stemming directly from this kind of religious abuse.

Absolutely.

I think it is. Pretty effed up, if you ask me.

It sounds like verbal abuse to me but I'm guessing their church would say parents can say what they want to their children.

yes...it;s a lie and causes false needless senseless fear.