This week on the podcast we dropped Episode 68: Healing from Religious Trauma featuring therapist, Hannah Brents, who specializes in working with people who are dealing with religious trauma.
I have certainly eluded on the podcast before about my personal religious trauma and how it has impacted me, but we really got to dive into it during our conversation with Hannah. So why continue talking about it?
It’s because I know I am not alone.
No matter what family you come from, religious or not, we all have family traditions. We are raised with these traditions and we tie meaning to them because our families do.
I love the traditions I was raised with. The fact that every Friday night I knew I would have Shabbat dinner with my brothers, parents, and grandma, was just the best feeling, and warms my heart as all the memories flood back into my brain.
I love the fact that I knew every Hannukah we would go to my Aunt Barbara’s and she would make her famous meatballs and cheese things.
Traditions are beautiful and special and I can not wait to carry on these traditions with any future children that may come into play.
My problem is when religion becomes the only thing families care about. I didn’t choose to be born into a Jewish family, the reality is I was. So here I am. Am I religious? No. Not at all.
I saw what religion did to my family and I saw the hypocrisy of the people who follow it tooth and nail.
My grandfather who grew up in a different time, where religion was extremely important…but if you are cleaning to be so Jewish how are you eating shrimp? bacon? These are things we are told we cant eat if you want to be a good Jew.
So, that is where my issues lie.
I will never give up the traditions that my family has, but as a married woman, my husband comes from his own traditions and those should be honored to, no?
We are maybe one day going to raise children together, and can’t we decide how we want to raise our child?
We get to decide. And if you have family who do not understand that you get to live your own life the way you choose, I suggest you set firm boundaries and listen to the episode.
As always, I write these posts and go back and think, did that make sense? Did I get the point across that I wanted? Is anyone reading these besides my amazing and supportive older brother, Zachary?
Whatever the case may be. Thank you for reading if you did, and please know you are not alone.
Love always your Cycle Half,
Emily
Here I am my friend.
Thank you for your kind words. Iam happy to be your older and supportive brother. I know you would do the same for me if you were my older and supportive brother.
Religion…..I remember even as a very young boy in Hebrew school thinking hmmmm religion is something that makes people hate each other, we should not have religion. All these years later my thoughts on the matter are the same