What is Religious Upbringing?
Religious upbringing refers to the process of teaching children about religion from birth until adulthood through various means such as home, school, community events, religious institutions like churches, mosques, and synagogues. It involves instilling religious beliefs and values into young minds to make them conform to societal norms. This upbringing may take place in various forms such as reciting prayers, reading religious texts, attending sermons, participating in rituals, and celebrations.
Impact of Religious Upbringing on Queer Individuals
Religious upbringing can have both positive and negative impacts on queer individuals' psychological and social well-being. On one hand, it can help reinforce their faith, provide a sense of belonging, and create an identity for them to connect with others who share similar beliefs.
It can also lead to internalized homophobia, transphobia, and self-acceptance issues due to its strict views against non-conformity. In addition, they might experience stigma and discrimination from other members of the same faith community, which could further exacerbate these feelings.
Long-Term Psychological Impact
In the long term, religious upbringing can negatively affect a person's mental health by making them feel guilty or ashamed about their sexual orientation/gender identity. They might feel that being queer goes against their religious teachings, leading to feelings of anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. This can be compounded by external factors such as lack of acceptance from family, friends, and society. It is also linked to higher rates of suicide attempts among LGBTQ+ people.
Social Impacts of Religious Upbringing
Religious upbringing can result in a lack of knowledge about different gender identities and expressions, resulting in difficulties navigating relationships and intimacy.
Some religions require conformity to traditional gender roles, which may not align with the individual's personal preferences. As a result, they might face rejection from potential partners or struggle to find support within their faith community.
Self-Acceptance Issues
The process of accepting one's sexuality/gender identity is often challenging, especially for those raised in conservative religions. This conflict between religion and sexual orientation/gender identity leads to internalized homophobia/transphobia, where individuals believe negative things about themselves due to their belief system. It can lead to confusion, isolation, and difficulty forming relationships.
How Religion Can Help Queer Individuals
Despite these issues, there are ways through which religion can help queer individuals navigate their sexuality/gender identity. Some churches/mosques have become more inclusive and welcoming, creating safe spaces for LGBTQ+ members to express themselves without judgment. These communities provide emotional support, spiritual guidance, and a sense of belonging that helps them embrace their identities positively.
Religious upbringing has both positive and negative impacts on queer individuals' psychological and social well-being. While it can reinforce faith, create an identity, and provide a sense of belonging, it can also cause internalized homophobia/transphobia, stigma, discrimination, and self-acceptance issues.
By seeking supportive communities and embracing their identities positively, queer individuals can thrive despite their religious background.
What are the long-term psychological and social impacts of religious upbringing on internalized homophobia, transphobia, and self-acceptance in queer individuals?
Research has shown that religious beliefs can have significant effects on an individual's identity development, especially for those who identify as LGBTQ+. One study found that LGBTQ+ youth from religious families were more likely to report feelings of rejection by their family members, leading to increased levels of stress, anxiety, and depression (Savin-Williams & Ream, 2013).