Intro to Trauma – part 2 (week 3)

I am participating in a Get Wise* pilot program, to keep myself somewhat accountable, I will sometimes be sharing journal prompts and my responses.

What did “knowing the Truth”mean to you in CS? What were the consequences of this term in your life?

“Knowing The Truth” meant no matter how much you questioned Christian Science you were supposed to come back to The Truth that Christian Science was Divinely Inspired and The Truth. Never mind there are other religions that also claim to be The Truth, Christian Science really is THE TRUTH. Go back and read the book and pray better. As I’ve said before,

I have done my share of reading and praying in the past. If only I read and prayed more the stress would stop/the healing would come/I would achieve some sort of greater understanding. In the end, I decided if I read and prayed less I would have more time to get all the things I needed to get done accomplished and the stress would take care itself.

I was never able to know enough “Truth” to ever actually solve/resolve anything with Christian Science. While this somewhat bothered me as a child, the guilt spirals of “failing to demonstrate” Christian Science really came to the forefront during my time at Principia College. Passively acknowledging Christian Science for an hour a week during Sunday School is very different than actively living in a Christian Science centered community.

Failing to “know The Truth” and properly “demonstrate” Christian Science could lead to a spiral of shame and guilt, and questions of self-worth. Sometimes it was a low-level background spiral, while other times it could leave one sobbing miserably because the “demonstration of healing” was just not happening, and everything was miserable, and too much, and the mere thought of reading Science and Health any further made one want to inflict harm on one’s self, or others.

How do you typically respond when you bump into a problem? How did your family deal with difficulties growing up? How do people in your life react to issues now?

There is no problem. There were no problems. God would provide, or resolve. Everything is perfect, correct your thoughts and Know The Truth.

We acknowledge there are problems. We work toward finding solutions.

What’s a conflict you’re currently experiencing? What would facing this conflict with conviction, curiosity, and compassion look like?

That is a great question.

Self-care task: Breathing exercise

Get Wise is organized by the Fellowship of Former Christian Scientists, which is, a Christian Ministry. They connect people with a background in Christian Science and those who walk alongside them with Christ-centered resources, care and community. The content for the Get Wise support groups is safe for both Christian and secular participants.

2 thoughts on “Intro to Trauma – part 2 (week 3)”

  1. EG says:
    EG's avatar

    I am liking this series of posts. They are so relatable. I feel like going through this exercise myself and seeing how I would answer these questions. Thank you for sharing this!

    • kat says:
      kat's avatar

      Thanks. I find I’m holding back a little with some (most) of the “answers” I’m sharing. I am taking time to sit with the questions and other content from both the YouTube videos and in-person meetings to think on it further, and some of this has led to conversations with my husband, my therapist, and other former-CS friends. Some of it has been challenging, happy to chat with you about it all more — you know how to reach me.

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