About Negative Religious Experiences Research
Rev. Dr. Christie Love is the co-founder of The Flipped Table Collective. She is passionate about the research, understanding, and advocacy around issues related to Religious Trauma and trauma-informed ministry practices. For her DMin project at Eden Theological Seminary, Dr. Love conducted a case study with 508 participants to measure negative religious experiences (NRE) and compare and contrast outcome occurrences to the data around the outcomes associated with Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). Her case study found:
Like childhood trauma, religious trauma can be measured which allows outcomes to be traced to negative religious experiences.
Individuals from faith-filled homes may have a low ACE score but have a high NRE score and experience similar negative outcomes.
High and extreme NRE scores impact an individual’s physical health, mental health, and socioeconomic outcomes.
Connections between high and extreme NRE scores and the level of faith and spiritual practices in impacted individuals.
Affinity groups were identified as those more likely to have higher NRE scores. These groups included; LGBTQIA+ individuals, those who had been homeschooled, and individuals whose caregivers were in ministry or served on a mission field.
You can read her full case study here.
Dr. Love is expanding her research to collect data on a national level. This data collection effort seeks to have 3,000 individuals complete the anonymous survey. Results will be used to understand further the impact of negative religious experiences (NREs), their correlation to outcomes, and the impact they have on individuals’ spirituality. This data will also help to create a heat map where the geographical impacts of NREs can be identified and studied. Finally, this data will be used to create resources to train faith leaders, physicians, and mental health professionals to understand the effects that NREs can have on individuals.
To participate in this study, click the button below.
Interested in helping collect data for this study?
Join our research team as a community captain.
A community captain is asked to share the survey link with contacts in their community of context. The goal is for each community captain will be able to get 50 individuals in their area to complete the study.
As a thank you for being a part of our team in this unique way, community captains will each receive:
Free access to our Religious Trauma Certificate Program.
The opportunity to attend an online data release event when the national study data is published.
Your name will be listed as part of our research team in the data publication.
If you are interested in working with us, please fill out the application below. Once your application has been reviewed, you will receive a unique survey link, email text templates, and social media resources for your use.
Interested in learning more about Religious Trauma?
Explore the Religious Trauma Certificate program we offer that was developed and taught by Rev. Dr. Christie Love
Visit our Free Resource Library with hundreds of trauma-informed resources for clergy and communities of faith.
Listen to episodes of our Flipped Table Theology Podcast that focuses on Religious Trauma, trauma-informed ministry, and progressive theology.