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.

A collection of essays looking at moral injury through critical engagement with sacred texts from different world faiths

About the Author
Joseph McDonald is a Visiting Instructor at Texas Christian University and Brite Divinity School.

Reviews
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 Corps



Book Information
ISBN 9781785927560
Author Joseph McDonald
Format Paperback
Page Count 216
Imprint Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Publisher Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Weight(grams) 340g
Dimensions(mm) 230mm * 152mm * 16mm