Religion, Domestic Violence and Congregational Life

Abstract

The intersection between intimate partner violence and religion offers us an opportunity to explore ways in which religious beliefs and practices make a difference in the life of a woman or man when violence strikes at home. Within this chapter, we consider how faith communities are sometimes part of the problem surrounding abuse and sometimes part of the solution. When abuse is ignored, or minimized by congregational leadership, there is no attempt to be part of the journey towards healing and wholeness for a victim, or accountability and change for an offender. When abuse is condemned and its patterns understood by congregational leadership, there are practical, emotional, and spiritual resources available to assist all family members who are impacted by it. The development of faith-specific resources is still in its early days as are collaborative community efforts that include religious communities. As the chapter argues, intimate partner violence will never be eradicated until we offer best practices to those who suffer, including those who are religious, and challenge the structures of our society that privilege some people more than others. The chapter concludes with a challenge: we all have a role to play in making relationships and our communities a safe place for everyone!