Religious trauma

As I have been discussing different types of trauma, today I want to reflect on the relationship between trauma and religion. For some people, religion can be a source of comfort, community, purpose and healing in their trauma journey. But this is not the case for everyone. For some people, their religion/faith is where their trauma occurred. We call this religious trauma.

This trauma may come from the religious leaders or other associated members of the community, in this case the abuse may or may not be religious in nature. Abuse that is not done in the name of the religion or religious doctrine is much of the sexual abuse we hear about from priests.

However, the trauma itself might be religious in nature. This is the case with attempts at conversion therapy for gay/trans folx or attempts to exorcise demons to cure someone’s psychosis or dissociative disorder.

I would consider religious doctrine that encourages violence against particular communities and individuals to be abusive, again we see this directed a lot towards queer folx.

Then there are the ways that religion can be used to make trauma and abuse survivors feel worse. There are a lot of ways in which purity culture and messages to save oneself for marriage have been harmful to sexual abuse survivors.  Faith communities are just as susceptible to victim blaming as other communities.

All these harms that occur with and within religious and faith based communities can cause irreparable damage to trauma survivors, and often lead to loss of faith. 

If you are someone who has been hurt by or in your faith please know that you are not alone and that it is okay if you no longer want any part of it. 

Please know there are different faith communities, religious teaching and leaders in each faith, institution and location. There are communities that can and will support and affirm you and your experience. You don’t have to give up your faith if you don’t want to.