Experience and impact of violence among Christian missionaries in Orissa

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to describe holistically subjective experience of violence among Christian missionaries, and determine factors that fostered resilience after their exposure to violence in Orissa. The study asked two questions: (a) What is the subjective experience of violence among Christian missionaries in Orissa? (b) What are the factors that foster resilience among Christian missionaries after their experience of violence in Orissa? Fifteen Christian missionaries, both men and women between the age group of 20 to 65 years from the state of Orissa, who were exposed to violence, participated in this study. The study used a semistructured interview schedule to collect data from the participants, and an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), to arrive at the themes. Nine themes emerged from this study and a master superordinate theme of transpersonal identity overarched these nine themes. In answer to the first research question, Transformative Experience emerged as a theme. In answer to the second research question, the following themes emerged as participants coping strategies as well as their resilience: Faith, Spiritual Experience, Denial, and Religious Identity Reinvestment, Positive Religious coping, Problem-focused Coping, Spiritual Self-regulation, and Experience of the transpersonal. The findings of this study intend to inform and recommend to the religious guides and practitioners of psychotherapy to explore with their religious trainees or clients their spirituality, religious faith, and the repertory of religious coping strategies in dealing with major life crises and use the same for formulating treatment plans. newlineKey words: Socially devaluing experience, spiritual self-regulation, religious identity reinvestment, denial, transformative experience, religious coping, experience of the transpersonal, resilience and transpersonal identity. newline