Named, Shamed and Blamed by Hannah Waite

Named, Shamed and Blamed by Hannah Waite

What happens when faith communities become places of stigma rather than sanctuary?

Named, Shamed and Blamed explores this urgent question by introducing the concept of ‘spiritual stigma’ and its profound impact. It reveals how religious language, practices and communities can intensify shame and exclusion for those facing mental health challenges – particularly individuals with bipolar disorder. Drawing on lived experience, the book combines empirical insight with theological reflection to show how stigma creates significant forms of poverty, oppression and injustice. It critiques harmful narratives around sin, suffering and healing, and offers reimagined responses rooted in liberation theology, compassion and justice. Written for theologians, faith leaders, mental health professionals, and all those concerned with belonging, it urges the Church to confront stigma as a theological issue and to cultivate communities that embrace those on the margins as central to the body of Christ, offering a vision of hope and transformation. 

Hannah Waite is a British Academy Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Leeds. Her research explores theology, mental health and how Christian communities respond to people on the margins. John Swinton is a Scottish theologian. He is the Chair in Divinity and Religious Studies at the School of Divinity, History, and Philosophy, University of Aberdeen.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780334065418
ISBN 10	0334065410
Title	Named, Shamed and Blamed
Author	Hannah Waite
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	SCM Press
Year published	2026-04-30
Number of pages	192
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.