Ep. 331: Disentangling Faith from Religious Trauma [REMASTERED]

What do you do if you have religious trauma, but don't want to abandon your faith?Catherine Quiring is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor who specializes in helping ex-evangelicals overcome religious trauma. In this episode, she shares what that looked like for her, how to know if you have limiting thoughts leftover from controlling doctrine, how to keep your faith while you separate from systems of control & how to find your own thoughts in a sea of “shoulds.” This episode originally aired June 12, 2023 If you like this episode, you’ll also like episode 156 with Joshua Harris: SHOULD SEX BE SAVED FOR MARRIAGE? Guest:https://www.instagram.com/catherinequiringhttps://www.cqcounseling.com/https://www.facebook.com/cqcounseling  Host:  https://www.meredithforreal.com/  https://www.instagram.com/meredithforreal/ [email protected]://www.youtube.com/meredithforreal  https://www.facebook.com/meredithforrealthecuriousintrovert  Sponsors: https://www.jordanharbinger.com/starterpacks/ https://www.historicpensacola.org/about-us/  01:00 — Why harmful church experiences are more common than we think03:00 — Fear tactics, hell doctrine & covert narcissism04:00 — Codependent faith & the pressure to feel God05:00 — OCD spirituality & micromanaging your soul06:00 — When people become “projects,” not peers07:00 — Catherine’s story: trauma at seven11:00 — Deconstruction vs. deconversion (not the same)12:00 — “You’re in or you’re out” — high-control community dynamics13:00 — Wheaton College & the first cracks in certainty14:00 — Reimagining God: from judge to shepherd15:00 — Releasing harmful doctrine & reclaiming the divine16:00 — Why this healing can take 20 years17:00 — Step negative three: just notice how you feel18:00 — Interoception vs. judgment19:00 — Exploring Christian possibilities (hello, Jinger Duggar)20:00 — Interoception vs. introspection21:00 — Digging yourself out vs. listening to your body22:00 — Your body has a language23:00 — The painful “playback” of manipulation24:00 — Talking to yourself like a friend would25:00 — Reclaiming the parts that helped you survive26:00 — When submission theology hits marriage27:00 — The hidden pressure on men to be “the voice of God”28:00 — Boundaries, anxiety & interrupting the cycle29:00 — When honesty strengthens (or exposes) a marriage30:00 — Practical healing recap31:00 — Resources for staying Christian — but freer32:00 — Books that unlock self-trust33:00 — Curiosity as a spiritual superpower34:00 — The Order of St. Hildegard & anti-oppressive faith35:00 — Finding community after deconstruction36:00 — Where to connect with CatherineRequest to join my private Facebook Group, MFR Curious Insiders: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BAt3bpwJC/Follow me in all the places:https://www.meredithforreal.com/  https://www.instagram.com/the_curiousintrovert/ [email protected]://www.youtube.com/meredithforreal https://www.facebook.com/curiousintrovert