Faith Leaders Respond to Iran Attacks:Trauma, Retaliation, and the Call to Peace
Last week, the world watched with heavy hearts as violence erupted again in the Middle East.
On June 13, Israel launched military strikes inside Iranian territory. Iran quickly responded with
its own counterattack. As the cycle of violence spins on, people of faith around the
globe—including leaders from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the World Council of
Churches, and the World Communion of Reformed Churches—have issued strong
statements condemning the violence and urging de-escalation and diplomacy.
But for those of us in ministry, we recognize something even deeper beneath these headlines: a
trauma response playing out on the global stage.
Trauma and Retaliation: What Faith Communities Need to
Understand
Whether we’re talking about individuals, communities, or entire nations—unhealed trauma has
a way of showing up in harmful ways. The back-and-forth military strikes, the harsh rhetoric,
the deep mistrust—they’re all symptoms of deeper wounds. These actions don’t happen in a
vacuum. They’re rooted in a history of violence, fear, and generational pain.
That’s why, in moments like this, we must remember a hard but important truth:
Hurt people hurt people.
This phrase isn’t just a clever saying—it’s a summary of how trauma shapes human behavior.
And it’s painfully visible right now in the Middle East.
The Middle East Conflict and a Trauma-Informed
Christian Response
As PC(USA) pastors and people of faith, we’re called not only to condemn violence but also to
understand the wounds that fuel it. Trauma-informed ministry means recognizing that:
● Retaliation is often fear-based. When a group has been hurt over and over, even the
perception of threat can provoke a survival reaction.
● Civilians are caught in the middle. Israeli and Iranian families alike are grieving, afraid,
and longing for peace. Their nervous systems are constantly on alert—what
psychologists call “hypervigilance.”
● Hope and pain coexist. Many in the Iranian diaspora are both relieved by signs of
possible regime change and deeply anguished by the human cost. This emotional
contradiction is a hallmark of trauma responses.
A Christian Call to De-Escalation and Healing
The PC(USA) has long stood for peace-building, diplomacy, and nonviolent witness. In
times like these, our faith doesn’t give us easy answers—but it does offer a path forward:
1. Name the pain.
Faith communities can provide sacred space to grieve. Use prayers of lament, guided
journaling, or healing circles to help people process what’s happening in the world.
2. Interrupt the cycle.
Choose empathy instead of polarization. Speak up not just for your side, but for the sanctity of
all human life.
3. Hold the tension.
You can oppose a regime without dehumanizing its people. You can demand accountability
without justifying violence.
4. Support advocacy.
Join the PC(USA) Office of Public Witness in urging U.S. lawmakers to prioritize diplomacy,
ceasefire, and humanitarian relief. Let your voice count for peace.
Why This Matters for Everyday Christians
Even if we’re half a world away from the fighting, we are never far from its effects. Refugees
resettling in our cities, veterans dealing with moral injury, and our own members who feel
helpless and overwhelmed—all of them are watching.
As we often say in trauma care:
“If you don’t transform your pain, you will transmit it.”
That’s why our response matters. Let us choose the way of Jesus—not revenge, not fear, but
radical empathy, healing, and reconciliation.
A Prayer for Peace
God of every nation,
Heal the wounds we cannot see.
Break the cycle of trauma and retaliation.
Make us instruments of peace
in a world aching for healing.
Amen.
�� Sources
1. PC(USA) News Service, “Faith groups condemn last week’s attacks in Iran and urge de-
escalation,” June 18, 2025. https://pcusa.org/news-storytelling/news/2025/6/18/faith-
groups-condemn-last-weeks-attacks-iran-and-urge-de-escalation
2. Rohr, Richard. The Universal Christ, 2019 – reflections on transforming pain.
3. Van der Kolk, Bessel. The Body Keeps the Score, 2014 – foundational trauma
psychology reference.
4. Trauma Healing Institute, American Bible Society – frameworks for faith-based trauma
response.
5. PC(USA) Office of Public Witness – policy and peace advocacy resources.
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