The Diabolical Trinity

Healing Religious Trauma from a Wrathful God, Tormenting Hell, and a Sinful Self

By: Mark Gregory Karris

Narrated by: Scott Dawson

Length: 8 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

Are you grappling with the aftermath of religious trauma, particularly the fear of Hell indoctrination, and seeking healing from its harrowing grasp?

Dr. Mark Karris' The Diabolical Trinity is a thought-provoking manifesto and practical guide for those seeking healing from the harm caused by the toxic beliefs of Hell indoctrination—the unholy trinity of traumatizing beliefs in a tormenting Hell, a wrathful God, and human depravity.

The Diabolical Trinity not only gives voice to those affected by these beliefs but also offers a psychological, sociological, and philosophical examination of Hell itself. Most importantly, The Diabolical Trinity delves into the latest research in psychology, neuroscience, and psychotherapy to offer wise principles and healing practices for those seeking to move beyond the damaging effects of such toxic beliefs.

Whether you have been personally affected by the diabolical trinity of toxic religious beliefs surrounding Hell indoctrination or are a therapist, coach, or spiritual director working with those who have, The Diabolical Trinity is a must-listen, providing essential tools for education, recovery, and growth.

©2023 Mark Gregory Karris (P)2023 Mark Gregory Karris

Insightful, eye opening and practical.

Eye opening to the trauma religious doctrine can cause through indoctrination. The slow steady drip of negative messages religion feeds its flock. I grew up in a church which was the exact opposite of these fundamentalist houses of worship. I was never battered with the notion of hell of pushed in to a submissive guilt behaviors. I still move away from the church for many of the same reasons described here. This gave me more to think about as I watch those churches take advantage of their congregations and cause more harm than good. Great book.

Insightful AND Practical

Karris's book, "The Diabolical Trinity," presents a powerful and insightful exploration of religious trauma, particularly within the context of Christian fundamentalism.

Positives:
By addressing the profoundly ingrained concept of Eternal Conscious Torment (ECT) and its psychological impact, he skillfully exposes the damaging nature of such beliefs. He offers a path toward healing and recovery. Karris is truly a professional. His expertise emerges as he dissects the archaic and traumatizing notion of a wrathful God and ECT. He provides a counselor's perspective, validating the trauma experienced by countless individuals plagued by these destructive ideas.

As I listened, it’s incredible how many times it resonated with my Baptist upbringing. I’ve done my own work fixing the negative impact of concepts like a vengeful deity did on my heart and mind. Karris also went through all this personally, making him well-suited to address it. And in this book, he’s throwing a lifeline of hope.

He’s not about throwing out your faith but liberating the pain, hurt, and abuse that many religious upbringings caused. If you’ve got those struggles of haunting whispers of divine anger and unworthiness, Karris offers a lifeline of hope. He understands the psychological aspects of religious trauma and provides some practical stuff to overcome anxieties and traumas.

Part III is the best part of the book, in my opinion, the true heartbeat. Grounded in practicality, Karris deftly presents evidence-based principles, techniques, and exercises that serve as beacons of hope on the darkest nights. He explains that this isn’t a quick fix. But he provides the tools for the fix (memory reconsolidation, EMDR, etc.).

Negatives:
I probably would have had a different title since I first thought it was a book against the Trinity (Father, Son, HS). But that’s really my only complaint.

Conclusion:
Honestly, the book is a must-read for anyone yearning to salvage their religious upbringing and create a brighter, more meaningful connection with their faith.

What a Pro Sounds Like

Required listening for aspiring voice over talent. The right performance can make a good story great and that’s very much the case here. Narrator delivers a pitch-perfect performance. Those in a hurry (or looking for a quick summary of this book) may consider zooming ahead to Chapters 8-9 where author and actor’s talents are best on display.

Very helpful and practical

I was traumatized by hell indoctrination from a young age and couldn’t shake the thoughts even after exploring alternatives and abandoning the idea of hell as eternal conscious torment. Karris’ insights are excellent and come from his own experiences. He presents a thoughtful discussion into why this indoctrination is so powerful and how a person can move beyond it into a healthy space while maintaining their faith. Highly recommended for anyone who has been haunted by such questions.