In this episode, I have a discussion with author, trauma expert, and 33 year educator, Dr. Janyne McConnaughey, about her personal experience with religious trauma and her research findings on trauma in religious settings. We highlight 5 ways that religion can re-traumatize those who have had previous trauma. Those 5 concepts include but are not limited to:
*Self-loathing
*Labeling behavioral results of trauma as sin.
*Mislabeling inner turmoil as conviction.
*Pastors applauding the effects of unmet childhood needs by overworking ministry leaders who seek validation.
*Placing forgiveness before healing.
All of Dr. McConnaughey's handles and resources can be found through her link tree: https://linktr.ee/janynemc
Trauma informed websites include:
ACEs Too High: https://acestoohigh.com/ Arizona Trauma Institute: https://aztrauma.org/
Attachment & Trauma Network (ATN): https://www.attachment- traumanetwork.org/
Center for Disease Control (CDC) Adverse Childhood Experiences: https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/aces/index.html
Additional religious resources included in the back of Trauma in the Pews include:
Center for Action and Contemplation, Ed. Vanessa Guerin. Oneing: Trauma (Albuquerque, NM: CAC Publishing, 2021).
Mark G. Karris, Religious Refugees: (De)Constructing Toward Spiritual and Emotional Healing. (Orange, CA: Quoir, 2020).
McLaren, Brian. Faith After Doubt: Why Your Beliefs Stopped Working and What to Do About It. (New York: St. Martin’s Essentials, 2022).
Thomas J. Oord, God Can’t!: How to Believe in God and Love after Tragedy, Abuse, or Other Evils. (Grasmere, ID: SacraSage, 2019).
