Trauma and Resilience

This book offers trauma as a hermeneutical lens through which we can study Scripture. It offers reading of specific passages through this lens.

Children's book from Canadian Centre for Child Protection - Free PDF download

Karen O’Donnell writes as a theologian and person traumatized by multiple reproductive losses. She explores the ways in which the body of Mary – the theotokos – is connected to the wounded body of Christ and the Eucharist.

An anthology of essays by scholars exploring societal traumas and ways in which they can be interpreted theologically. Topics include trauma centered by veterans, disabled persons, racism, cancer, 9/11, immigration detention, and more.

Shelly Rambo is one of the most influential theologians utilizing trauma studies. Resurrecting Wounds meditates on the story of Thomas’s post-resurrection encounter with Christ in particular Thomas’s touch of the wounds of Christ.

Shelly Rambo is one of the most influential theologians utilizing trauma studies. Spirit and Trauma articulates a pneumatology in which the Spirit rests, remains, and witnesses the liminal space of trauma between life and death. She does this through various theological images and motifs including Christ’s descent into hell.

Christy Sim, PhD writes as a theologian, domestic violence expert, survivor of domestic violence, and a former pastor; she has been recognized by the CDC as an expert in domestic abuse research. She describes the dynamics of domestic abuse including the body’s response to trauma and offers ways that ministers can effectively offer pastoral care while reducing the risk of re-traumatization.

Jennifer Baldwin writes as a licensed therapist and theologian. Utilizing Internal Family Systems therapeutic framework, she offers critiques of other trauma theologies (particularly Shelly Rambo and Serene Jones) and focuses on the concrete therapeutic practices of trauma healing. The first half lays out a framework and foundation for trauma-sensitive theology, and the second half applies that framework to a variety of different theological issues.

One of the great classics of trauma literature. Judith Herman, MD describes the ways in which trauma is processed by the body.