When Religion Hurts You

Healing from Religious Trauma and the Impact of High-Control Religion

De: Laura E. Anderson PhD

Narrado por: Laura E. Anderson PhD

Religious trauma is something that happens far more often than most people realize. But religious trauma is trauma.

In When Religion Hurts You, Dr. Laura Anderson takes an honest look at a side of religion that few like to talk about. Drawing from her own life and therapy practice, she helps listeners understand what religious trauma is and isn't, and how high-control churches can be harmful and abusive, often resulting in trauma. She shows how elements of fundamentalist church life—such as fear of hell, purity culture, corporal punishment, and authoritarian leaders—can cause psychological, relational, physical, and spiritual damage.

As she explores the growing phenomenon of religious trauma, Dr. Anderson helps listeners embark on a journey of living as healing individuals and finding a new foundation to stand on. Recognizing that healing is a lifelong rather than a linear process, she offers markers of healing for those coming out of painful religious experiences and hope for finding wholeness after religious trauma.

©2023 Laura E. Anderson (P)2023 eChristian

A must read if this is your jam…

I’m grateful to have this book for my own healing journey and to recommend to anyone dealing with religious trauma. I’ve done a lot of reading in this area and this is perhaps the most thorough yet accessible treatment I’ve come across yet - certainly one of the first books I’ll think of when asked for a recommendation. Excellent performance by the author - if you like Dr Laura Anderson’s content on social media, you’ll love this book!

Personal and Professional

Laura brings so much knowledge, both personal and professional, to the topic. Reading her book made me feel validated in my experiences while also offering a valuable perspective on opportunities for healing. I enjoyed her reading of the book as well. I've been listening to her podcasts and the book felt like another conversation rather than a performance. Thank you for the work you're doing!

Just phenomenal

Truly invaluable resource for people leaving HRCs & deconstructing and reconstructing. Thank you Laura. Will read over and over again.

One of the Best!

I was so blown away by the insightfulness of the book. Not only does the author incorporate her own story but as a clinician, she has included the "whys" in such an detailed way that I found myself throughout the book shaking my head about the things other therapist I have been to for this problem have missed. With all respect for the work I had done on myself with religious trauma, Dr. Anderson accurately describes the problem clinically and does something I had not heard before ---give those of us with adverse experiences permission to be, and live with our experiences—not as I have often been told "just put it behind you", "don't church bash or hurt the cause of Christ", "don't act like a victim". For those that feel they may have had adverse religious experiences of any kind, this is a must read.

Harmed by Church of Christ beliefs

It’s good to know there are people who understand the religious trauma that I have felt for a very long time.

I feel so seen!

This book put into words what I was feeling and processing but couldn’t articulate. I feel validated.

Personal but generally helpful

The author very comprehensive, perhaps a bit too technical, but has a lot of helpful insights and does not promise a quick fix. Helpful

So helpful

If you grew up in a Christian church/community/home. This book will give you clarity. Even if you don’t think you have been harmed, read this book.

So much helpful information

I could not stop listening as there were so many things that connected dots and helped me understand what I’ve been dealing with a little better. I’m so appreciative of this work.

Amazing- this has helped

From the first chapter to the end, it was so detailed and it completely gave me all the information I was seeking