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An Online Resource Library on Gender-Based Violence.

Overview: Faith, Spirituality, Religion & Domestic Violence

"An informed, compassionate advocate and a knowledgeable religious leader can make all the difference for a victim/survivor who is experiencing domestic violence. An adequate advocate’s response that includes competent and sensitive religious and cultural concerns, combined with the resources of the wider community, can save lives and bring healing where there has been woundedness.” – Rev. Thelma Burgonia-Watson, from “Walking Together: Working with Women from Diverse Religious and Spiritual Traditions”

Many survivors report finding hope and healing in their faith traditions and spiritual practices. Religion can be a critical resource for survivors in making sense of the abuse and informing their decisions. It is also known to be a roadblock to help-seeking, hope and safety. That is why faith leaders and faith communities play an important role in supporting both survivors of abuse and those who cause harm. Nonspiritual domestic violence advocates must support survivors who wish to access faith-based resources. These can be an integral part of their journey towards safety and healing. The resources below offer context around the intersections between domestic violence and religion. They provide guidance for those who wish to work at that intersection.

The history and evolution of the landscape of faith and religion in the United States provides important context to this issue. This includes a history of discrimination, oppression, and violence against Black Churches, Muslims, Jews, and other faith communities, particularly communities of color. The Pew Research Center provides a library of resources on religion in the United States: https://www.pewresearch.org/topic/religion/. The article, Violent History: Attacks on Black Churches, published by The New York Times outlines a long list of attacks targeting predominantly black churches in the United States.

America's Changing Religious Landscape

This research offers data on the changing religious composition of the U.S. and describes the demographic characteristics of U.S. religious groups, including their median age, racial and ethnic makeup, nativity data, education and income levels, gender ratios, family composition (including religious intermarriage rates) and geographic distribution.
The Importance of Faith/Religion in the Lives of Survivors
This section sheds light on the importance that religion/faith can have in the lives of many survivors. It clarifies the critical role faith/religion should play in domestic violence advocacy.

TAG Package: Spiritual Health Matters

Spirituality is important to the holistic health of survivors and can be a critical component of a survivor’s healing journey. This TA Guidance package features two new publications that offer guidance to advocates and faith leaders working to promote spiritual health and allyship.

Faith and Intimate Partner Violence Handbook for Advocates

This handbook for advocates was created through a collaboration between FaithTrust Institute and Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence (FCADV). It is a valuable resource to those who want to better understand the role that religion and spirituality may have in the lives of victims/survivors of intimate partner violence.
How Faith/Religion Is Misused to Condone or Cause Harm
Resources in this section discuss the many ways in which religion and spirituality are misused by those who cause harm to excuse or condone abusive behavior.

Power, Control, and Response Wheels

Power and control are the basic elements of an abusive relationship. These power and control wheels from Safe Havens illustrate some major ways in which your faith community can help end the cycle of power and control.

Broken Vows: Religious Perspectives on Domestic Violence

Through the stories of six abused women and expert information from Jewish, Roman Catholic and Protestant leaders, Broken Vows addresses how religious teachings have been misused to perpetuate abuse and how religious communities can work proactively to end domestic violence.

Violence Against Women and the Role of Religion

This document provides an overview of some of the basic issues and questions that confront religiously identified women who have experienced abuse, and outlines strategies for clergy and secular anti-violence advocates to reach out to one another.

A Commentary on Religion and Domestic Violence

This document features a discussion of the basic understanding of the place of religion in addressing domestic violence, illustrated through three western religious traditions: Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.

Domestic Violence and Faith Communities: Guidelines for Leaders

Faith communities can play a significant role in providing support for victims of domestic violence and in holding abusers accountable. This handbook provides information about the nature and dynamics of domestic violence to guide faith leaders in responding to victims and abusers within their faith communities.