❌ | Laura Anderson, Author of When Religion Hurts You
Laura Anderson returns to the show to discuss her new book.
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This week's guest is is Dr. Laura Anderson, author of the book When Religion Hurts You: Healing from Religious Trauma and the Impact of High-Control Religion. We talk about the definitions of trauma and abuse, what drew her to this work, the importance of embodiment, and more.
Find all the ways to follow Laura online at drlauraeanderson.com.
As noted in the intro, I want to acknowledge that two days after my last episode was published, the war in Gaza began. I'm not the person to listen to in this moment. Here are some essays that have spoken to me and helped me understand this moment:
"a lot of things are true." by Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg.1
"Speech and Speechlessness," by Talia Lavin.2
"The Children Are Ours," by Camille Hernandez3
Churches for Middle East Peace, October 12th letter.
Here are the portions of the letter I read in the intro:
“We unequivocally condemn Hamas’ attacks and call for the immediate release of all hostages in captivity. We also condemn the indiscriminate and violent Israeli response that has already claimed hundreds of civilian lives. The Israeli government’s decision to shut off power, water, and fuel will have a disastrous impact on millions of civilians in Gaza, including over a million children, especially those who need immediate medical attention…
Year after year, we have seen that increasing violence begets more violence. Our past responses have failed to end the bloodshed. As these horrific events unfold, we are reminded once again that only by addressing core systemic issues, including decades of institutionalized oppression and collective punishment of Palestinians through brutal military occupation and a 16-year Gaza blockade, will Israelis and Palestinians live in peace.”
Thoughtfully and responsibly providing context for this war is best done by those most qualified to provide it; I will limit my own comments to how white evangelicalism relates to Zionism, as that is my lane. Here is one TikTok that speaks to this as well:
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Meanwhile, if you want to see an historical sampling of the persistence of Christian Zionism in the last several decades, please read this post by
& :America’s Apocalyptic Cheerleaders, by Talia Lavin & David Swanson.
Purchase Talia Lavin’s book, Culture Warlords, to learn about their coverage of dark web white supremacist networks.
Preorder Camille Hernandez’ book, The Hero and the Whore: Reclaiming Healing and Liberation through Stories of Sexual Exploitation in the Bible, available 10/31/23.