
Exploring Moral Injury in Sacred Texts
Joseph McDonald(Editor)
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Published on 18. May 2017
Book
Paperback/Softback
216 pages
978-1-78592-756-0 (ISBN)
Description
Moral injury is a profound violation of a human being's core moral identity through experiences of violence or trauma. This is the first book in which scholars from different faith and academic backgrounds consider the concept of moral injury not merely from a pastoral or philosophical point of view but through critical engagement with the sacred texts of Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism and American Civil Religion.
This collection of essays explores the ambiguities of personal culpability among both perpetrators and victims of violence and the suffering involved in accepting personal agency in trauma. Contributors provide fresh and compelling readings of texts from different faith traditions and use their findings to reflect on real-life strategies for recovery from violations of core moral beliefs and their consequences such as shame, depression and addiction. With interpretations of the sacred texts, contributors reflect on the concerns of the morally-injured today and offer particular aspects of healing from their communities as support, making this a groundbreaking contribution to the study of moral injury and trauma.
This collection of essays explores the ambiguities of personal culpability among both perpetrators and victims of violence and the suffering involved in accepting personal agency in trauma. Contributors provide fresh and compelling readings of texts from different faith traditions and use their findings to reflect on real-life strategies for recovery from violations of core moral beliefs and their consequences such as shame, depression and addiction. With interpretations of the sacred texts, contributors reflect on the concerns of the morally-injured today and offer particular aspects of healing from their communities as support, making this a groundbreaking contribution to the study of moral injury and trauma.
Reviews / Votes
This book is a powerful impetus to understanding the full spectrum of moral injury and moral rehabilitation. -- John Dominic Crossan, Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies, DePaul University, Chicago, IL. A highly valuable collection for those engaging with religion and trauma studies. -- Karen L. King, Harvard Divinity School This may be the most important, authentic, and enjoyable volume yet written on moral injury. Each deliciously crafted essay explores new territory in the moral injury landscape using passages from ancient and revered writings as guides. The whole powerfully affirms the role of moral living-and its sometimes heartbreaking challenges-in the center of human experience. -- William P. Nash, MD, Director of Psychological Health for the U.S. Marine CorpsMore details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Paperback (UK-trade)
Dimensions
Height: 226 mm
Width: 150 mm
Thickness: 14 mm
Weight
272 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-78592-756-0 (9781785927560)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Joseph McDonald
Exploring Moral Injury in Sacred Texts
E-Book
05/2017
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
€79.99
Available for download
Persons
Joseph McDonald is a Visiting Instructor at Texas Christian University and Brite Divinity School.
Editor
Contributions
Foreword
Content
Foreword - Jonathan Shay; Introduction - Joseph McDonald, PhD, Visiting Instructor at Texas Christian University and Brite Divinity School; 1. Soul Repair: A Jewish View - David R. Blumenthal, PhD, Jay and Leslie Cohen Professor of Judaic Studies, Emory University; 2. Sodom and Lot's Family: Moral Injury in Genesis 19 - Nancy Bowen, PhD, Professor of Old Testament, Earlham School of Religion; 3. "The Most Beautiful of Stories": A Muslim Reflection on the Qur'an and Moral Injury - Amir Hussain, PhD, Professor of Theological Studies, Loyola Marymount University; 4. Moral Injury and the Division of Spoils after Battle in the Hebrew Bible - Brad Kelle, PhD, Professor of Old Testament, Point Loma Nazarene University; 5. Civil Religion and the Moral Wounds of War - Daniel C. Maguire, STD, Professor of Theological Ethics, Marquette University; 6. Like acid seeping into your soul: Religio-cultural Violence in Moral Injury - Kelly Denton-Borhaug, PhD, Associate Professor of Religion and Co-director of Peace and Justice Studies, Moravian College; 7. Do Not Torment Me: The Morally-Injured Gersaene Demoniac - Michael Yandell, Theological Studies PhD student, Emory University; 8. Peter and Judas: Moral Injury and Repair - Warren Carter, PhD, Professor of New Testament, Brite Divinity School; 9. Buddhist Scripture and Moral Injury: Reflections on the Story of A?gulimala - John Thompson, PhD, Associate Professor of Philosophy and Religious Studies, Christopher Newport University; Conclusion; Afterword - Rita Brock PhD, Research Professor of Theology and Culture, Brite Divinity School, and Founding Co-Director, The Soul Repair Center; References