In this essay, I will explore how religious narratives shape understanding of sexual trauma. This exploration is crucial because it provides insight into how societies understand issues surrounding sexual violence. In order to understand how these narratives shape understanding, I will analyze three case studies. These include an analysis of Biblical texts that discuss rape, an examination of Islamic teachings on the subject, and a close reading of the Qur'anic text. In addition to these case studies, I will also examine the impact of Christian belief systems on survivors of abuse who are seeking healing.
I will draw conclusions about how these narratives shape understanding of sexual trauma and its effects on individuals, families, and communities.
Religious Narrative 1: The Bible and Rape
The Bible contains several stories about rape. One such story is found in Genesis 34, which describes Dinah, the daughter of Jacob, being raped by Shechem, the prince of the region she was visiting. After Shechem rapes her, he falls in love with her and asks for her hand in marriage. Her brothers object but eventually agree if all the men in the city undergo circumcision.
Once they do so, the brothers attack them and kill everyone except Shechem and his father Hamor. The story ends with Dinah going back to live with her family, seemingly untraumatized by her experience.
Religious Narrative 2: Islam and Sexual Violence
Islamic teaching includes verses that deal directly with sexual violence.
Surah Al-Nisa (Women) states that those who commit adultery should be punished with stoning. This verse has been used to justify honor killings and other forms of retaliatory violence against women. Another verse, Surah An-Nisa (Women), states that rapists must marry their victims, even if they were already married before the assault. This rule is seen as a way to restore honor to the victim's family.
Religious Narrative 3: Qur'anic Teachings
In addition to these explicit teachings, there are also implicit messages in the Qur'an regarding sexual violence.
One verse states "And when you have intercourse with your wives and they have become clean from menstruation, then abstain from them until they have become pure again" (Qur'an 2:222). This implies that a woman can only be sexually available after she has been cleansed, which could imply a lack of agency over her own body. Another verse reads "The fornicator does not marry except a whore or a magician, and an idolater marries not but an idolater; the disbeliever marries not but another disbeliever. That is forbidden to the believers" (Qur'an 24:3). This suggests that non-Muslims cannot be trusted as marriage partners, implying that sexual relationships between Muslims and non-Muslims are immoral.
Religious narratives shape understanding of sexual trauma by reinforcing power structures within societies. These narratives often frame rape as something that can be solved through marriage or other means. They also suggest that women should be submissive to their husbands, even if they experience violence at their hands. By analyzing these narratives, we can begin to understand how societies view issues surrounding sexuality and intimacy.