Spring is knocking on our doorstep. The sound of snow melting, birds chirping, the squirrels scampering along the fence lines, and that extra bit of sunshine we enjoy with the longer days. And while nature symbolizes changing seasons, the religious calendar, too, ushers in new seasons, each with its own rhythm and significance. For Islam, the month of Ramadan is here. For the Christian calendar, Lent has arrived. Both welcome intentional rituals and practices in anticipation of a joyful communal celebration.
At Radiance, faith matters to us. We welcome people from all religious backgrounds. For women and their children who have left situations of family violence, spiritual practices and participation in their faith community can be layered with complexity. It is well understood that spiritual disciplines, beliefs and participation in a faith community can enhance healing and recovery bringing strength, comfort, and hope in a time of tribulation and can be stabilizing when everything feels out of control.
Yet like many things, it can be a double-edged sword.
Faith can been used to discourage women from seeking help. Women may feel their suffering is necessary in their spiritual journey, a punishment from God, or as a sacrifice for a reward in a next life. Members of a faith community may turn to their religious leader for advice and support in situations of domestic violence. Due to the lack of training on the subject with religious leaders, the advice can be harmful or misguided, leading to continued experiences that perpetuate harm and threaten their safety. For others, sacred text or religious beliefs can be misused to encourage submission, subordination and justify control. Faith or religious practices may no longer feel safe. The relationship with God or faith instead has become a source of pain and deep confusion.
At Radiance, we recognize people as spiritual beings with diverse views and practices. We truly believe that faith leaders desire to see families in their community thrive. Our Thrive project aims to join with faith leaders across Alberta to nurture communities of faith that are equipped to respond in a safe way when family relationships are characterized by control and abuse. Our desire is to help each faith leader become effective in championing the issue of domestic violence and seeing their faith community be violence free.
We know this is hard work. How we approach the work matters. Our intent is not to judge or blame. Instead, it is to acknowledge the complexity and messiness of family relationships and to be a resource and encouragement to faith leaders toward a safe response to an unsafe issue, working together to a brighter future where all family members thrive.
CLICK HERE to learn more about Thrive