As an academic researcher and educator who has studied the intersection between LGBTQIA+ identities and spirituality for years, I have come to believe that it is essential to include more inclusive sacred narratives about queerness in religious and cultural traditions. This can have significant effects on individual and communal identity coherence and mental health, such as reduced fear, anxiety, and depression.
What are Sacred Narratives?
Sacred narratives refer to stories that provide meaning, purpose, and guidance for people's lives. They typically center around characters who face challenges and transform themselves through their interactions with others, nature, God(s), or the divine. These narratives often serve as a foundation for communities' belief systems and practices.
The Importance of Inclusivity
Unfortunately, many sacred narratives exclude or marginalize individuals from minoritized groups, including those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, agender, nonbinary, pansexual, polyamorous, demisexual, aromantic, omnisexual, or otherwise do not conform to traditional gender or sexual norms. When these stories exclude them, they may feel excluded from their faith tradition and struggle to find self-acceptance and belonging.
Cognitive Effects
When people read or hear these types of narratives and see their experiences reflected in them, it can help them make sense of their own identities and develop a stronger sense of identity coherence. It means being able to integrate different aspects of one's life into a unified whole. This includes recognizing how different parts fit together and making decisions based on one's core values, beliefs, and goals.
Seeing a queer character overcome obstacles related to coming out or finding love can give LGBTQIA+ people hope that they too can achieve similar successes despite societal stigma or rejection. Seeing someone else like them experience spiritual transformation and growth can also inspire them to pursue their own journeys.
Emotional Effects
In addition to cognitive benefits, inclusive sacred narratives can have positive emotional effects by reducing anxiety, depression, and other mental health problems.
When an individual sees themselves represented positively in religious texts, it can validate their existence and reduce feelings of isolation, shame, and loneliness. This can improve self-esteem and confidence, leading to greater resilience and well-being.
Queer-inclusive stories provide role models who demonstrate the importance of spirituality and self-care, encouraging others to prioritize their mental and physical health. They may also normalize therapy, meditation, exercise, nutrition, rest, and other practices that support overall well-being.
Incorporating Queerness into Sacred Narratives
To incorporate more queerness into sacred narratives, communities must be willing to challenge traditional norms and biases. This requires open dialogue, education, and reflection on historical and present discrimination against marginalized groups. It also means creating new stories and adapting existing ones to include diverse experiences, relationships, and identities.
Doing so can help individuals develop a stronger sense of identity coherence, belonging, and well-being, ultimately strengthening their faith traditions and improving society as a whole.
What are the cognitive and emotional effects of queer-inclusive sacred narratives on identity coherence and psychological well-being?
Queer-inclusive sacred narratives have several positive cognitive and emotional effects on identity coherence and psychological well-being. They provide individuals with a sense of belonging, which is essential for identity coherence and mental health. The stories validate their experiences and reinforce positive identities, leading to increased self-esteem and reduced anxiety.