“Religious Trauma” or “Religious Trauma Syndrome” is the term used to describe the many and varied ways that harm can be done to us by oppressive religious beliefs and practices. Common features include a sense of being unwell and/or unsafe, of being inherently flawed or inferior, and of deserving whatever pain or misfortune we experience.  

These harmful experiences can be amplified or facilitated by the hierarchical nature of many religious organizations. For example, being unable to speak out against a pastor who has hurt you because they are higher in station in the church than you are. Or that you, because of your age, gender, sexual orientation, etc., are inherently inferior to those around you. 

All too often, moving forward from these harms can be impeded by a lifetime of repeated messages that such things are the will of a deity, and so you are sinning by even wanting the harm to end. And if that all weren’t hard enough, freeing yourself from this trauma may mean losing friends, family, and community. 

If you or someone you love is struggling with religious trauma, please reach out. You don’t need to struggle alone.