Religious Trauma in Religious Education: A Literature Review of Religious Experiences, Spiritual Conflict, and Mental Health

Religious Trauma Dalam Pendidikan Agama: Telaah Literatur Tentang Pengalaman Keagamaan, Konflik Spiritual, Dan Kesehatan Mental

Abstract

Religion has long been regarded as a source of inner peace, guidance, and social support for many people. Numerous studies have demonstrated that religiosity and spirituality can have positive effects on mental health, including enhanced psychological well-being, a stronger sense of belonging, and greater capacity to cope with life stressors. However, the growing field of the psychology of religion indicates that not all religious experiences produce positive outcomes. In certain circumstances, religious environments and practices that are fear-based, judgmental, or coercive may contribute to a condition known as religious trauma. This study aims to examine the phenomenon of religious trauma in everyday life and educational settings through a literature review approach. A total of 23 national and international scholarly articles were analyzed to gain a comprehensive understanding of the relationships among religion, spirituality, mental health, spiritual conflict, and religious experiences across various social and educational contexts. The findings indicate that religious trauma may develop from adverse childhood religious experiences, persistent feelings of shame, fear of divine punishment, identity conflicts, religion-based discrimination, and experiences of spiritual abuse. Its impacts include anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, identity disturbances, reduced psychological well-being, and difficulties in establishing and maintaining social relationships. On the other hand, healthy religious practices and positive relationships with God can serve as protective factors for mental health. These findings suggest that the impact of religion on mental health largely depends on how religion is understood, taught, and experienced in an individual's life