RELIGION: Does It Hurt or Heal?

Spirituality's Role in Healing

This week on the podcast Dr. Thema Bryant (therapist, minister, and spoken word artist) shares with Rainn her unique perspective on the duality of faith as both a lifeline and a source of deep trauma for different people. With her background as the former president of the American Psychological Association and her deep involvement in the arts, she explores how her diverse roles enhance her work in mental health and healing. The podcast uncovers Dr. Bryant’s journey to integrating her various talents but also addresses broader issues such as the impact of spirituality on psychological growth and the therapeutic potential of justice and acknowledgment in societal contexts.

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Rainn’s Reflections

This week on the Soul Boom podcast, we share my conversation with the aforementioned, phenomenal Dr. Thema Bryant, an acclaimed psychologist and professor of psychology who also happens to be an ordained elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

We covered a lot of ground in our conversation. We talked about social justice. About spirituality and its relationship to the arts and mental health. And we talked about forgiveness and healing from trauma, and the need for a culturally attuned approach to that healing.

But there was one fleeting comment from Dr. Thema that really struck me:

“For some people, religion and spirituality has been their lifeline, their resource. It's the reason why they have survived. And then for other people, it has been the source of their greatest trauma. And both things are true…”

That was definitely an aha moment in the simplicity with which she distilled it: 

Both things are true—religion has hurt. And it has healed.

After reflecting on it, some words from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá came to mind: 

"... the principles of the Divine religions can hardly be evaluated by the acts of those who only claim to follow them. 

For every excellent thing, peerless though it may be, can still be diverted to the wrong ends. A lighted lamp in the hands of an ignorant child or of the blind will not dispel the surrounding darkness nor light up the house—it will set both the bearer and the house on fire. Can we, in such an instance, blame the lamp? 

…To the seeing, a lamp is a guide and will show him his path; but it is a disaster to the blind."

(Note: this quote shouldn’t be interpreted in an ableist manner. Blindness here is merely a metaphor. As history has shown us, many visually impaired individuals have been spiritual visionaries)

Here’s my pitch to you: let’s give religion a chance. Sure, I understand why some see religion as outdated and divisive. But let’s remember that history shows secular societies have their failures too. Both religious and secular societies thrive when tolerance and understanding prevail.

You might think, “Hey I’m open to spirituality. Just not religion.” And if you fall into that category you are definitely not alone. It’s a striking fact—and one I note in Soul Boom the book and podcast—that the fastest-growing "religion" is the Nones, those who identify as "spiritual but not religious." Sixty percent grew up in religious families but are increasingly disenchanted with traditional religious teachings, especially concerning sexuality and politics. A cultural divide is evident between those who meditate and those who pray, highlighting a broader division in American society.

This individualistic trend conflicts with America’s founding, where community and liberty were intertwined. Over time, our collective institutions have failed us, pushing us towards isolated individualism and a shift in our perception of religion. 

While this individual focus offers benefits, it also has drawbacks. Modern spirituality often becomes a self-centered quest for personal well-being, akin to “smorgasbord spirituality,” where people pick and choose spiritual practices for self-benefit. This self-centered approach risks drifting into narcissism, neglecting the broader human family and the suffering around us.

The evolving landscape of religion and spirituality reflects a cultural shift towards individualism and personal spiritual experiences. While personal spiritual practices are essential, they must extend beyond self-care to address the suffering of others and foster genuine human connection.

When we focus solely on easing our own internal struggles and overlook the suffering of others, we miss the mark on compassion. Our cultural focus on personal transformation often neglects broader societal transformation essential to true spiritual growth. The resurgence of ayahuasca and other hallucinogens as shortcuts to spiritual enlightenment reflects this trend.

Hallucinogens like LSD and peyote have been touted as gateways to spiritual experiences for decades. Indigenous cultures have used plant medicine in their spiritual rituals for centuries, yet today's ayahuasca tourism often lacks depth and respect for these traditions. While some drugs can help with severe depression and addiction under medical guidance, using them as shortcuts to spiritual truth—and excuse me if this sounds a little judgy—seems shallow.

In true religious practice, there's a balance between personal growth and community service, between the inner journey and the outward mission. Religion, at its core, binds people together. Early Christianity was groundbreaking in its inclusivity, offering a universal belief system that welcomed people from all backgrounds. The early church set a powerful precedent for other religions with its revolutionary altruism and unity.

French sociologist Émile Durkheim defined “religion” as a “unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things.” Could disparate religions be different pathways to the same ultimate truth? Here's a concise exploration:

A Higher Power: Every major religion identifies a divine force, known by various names but universally acknowledged.

Life After Death: All religions posit some form of existence beyond our physical death.

Power of Prayer: Prayer is a universal act of seeking a connection with the Divine, an ancient and sacred practice across religions.

Transcendence: Religion elevates humans beyond mere biological existence. From Buddhism's meditation to Islam's fana, all faiths urge us towards spiritual transcendence.

Community: Religion fosters communal bonds beyond familial ties, creating a shared purpose, ethics, and a collective identity. It promotes mutual care, strengthening social cohesion.

A Moral Compass: Virtually all religions provide a moral framework, guiding individuals towards ethical behavior and compassion.

The Force of Love: Love is a central theme across religions, whether it’s God's love, love for humanity, or universal compassion.

Increased Compassion: Service to others, particularly the less fortunate, is a recurring theme, reinforcing the importance of empathy and altruism.

Service to the Poor: Helping the less fortunate is a common tenet across religions, emphasizing compassion and charity.

A Strong Sense of Purpose: Religion offers a sense of meaning and purpose, guiding individuals towards a fulfilling life.

Émile Durkheim: sociologist, philosopher, style icon

These ten principles of Durkheim highlight shared values and beliefs that unite the world’s major religions, providing a framework for understanding their common ground and collective impact on human spirituality and community.

Today, community often exists online rather than in physical spaces. Church membership has declined, replaced by virtual "villages" on platforms like Reddit. However, these online connections often lack the intimacy, trust, and camaraderie of traditional communities.

With the decline in organized religion, have we also abandoned the sense of community that comes with it? Have we lost sight of the universal moral compass that once guided us?

From a spiritual perspective, mocking and name-calling hinder spiritual growth. Faith communities have historically provided a higher moral framework, rooted in timeless values and a shared vision from a divine source. While the conversation about morality and ethics is complex, religious morality offers a universal scale to weigh our actions and reasoning.

The essence of spiritual practices lies in love. In every religious tradition, love is emphasized as a force surpassing its conventional understanding. It's a cosmic energy that connects us all, shaping our spiritual journey and understanding of the universe.

The Golden Rule, to do unto others as you would have done unto you, runs like a golden thread through all the world’s great religions and traditions. The Golden Rule is about universal compassion. It urges us to consider the impact of our actions on others, to exercise empathy, and to put this into action, making it a spiritual law that enriches both our lives and the world.

Service to the less fortunate is one of the purest forms of love and compassion. Early religious texts emphasized helping the less fortunate. In Hindu tradition, daana is benevolent giving without expecting anything in return. In Buddhism, generosity is the first of the six “perfections,” emphasizing charity and sharing.

Religion provides answers to life’s big questions and offers a sense of purpose and direction. Whether it’s Buddhists striving for enlightenment, Muslims living in submission to Allah, Christians focusing on love for God and neighbor, or Hindus finding purpose through dharma, artha, kama, and moksha, religion offers both personal and collective meaning.

In a world grappling with despair, loneliness, and anxiety, the universal principles of religion—shared purpose, connection to the transcendent, and building community—can alleviate these issues by providing support, bonds, and hope. Perhaps the mental health crisis could be alleviated by reconnecting with these religious principles that offer a sense of purpose and direction. 

But this leads me to my last point. In a world of constant change, doesn’t religion also need to adapt to meet the needs of people? The Umma of Muslims. The Sangha of Buddhists. The Church as the Body of Christ for Christians. For those who are a part of these communities it is a sacred place of belonging. But what of those beyond the fold? In a globalized world, won’t we need a story and community that can encompass all of us? 

To end, let us return to the beginning: What kind of religious community would heal rather than hurt? Unite rather than divide?

If you would do me the honor, I would love to see your thoughts in the comments below…

Till next time Soul Boom fam,

Rainn

PS: We’re just scratching the surface here. If you want to go deeper, buy the Soul Boom book.

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Guest Essay: “Are We All Addicts?” by Philip Michalowicz

Art courtesy of Midjourney

Recently, everything is about addiction for me. 

It is part of my story, it is the work I do.

During this just concluded Jewish Passover holiday, while sitting with friends and family around the seder table, I saw the theme of addiction as somehow connected to that ancient tale of exodus. How so? Let me explain…

Addiction has many meanings. The original latin translates to, “a habitual activity or interest, often with a positive purpose.” It can refer to something one is currently dedicating all of their time or energy towards. Like Pickleball. Or knitting. But the Romans were the first to define addiction in terms more familiar to many of us. An addictus was a person who, having defaulted on a debt, was assigned to his creditor as a slave. That definition speaks to the feeling of being addicted, the feeling of possessing a debt that can never fully be repaid.

This definition places addiction squarely at the center of the Exodus story as it has been passed down over countless generations. The children of Jacob came to Egypt during a famine and sold what they had for grain. The Pharaoh took their belongings and, as they assimilated and settled in Goshen, their land was ultimately held as collateral. They, as well as the other laypeople of Egypt, fell into perpetual servitude to the state. 

You are probably familiar with what addiction looks like. 

Addiction can look like hazy eyes. Bounced checks. Running. Fighting. Doom Scrolling. News Watching. Anger. Exhaustion. Babbling. Blunder. A closet full of Gucci bags. 

It can look like complacency. Living in environments and under certain circumstances that others would find intolerable. 

Addiction is most easily identified by symptoms of tolerance and withdrawal.

In the Passover story, for many Israelites living in Egypt, it was more comfortable dying in the pain they knew than daring to try something different. 

This all may sound bleak, but there are ways to move towards resolving addiction. 

Addiction is both a biophysical reality and a mindset. It can be treated with medications as well as with conversation. 

One such therapy is touted as invaluable in the fight against addiction.

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy is the identification and, ultimately, the union of opposites. 

The Passover Seder may be the very first application of DBT, through the metaphor of the matzah. 

The matzah is, to our bewilderment, both the bread of affliction and of liberation. 

How can it be that one symbol represents two opposite ideas?

It is only through acknowledging our potential to be enslaved that we are capable of being entirely free. 

Denying the addict or enslaved mind leaves us with a sweet but naive mind.

And so it became clear to me as I sat at the seder table: in addressing our addictions, we have the opportunity to be free. 

One patient recently told me, “I think we are all addicts, some of us just chose the wrong stuff to be addicted to.” 

We can ask ourselves, “Am I really doing what I want? Am I where I’d like to be? And if not, what do I do about it?”

Conversely, we are challenged to be grateful. We are taught to be humble in our successes and to be patient with others, for perhaps we would be standing where they are if not for what God had done for us when we had lost our way.

Philip Michalowicz holds a Master’s degree in Educational and Clinical Counseling and is currently working as an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor at an addiction medicine clinic. He boasts a sizable record collection and, thankfully, his main addiction these days is pickleball. If you want to strike up a conversation, he can be reached by email: philipedward1994@gmail.com.

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, you can find resources at SAMHSA’s National Helpline 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or TTY 1-800-487-4889, a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.

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RECOMMENDATION CORNER

In this edition of the Dispatch, we’re shining a spotlight on Thriving in the Wake of Trauma: A Multicultural Guide by Dr. Thema Bryant-Davis, our guest this week. If you enjoyed her insights on the pod, you’ll love her groundbreaking book.

Dr. Bryant-Davis, an internationally renowned trauma expert, offers a fresh and insightful approach to trauma recovery through a multicultural lens. Her book is structured around key themes like shame, loss, self-care, and trust. In it she seamlessly weaves cultural considerations throughout each chapter, covering everything from ethnicity and race to less explored areas like disability, migration status, and sexual orientation. It’s a holistic approach that underscores the importance of understanding and embracing our cultural context in healing from trauma.

What really sets Bryant-Davis’s book apart is her focus on thriving rather than just surviving or recovering from trauma. She defines thriving as the growth and positive change that can arise from making healthy choices during the recovery process. To help guide readers in this process, she offers a variety of therapeutic activities across different domains — writing, movement, art, social support, and activism. These activities are not only practical but also encourage a deeper exploration of cultural identities and strengths.

One standout feature is Bryant-Davis’s exploration of the role of religion and spirituality in trauma recovery. As she explains, religious beliefs and practices can both positively and negatively influence our interpretation of and reaction to traumatic experiences. It’s a balanced and insightful discussion that fills an important gap in the literature on trauma and cultural competence.

For those who appreciate a blend of scholarly and practical content and are eager to explore life's big questions — especially in the face of adversity — Thriving in the Wake of Trauma is a refreshing and relevant resource. Survivors of trauma, those in recovery, therapists, ministers, and researchers will find this book particularly valuable. But really, for anyone interested in gaining a deeper understanding of trauma and resilience, this book is for you.