When the Right Rev. Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde spoke this week, her words caused a lot of controversy in political circles, which I suppose is the point that I’m trying to make in talking about spirituality as separate from religion. For a lot of us, especially neurodivergent, queer, and/or disabled people, religion, specifically certain denominations of organized religion have been extremely hurtful. That must be realized and discussed, because religion can cause trauma. Religion can also be healing, and when someone who has experienced the harmful side of religion, such as intolerant Christian denominations and churches, hearing someone within the broader Christian faith speaking about mercy and understanding can have a healing effect.
These are also questions we’re discussing in a class I’m taking this semester: can religion heal trauma as well as cause it? And why do some find healing where others find pain?
Everyone is different and the levels at which we find healing or at least some solace in spirituality will depend a lot about the nature of our pain and what we’re experiencing. However, for me, after going through a dark night of the soul due to abuse by pagan clergy and feeling as if the gods had abandoned me, receiving help in the form of therapy, as well as connecting with the safer aspects of my spirituality have made the work I’m doing now possible.
It’s easy, especially in our social media environment, to make sweeping generalizations and talk about how “all” religions or every (member of a denomination) are bad. And while I certainly don’t want to “both sides” the situation, because there are certainly some harmful interpretations of religion, it is also a much more nuanced conversation than a lot of people are having right now. And that’s why people like Bishop Budde are so important in speaking truth to power.
Part of healing through spirituality is seeing where religion and spirituality are doing harm, but also seeing where they are trying to create community, understanding, and healing. I don’t have all the answers to the questions being posed. I can share what has worked for me and what I’m seeing. But I feel like exploring spirituality, especially as it can be disconnected from organized religion, will help us to seek community, understanding, and hopefully healing.