Thomas Gibbons-Neff of Georgetown University pens a fascinating read on moral injury, a reaction to war distinct from, but often confused with, post traumatic stress.

Moral injury is a nebulous term that few use seriously because it doesn’t read well on Veterans Affairs claims. It’s a new term but not a new concept. Moral injury is as timeless as war — going back to when Ajax thrust himself upon his sword on the shores of Troy. Unlike post-traumatic stress, which is a result of a fear-conditioned response, moral injury is a feeling of existential disorientation that manifests as intense guilt…

As discussed here many times, moral injury can be a sometimes nebulous concept, though it may be far more common than is realized.  (One study said the number one cause of PTSD was actually moral injury.)   At its core, moral injury is an issue of morality, leading to the logical conclusion that, to some extent, religion may very well play a role in treating it.

Read more.

Also at the Stars and Stripes.

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