religious trauma islam

Malcolm X Vanguards of Justice Scholarship, 7750 N. MacArthur Blvd Healing from religious trauma? : r/ReligiousTrauma - Reddit Cognitive: Confusion, difficulty with decision-making and critical thinking, dissociation, identity confusion Dr. Timothy J. 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This is a diagnosis comparable to RTS in which RTS occurs in response to perceived captivity (see #How RTS develops) rather than physical reality. There are resources here not only for Christianity, but also Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and even new age spirituality. Trauma calls us to transformation. Dr. Gianotti is the founder of the Islamic Institute for Spiritual Formation in Toronto, and author of Al-GhazalisUnspeakable Doctrine of the Soul. You constantly criticize and judge yourself (and others) due to fear of sin and fear of upsetting God. The term has circulated among psychotherapists, former fundamentalists, and others recovering from religious indoctrination. What has your experience with religious trauma been like? Is the UK Mandated Reporter for Extremists Program Coming to the US? You attack, dismiss, or shame yourself if you have a differing belief or question your beliefs. The women arent supposed to cut their hair or wear make-up or jewelry or clothes that arent modest. Religious trauma for me was a cumulative experience that reached its peak at the age of 19 when I decided to finally cut ties with the fundamentalist religion of my childhood (and unfortunately my blood family alongside it). [2] The potential extremity of feelings in relation to losing one's worldview while also losing emotional and social support to get through any given crisis can cause further trauma. There are many other practices (this whole website is a resource open for your benefit), but these are some that come to mind. If you can't relate to anything on this list, that doesn't necessarily mean you're not a victim of abuse; if you've checked off several, doesn't necessarily mean you are. Our names are Aletheia Luna & Mateo Sol and were spiritual educators currently living in Perth, Western Australia. Remember, there's always a reason you feel or think the way you do, there is a w. girls forced to cover themselves in front of grown men). The panelists ability to speak plainly about past issues as well as ongoing crises was remarkable. Religious practices in trauma coping - Academia.edu Recovery involves assessing each symptom area for growth and exploration: Many developmental tasks overlap with cognitive, affective, functional, and social/cultural tasks. We need to recognize our differences, not only accepting them, but also engaging them head-on. Material trauma is related to a place, your home, and your personhood including your physical being. Abuse and trauma can happen to you even if you are adult. that may lead to abuse and trauma. Men, you might be afraid to get too close to a woman because then you will fall into sin by lusting after her and then you will have to marry her. These signs arent meant to diagnose you in any way (as Im not a psychologist or mental health professional). But returning to that environment would mean deep self-betrayal, threatening my mental, emotional, and spiritual sanity. Sexual dysfunction (excessive or under active sex drive), Persistent loneliness and feelings of abandonment, Difficulty with self-expression and speaking up, Rigid black-or-white thinking and troubles accepting alternative viewpoints, Hypervigilance and feeling like one is being constantly watched and judged, Difficulty trusting in other people and the Divine, Struggles with being self-autonomous and making decisions, Deep-seated feelings of shame and guilt about normal thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Religious trauma is a phenomenon where religious or spiritual practices cause psychological trauma, or are part of other instances of abuse. What is Religious Trauma? - The Pvblication (RNS) Raised by evangelical Christian missionaries, Kara Erickson struggled for years with anxiety, depression and eating disorders that two decades ago . We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land, the Whadjuk people of Noongar Boodjar. Being raised by parents with religious trauma. There has been individualized trauma when the community has been complicit as esteemed religious leaders preyed on children and others in recent cases from the Chicago area and Toronto. Non-duality is an eastern philosophical and spiritual teaching that suggests that everything is ultimately One, and that dualities such as self/other, light/dark, subject/object, are ultimately constructs of the mind. Oh my gosh! I wasnt permitted to cut my hair, celebrate Christmas or Easter (or any other non-biblical holidays), or be overly worldly because I was taught to believe that Satan prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.. Last updated: 01/05/2023 Share article What is religious trauma? In medicine, "trauma-informed" care is defined as practices that promote a culture of safety, empowerment, and healing.[42]. In summary, there is a huge impact of Islamic religion and spirituality within psychiatric clinical practice. The experience of leaving one's faith can be an event that takes place quickly or over a period of time. Aletheia is a prolific psychospiritual writer, author, educator, and guide whose work has touched the lives of millions worldwide. What about specific examples of religious abuse? And unlike religious teachings that divide the world into us/them good/evil and so on, non-duality encourages a non-judgmental approach to life in which we see the underlying unity and Oneness beneath all beings. This is a very tender topic. Have you been abused because of / under the pretext of Islam? [60][61] Otherwise, you can also check out the following resources: Being in and amongst nature was the second practice that helped me tremendously when I was in the thick of religion and feeling slowly suffocated. I think by having a greater self awareness, looking inward. A child is raped and the parents and religious authorities dont believe his or her word, pretending it didnt happen. Blamed for being sexually abused ("Your dress was too short, you shouldn't have been drinking, it's because you weren't with a mahram, it's because you're gay" etc) or not believed at all. Dr. Gianotti reminded the audience that we are safe here discussing this topic without guards at the door. [30] Among the listed types of adverse experiences were physical, sexual, and emotional abuse as well as physical and emotional neglect. How to get rid of religious trauma : progressive_islam - Reddit The signs of religious trauma and abuse are really hard to spot. Traumatic religious experiences may harm or threaten to harm someone's physical, emotional, mental, sexual, or spiritual health and safety. There has been the political trauma of colonialism and imperialism when the community was taught they were second and third class citizens with a degraded religion and culture. Meet the "exvangelicals" seeking therapy for religious trauma. I used him. Reading the Bible three times over didnt solve any of my problems either it made the situation worse. ', "The sad, twisted truth about conservative Christianity's effect on the mind", "Dejar la religin se parece a dejar las drogas", "Religious Trauma: What No One Tells You at Church", "Interesting Developments in the ex-Jehovah's Witness Community VirusHead", "Losing my religion: facing the trauma of leaving a faith", "Can Religion Give You PTSD? Traumatized by Religious Abuse: Courage, Hope, and Freedom for Survivors by Connie Baker. How do we re-member? For the Mennonites it was learning what a community is. Sometimes atheism is the most healing and empowering path for a person. Reddit, Inc. 2023. Process how it might have impacted you in big or small ways. Spiritual awakening is what happens when we begin questioning our beliefs, habits, social conditioning, and everything that feels fake or false in our lives. All religions must acknowledge that there are extreme elements within their communities who are traumatizing others in their drive to establish an Islamic State, to expand a Greater Israel over all Palestinian land, or support racist policies in voting, policing, and social services. Furthermore, the self that we take ourselves to be the I is actually an illusion based on a misunderstanding of who we truly are at a fundamental level. The Vow 4. Religion and Suicide Risk: a systematic review - PMC But at the same time, your inner child also carries so much unprocessed pain. It was a tough decision to isolate myself from that setting because that is what I have known all my life and there are so many threats when one attempts to leave. The term CPTSD was originated by Judith Herman,[14] who outlines the history of trauma as a concept in the psychological world along with a three-stage approach for recovery (safety, remembrance and mourning, and reconnection). Im sure religion felt like a soothing balm for them and they wanted to instil some kind of values into their children. Kathryn Post. Loathing yourself and then deciding to explore your shadows (or dark side) is a recipe for disaster and retraumatization. The theme during this period was adaptation and evolution, especially replacing strict dogma and doctrine. In fact, many people feel drawn to atheism, and thats fine. It is important to be a witness to the violence our government perpetrates against other countries and against its own citizens. I wasnt in love with my boyfriend. Religious abuse or Spiritual Abuse occurs when someone uses religious teachings, beliefs, or practices for their own purpose and design to gain, or maintain, power and control over others. Not allowed to individuate (become your own person, separate from family) or become independent. How sincerely devoid of empathy one must be that when a person talks about their religious trauma from Islam, their first reaction is to defend the religion instead? Whose city is it? If youd like to explore shadow work, I recommend checking out our highly rated Shadow Work Journal. Religious Trauma and Spiritual Awakening. I am not a mental health professional by any means. The belief that all humans and life is connected together through a collective force. This book can provide some assistance in your recovery by clarifying the issues involved, offering ideas for healing, and suggesting directions for further growth. [3] Institutional betrayal, first at the hands of beloved religious communities, second at the hands of a world that upholds the utility of religion rather than the experiences of religious abuse survivors, can make symptoms of RTS worse. What I offer below isnt meant to be a map, just some helpful practices that have supported me in my own journey of healing religious trauma. Exposed to graphic descriptions of hell at a young age. Thats a pretty fucked up thing to teach a young child. How has it affected you? When I was 17, an older (and very revered) elder began brainwashing me into believing that God was calling me into the work, meaning, I was supposed to become a worker, (their word for minister). Using religious texts or words from god for ones own purpose and design to exert power and control over others. Faith and Trauma: Abrahamic Religions as Victims and Perpetrators Another thing that bugs me is God as a moral standard. In a review of numerous empirical studies, it was found that child abuse is associated with markedly elevated rates of major depression and other psychiatric disorders in adulthood. Going through religious trauma is what led to my own Dark Night of the Soul and subsequent spiritual awakening and if youre going through this experience, you might be called to the same path as well. I so relate to you!!!! Each group may have a different name for spirituality, including collective conscience, God, Universe, and others. My childhood wasnt all bad and there were certainly good parts, and wonderful qualities my parents instilled into me (like creativity and a good work ethic). [7][8], Leaving a controlling religious community, while often experienced as liberating and exciting, can be experienced as a major traumatic event. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Insulted or demeaned for things you cannot change (gender, sexuality, race, etc). (v) Mindful shadow work. Researches on the benefits of time spent in nature have called this practice ecotherapy. Other sponsors of the Faith and Trauma Panel: Schools:Catholic Theological Union, Chicago Theological Seminary, and the Lutheran School of Theology, Interfaith Organizations:The Council for a Parliament of the Worlds Religions, Niagara Foundation, and the Ecumenical & Inter-religious Relations of theEvangelical Lutheran Church in America, Religious Congregations:Emanuel Congregation, Chicago Community Mennonite Church, and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Be gentle with yourself while exploring this topic or its impact in your own life. Theyre good people deep down with admirable qualities. But to address this shadow side of experiencing trauma, it isimportant to consider how we narrate trauma. Data from Michigan showed that among Arab Americans who perceived they were discriminated against, they had increased odds of psychological distress, especially among males [14]. Thank you for respecting the healing journeys of others. In the interests of being trauma-sensitive, if at any point you feel overwhelmed by reading this article, please stop, take a break, and return to this page later (you can always bookmark it). The examples of religious abuse below dont cover all of the nuances of this complex beast, but I hope they give you a clearer idea of how religious abuse can appear: Can you think of any more examples? While the experience of losing your religion is often painful and confusing at first, there is much to be learned and ultimately a profound maturity to be gained. How Muslim Women Are Reconciling Gender Justice And Islam