*Trigger Warning* Rapture anxiety, religious trauma
Are you feeling your nervous system activated by all the media coverage about the war with Iran? It’s hard to escape the news. It has only taken a few days for people in the Trump administration to begin to claim this war is sanctioned by God. Aaron Parnas has been reporting on how some of the military leadership are telling soldiers that Trump was “anointed by Jesus to lead the Iran war.” Then come the quotes from the religious right on social media about “wars and rumors of wars.” Could this be the end we’ve all been waiting for?
This kind of talk is all about Israel and the book of Revelation. As a gen-xer I’ve been here many, many times. This time feels worse than the ones that came before because now they’re not even trying to hide their motivations. They boldly claim Trump to be God’s instrument without even a hint of a blush. In their minds, the endtimes are not something to be feared but something to be encouraged. If Trump can push them closer to their goal, that’s great, even if he seems like the farthest thing from a godly man. They see themselves as the winners at the end of it all, the ultimate chance to own the libs.
For those of us with religious trauma, times like these can be tough. Even if you no longer believe in the rapture or the endtimes it can make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. For me, it brings up so much of my childhood trauma. I know I’d be struggling more right now if I hadn’t done so much trauma recovery work on this topic. As some of you know, I’m in the process of publishing my book. The endtimes play a big role in my childhood. Everyone in my family was always looking for the signs and worrying about who was and wasn’t going to make the rapture. Every war from when I was born in 1970 till now has been seen as proof of the coming Great Tribulation. The impact of this is so strong that whenever I see military vehicles I don’t think of the military I think of the Tribulation. I think of “A Thief In The Night.”
“Tonight I’m being tormented by the monster I call Rapture. I’ve fought this monster a million times. These battles leave me sleep-deprived and ragged, but I always prevail. I’m fifty-three years old, and I’ve been fighting Rapture for fifty years.”
Final Girl Surviving Church and Childhood
If you’re finding yourself anxious about the war please know that you’re not alone. You’re not silly for being upset. It can be hard to give ourselves grace when those around us may not understand why we cannot just forget and get over it. Religious trauma is real and it can really impact your life. Remember to breathe and remind yourself that you are safe. Turn off the news and take a break from social media if that helps. If you have someone in your life who understands, reach out to them for support. As always I’m here if you need help finding resources or if you just need an ear. This will pass and it will come around again.
Debbie McNulty 