Christian Shame and Religious Trauma
The analysis of religious trauma is enriched by considering how it may be produced by formation in chronic shame. The testimony of those who have experienced religious trauma and severe religious shame is essential to interdisciplinary understanding of and response to this harm. The experiences of t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Religions |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/13/10/925 |
| _version_ | 1797470163020283904 |
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| author | Alison Downie |
| author_facet | Alison Downie |
| author_sort | Alison Downie |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The analysis of religious trauma is enriched by considering how it may be produced by formation in chronic shame. The testimony of those who have experienced religious trauma and severe religious shame is essential to interdisciplinary understanding of and response to this harm. The experiences of those harmed indicates that some traditional Christian doctrinal interpretations are shaming. Thus, the potential for Christian communities to create climates of chronic shame and cause religious trauma is present wherever such theological interpretations dominate. In this way, the religious teachings themselves, especially when communicated in chronically shaming environments, are traumatizing. In this approach, Christian religious trauma is not an added element to traumas of domestic, physical, or sexual abuse by a religious person or leader. Instead, the source of the trauma is formative experience of participating in Christianity. Religious trauma merits interdisciplinary study in Religious Studies and trauma studies, as well as Christian theology. Theological response to Christian religious trauma contributes to this interdisciplinary need. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:32:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-979c08825d7349d78ecc2099c4b566c2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:32:50Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj.art-979c08825d7349d78ecc2099c4b566c22023-11-24T02:16:35ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442022-10-01131092510.3390/rel13100925Christian Shame and Religious TraumaAlison Downie0Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, PA 15705, USAThe analysis of religious trauma is enriched by considering how it may be produced by formation in chronic shame. The testimony of those who have experienced religious trauma and severe religious shame is essential to interdisciplinary understanding of and response to this harm. The experiences of those harmed indicates that some traditional Christian doctrinal interpretations are shaming. Thus, the potential for Christian communities to create climates of chronic shame and cause religious trauma is present wherever such theological interpretations dominate. In this way, the religious teachings themselves, especially when communicated in chronically shaming environments, are traumatizing. In this approach, Christian religious trauma is not an added element to traumas of domestic, physical, or sexual abuse by a religious person or leader. Instead, the source of the trauma is formative experience of participating in Christianity. Religious trauma merits interdisciplinary study in Religious Studies and trauma studies, as well as Christian theology. Theological response to Christian religious trauma contributes to this interdisciplinary need.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/13/10/925shameChristian shamereligious trauma |
| spellingShingle | Alison Downie Christian Shame and Religious Trauma Religions shame Christian shame religious trauma |
| title | Christian Shame and Religious Trauma |
| title_full | Christian Shame and Religious Trauma |
| title_fullStr | Christian Shame and Religious Trauma |
| title_full_unstemmed | Christian Shame and Religious Trauma |
| title_short | Christian Shame and Religious Trauma |
| title_sort | christian shame and religious trauma |
| topic | shame Christian shame religious trauma |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/13/10/925 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT alisondownie christianshameandreligioustrauma |