Religious Trauma Information and Resources
What is Religious Trauma?
Religious trauma is a widespread issue across the world and this country. However, it is only a relatively new recognized stand-alone form of abuse and trauma. Because of this there is very little research, data, and evidence-based treatment options for mental health professionals to utilize. While there are those who are working to create research studies and share findings, we do have some information and treatment options which I will share here.
The Global Center for Religious Research (GCRR) is one organization working to collect data and share research. GCRR created a definition for religious trauma based on current research which states, “religious trauma results from an event, series of events, relationships, or circumstances within or connected to religious beliefs, practices, or structures that is experienced by an individual as overwhelming or disruptive and has lasting adverse effects on a person’s physical, mental, social, emotional, or spiritual well-being.”
For more information, check out the resources listed at the end of this page.
Examples of religious abuse that can lead to and cause symptoms of trauma:
- Emotional, physical, sexual, and financial abuse and manipulation within the context of or with the justification of religious texts, beliefs, contexts, and teachings.
- Dismissing, minimizing, or rejecting mental health issues
- Using fear, guilt, and shame as tactics to increase obedience and church involvement
- Rigid, inflexible adherence to the teachings of purity culture *see section on purity culture further down in this document*
- Feeling unable to say “no,” give consent (physically, emotionally, spiritually), or voice different opinions within religious contexts, families, social settings, etc.
Religious abuse can cause symptoms of trauma as such the symptoms will be like other types of abuse.
Here are some symptoms of trauma related to religious abuse:
- low self-esteem and pervasive negative self-talk
- pervasive and obsessive worries about “not being a good person” or “not being saved.”
- difficulty trusting self (thoughts, feelings, and needs)
- feeling inappropriate guilt over events, interactions, and actions taken that are not your fault or within your control
- fear of God’s wrath and punishment for “sins”
- fear of death/the afterlife/hell/the devil
- nightmares related to religious motifs, beliefs, or other traumatic experiences related to religious leaders, events, experiences.
- Extreme difficulty or aversion to using assertive communication or setting boundaries
- For many women – feeling ashamed of your sexuality, body, thoughts, and urges
- For many men – feeling ashamed of natural sexual urges, thoughts, actions
*Please note this list is not exhaustive and may be subject to change as our research and data pool grows. This is what mental health providers and survivors of religious abuse have reported. *
What is Purity Culture?
In general, Purity Culture stems from a set of beliefs which were taught – specifically to youths and adolescents – in the Christian church that sex should only be experienced between one man and one woman after being legally married. Anything sexual experiences outside of this (i.e., LGBTQIA+ relationships and identities, premarital sex, masturbation, etc.) are wrong and sinful. The term Purity Culture encapsulates the teachings, beliefs, books, movies, clothing items, and merchandise that came out of this belief system and impacted organizations, families, and individuals.
Recognizing the impact of faith transitions:
There is so much to this one element. This step can involve completely leaving a faith belief system and community, deconstructing faith, reimagining faith, or changing to a different faith system. Regardless there are typically serious emotional hurdles
- Grief and loss
o Losing faith community
o Feeling rejected by faith community
o Feeling or being rejected by family members
o Loss of certainty
o Loss of identity
- Deconstructing harmful ideologies
- Healing guilt and shame
- Finding new identity and belief system
How can therapy help?
What type of treatment can be used for this issue? If you have experienced religious trauma and abuse, many evidenced based and evidence informed modality can be used to treat and heal from those experiences including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy (EMDR), Somatic Experiencing, Mindfulness, Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Trauma Focused CBT, and more. I personally use Lifespan Integration to help clients process and heal from past trauma, heal attachment wounds, and find self-compassion.
Whatever treatment approach you and your therapist use, it is important to feel validated in your experiences of religious trauma, unravel and challenge harmful beliefs and thought processes, and gain increased connection with and understanding of yourself. I hope that this information can help you start or continue your healing journey. You got this!
Resources for Religious Trauma and Abuse:
- https://www.religioustraumainstitute.com
- https://takingbackourselves.org/resources-for-religious-abuse
- https://alisonlarkinpresents.com/product/gay-the-pray-away-audiobook/
