Wicked, the movie based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, released Part 1 in theaters on November 22nd, 2024, and it has taken the world by storm. I have loved the story of Wicked since first reading the book around 2010. It’s a great reminder that things aren’t always what they seem and that everyone has a story that many may never fully know. But as I was watching the movie a few days ago, I was struck by the many themes of Wicked that are also themes that show up in many experiences that can lead to religious trauma.
First, a brief synopsis of the story for anyone not familiar. Wicked is the story of the individual who became known as the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz, the one who disintegrates when Dorothy douses her with a bucket of water. We learn that her name is Elphaba, that she was born with green skin, and that she has a sister named Nessarose who uses a wheelchair and is strongly favored by their father. The first part of the Wicked movie, the part that is currently in theaters, focuses on Elphaba’s experience at Shiz University, where she becomes a roommate and then friend with Glinda, the “Good Witch” we know from The Wizard of Oz. The current movie sees us through the part of the story where Elphaba is invited to Oz to meet the Wizard.
Wicked and Religious Trauma
What does this fairy tale have to do with religious trauma? If you’re new here or need a refresher, trauma is experienced when something is too fast, too soon, or too much for an individual’s nervous system, and when that individual is unable to return to a sense of safety in a reasonable amount of time. When this occurs in a religious group or setting, or in a way that has religious undertones, that can be referred to as Religious Trauma. Read on for some of the themes that are present in this story of Elphaba, and that I also frequently come across in my work with survivors of religious trauma.
Differences are Unwelcome
Elphaba is different. From the moment of her birth, the presence of her green skin makes her different from others. She is also thoughtful, aware, and powerful – more differences that those around her devalue and try to force into hiding. This echoes the environment in high-control religious settings, the places where religious trauma often occurs. These settings offer a prescribed way of existing, behaving, and interacting for those within, and differences are unwelcome. Much like Elphaba, women, in these settings, who are thoughtful, aware, and powerful often experience the attempts of others to control them, conform them, or send them away.
Those Who Should Care, Don’t
Elphaba experiences rejection as soon as she is born. Her father sees her green skin and immediately demands she be sent away. Ideally, parents or adult caregivers are able to show love and compassion toward their children, to help their children grow in an environment that provides safety and protection. Yet Elphaba wasn’t granted this by the adults in her life. Many religious groups refer to themselves as family and use phrases such as “brothers and sisters.” Yet, these same groups fail to provide love, compassion, safety, or protection for so many people within their midst. The very people who one hopes would convey the most care are frequently the ones who perpetrate the greatest abuses.
Appearances Matter
Elphaba is rejected, questioned, and sidelined because of her physical appearance. Glinda is honored, admired, and the center of attention because her appearance aligns with the female ideal of thin, blonde, and fashion-aware. For those who are familiar with the story, you know the appearance of one’s character – what is believed by the masses, not necessarily what is true – also shapes the story. This is all-too-true in many experiences of religious trauma. Families fight and scream throughout the week, but “put on a happy face” when attending church services. Individuals work and serve behind-the-scenes, yet their faithfulness is questioned because they don’t show up in the “right” way. Folks who are unwilling or unable to conform in dress or behavior may be slowly driven out or forcefully removed from the religious group because their presence isn’t good for appearances..
“Help” is Given Without Consent
Early in the movie, we see folks come on the scene and forcefully attempt to “help” Nessarose by moving her wheelchair. No one asks her if she would like to have her wheelchair moved. No one inquires what would be most helpful for her in that moment. They simply step in and do what they think is “helpful” without information or consent from the very person they believe they are helping. This happens frequently within high-control religious groups. Those in power believe they know what is best for all. They provide advice, goods, or services without inquiring from the person/people they claim to be helping. They also frequently neglect to provide help in the ways most needed. One example of this can be seen in the response to Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina, which I wrote about here and here.
Your Value is Based on Your Usefulness
Elphaba is not initially supposed to even be a student at Shiz University. She is there to accompany her sister, Nessarose, and get her situated. Elphaba receives no positive notice until the moment some special powers are revealed. Then, the headmistress steps in to take Elphaba under her wing because she sees a way that Elphaba can be useful to those in power.
This is another dynamic that is often present within churches and high-control religious groups – folks are only recognized and valued for what they can provide the leaders. Many, many people came face-to-face with this reality during 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down in-person gatherings for many churches in the US for a period of time. Those who had been regularly involved in areas such as greeting people, singing, or running audio were suddenly faced with no longer even hearing from their leadership when their services were not needed for an in-person event. I’ve talked to so many people who began questioning and deconstructing their beliefs when they realized their value to their religious “family” hinged on their usefulness.
Most People are Content to Ignore the Issues
One of the things Elphaba learns while at school is about years of mistreatment of certain beings. She becomes aware of how this has been happening right in front of other people, and how this mistreatment is altering the entire experience of generations of young people. The very occurrences that awaken her to the mistreatment and injustice actually lull others to sleep in the movie. This is another theme that is far too common in many folks’ experience of religious trauma. Mistreatment and abuses of power are overlooked and continue to intensify, as many within the religious system are lulled into comfort by the fact that the abuses don’t directly affect them.
Those Who Care Experience Pain
Once Elphaba becomes aware of the mistreatment that has been and continues to occur, she can’t turn her back on those impacted. She cares deeply. Perhaps because she has been discarded and overlooked for being different, she is unable to stand by as others are harmed because they don’t fit the status quo. For many folks who have experienced religious trauma, part of their story includes becoming aware of and attempting to address harm that was happening within their religious setting. These efforts frequently led to intense emotional and psychological pain as they realized the power hierarchy in their group and were left with the choice to ‘fall in line’ or leave.
No Questions Can Be Asked to Power
From The Wizard of Oz we know that the so-called Wizard was a not-so-powerful man hiding behind a lot of theatrics. The Wizard was deemed to have power and that couldn’t be questioned. This theme is also seen in Wicked, and we learn that there are consequences for those who dare to question. This is another dynamic that often plays out in the power structure of high-control religious systems – questioning those deemed to be at the top of the power hierarchy comes with consequences.
Power of a Common Enemy
Many high-control religious systems are built on an “us vs. them” foundation – those in the group believe and behave the “right” way, while those outside the group are viewed as “wrong” or even as the enemy / controlled by the enemy. The Wizard in Wicked actually proclaims that the best way to bring people together is to give them a common enemy. Many survivors of religious trauma have experienced being indoctrinated to believe certain people or groups are evil. They later have actual interactions with those people and recognize they been duped by the idea of an “enemy” in others.
Abandonment When You Challenge the System
When Elphaba decides she is not going to be complicit with the abuses that are happening and she makes the decision to challenge the system, she steps out on a limb (or a broom, as the case may be) alone. There is a moment where she realizes she may be embarking on this mission alone. This moment, which certainly has to be filled with fear, is also one of the most powerful in the movie. For many individuals who recognize abuses within their religious setting, the decision to challenge those abuses comes with loss. They are frequently abandoned by their faith community and their family, and left to navigate the loss of almost every important relationship in their life. There may be great power in challenging abuse, but there is also intense fear, grief, and loneliness.
Identified as Wicked
Wicked opens with the scene just after The Wizard of Oz ends. The Wicked Witch of the West (i.e. Elphaba) has died and Glinda arrives in Munchkinland to make the announcement. Everyone breaks into song – this is a movie musical after all – and voices join together to sing, “No one mourns the wicked.” Elphaba saw abuses of power and challenged them. She was left being nameless, known only as the “Wicked Witch of the West.” So many who have challenged or escaped the abuses within a high-control religious system know this same treatment. They are referred to as “backslidden” or “never really saved” and their reputations are forever tainted. They may be completely shunned by their family and former friends. In fact, the act of leaving a religious group can be just as traumatic as the experiences one has within the group.
What Can I Do Now?
If you recognize your own experience in some of these themes and are wondering if you might be dealing with religious trauma, I would be happy to help you connect with some resources. I provide individual and group counseling to folks in North Carolina, and frequently work with those who are survivors of religious trauma or who have had some harmful experiences within religion. You can contact me here to schedule a free, 15-minute consultation to see if we might be a good fit for working together.
For folks outside of NC, please let me know if you would be interested in a virtual support group that I may be offering in the near future for those who have experienced harm within religious systems. I also recommend checking out Reclamation Collective – they offer virtual support groups and have a therapist directory filled with licensed mental health professionals in various locations who work with these concerns.
If you are someone who works or is very connected in a religious space (church, parachurch, non-profit, etc.) and are interested in learning more about how to prevent harm, I invite you to learn more about the Mental Health 101 for Faith Leaders course that I offer. I would be happy to provide this training for your group, and you can contact me here to discuss details.
Now, we wait patiently for Part 2 of Wicked to hit theaters in November 2025.
Michelle F. Moseley is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in NC. She believes ALL people deserve respect, compassion, and access to mental and physical healthcare. Michelle specializes in working with survivors of religious trauma, and with those who have body image concerns, finding there is frequent overlap in these areas. She also frequently supports late-identified neurodivergent individuals as they navigate the grief and relief of a new understanding of self. You can learn more about Michelle by visiting her website at MichelleFMoseley.com or following her on Instagram – @therapy_with_michelle
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