Overview

Hidden Selves: Triple Masking and the Mental Health Crisis in the Church offers a groundbreaking interdisciplinary analysis of one of the least examined pastoral and psychological challenges within contemporary Christianity: the complex intersection of autism, LGBTQ+ identity, and religious belonging. Drawing on qualitative research, pastoral practice, disability studies, trauma theory, and constructive theology, this book introduces and develops the concept of Triple Masking-the simultaneous suppression of autistic traits, queer identity, and authentic spiritual experience in order to survive within conservative ecclesial contexts. Through rigorous exploration, the book demonstrates that Triple Masking is not merely an individual coping strategy but a structurally produced phenomenon shaped by doctrinal exclusion, heteronormative expectations, ableist norms, and the moral surveillance inherent in many religious environments. It argues that the demand for conformity-neurological, sexual, and theological-creates a profound crisis of identity integration, often resulting in psychological fragmentation, internalized shame, spiritual trauma, relational isolation, and significant mental health risk. The text further advances a constructive path forward by integrating insights from Internal Family Systems (IFS), neurodiversity-affirming psychology, queer theology, and trauma-informed pastoral care. It proposes a model of identity integration that affirms the sacredness of autistic embodiment, the legitimacy of queer desire, and the possibility of a spiritually honest relationship with a liberating God. Finally, the book issues a prophetic call to the church, articulating a vision for communities of faith that embody justice, accessibility, and radical inclusion. It offers concrete recommendations for doctrinal reform, sensory-inclusive liturgy, queer-affirming pastoral practice, and the creation of ecclesial spaces where no individual must hide to belong. Combining scholarly rigor with pastoral sensitivity, Hidden Selves stands as an essential contribution to practical theology, pastoral psychology, disability studies, and queer Christian scholarship-challenging religious institutions while offering hope, healing, and a compelling vision for the church's future.

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