| Abstract | Childhood sexual abuse is pervasive and debilitating for the victim. Silence and fear become its hallmark features. Spiritual and religious beliefs are called into question as survivors navigate a recovery process. I contend that pastors are in a position to offer support to survivors as they engage in questions of meaning, specifically as survivors experience upheaval in their religious beliefs. Women who participated in a focus group for this project conveyed how their faith was lost, crushed, or redefined as they sought clarity about how the abuse they experienced impacted their faith. This project sought to listen to the voices of women who are survivors of childhood sexual abuse and what they had to say about resurrection. From their stories, the work of trauma therapists, and feminist theologians, this project has tried to capture an integrated approach to understanding how women recover from childhood sexual abuse and how their recovery may be interpreted within the resurrection story from the Gospel of Mark. Silence, fear, and an open future are part of the common experiences of both the women in the gospel story and women who are survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Wondering what the future holds and if it holds meaning and wholeness are questions many survivors share. Ultimately, the theme of resurrection may not be the one that speaks to them, but the women in the focus group were willing to explore whether or not it could be. Exploration is part of the meaning making process. For those who find value in the resurrection story and for those who continue to deliberate, this project opens the door to ongoing conversations. |
