Purity promises, denial of human sexuality, rigid gender role expectations, and heterocentrism were (and in many cases still are) familiar territory within the evangelical church in the South. The sexual purity movement of conservative Christian churches in the United States has also been examined for the way its messages led to psychological damage in young people. Spiritual neglect (acts of omission by leadership)Ī manifestation of internal states (dissonance between one’s inner and outer worlds)Įxpanding external/internal tension (bio/psycho/spiritual impact) Spiritual bullying (manipulative behavior)Īcceptance via performance (obedience emphasized) Leadership representing God (powerful symbolic authority) The types of spiritual abuse are broken down into six basic themes (Ward, 2011): Researchers have examined religion’s sometimes negative impact on mental health and refer to the negative experiences of ex-members of religious groups as spiritual abuse. Other side effects may be repression of emotions, lack of boundaries, codependency, spiritual obsession, low self-esteem, a sense of powerlessness, and social isolation. If one has been taught, for example, that anger is inherently wrong or a sinful emotion, emotional detachment and mistrust of one’s own emotions may arise as negative coping mechanisms. The term spiritual bypassing refers to the use of spiritual beliefs or practices to avoid dealing with painful or uncomfortable issues. Spiritual bypassing may also prevent meaningful exploration or growth from questions or doubts that may naturally arise regarding religion and spirituality.
Religious trauma syndrome professional#
Individuals may have limited opportunity or ability to seek support from a mental health professional outside the community. For individuals who have been harmed in their religious community, finding a safe space to process their experience can be a challenge. Raising questions about religion or discussing negative experiences within a church can be taboo in parts of society or in families due to cultural ideals and traditions. Spirituality may be part of a person’s religious journey or be experienced outside of a specific religion. In contrast, spirituality refers to a broader understanding of life and the force behind and beyond it viewing life as greater than the visible and tangible, to include religion as well as transcendence of the physical realm. Religion is a term used to indicate a specific set of doctrines, traditions, and beliefs. Religion and spirituality are terms that are often used interchangeably, but it is useful in this context to highlight the difference. They may be going through the shattering of a personally meaningful faith and/or breaking away from a controlling community and lifestyle.” Marlene Winell, a leading researcher on RTS and counseling interventions for healing and growth define religious trauma syndrome as “the condition experienced by people who are struggling with leaving an authoritarian, dogmatic religion and coping with the damage of indoctrination. Religious Trauma Syndrome, or RTS, refers to psychological damage that is the result of religious experiences, messages, doctrines, and teachings.ĭr.
The terms religious trauma and religious abuse have been used to describe the harmful impact on mental health that can occur as part of an individual’s church or religious experience. Some have walked away from religion altogether while others have a deep desire for spiritual connection, but are wary of traditional approaches.
These individuals are diverse in their past experiences and current feelings about religion and spirituality. Instead, it opens a path towards healing for those who have been harmed by their experiences. However, personal and professional experience as well as shared stories of diverse individuals reveal that there is not always a positive association between mental health and religion.Įxamining religious trauma does not mean rejecting or opposing all religion or spirituality. Research has focused on the importance of religion in the lives of a majority of Americans and the positive correlation of spirituality & religious involvement with improved mental health. What is the path forward for those who have been harmed, rather than healed, by religion? Understanding religious trauma is a start. Many experience religion and spirituality as a help to their mental health, but for others, religion is a source of psychological stress, painful memories, and trauma. Recovering from Religious Trauma and Spiritual Harm
0 kommentar(er)
