When Religion Becomes Trauma: Dr. Moe's Journey to Healing w/ Dr. Maurice Turmel | EP 444

What if the pain you carry from religion isn’t a personal flaw—but the result of deep emotional and spiritual conditioning? In this powerful episode of Grief 2 Growth, host Brian D. Smith welcomes Dr. Maurice “Dr. Moe” Turmel, a seasoned spiritual psychologist, trauma survivor, and author of Breaking the Spell of Religion. Together, they explore the profound and often hidden impact of religious trauma—and how to heal from it without losing your faith or spiritual foundation. Dr. Moe shares his journey growing up in a rigid Catholic environment, his years of emotional repression, and the inner awakening that led him to rediscover joy, self-trust, and a deeper, more personal spirituality. This conversation is not just informative—it’s a lifeline for anyone navigating the pain of deconstruction, spiritual abuse, or faith-based guilt. 🧠 What You’ll Learn • How childhood religious indoctrination can create emotional trauma • Why some religious teachings undermine self-worth and silence inner wisdom • The difference between organized religion and authentic spirituality • How inner child work, music, and self-reflection become tools for transformation • What it means to be “divine, not defective”—and why that matters 🔗 Connect With Dr. Moe • 📘 Books: Breaking the Spell of Religion (https://www.amazon.com/s?k=breaking+the+spell+of+religion+maurice+turmel) When Angels Call: Coping With Grief & Loss (https://www.amazon.com/s?k=when+angels+call+maurice+turmel) • 🎵 Music & Spiritual Songs: Dr. Moe on Bandcamp • 🌐 Follow Him Online: • YouTube: The Spiritual Psychologist • Facebook: Dr. Moe’s Cosmic Perspective • Website: Coming soon You've been listening. You're doing the work. But there's still this feeling that you're circling the same place. Maybe you've thought about working with me one-on-one. Maybe something's held you back.  I get that. And I want you to know there's still a place for you. All of it, pay what you want. You decide what it's worth. Nobody gets turned away because of money. https://grief2g (https://grief2growth.com/store) Want to go deeper? My Substack is where I share solo essays on grief, consciousness, and continuing bonds — thoughts that don't always make it into the podcast. It's also home to a community of listeners who get it, because they're living it too. Free to subscribe. Find it at substack.com/grief2growth. (https://grief2growth.com/substack) I've been studying Near Death Experiences for many years now. I am 100% convinced they are real. In this short, free ebook, I not only explain why I believe NDEs are real, I share some of the universal secrets brought back by people who have had them. https://www.grief2growth.com/ndelessons Support the show (https://pages.grief2growth.com/products/grief-2-growth) 🧑🏿‍🤝‍🧑🏻 Join me on Substack (https://grief2growth.substack.com) - connect with others and me 👛 Subscribe to Grief 2 Growth Premium (bonus episodes) (https://www.buzzsprout.com/695488/supporters/new) 📰 Get A Free Gift (https://www.grief2growth.com/gifts) 📅 Book A Complimentary Discovery Call (https://grief2growth.as.me/30-minute-complimentary) 📈 Leave A Review (https://ratethispodcast.com/grief2growth) Thanks so much for your support