Spiritual Violence: Religious Phenomena that Defile the Faith

Spiritual Violence: Religious Phenomena that Defile the Faith Grounded in Queer feminism, pastoral and practical theology, and cultural studies, this book offers historical context, analytical tools, and embodied practices to help readers confront the harm inflicted in the name of faith-and imagine pathways toward healing and liberation. White Christian Supremacy arrived in the Americas through conquest, colonization, and settler colonialism. From its inception, it has shaped nations and moral imagination through a theology that sanctifies domination and normalizes harm. This work names and examines that legacy and identifies four interrelated religious phenomena that emerge from it: Spiritual Violence, Spiritual Terrorism, Religious Abuse, and Spiritual Trauma. Together, these frameworks expose how religion is weaponized to control bodies, silence dissent, and fracture communities-especially those already pushed to the margins. Centering the lived experiences of marginalized people, with particular attention to LGBTQIA+ communities across the Americas, this book weaves ethnographic case studies, participant observation, and narrative analysis with somatic healing practices and guided reflection. The result is both rigorous theological critique and practical resource-a companion for survival, resistance, repair, and collective transformation. Readers will find: - Historical and theological analysis - Clear language for naming religious harm - Real-world case studies - Somatic and reflective healing exercises - Tools for reclaiming faith, body, and community Title: Spiritual Violence: Religious Phenomena that Defile the Faith Copyright (c) 2026. All rights reserved. Content and design registered by Soulforce. Adapted from Violencia Espiritual y fenómenos religiosos que abusan de la fe Published for Soulforce, Inc. Publisher website: www.soulforce.org ISBN: 978-1-7361267-8-3