Abstract
Using a biographical-reconstructive approach, we examine the interplay between the symbolic representation of spirit possession and healing forms of ritual purifcation in the context of the war-related trauma of former Lord’s Resistance Army child soldiers in Uganda.
We illustrate how these former child soldiers articulate their trauma and resilience and how their communities deal with forms of spirit possession, what the role of religious communities is, and how rituals function as a coping mechanism for war-related trauma. The narrative approach is used to analyze 12 digital reports of diferent nongovernmental organizations and five digital testimonies of former child soldiers. The results provide relevant knowledge for a successful reintegration of returnees into society.
We illustrate how these former child soldiers articulate their trauma and resilience and how their communities deal with forms of spirit possession, what the role of religious communities is, and how rituals function as a coping mechanism for war-related trauma. The narrative approach is used to analyze 12 digital reports of diferent nongovernmental organizations and five digital testimonies of former child soldiers. The results provide relevant knowledge for a successful reintegration of returnees into society.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 345-365 |
| Number of pages | 21 |
| Journal | Pastoral psychology |
| Volume | 73 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| Early online date | 11 Dec 2023 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jun 2024 |
Keywords
- s Child soldier · War-related trauma · Spirit possession · Northern Uganda · Lived religion · Acholi