The actual affects and residual behaviors that are often born from surviving trauma, are the very things the church has labeled "sins". These behaviors are used to cover up the pain. They are self medicating tools...
As I pondered what the church ladies would think about the behaviors of the people written about in "Voluntary Madness" it came to me, how misunderstood "sin" is.
Can a church objectively look at the 'sins' and help us?
The very 'sins' the church wishes to forgive and forget are the signs and clues showing the blueprint back to the core or our pain; the trauma.
If all you see are the 'sins' they are committing and not see them as signposts, can you effectively treat them?
From the reading I have done and listening to other victims, it is clear to me, what are called 'sins' are just a normal response to abnormal behavior.
If you see a 'sinner' instead of a person who is having a normal reaction to trauma, you will place the blame and shame upon the wrong individual.
This transference of shame leads to self annihilation that is further compounded in churches who list these affects as sin. We are bad people; sinners.
It is like having an illness whose side affects are labeled sin.
The treatment of the church is to have the victim feel guilty for having a normal response to trauma/abuse/sexual abuse...making them the problem; when it is not their fault. You have to see WHY....instead of asking why.
IF, and it is a big IF, the church could see them as sinless; there would be a glimmer of hope in finding recovery there.
The whole concept of sin and forgiveness would have to be put aside in order for victims of abuse to be innocent....and faultless.
What would a church be for IF there were no sin?
And, if we were all innocent; but responding normally to abnormal treatment...would they then have to see who is not treating whom correctly?
Would they then have to look upward towards the parents instead of downward to the child for responsibility? And see the beginning of this cycle...reversing the direction blame has been handed to.
How many institutions and societal leadership roles will hold parents accountable for the ills of society?
What a concept and hardship for the church to flip around. Especially in the churches that are patriarchal and children are to be seen and not heard...voiceless and choiceless?
What will it take to give a voice and a choice to these abused children?
Imagine a world where you see the wounds instead of sins.
