Religions have inspired centuries of violence by using fear to motivate obedience. Thanks to secularism, most religions no longer condone outright violence. Yet fear messaging continues to inspire psychological abuse in millions of religious adherents. The same fear that inspired the genocides of the bible (fear of god’s judgment) now inspires people to endless cycles of confession, obsession, and guilt over their unsanctioned thoughts. This is still violence, although it is psychological violence, and therefore less obvious. Ideologies that inspire fear, guilt, and shame are usually a pretense for power, not spiritual development. This is my aim in exposing religious abuse: to promote freedom from psychological harm. I want us to view religion through the lens of mental health: does this ideology promote fear or love, freedom or slavishness? Many biblical texts were written by people whose agenda was to establish and propagate their own authority, sometimes with devious motives. They did this by promoting fearful ideologies. The biblical god was stylized after the ultimate authority, which at the time was the king. The ancient king’s reign was established through fear and religious control of his subjects. The biblical book of Joshua, for example, is ethnic cleansing propaganda. It inspired fear in the hearts of the Israelites. If they didn’t wipe out foreigners who live among them and had different gods and beliefs, the Israelites might get caught up in pagan religion and suffer the wrath of god as a consequence. Thus, the religious and political rulers of the time were able to control their subjects and annihilate their opposition. Similarly, if religious adherents fail to believe the authority of a sacred text or spiritual teacher today, they are made to fear getting mixed up with irreligious ideologies and suffering divine punishment as a consequence. Such messaging is perhaps more subtle, but no different in terms of its underlying energy. Psychological religious abuse is rampant in our world, and it causes great suffering for many incredible and loving people. Fear is no way to inspire moral living or spiritual development.

If you would like to work with me to transform your trauma into the place of your power and fulfill your potential, schedule a Free Transform Trauma into Power Session. In this session, my intention is to help you gain clarity and support, learn a few powerful suggestions, and see whether one of my Coaching Programs is a good fit for you. 

Do you feel psychologically traumatized by religion, or isolated and disempowered by trauma and limiting beliefs in your life? I’m Andrew Jasko, Master of Divinity (M.Div.), M.A., Counseling Psychology in progress, and I work to help you transform your trauma into the place of your power and connect to a healthy, authentic spirituality that works for you (whether that’s as a spiritual, atheist, religious, transitioning, or agnostic identifying person). I was born into a minister’s family and became a preacher and missionary to India, after studying theology at Wheaton College and Princeton Seminary. As a Christian, my relationship with God was my passion, but unhealthy religious teachings caused me an anxiety disorder, sexual repression, and spiritual disillusionment. I felt alone, traumatized, and abandoned by the divine. After an agonizing crisis of faith, I rejected religion and spirituality. Then, I had an unexpected spiritual awakening through mystical and spiritual practices like meditation, psychedelics, and connecting my heart’s desires and intuition through my Divine Mindfulness practice. My passion is to help you in your spiritual or life transition to heal and connect with your authentic spiritual wholeness.

BOOK ME TO SPEAK: andrew@lifeafterdogma.org about healing religious trauma and psychology, spirituality and mental health, interpreting the Bible through a mystical, nondual lens, psychedelics, and other topics. I also provide consultations for therapists and ministers and speak on podcasts and video channels.

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