People who have been subjected to religious or spiritual abuse also often experience many of the same symptoms that we see in post-traumatic stress disorder. It is often a very lonely, confusing, disorienting, and painful experience for people. Attempts to leave the group are often very tumultuous and people may experience slandering or retaliation. There is often a re-working of or complete abandonment of their faith. As a result, individuals coming out of religious abuse often find themselves in an existential crisis. They may also communicate subtle or overt messages that this group is the only one who knows the truth or is walking out their faith correctly, and therefore being a part of the group is the only way to truly stay connected to the higher being. “If you don’t agree with and live according to everything this group believes, then God will be angry with or disappointed in you and you could go to hell for eternity.”). Groups may push their interpretation of or twist on religious texts as the ultimate truth and insist that members fall in line with this in order to maintain their relationship with a higher being (i.e. The members’ concept of a higher being, their connection to this being, and therefore their fate in not only this life but also the next can all be used in an emotional control and manipulation dynamic, adding an existential component to the experience of this trauma. When a religious group is operating in unhealthy dynamics, the environment can become toxic for it’s members-characterized by emotional control and manipulation tactics-resulting in religious and relational trauma.Īnd there is another layer to add to this-spirituality. There is opportunity for both emotional healing and deep emotional wounding within these groups. The emotional experiences of connection and disconnection, loyalty and betrayal, acceptance and rejection, understanding and shaming, empowerment and control feel similar to our experiences with these things within our families. Also, similar to families, people form deep emotional bonds and attachments with their fellow believers. We place a large amount of trust in our spiritual leaders to nurture our hearts, minds, and spirits. Leaders are often looked to for things we might look to our parents for-advice, counsel, love, and protection. Just like families, these groups can exhibit both healthy and dysfunctional dynamics. In understanding religious trauma, it’s helpful to think of religious/spiritual groups as a part of an extended family. So, I’m hoping to shed some light on this phenomenon. Religious trauma is so rarely talked about within the mental health field, but it is very common in our communities. However, when these groups are operating in an unhealthy state, they have great potential for wounding. In a healthy state, many people find their experiences in these groups to be deeply enriching. These gatherings can provide a sense of community, connection, belonging, purpose, and spiritual connectedness. church, mass, mosque, synagogue, congregation, etc.). As a part of this, many people choose to be a part of group gatherings with others who hold similar beliefs about religion and spirituality (i.e. Religion and spirituality are important aspects of life for many people.
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