Religion and Trauma: Psychological Narratives

An examination of religious myths, beliefs and experiences that express and contribute to transgenerational traumatic responses in communities and individuals. Exploration of ways religious narratives reveal multiple levels of psychodynamic processes that organize and give symbolic form to anxiety, grief, loss deriving from personal (abuse, neglect) and social realities (Holocaust; war; violent social strife). Trauma stories from different religious traditions (Christianity: Crucifixion; Judaism: emergence of monotheism; Abraham and Isaac; Job) and popular spiritualties will be explored, focussing on ways they may induce and symbolize trauma including ways they provide resources for healing.