Conversations about the religious and spiritual life on the other side of fundamentalism
 
Category: <span>Spiritual and Sexual Abuse and Churches</span>

381: The Reconstruction Series: Encountering Fear at the Threshold of Leaving

It’s one thing to know that letting go is possible and even necessary.  But it’s another to stand at the threshold of leaving without feeling fear.  Most of us will carry some fear.  In this …

374: Trauma & Moral Injury in Mormonism: Dr. Sean Aaron

At Syracuse University, moral injury is defined as, “… the damage done to one’s conscience or moral compass when that person perpetrates, witnesses, or fails to prevent acts that transgress one’s own moral beliefs, values, …

373: The LDS Church’s Response to Sexual Abuse: Neville Rochow QC

Child sexual abuse in the church is pernicious and confounding. Why anyone purporting to be Christian would sexually abuse a child is beyond the imagination of many. Yet it happens, and far too often to …

364: Death By a Thousand Cuts: Ordinary Mormon Trauma: Lindsay Hansen Park

We were made for tenderness, gentleness, openness, authenticity, vulnerability, compassion and caring.  We are threaded through with the strands of genuine goodness.  Our true selves, our inner landscapes are beautiful and potentiated for wholeness, fullness …

362: ‘That Was Not of God’: Natasha’s Witnesses Speak Up

Ambivalence, ambiguity, lack of accountability and spiritual abuse characterize Natasha Helfer’s membership council. Wanting to preserve her church membership, Natasha and her community (in and out of the LDS Church) rallied around her in support. …

359: When a Woman’s Professional Expertise Becomes a Question of LDS Apostasy: Natasha Helfer

Natasha Helfer (LCMFT, CST, CSTS )is a licensed clinician and mental health professional who has been summoned to a LDS Church trial for her public stance on sexual health. Taking offence at the idea that …

344: Mormon Divorce: Les Butterfield

Not all Mormon marriages are doomed, but some are. When divorce happens acrimoniously it’s never a better time to observe the LDS church’s position on the wellbeing of women and children.   The wife of a …

322: ‘It’s not a sin if it’s secret’: Brigham, Joseph, Wives, Sex and Priesthood: Joe Geisner

Let’s be fair.  Neither Joseph nor Brigham could be considered as good men in their care, affection, fidelity and love for their wives.  To the contrary, they were want to swap them, share them, manipulate …

297: Women’s Abuse, Oppression and Trauma in the Patriarchy: Understanding and Healing the System: Lesley Butterfield

Lesley Butterfield is a registered nurse and survivor advocate who works with victims of abuse.  She’s passionate about increasing literacy about abuse and trauma in particular for women survivors of spiritual and ecclesiastical abuse in …

293: Preventing Child Abuse in Utah: Gwen Knight

In this episode, we look at child abuse from the perspective of prevention.  My guest is Gwen Knight, the executive director of Prevent Child Abuse Utah. According to Prevent Child abuse Utah, its mission is …