Dr. Hillary McBride: Religious Trauma Is Real — And It’s Everywhere

What happens when God becomes a trigger word? The very thing that was supposed to give you existential answers now feels like a source of pain. Maybe this is your story: you try to pray but the words won’t come out. You walk past a church and your body reacts before your mind does. You see a religious leader on TV and your brain flashes to harm caused by people like them. Even thinking about religion makes you angry. And now you find yourself questioning everything you were taught to believe. Spiritual trauma is everywhere. Over the last 15 years, millions have left organized religion. At best, they tasted what they saw and didn’t like it. At worst, it left them traumatized. This isn’t rare. It’s a mainstream problem with existential consequences. And recent studies show at least 27% of the population suffers from it. Dr. Hillary McBride is one of the pioneers in this space. She holds a PhD in Psychology from the University of British Columbia, one of the world’s top research institutions. And her new book, Holy Hurt, is a groundbreaking exploration of into spiritual and religious trauma. In this episode, we explore: 1) What spiritual trauma is, and how it hides in plain sight 2) How spiritual bypassing, control and weaponization of sacred texts are common features that lead to spiritual trauma 3) The emotional cost of religious compliance — from abusive marriages to shame around sexuality 4) How trauma reshapes your ability to trust your longings and connect with the divine without fear 5) What healing actually looks like — in your nervous system, your community, and your relationship with God (or whatever name still feels safe) Mighty Pursuit Links: Website: https://www.mightypursuit.com Instagram:   / mightypursuit   TikTok:   / mightypursuit   X: https://x.com/MightyPursuit Dr. Hillary McBride Links: Instagram:   / hillaryliannamcbride   Books: https://hillarylmcbride.com/books/ For business inquiries: [email protected]