This is my body, broken for you, Jesus and trauma - July 2025

What has Jesus to do with trauma? Many people who experience trauma find solidarity in Jesus' experiences. Some would even claim that Jesus is a trauma survivor himself. Others may find the horror of Jesus' crucifixion to be re-traumatising. What do these perspectives mean for how we think about and relate to Christ? Karen O'Donnell explores these questions to enrich our understanding of Christ and humanity. Dr Karen O'Donnell is Academic Dean and Lecturer in Liturgy and Theology at Westcott House, Cambridge, and an Associate Lecturer at Cambridge University. Her latest books include Survival: Radical Spiritual Practices for Trauma Survivors and Pregnancy and Birth: Critical Theological Conceptions (with Dr Claire Williams).