Freedom of religion is a founding principle of the United States and a core value of many free democracies. When religious superiority and extremism takes hold, it can have detrimental impacts. One aspect that often goes undiscussed when addressing this issue is the psychological harms of living under the threat of a religious state.
Mental Illness, Trauma, and Extreme Mindsets
We previously discussed psychological tactics cults use to recruit and influence people. By adapting these tactics, cults are able to assert control over followers, encourage group uniformity, and instill fear of the outside world. These same tactics are used by various extremist groups, even if they do not necessarily meet all the criteria of a cult yet.
Another important aspect to consider is how groups like this target those who have experienced trauma, have mental illness, or are going through a difficult time in their life. Vulnerable individuals tend to be more open to extremist ideas as they are desperate for change and community. Extremist groups recognize this and prey on people in need. This can be especially effective when religion is involved. Many people view religion as a key part of their healing and find support in their religion’s rituals or community. Separating these positive aspects from the harmful can be extremely difficult.
The Impact on Survivors, Minority Religions, and Non-Religious Folk
I grew up in a family of pagans, atheists, and survivors of religious trauma. Religion has always been a tough subject to discuss. My own early experiences with religion as an openly bisexual “tom-boy” were not great either. However, my time in college exposed me to some religious individuals who really lived by their values. They were kind, accepting, and advocated for the freedom of others – even if they did not share the same beliefs. While I still am not religious, these experiences really enabled me to feel more comfortable discussing religion and connect better to some of my religious in-law family.
It is difficult to see what I feared religion to be as a child becoming mainstream. I have to battle conflicting feelings to remember good religious folk exist while seeing religion weaponized against people like me. For people like those in my family who grew up in high-control religions, it is even worse. Survivors have to learn how to navigate retraumatization as they are exposed to the same messaging they previously escaped. Some may choose to go back to the environments that hurt them due to fear of retaliation. Others may become targeted by their old congregation or experience consistent paranoia.
Minority religions and non-religious individuals also suffer when one religion seeks to gain control over all. Religious freedom in the U.S. allows everyone to hold their own beliefs or to not practice religion at all. When minority religious or non-religious groups face inequality it creates immense stress and greater divide. It is difficult to not feel hostile towards the group that is degrading your rights or forcing their beliefs onto you. These conflicts only contribute to division and more religious extremism.
The Impact on the Religion
When religious extremism takes hold, it also impacts the dominant religion itself. As the name suggests, religious extremism takes the religion… well… to the extreme. Bible passages are cherry-picked. Dissenters are labeled as non-believers. Values and messages are twisted. The religion itself is often morphed into something it was not supposed to be. The gaslighting tactics used by high-control groups can cause individuals to question if they ever understood their own religion or if they got it all wrong. Others, afraid of being outcasted or losing their community, will dive head first into extremism. They become blind followers who listen to the words of community leaders rather than the real teachings of their religion.
In both cases, followers experience immense psychological pressure. Those who leave lose a large part of their support system. The individuals that stay are no longer free to express their true feelings if they differ from the majority. This is just a different form of loss. While not for me, religion is a major therapeutic resource for many individuals. There can be comfort in believing there is a higher power looking out for you or knowing that there is a community that will support you in a time of need. This system becomes completely dismantled when religious extremism takes hold.
Countering Religious Extremism
As I experienced first hand, positive interactions with people from different faiths may be one of the most effective ways to develop bonds between beliefs. Religious leaders and followers of the dominant religion need to speak out against extremism. At the end of the day, they are the only ones that can keep the truth of their religion alive. I attended a virtual event on the state of Christian nationalism earlier this month. The keynote speaker, Senator Chris Coons, stated “I refuse to allow this extreme view of Christianity to be the only view.” That is something I think is important for all religious individuals to consider.
It is also important to allow space for others. Giving a platform to minority or secular voices gives them the chance to self-advocate and express what religious freedom means to them. Shared spaces allow people who might not have otherwise connected find community and form bridges between faiths. This also can help individuals ward off feelings of isolation that often come with political and religious divides.
Many great organizations focused on religious freedom have formed in recent years. If you are looking for support or want to work alongside other advocates, these are a great place to start. Check them out along with other resources used in putting this post together below…
Americans United for Separation of Church and State
Religious Takeover: How Christian Nationalism Captured America
The impact of fundamentalism and extremism on the enjoyment of cultural rights (United Nations)
What is Christian nationalism? (Christians Against Christian Nationalism)
Know that you are not alone. If you are in need of additional support, please check out our resources page. Until the next one, stay safe and look out for each other.
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