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Religious Trauma and Delayed Sexual Development
One of the most painful aspects of religious trauma is sexual repression. In psychological research, we see that early life trauma results in developmental delays. This is because brain development can be interrupted by maltreatment, neglect, or abuse in adolescence or childhood.
Religious Trauma and Delayed Emotional Development
One of the most painful aspects of religious trauma is the way it teaches us to distrust our own emotions. In psychological research, we see that early life trauma results in developmental delays. This is because brain development can be interrupted by maltreatment, neglect, or abuse in adolescence or childhood.
What Causes Religious Trauma?
Religious communities should be our safest emotional and physical spaces. These groups often talk about creating safety and salvation for those seeking such, but these spaces can quickly become toxic, abusive, and traumatizing.
Religious Trauma + Sexual Repression
One of the most obvious and painful parts of religious trauma is the sexual repression that is often baked into the theology, dogma, or rules of our religious communities. Because sexuality is such a personal and unavoidable part of the human experience, those that are repressed tend to feel traumatized by their identities being denied and “in the name of God.”
Religious Trauma + Emotional Manipulation
It’s sometimes hard to imagine how the church and religious communities that teach love and compassion can become abusive and harmful. But any institution, when power structures go unchecked and the “message” becomes more important than the people, is vulnerable to becoming harmful, rather than helpful. This typically happens slowly over time and can be hard to see when you are inside the community.
Four Things That May Surprise You About Religious Trauma
Recovering from religious trauma can be overwhelming and confusing, but there are commonalities that those with religious trauma share which may demystify the experience for you and help you feel less alone. Here are four things that may surprise you about religious trauma.
What is religious trauma?
Religious trauma is the felt sense of coercion or manipulation by a religious leader or dogmatic and authoritarian religious community. We explore the symptoms of religious trauma and how to address these.