Helpful resource... a "checklist" for trauma-sensitive worshiping communities [and educational settings]

From a 'Christian' perspective, I still say religion, and especially accompanying dogma, are basically man-made. All scripture was written by human beings who, I believe, unwittingly created God’s nature in their own fallible and often-enough angry, vengeful image — especially the part insisting via publicized protest pickets that God hates this or that group of people. I feel I cannot emphasize this enough. (This may also help explain why those authors’ Maker has to be male.) I'm afraid that too many of today’s institutional Christians believe and/or vocally behave likewise.

While I don’t mean to push any form of theism, Jesus was/is meant to show to people that there really was/is hope for the many — especially for young people living in today’s physical, mental and spiritual turmoil — seeing hopelessness in a fire-and-brimstone angry-God-condemnation creator requiring literal pain-filled penance/payment for Man’s sinful thus corrupted behavior.

For me, Jesus coming to serve, rather than to be served is also most profound and hope-inducing. Most notably, his washing his disciples' feet was/is the most profound and hopeful example of the humility of the Creator, who, through Jesus, joined humankind in our miseries, joys and everything in between. (Personally, I picture Jesus as being one who’d enjoy a belly-shaking laugh over a good, albeit clean, joke with his disciples, now and then.)

Furthermore, I don't believe that the Almighty needs or desires to be worshipped; such a need/desire is typical human vanity. Also, maybe “houses of worship” are meant for the parishioners, divinely intended to be for the soul what health clinics/spas, even hospitals, are for the body and mind. And perhaps the Ten Commandments were/are not meant to obey in order to appease/please God but rather intended for His human creation’s benefit, to keep people safe and healthy. ...

Meanwhile, too many monotheists continue detrimentally creating the nature of their God (whom/which I perceive as not being in humanoid/singular form nor with gender) in their own characteristically fallible and angry, vengeful image. ... I hope more congregations will allow perspectives like mine to be heard within.

Rissa,

Thank you for catching the "ministry" piece that I hadn't edited out... I will make that correction and upload a new version.

Chris

Love the Checklist for Trauma-Sensitive educational environments. Thank you for considering how to edit the document for other settings. I think this type of sensitivity should be a consideration in many avenues of life, including ministry/worship. I will be using this in a training for preschool teachers. It hits all the right points in a clear, direct, do-able fashion.

The last paragraph has a mention of ministry: "Take your temperature before your time of ministry...". Other than that well done and ready to be used in other communities. Thanks again for your work. I will be sure to give appropriate credit.