Hillary McBride joins Amy Fritz on the Untangled Faith podcast to unpack spiritual trauma, healing, and how we can create faith communities that avoid replicating unhealthy patterns.

Subscribe to my newsletter: https://untangledfaith.substack.com

In this episode we:

Explore who McBride’s new book, Holy Hurt: Understanding Spiritual Trauma and the Process of Healing, is for and how different groups relate to spiritual trauma.
Define spiritual abuse and spiritual trauma, and unpack the common misconceptions surrounding these terms.
Discuss how curiosity and hope can bridge the gap between those who have and haven’t experienced spiritual trauma.
Address the accusation that spiritual trauma is a “fad” and reflect on the history and reality of spiritual harm, especially for marginalized communities.
Consider the ethical complexities of sharing stories—both for survivors of spiritual trauma and those hosting podcasts or creating resources.
Talk through practical ways new communities and organizations can avoid recreating harmful power dynamics and foster safety and agency.
Reflect on the role of conflict, repair, and personal healing in faith spaces and survivor communities.
Touch on generational differences in openness to processing and naming spiritual harm and why resources matter for healing.