Recovering From Religion (Recovering From Religion)

In this presentation, we will discuss the psychological concepts of suffering and the “Martyrdom Effect.” We will also explore how self-inflicted suffering and martyrdom can lead to unhelpful core beliefs about the world and how to develop a healthier relationship with suffering.

Hayley Twyman Brack is a licensed professional counselor and freelance writer in Oklahoma. Hayley has co-authored a textbook chapter for mental health clinicians on helping secular individuals navigate grief and has also written over 350 articles for a satirical, socio-political website. In her freetime, she also co-hosts a board game podcast and officiates secular and LGBTQIA+ weddings.

Hosted by Amaia Perez, the RfR Online Programming Director, and Medelin Nolasco, RfR Helpline Volunteer and Social Host.

Recorded on February 8th, 2021

Discussion resources

www.seculartherapy.org www.findcbt.org 

The Happiness Trap by Russ Harris Link to slideshow (PDF): https://tinyurl.com/nbrjpnba

Learn more about Hayley Twyman Brack www.malthausgames.com  

Atheist Community of Discord: https://discord.com/invite/B28xRKb

The primary focus of Recovering from Religion (RfR) is to offer hope, healing, and support to those struggling with issues of doubt and non-belief. This transitional period is an ongoing process that can result in a range of emotions, as well as a ripple effect of consequences throughout an individual’s life. We are here to help each other through this journey.   For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.  

To talk over the phone, dial: 

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada 

+3 4505 2402 in Australia 

+20 3856 8791 in the UK 

+27 11 043 5323 in South Africa

RfR Support Group Director and host, Eric Wells, sits down with Gwen Blodgett, a Helpline Volunteer and the RfR 3.0 Project Manager. We get to know what makes Gwen tick, her struggles coming out of religion despite deep family traditions of missionary work and leading Christian congregations which dates back 9 generations to the 17th century, and why she volunteers for RfR!Gwen talks about Gospel Clowning, her divorce from a pastor, her childhood as a Evangelical believer, and her struggles learning about autonomy. For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org. Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org. To talk over the phone, dial: (844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok. Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate

Most of us pride ourselves on being rational, thinking creatures, but what about the role of emotions in human life and history? This week on RfRx, we are joined by one of the world’s leading experts on emotions: Dr. Richard Firth-Godbehere. His award-winning interdisciplinary research walks the line between history, psychology, linguistics, philosophy and futurism. This week he will discuss how our understandings of emotions change over time and space and how they can influence the wider world.

Richard Firth-Godbehere, PhD, is one of the world’s leading experts on emotions. He is Distinguished Professor of Liberal Arts and Humanities at Woxsen University and an Honorary Research Fellow at the Centre for the History of the Emotions, Queen Mary University of London. His award-winning interdisciplinary research walks the line between history, psychology, linguistics, philosophy and futurism. Already translated into over twenty languages, Richard's latest book, 'A Human History of Emotion: How the Way We Feel Built the World We Know, is available from all good bookstores.

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok.

Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer

Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate

Trigger warning: Images of Self Harm are in the presentation

Regular RfRx guest Dr. Andy Thomson, M.D. will summarize key findings from the psychological science research into happiness and well-being, and how it all connects to our evolutionary history. Additionally, the presentation will discuss a useful model known as the “AAA battery”: Agency, Attachment, and Altruism.

Dr Andy Thomson is a psychiatrist at University of Virginia Student Health Services. The 9/11 attacks triggered an interest in suicide terrorism, which led to the discovery of an unappreciated world of research into how and why human minds generate religious beliefs. Andy has written “Why We Believe In God(s): A Concise Guide to the Science of Faith” which brings that world to anyone interested.

Hosted by Eric Wells, the RfR Support Group Director and Sherrie D’Souza, RfR Support Group Leader & Board Member  

Recorded on September 6, 2021

Resource List

- “Becoming Attached” by Robert Karen

- “My Promised Land: The Triumph and Tragedy of Israel” by Ari Shavit

- “Can you connect with me now? How the presence of mobile communication technology influences face-to-face conversation quality” by Andrew K. Przybylski, Netta Weinstein

- “The evolutionary psychology of healing: A human success story” by Nicholas Humphrey:

Dave Warnock is a former conservative Evangelical pastor and church leader of 40 years, who began to question, examine and investigate his Evangelical Christianity faith claims 10 years ago. He came to the conclusion that those beliefs came up short and it took him several years to work through how to live without belief. He realized that this was his one life and there was nothing after. His motto became “Carpe the Fucking Diem” and he began living his best life.  In 2019 Dave Warnock was diagnosed with ALS, a neurodegenerative and terminal disease, for which there is currently no cure. He now spends the time he has left traveling and speaking about seizing the moments in our lives and approaching death as an atheist. Join us as we dig deep into this story and hear how he’s navigating death with no fear of hell or promise of heaven.   This discussion is hosted by Eric Wells, the RfR Support Group Director, and Todd Yoder, the RfR Helpline Director.

Recorded in April of 2020.

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok.

Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer

Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate

Got a fear of hell? Coming out to your friends and family? Looking for organizations that support ex-Muslims? Well, RfR has those curated just for you. We sit down with Dan Cancro, the director of the Resources program, to learn more about what's available and what's involved in keeping them relevant.  Hosted by Eric Wells, RfR Support Group Director.

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok.

Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer

Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as Mormonism) is a relative newcomer to the religion scene having been around for less than 200 years having been born out of violence and deceit. Over that time it has predictably adapted to changing social views and failed prophecies. In this RfRx Shannon Grover and Bryce Blankenagel will discuss LDS history and dogma as well as the unique challenges people face when leaving this faith behind.

Shannon Grover was born and raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was a model Mormon. She went to church, held callings, went on a mission, married in the temple, stayed home, and stuffed all of her doubts into a locked closet. Five years ago, when the closet was so full the door broke, she finally faced reality and walked away. Now she is the co-host of the Glass Box Podcast with Bryce Blankenagel, while she works to break free of the conditioning the church imposed on her.  Bryce Blankenagel was also born and raised in the LDS church and was also a model Mormon. However as a teenager he became less and less satisfied with the answers to the questions he asked his elders. At the age of 17 he stopped attending church and began to examine the religion he was born into. Bryce is the co-host of the Glass Box Podcast as well as the host of the Naked Mormonism podcast.  Hosted by Eric Wells, the RfR Support Group Director and Sacha D’Souza, RfR Support Group Regional Director.  Recorded on August 16, 2021

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

+3 4505 2402 in Australia

+20 3856 8791 in the UK

+27 11 043 5323 in South Africa

Peer support is also available through local support groups. These groups offer monthly in-person meetings as a place to express doubts, fears, emotions & concerns about religion you wouldn't normally feel comfortable expressing in a religious community. Find your nearest support group at https://www.meetup.com/pro/recovering-from-religion

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

RfR has an immense collection of well-curated resources available as you go through your journey, including resources for mental and physical crises, working with relationships, issues stemming from specific religions, coming out stories, and much more. Head to https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/resources for these helpful resources.

Subscribe to the RfR Blog: https://medium.com/excommunications

Many people who leave religions struggle to overcome the inaccurate ideas they spread about sex. In this talk, Dr. Darrel Ray discusses how to overcome some of these issues in order to live a fuller life. RfRx talks are recorded every Monday at 7pm Central Time. Please consider joining us live. Information about upcoming shows and a link to join the meeting can be found at https://recoveringfromreligion.org/rfrx Dr. Ray is the founder and President of the Board of Directors of Recovering from Religion. He has been a psychologist for over thirty years and is the author of four books: two on organizational teamwork as well as "The God Virus - How Religion Infects Our Lives and Culture" and "Sex and God-How Religion Distorts Sexuality". Dr. Ray has been a student of religion most of his life and holds a Masters Degree in religion as well as a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology/Anthropology with a Doctorate in Psychology. For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org. Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org. To talk over the phone, dial: (844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada +3 4505 2402 in Australia +20 3856 8791 in the UK +27 11 043 5323 in South Africa Peer support is also available through local support groups. These groups offer monthly in-person meetings as a place to express doubts, fears, emotions & concerns about religion you wouldn't normally feel comfortable expressing in a religious community. Find your nearest support group at https://www.meetup.com/pro/recovering-from-religion If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org. RfR has an immense collection of well-curated resources available as you go through your journey, including resources for mental and physical crises, working with relationships, issues stemming from specific religions, coming out stories, and much more. Head to https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/resources for these helpful resources. Subscribe to the RfR Blog: https://medium.com/excommunications

In this discussion Hayley Twyman Brack speaks about the fear of hell. We will discuss why even non-believers may experience residual fear of hell, long after they have deconverted. We will also explore the science behind the fear and resources for support.

Hayley Twyman Brack is a licensed professional counselor and freelance writer in Oklahoma. Hayley has co-authored a textbook chapter for mental health clinicians on helping secular individuals navigate grief and has also written over 350 articles for a satirical, socio-political website. In her freetime, she also co-hosts a board game podcast and officiates secular and LGBTQIA+ weddings.  Hosted by Amaia Perez, the RfR Online Programming Director, and Medelin Nolasco, RfRx Social Hour Host

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok.

Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer

Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate

Sarah Rocksdale created her YouTube channel in 2011 to share her passion for topics such as beauty, fashion, fitness, and lifestyle. She won the Rimmel London Look contest and was a NYX Cosmetics Face Awards finalist two years in a row, and garnered a huge following.

She realized her unique position to speak to an audience that might not otherwise be exposed to difficult subjects, so she chose to expand her content, talking about her own break with her Pentecostal faith, her sexual abuse, and she “came out” as an atheist. 

Sarah’s YouTube channel (https://goo.gl/PrZV66) has more than 88,000 subscribers. 

Ronna Russell grew up the youngest daughter of a well-known United Pentecostal minister. To escape home, she jumped into marriage at the age of twenty-three, a union that lasted 22 years and produced four children. When her marriage ended, Ronna was free to consider her own desires and interests. With her children grown, she relocated, remarried and returned to school. Ronna is a blogger, an outspoken advocate for women, and the author of the book “The Uncomfortable Confessions of a Preacher’s Kid” that chronicles her experiences with a controlling, oppressive religious father, a closeted homosexual husband, and her own search for genuine authenticity.

Ronna’s website: https://ronnarussell.com/
Ronna’s book: https://tinyurl.com/y5klxupw

More about Recovering from Religion

Did you know Recovering from Religion has local support groups?
https://www.meetup.com/pro/recovering-from-religion/#groups

Looking for a therapist who will respect your views?
https://www.seculartherapy.org/

We want to hear your story.

Use the RfR Podcast hotline: 209-294-0681
Or fill out the form at the bottom of the RfR podcast page: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/podcast

This week on RfRx, we are joined by Matt Dillahunty, a well-known activist and lecturer on topics including skepticism, humanism, atheism, and critical thinking. Matt will be talking with us about his experiences examining his own beliefs, explaining how to critically evaluate claims, and answering your questions about religion, faith, and the supernatural. Bring your questions for Matt in this interactive show!

Matt was a fundamentalist, evangelical Christian for 25 years and planned on becoming a minister until his studies forced him to abandon his supernatural beliefs. Since leaving his faith he has traveled the world to lecture and debate on skepticism, humanism, and atheism to audiences at conventions and churches. He's spent the past 20 years hosting live, call-in programs to teach critical thinking skills and challenge religious and supernatural claims and privilege.

Transitioning out of religion as a gay person? Are you a new secular individual with kids? Are you recovering from being in a high control religious group, like the LDS church? Then the Online Community may be the place for you. We sit down to talk about the RfR Online Community with the two program directors, Steve Ironside & John Lionheart.  Hosted by Eric Wells, RfR Support Group Director.

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok.

Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer

Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate

Have you ever struggled setting boundaries? Do you always feel like you have to please people over your own needs? Religion of all types has a tendency to tell you what you can and can’t do with your own body and thoughts. Coming out of religion one can begin to recognize that there is no longer a need to operate as if still under that old control. In this discussion, we will gain an understanding of our own autonomy, what it is, what we have autonomy over, how to establish boundaries, and how to seek consent, in addition to how to advocate for the autonomy of others.

Marie D’Elephant is a former evangelical missionary to Mexico, now an agnostic-atheist, secular humanist, and activist. She hosts the Everyone’s Autonomous Podcast, discussing themes of autonomy through a post-religion lens and the process of reintegration into the world now that we’re just apes. Marie is also a photographer with a humanist twist as well as a life coach with a specialty in ethical non-monogamy.   This discussion is hosted by Eric Wells, the RfR Support Group Director, and Amaia Perez, the RfR Online Programming Coordinator.

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok.

Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer

Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate

Religions teach nothing about actual sexuality, biology and why our bodies work as they do. In this talk Dr. Ray will be discussing some basic facts about sex, evolution and human sexuality, like why is the penis shaped as it is? What is it with all those sperm males produce? What is sexual dimorphism? Are we chimps, gorillas or bonobos? We breed cows, chickens and other animals, could we be breeding ourselves as well? Learning the science of sex can help you make your own decisions about your sexuality and help you throw away the 3,000 year old ideas found in religious indoctrination.  Trigger warning: This discussion contains images of genetalia and acknowledges the existence of sex.

Dr Darrel Ray is the Founder & President of Recovering from Religion. He has been a psychologist for over thirty years and is the author of four books: including "The God Virus-How Religion Infects Our Lives and Culture" and "Sex and God-How Religion Distorts Sexuality". Dr. Ray has been a student of religion most of his life and holds a Masters Degree in religion as well as a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology/Anthropology with a Doctorate in Psychology.  Hosted by Eric Wells, the RfR Support Group Director and Kara Griffin, RfR Helpline Agent  Recorded on June 21, 2021

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok.

Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer

Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate

Recorded on November 23, 2020.

How do we know what is right and wrong? If not religion, where do we look for moral guidance? In this talk, Danielle LaSusa Ph.D. explores how we find or create a foundation for our moral decision-making outside the context of religion.

Danielle LaSusa Ph.D. helps moms grapple with what it means to make a person. She is a Philosophical Coach and co-creator and co-host of Think Hard podcast, which brings philosophy to the real world. She has a PhD in Philosophy and a Graduate Certificate in Women's Studies from Temple University, and a certification in Philosophical Counseling from the American Philosophical Practitioners Association. When her daughter was born, she almost broke her brain trying to figure out what the hell happened. Now, she helps other moms make sense of motherhood.

Hosted by Amaia Perez, the RfR Online Programming Director, and Eric Wells, the RfR Support Group Director.

Discussion resources

- The Euthyphro http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/euthyfro.html

- “A Defense of Ethical Relativism” Ruth Benedict http://public.callutheran.edu/~chenxi/Phil315_031.pdf

- “The Challenge of Cultural Relativism” James Rachels https://rintintin.colorado.edu/~vancecd/phil1100/Rachels1.pdf 

Learn more about Danielle LaSusa 

- http://daniellelasusa.com/

- http://www.thinkhardpodcast.com

- TED Talk “What to do when your worldview falls apart” https://www.ted.com/talks/dr_danielle_lasusa_what_to_do_when_your_worldview_falls_apart

Being a woman in ultra orthodox Judaism comes with additional challenges. As a young girl you are meant to serve your father and brothers - groomed to be a good wife. When you get married you relinquish even more of your rights and autonomy. In this “Religion Series” RfRx session we will explore the intricacies of Orthodox Judaism.

Libby Pollak was born and raised in an ultra orthodox Hasidic community in Brooklyn New York. She attended an all girls religious school where secular education was frowned upon and students were taught mostly bible studies and how to be a good obedient wife.   Hosted by Amaia Perez, the RfR Online Programming Director, and Medelin Nolasco, RfR Helpline Volunteer and Social Host.

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok.

Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer

Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate

Looking at the religious idea of “sin”, and what it has done to  society as a whole and individuals, and the trauma associated with it.

Dave Warnock is a former conservative Evangelical pastor and church leader of 40 years. 10 years ago he began to question, examine and investigate his evangelical Christianity faith claims. He came to the conclusion that those beliefs came up short and it took him several years to work through how to live without belief. He realized that this was his one life and there was nothing after. His motto became “Carpe Diem” and he began living his best life. Following a fatal diagnosis of ALS in February 2019, his motto has been turbo charged.  Hosted by Eric Wells, RfR Support Group Director, and Sacha D’Souza, RfR Oceania Regional Support Group Director

Recorded on April the 26th, 2021

The primary focus of Recovering from Religion (RfR) is to offer hope, healing, and support to those struggling with issues of doubt and non-belief. This transitional period is an ongoing process that can result in a range of emotions, as well as a ripple effect of consequences throughout an individual’s life. We are here to help each other through this journey.

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok.

Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer

Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate

Looking for help but wary of being proselytized to? This week on RfRx, David Teachout will discuss mental health care. Let’s explore why the Secular Therapy Project is a good idea, and what to be aware of when looking for a therapist professional.

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok.

Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer

Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate

RfR Support Group Director and host, Eric Wells, sits down with Support Group Leader, Chris West.

We talk about his experience being raised in an atheist household, but still wanting to explore religions as he got older, his passion about building and designing well insulated houses, and his connection to the Netherlands.

The primary focus of Recovering from Religion (RfR) is to offer hope, healing, and support to those struggling with issues of doubt and non-belief. This transitional period is an ongoing process that can result in a range of emotions, as well as a ripple effect of consequences throughout an individual’s life. We are here to help each other through this journey.

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

+3 4505 2402 in Australia

+20 3856 8791 in the UK

+27 11 043 5323 in South Africa

Peer support is also available through local support groups. These groups offer monthly in-person meetings as a place to express doubts, fears, emotions & concerns about religion you wouldn't normally feel comfortable expressing in a religious community. Find your nearest support group at https://www.meetup.com/pro/recovering-from-religion

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

RfR has an immense collection of well-curated resources available as you go through your journey, including resources for mental and physical crises, working with relationships, issues stemming from specific religions, coming out stories, and much more. Head to https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/resources for these helpful resources.

Subscribe to the RfR Blog: https://medium.com/excommunications

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok.

Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer

Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate

Pagans. The word alone can conjure many images to the mind: witches casting spells over a cauldron in the moonlight, ancient Rome with their debauchery and hedonism, Ancient Aztec human sacrifices to appease their Gods, modern Druids gathered at Stonehenge at the summer solstice. Helen Greene, former pagan high priestess, and current educator will join us to discuss the beliefs and practices of pagans, its recent history and development, why those leaving organized religion are attracted to earth centered religions, and the positive and negative impacts of modern pagan culture.

Helen Greene currently lives in Sarasota Florida. She has a BA in psychology from the University of South Florida, works in human resourcing, and is an LGBTQIA+ advocate. She also enjoys spending time with her hubby and kids, loves scifi and horror movies, and is a huge Tolkien nerd.

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok.

Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer

Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate

This week on RfRx, Cynthia McDonald is joining us to discuss advocacy, activism, and atheism in the Black Community. In honor of the MLK Day holiday, Cynthia will discuss the legacy of Doctor King, his activism, some of the social and economic injustices that are still impacting black communities today, and how religious belief or non-belief fits into the equation.

Cynthia is a Social Worker in the city of Chicago. She authors a blog called freedmenhealthandwellness.com which speaks on the social determinants of health of Black Americans that descend from Chattel Slavery. She has been a guest on several podcasts and is a regular host on the Non-Prophets produced by the Atheist Community of Austin and Women Atheist Unload produced by the Secular Haven channel. Cynthia is also a health and political advocate that works with NAASD, By the People Media, and is the newest lead organizer for the Black Non-Believers Chicago Chapter also known as BN Chi-Town. She works with these groups to achieve social and economic justice for Black Freedmen Descendants, push for health equity for marginalized groups, and to normalize Atheism in the Black Community. Cynthia is also a musician that writes and performs a variety of genres of music and is a member of Freedom from Religion’s Godless Gospel.

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok.

Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer

Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate

This week on RfRx, join us for a discussion of healthy activism with secular and progressive activist ObjectivelyDan. Dan will talk about what healthy activism is all about, sustainable ways to be an activist, and avoiding activism fatigue while still working on causes that matter.

ObjectivelyDan is a content creator most known as the creator and primary host of Truth Wanted, a weekly call-in show that talks about what people believe and why. He is an advocate for Street Epistemology, a method for talking to people about their beliefs in an exploratory and constructive manner. Dan was once a Christian when he was first exposed to Street Epistemology, and is now an outspoken igtheist who dedicates himself to secular and progressive activism.

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok.

Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer

Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate

In the United States, laws have been created and upheld which favor religious freedoms over the health and well-being of United States citizens. In this RfRx, Torah Bontrager will return to discuss the supremacy of religious rights over other basic human rights, including education (a theme of the Amish Heritage Foundation’s work and the topic of their upcoming conference). A report by the Columbia Law School's Law, Rights, and Religion Project shows that "the Supreme Court’s COVID-era opinions have created a hierarchy of constitutional rights, with religious rights at the top." This discussion will cover how this happened, how this affects everyday people, where we are headed, and what we can do about it.

Torah Bontrager escaped in the middle of the night at age 15 so she could go to high school. She’s the author of Amish Girl in Manhattan and, to her knowledge, the first female Amish escapee to graduate from the Ivy League. Her story’s been featured on MTV and Forbes.com, among others. Today, she advocates for the right of Amish children to go to school beyond the 8th grade. Torah founded The Amish Heritage Foundation, which focuses on making education a federal right and overturning the Supreme Court case Wisconsin v. Yoder.

More about Torah Bontrager and The Amish Heritage Foundation
- https://www.TorahBontrager.com/courses
- https://www.AmishHeritage.org

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

+3 4505 2402 in Australia

+20 3856 8791 in the UK

+27 11 043 5323 in South Africa

Peer support is also available through local support groups. These groups offer monthly in-person meetings as a place to express doubts, fears, emotions & concerns about religion you wouldn't normally feel comfortable expressing in a religious community. Find your nearest support group at https://www.meetup.com/pro/recovering-from-religion

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

RfR has an immense collection of well-curated resources available as you go through your journey, including resources for mental and physical crises, working with relationships, issues stemming from specific religions, coming out stories, and much more. Head to https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/resources for these helpful resources.

Subscribe to the RfR Blog: https://medium.com/excommunications

Premiered Sep 27, 2020 Content warning: child marriage and rape In this RfRx session Yasmine will discuss her experience growing up in a fundamentalist Islamic home, how she was forced into a marriage with a terrorist and her search for freedom. She will also talk about her current work supporting others who denounce Islam. Canadian human rights activist, Yasmine Mohammed, advocates for the rights of women living within Islamic majority countries, as well as those who struggle under religious fundamentalism. She is also the founder of Free Hearts Free Minds, an organization that provides psychological support for freethinkers living within Muslim majority countries- where the state sanctioned punishment for leaving Islam is death. Hosted by Amaia Perez, the RfR Online Programming Director, and Eric Wells, the RfR Support Group Director. Resources: “Unveiled” by Yasmine Mohammed  “The Wind in My Hair” by Masih Alinejad  “Wadjda” a movie from Saudi Arabia about a girl who wants to ride a bike  “Honor Diaries” a documentary on honor violence/killing “Banaz” A Love Story - a documentary on YouTube about a victim of an honor killing in the UK “Infidel” by Ayaan Hirsi Ali Learn more about Yasmine Mohammed http://www.freeheartsfreeminds.com http://www.yasminemohammed.com

What is the meaning of life? For those who do not believe in God or religious faiths, the meaning or purpose of one’s life or of life in general can seem unclear, confusing, or simply absent. Philosopher Danielle LaSusa will discuss the various ways that we can create a strong and anchoring sense of meaning that is authentic to a secular worldview. Danielle LaSusa Ph.D. helps moms grapple with what it means to make a person. She is a Philosophical Coach and co-creator and co-host of Think Hard podcast, which brings philosophy to the real world. She has a PhD in Philosophy and a Graduate Certificate in Women's Studies from Temple University, and a certification in Philosophical Counseling from the American Philosophical Practitioners Association. When her daughter was born, she damn near broke her brain trying to figure out what the hell happened. Now, she helps other moms make sense of motherhood. This discussion is hosted by Eric Wells, the RfR Support Group Director, and Amaia Perez, the RfR Online Programming Coordinator. Resources  - Danielle’s Meaning of Motherhood Course - Hope in a Godless World - “I Had Postpartum Psychosis” - Danielle’s Story - “How to Transform Fear”  - “Existentialism is a Humanism” by Jean-Paul Sartre - The Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus More about Danielle LaSusa  - https://daniellelasusa.com - https://thinkhardpodcast.com TED Talk “What to do when your worldview falls apart” The primary focus of a Recovering From Religion (RfR) support group is to provide ongoing and personal support to individuals as they let go of their religious beliefs. This transitional period is an ongoing process that can result in a range of emotions, as well as a ripple effect of consequences throughout an individual’s life. We are here to help each other through this journey. For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, we can be reached at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

The Recovering from Religion Helpline is available for folks struggling with issues stemming from religious doubt & non-belief 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We sit down with the program director, Erik Huckvale, to learn more about who can use the service and how it's ran behind the scenes.  Hosted by Eric Wells, RfR Support Group Director.

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

+3 4505 2402 in Australia

+20 3856 8791 in the UK

+27 11 043 5323 in South Africa

Peer support is also available through local support groups. These groups offer monthly in-person meetings as a place to express doubts, fears, emotions & concerns about religion you wouldn't normally feel comfortable expressing in a religious community. Find your nearest support group at https://www.meetup.com/pro/recovering-from-religion

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

RfR has an immense collection of well-curated resources available as you go through your journey, including resources for mental and physical crises, working with relationships, issues stemming from specific religions, coming out stories, and much more. Head to https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/resources for these helpful resources.

Subscribe to the RfR Blog: https://medium.com/excommunications

During the decade when Evangelicalism was coalescing with politics, a homegrown cult, known as the Shepherding Movement, reached its zenith. A religious pyramid scheme that bilked people of their money, identity, and freedom quietly penetrated the Southern United States. Rachel Roberts escaped the cult and the 80s, and fortunately outgrew both, just like her teenage bad perm.

Rachel Roberts founded American None™, the first organization of its kind to serve the fastest-growing (non)religious demographic in our country– the Nones. She is the author of “Confessions of an American None: A Credo of Sorts”. Rachel is deeply motivated to help elevate the soul of our nation and believes that collectively Nones harness a vast power to do so. The study of religion has been her passion since young adulthood. She has a bachelor's degree with an emphasis on philosophy of religion, and a masters degree in Theological Studies from Southern Methodist University. She grew up in a Christian cult with her mother, yet her father was an atheist. After an on-again, off-again relationship with Christianity as an adult, Rachel found her truth and freedom in coming out as a None. Rachel has three children, a dog named Tito, and a cat named Strudel. Her guilty pleasures include gummy bears, a crisp IPA, and Star Trek.

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

+3 4505 2402 in Australia

+20 3856 8791 in the UK

+27 11 043 5323 in South Africa

Peer support is also available through local support groups. These groups offer monthly in-person meetings as a place to express doubts, fears, emotions & concerns about religion you wouldn't normally feel comfortable expressing in a religious community. Find your nearest support group at https://www.meetup.com/pro/recovering-from-religion

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

RfR has an immense collection of well-curated resources available as you go through your journey, including resources for mental and physical crises, working with relationships, issues stemming from specific religions, coming out stories, and much more. Head to https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/resources for these helpful resources.

Subscribe to the RfR Blog: https://medium.com/excommunications

In this RfRx session Andy Thomson will deliver a presentation on the basic mechanisms the mind uses to produce and accept religious beliefs. He will explore multiple topics such as human evolution, the neurobiology of ritual or how certain cognitive mechanisms generate religion.

Andy Thomson is a psychiatrist at University of Virginia Student Health Services. The 9.11 attacks triggered an interest in suicide terrorism, which led to the discovery of an unappreciated world of research into how and why human minds generate religious beliefs. Andy has written “Why We Believe In God(s): A Concise Guide to the Science of Faith” which brings that world to anyone interested.   Hosted by Gayle Jordan, RfR Executive Director, and Medelin Nolasco, RfR Volunteer & RfRx Social Host.  Recorded on March 22, 2021.

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok.

Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer

Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate

Nancy Pinto will be joining us to share how her lifelong faith fell apart after the way religious people behaved when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. She’ll cover her religious upbringing, some key events that happened after diagnosis, as well as words of encouragement and advice for those facing similar circumstances.

Nancy is a survivor of breast cancer and Roman Catholicism. She wrote and narrated her book “I’m An Open Shirt” after her ordeal, which made a mess of her boobs and her religious faith. She is a recruiter for the logistics and supply chain industry and co-host of two podcasts: Job Search SOS and BoricuameRican. In her spare time, she loves to CrossFit and paint.

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok.

Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer

Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate

This week on RfRx, Richard Gilliver will be joining us to talk about being a skeptic who studies religion academically and how that produces a different viewpoint when discussing the topic with other people. He will also discuss skepticism and the difficulties for supernatural claims when skepticism is applied.

Richard Gilliver has been having discussions with religious people for thirty years, originally via talking to them in the street, then on internet message boards and more recently on social media. He has studied Buddhist meditation for two decades and took an academic interest in religious scriptures - specifically from Buddhism, Islam and Christianity around a decade ago. He began as a Skeptic educator around two years ago - like many others taking the opportunity during the beginning of the covid pandemic to find a new way of communicating with people. It was around the same time that he began volunteering with the ACA and undertook his degree in religion, philosophy and ethics - a move encouraged by his wife to formalize his lifelong interest. Today he has his own skeptic show on YouTube and is the co-founder and co-host of the weekly Skeptic Hangout Podcast and a Host on the ACA’s non Prophet’s show.

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok.

Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer

Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate

In celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the Stonewall riots, we’ve put together this special PRIDE edition. First, we proudly introduce our new producer, Julian Apostata, and our engineer, Sarah Austin, then the four of us talk about gender non-conformity, and how our faith communities responded/reacted. 

That takes us to our informative interview with Donovan Ackley III, Ph.D., who was a professor at a conservative Evangelical Christian university. His decision to transition made national news, and ended his long-time position with the school. Donovan’s doctorate is in philosophy of religion, and is the author of several books and many articles. For the past 6 years he's worked in trauma-informed crisis intervention, currently as case management team lead for a recovery residence with women and children recovering from addiction. He also consulted on the 2019 film Intersex and Faith, exploring the intersections of religion and gender. 

Trans Lifeline:
https://www.translifeline.org/
https://www.facebook.com/TransLifeline/

TransFaith:
http://www.transfaithonline.org/

SafetyNet:
http://onesafetynet.com/

More about Recovering from Religion

Did you know Recovering from Religion has local support groups?
https://www.meetup.com/pro/recovering-from-religion/#groups

Looking for a therapist who will respect your views?
https://www.seculartherapy.org/

Interested in meeting other people who have made the journey to recovery?
RfR is hosting a fall outing in Mars Hill, NC.
https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/fall-excursion-2019

We want to hear your story.

Use the RfR Podcast hotline: 209-294-0681
Or fill out the form at the bottom of the RfR podcast page: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/podcast

In this RfRx session Taylor will discuss what Multi Level Marketing (pyramid schemes) are, the risks and statistics involved with MLMs, who they prey on, and how to avoid falling into one. Also, she will discuss how to deal with a family member or friend who has become involved with an MLM. MLMs disproportionately target religious people, and many of us who have left/are leaving religion likely know someone who is in an MLM.

Taylor is passionate about educating the public on the dangers and predatory nature of multi-level marketing companies. MLMs target vulnerable individuals and attempt to sell them on an unachievable dream life. She runs the YouTube channel “The Antibot” - in her videos she debunks claims made by MLMs and their distributors using reputable, peer-reviewed sources. More than anything, Taylor wants to help build a world where women are truly empowered through legitimate small business ownership and entrepreneurship, and to stop the cashflow to multi-billion dollar companies that prey on and exploit the very demographic they claim to empower.    Hosted by Amaia Perez, the RfR Online Programming Director, and Eric Wells, the RfR Support Group Director.

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok.

Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer

Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate

David G. McAfee joins us to cover an important topic and a key element of his new book, “Hi, I’m an Atheist! What That Means and How to Talk About it with Others”: interacting with the general public as an atheist. Being open about atheism is different for every single one of us. Some of us might have grown up as believers, and then had issues with our family when we left religion. Others might have grown up non-believers, with a family that respected that, and are now wondering what to do when facing angry opposition within the general public. Either way, there’s a right – and wrong – way to do it.

David G. McAfee is a journalist, religious studies scholar, and author of Disproving Christianity and other Secular Writings, as well as a contributor to American Atheist magazine. McAfee attended University of California, Santa Barbara, and graduated with a dual-degree in English and Religious Studies with an emphasis on Christianity and Mediterranean religions. He lives in California.

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok.

Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer

Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate

In On the Origin of Species Charles Darwin wrote, “Pain or suffering of any kind, if long continued, causes depression and  lessens the power of action; yet is well adapted to make a creature guard itself against any great or sudden evil.”  One hundred and sixty years later we have solid theories supported by evidence that depression’s core structure arises from an adaptation, not a broken or dysfunctional brain.

Andy Thomson is a psychiatrist at University of Virginia Student Health Services. The 9.11 attacks triggered an interest in suicide terrorism, which led to the discovery of an unappreciated world of research into how and why human minds generate religious beliefs. Andy has written “Why We Believe In God(s): A Concise Guide to the Science of Faith” which brings that world to anyone interested.  Hosted by Eric Wells, RfR Support Group Director, and Helen Greene, RfR Support Group Leader.  Recorded on July 12, 2021

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok.

Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer

Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate

Do you believe in ghosts, hauntings, or other paranormal phenomena? Wondering how to tell if that unexplained event is really evidence of paranormal activity? This week on RfRx, skeptical paranormal investigator Kenny Biddle will be joining us to take a closer look at some paranormal claims. He will discuss his experiences as a paranormal investigator, how to apply science and critical thinking to purportedly paranormal events, and address questions about belief in ghosts and the afterlife.

Kenny Biddle is a science enthusiast who investigates claims of paranormal experiences, equipment, photos, and video. He promotes science, critical thinking, and skepticism through his column “A Closer Look” and video series “Ghosts in the Machine,” from Skeptical Inquirer magazine. He frequently hosts workshops on how to deconstruct paranormal photography and solve mysteries. He is a Fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI).

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok.

Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer

Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate

American Atheists is a national civil rights organization that works to achieve religious equality for all Americans by protecting what Thomas Jefferson called the “wall of separation” between government and religion created by the First Amendment. They strive to create an environment where atheism and atheists are accepted as members of our nation’s communities and where casual bigotry against our community is seen as abhorrent and unacceptable. They promote understanding of atheists through education, outreach, and community-building and work to end the stigma associated with being an atheist in America.

Sam McGuire has a varied background in counseling, education, event planning and volunteer management. As National Field Director, she works with local grassroots activists, volunteers and affiliates to help them engage on emerging local civil rights issues, advocate for state level legislation, and build thriving communities.

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

+3 4505 2402 in Australia

+20 3856 8791 in the UK

+27 11 043 5323 in South Africa

Peer support is also available through local support groups. These groups offer monthly in-person meetings as a place to express doubts, fears, emotions & concerns about religion you wouldn't normally feel comfortable expressing in a religious community. Find your nearest support group at https://www.meetup.com/pro/recovering-from-religion

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

RfR has an immense collection of well-curated resources available as you go through your journey, including resources for mental and physical crises, working with relationships, issues stemming from specific religions, coming out stories, and much more. Head to https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/resources for these helpful resources.

Subscribe to the RfR Blog: https://medium.com/excommunications

This week on RfRx, we are joined by Ethan Siegel Ph.D., astrophysicist and author of "Starts with a Bang!" He is a science communicator who has taught physics and astronomy at various colleges and written numerous books. He will share fascinating information about the universe, and discuss the importance of science education and science communication. Bring your questions for Ethan and let’s get nerdy!

Ethan Siegel is a Ph.D. astrophysicist and author of "Starts with a Bang!" He is a science communicator, who professes physics and astronomy at various colleges. He has won numerous awards for science writing since 2008 for his blog, including the award for best science blog by the Institute of Physics. His two books "Treknology: The Science of Star Trek from Tricorders to Warp Drive" and "Beyond the Galaxy: How humanity looked beyond our Milky Way and discovered the entire Universe" are available for purchase at Amazon.

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok.

Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer

Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate

Lloyd Evans is a much sought-after expert on Jehovah's Witnesses, the religion of his upbringing. He’s the founder of JWsurvey.org, and author of “The Reluctant Apostate” which is both a memoir and a reference guide. He points to JW’s as just one example of the harm that can be inflicted when religious authority goes unchecked. Since 2011, Lloyd has been a passionate advocate against cults and religious fundamentalism. Lloyd's YouTube channel (under the name John Cedars) has 12,000+ subscribers and has attracted more than 2.5 million views.

Website: https://jwsurvey.org/welcome

YouTube channel: https://goo.gl/Rly2CP

For this one year anniversary RfRx show we’re talking about Beginnings! New beginnings are often disguised as painful endings… and we’ve had many. From grief to greatness, Janice will let you in on some of her successful strategies for surviving the end and boldly beginning again. As a registered professional counsellor with a personal history of religious trauma syndrome, Janice is passionate about helping others understand their losses and embrace their new identity in the secular world. Her own deconversion experience compelled her to develop the on-line Divorcing Religion Workshop, a 6-week interactive workshop combining written exercises and group work to bring together those from diverse backgrounds who are walking a similar journey.  Hosted by Amaia Perez, the RfR Online Programming Director, and Eric Wells, the RfR Support Group Director.  Recorded on March 29, 2021 For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org. Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org. To talk over the phone, dial: (844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok. Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate

After leaving religion, many people report experiencing lingering feelings of fear of hell and demonic forces from their former religious traditions. Others have found more creative ways to reinterpret the myth of Satan. For this week’s RfRx Foundation Spotlight episode, we chat with Lucien Greaves, co-founder of the Satanic Temple, about non-theistic religious expression, what religious liberty really looks like, and the Satanic Temple’s efforts to encourage benevolence and empathy, reject tyrannical authority, and oppose injustice. Bring your questions for Lucien and join us for a wicked good time!

Lucien Greaves is a social activist and co-founder and spokesperson for the Satanic Temple. Lucien has been involved in varied legal efforts advocating for the acceptance of non-theistic religious exemption and privilege, secularism, and fighting against theocratic encroachments on civil liberties. The organization is best known for its ongoing legal efforts to place a Satanic monument next to 10 Commandments monuments on public grounds, and to oppose reproductive rights restrictions nationwide. Lucien has been featured on numerous national news programs and in the documentary film “Hail Satan?”.

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok.

Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer

Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate

This week on RfRx, Jason Racheotes will be joining us to discuss how our views on politics and civic engagement may evolve and change after deconverting or coming out of religion. We will learn about some different political concepts that are often ignored and get more clarity on tangible actions we can take as individuals to improve our political process. Jason Racheotes was raised in a secular household, but was always interested in the relationship between politics and religion. He grew up learning about the cultural significance of religious traditions, and went on to study political science at George Washington University. He has taught social sciences previously and has been volunteering with RfR since May of this year. He also hosts the Non-Essential Workers Podcast. For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org. Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org. To talk over the phone, dial: (844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok. Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate

Premiered Aug 23, 2020 As devout Believers, we were discouraged from thinking critically and encouraged to only think through the lens of our specific religion. While we have been able to Divorce Religion, we remain vulnerable to the trap of rigid, authoritarian thinking in all spheres. This module of the Divorcing Religion Workshop explores the fusion of identity with beliefs and how we can avoid it. As a registered professional counselor with a personal history of religious trauma syndrome, Janice is passionate about helping others understand their losses and embrace their new identity in the secular world. Her own deconversion experience compelled her to develop the on-line Divorcing Religion Workshop, a 6-week interactive workshop combining written exercises and group work to bring together those from diverse backgrounds who are walking a similar journey. Hosted by Amaia Perez, the RfR Online Programming Director, and Eric Wells, the RfR Support Group Director.  Discussion resources:  - http://www.freedomofmind.com (Steven Hassan, BITE Model)  - http://www.culteducation.com (Rick Alan Ross)  Books  - Bounded Choice by Dr. Janja Lalich  - Take Back Your Life : Recovering From Cults and Abusive Relationships by Dr. Janja Lalich  - Captive Hearts, Captive Minds by Dr. Janja Lalich  - The 5 Levels of Attachment by Don Miguel Ruiz, Jr.   Learn more about Janice Selbie:  - http://www.DivorcingReligion.com - http://www.PanoramaCounselling.com  The primary focus of Recovering from Religion (RfR) is to offer hope, healing, and support to those struggling with issues of doubt and non-belief. This transitional period is an ongoing process that can result in a range of emotions, as well as a ripple effect of consequences throughout an individual’s life. We are here to help each other through this journey.   For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Recent events in the United States have represented a painful reminder of the ongoing threat of violence against members of the queer community, regardless of their religious affiliation. This week on RfRx, Ryan K. will be joining us to share his story as a queer person in and outside of religious communities, offer resources for finding support, honor some of the latest victims and survivors of violence against the LGBTQ+ community, and answer questions from the audience.

Ryan is from Charlotte, North Carolina where he volunteers as a small group leader for Recovering from Religion. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology.

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok.

Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer

Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate

This week on RfRx, Anthony Dominello joins us to discuss how autism affects deconstruction and deconversion from religion. Anthony will discuss what autism is, describe the diversity of autistic people both in their personal identities and presentations and share his experiences of deconstruction and deconversion as it relates to people with autism. Please join us for this educational presentation and bring your questions for Anthony!

Anthony is an ambassador and support group leader for Recovering from Religion who was diagnosed autistic at age 51. He is an IT professional by day, is a veteran of the US Air Force, and has had various other side jobs such as opera singer, film score composer, and singer/songwriter. He was born in Philadelphia and has lived most of his life in nearby Camden County, New Jersey where he currently lives with his wife.

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok.

Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer

Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate

Everyone grieves in their own way and according to their own timeframe, the accepted wisdom tells us. But those in mourning rarely find comfort in knowing this and those looking to support someone in mourning can do little with this advice, leaving them with a sense of helplessness. As a mental health professional and someone who has dealt with her own share of personal grief, Candace R. M. Gorham understands well the quest for relief. The truth of the matter, she says, is there is no one way to grieve, but there are things that are important to pay attention to while mourning. While much of the advice she shares is universal, she pays particular attention to the struggle those who do not believe in a god or afterlife face with the loss of a loved one—and offers practical, life-affirming steps for them to remember and heal.

Candace R. M. Gorham MA, LPCS is a licensed professional mental health counselor. She is a former ordained minister turned atheist-humanist activist, researcher, and writer on issues related to race and religion. She is a member of the Black Humanist Alliance advisory board, The Secular Therapist Project, and The Clergy Project. Candace is also the author of "The Ebony Exodus Project: Why Some Black Women Are Walking Out on Religion—and Others Should Too."

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

+3 4505 2402 in Australia

+20 3856 8791 in the UK

+27 11 043 5323 in South Africa

Peer support is also available through local support groups. These groups offer monthly in-person meetings as a place to express doubts, fears, emotions & concerns about religion you wouldn't normally feel comfortable expressing in a religious community. Find your nearest support group at https://www.meetup.com/pro/recovering-from-religion

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

RfR has an immense collection of well-curated resources available as you go through your journey, including resources for mental and physical crises, working with relationships, issues stemming from specific religions, coming out stories, and much more. Head to https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/resources for these helpful resources.

Subscribe to the RfR Blog: https://medium.com/excommunications

In this RfRx session we will talk about cognitive dissonance. We will begin by discussing what it is and its evolutionary origins, and we will also analyse how it relates to mental health and religion. Finally, we will study how to recognize cognitive dissonance and how to deal with it once we know it's there.

Kayce Hodos, LCMHC is a licensed therapist specializing in postpartum mood and anxiety disorders. She recently started a coaching service to provide secular resources, support and a safe community for new nonbelievers. She lives in Wake Forest, NC, with her husband, son, and dog.   Hosted by Amaia Perez, the RfR Online Programming Director, and Medelin Nolasco, RfR Helpline Volunteer and Social Host.  Recorded on March 1st, 2021.

The primary focus of Recovering from Religion (RfR) is to offer hope, healing, and support to those struggling with issues of doubt and non-belief. This transitional period is an ongoing process that can result in a range of emotions, as well as a ripple effect of consequences throughout an individual’s life. We are here to help each other through this journey.

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok.

Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer

Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate

Recorded on Nov 16, 2020

Were you ever a religious asshole? Sometimes when we leave religion we don’t leave enough behind and take our sexism, racism, and homophobia with us. In this talk, we’ll discuss how NOT to be a secular asshole.

Rebecca Williams is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California. She is the owner of Inland Empire Couples Counseling and specializes in helping mixed faith and religious/secular couples have connected, intimate, satisfying relationships. She’s offering a free mini-course for mixed-faith couples. https://www.iecouplescounseling.com/the-united-couple

One of Rebecca’s therapy superpowers is helping people connect across the religious-secular divide.  

Hosted by Amaia Perez, the RfR Online Programming Director, and Eric Wells, the RfR Support Group Director.  

Learn more about Rebecca Williams

- Instagram: @RebeccaRelationshipExpert 

- Twitter: @RebeccaWLMFT 

- Facebook: Inland Empire Couples Counseling 

- Free Mini Course: https://www.iecouplescounseling.com/the-united-couple

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok.

Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer

Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate

In this RfRx session we hear Itto Outini’s story about coming out of Islam and her struggles and successes after becoming disabled. We explore how religious organizations treat disabled communities and what we could all do as a society to change the manner in which disabled communities are treated. We also discuss value, acceptance and tolerance towards minorities, such as disabled non-believers.

Itto Outini was born and raised in Morocco by a Jewish father and Muslim mother. Both parents died and she was raised by different family members. She did not attend school until the age of seventeen as she was viewed as nothing but a slave to her family. She was stabbed by her uncle’s wife at the age of seventeen and lost her sight, family, and was left homeless in the streets of Morocco. She began school at the age of seventeen for the first time. Graduated high school and went to the university where she was awarded the Fulbright Scholarship to study a Master’s degree in Journalism in the United States. After graduating with her Master’s she was approved for asylum to stay in the United States. She is now a journalist, a human rights activist, accessibility advocate, and atheist.  During the discussion you may hear a voice in the background and that would be Itto’s assistant, Amy.  Hosted by Amaia Perez, the RfR Online Programming Director, and Eric Wells, the RfR Support Group Director.

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok.

Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer

Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate

Substance and alcohol abuse is so prevalent around the world that very few people have not succumbed to its temptation or know someone who has. There is substantial evidence that we and our ancient relatives used substances as antimicrobials and antiparasitic agents. A byproduct was these substances' ability to disable our prefrontal cortex, inhibit our inner chimp and stimulate our inner bee, to become the ultra social, eusocial organism that we are. Substances provide some of the same benefits as religion, helping to bind genetic strangers together and not teaching evolution impairs the understanding of this phenomena.

Dr Andy Thomson is a psychiatrist at University of Virginia Student Health Services. The 9/11 attacks triggered an interest in suicide terrorism, which led to the discovery of an unappreciated world of research into how and why human minds generate religious beliefs. Andy has written “Why We Believe In God(s): A Concise Guide to the Science of Faith” which brings that world to anyone interested.

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok.

Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer

Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate

This week on RfRx, Andrew Pledger comes on the show to share his experiences of his upbringing in a fundamentalist Christian cult and the level of control and mental abuse he experienced as a student at Bob Jones University as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. Andrew will further discuss his experiences with fundamentalism and the intersection of religious trauma and queerness.

Andrew Pledger is a content creator, activist, and writer who uses social media to share his story and inspire others. He is a religious trauma survivor who was homeschooled K-12 and raised in a fundamentalist Christian cult (Independent Fundamental Baptist movement). He brings awareness to spiritual and religious abuse. Being a part of the LGBTQ+ community and experiencing religious trauma has inspired him to pursue psychology to help survivors. After being homeschooled, he found his way to Bob Jones University. He attended the fundamentalist Christian college for over three years until he was expelled in his last semester for sharing his story and denouncing fundamentalist teachings. Andrew comes on the show to share his experiences of his upbringing and the level of control and mental abuse he experienced at Bob Jones University. He has a limited podcast premiering soon called "Surviving Bob Jones University: A Christian Cult." This podcast explores the school's history, the psychology of fundamentalism, the criteria for cults, and survivors' experiences.

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok.

Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer

Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate

Conversion Therapy is a crime against our authentic selves. Surviving and undoing its negative effects can take years or even decades, and often survivors come out the other side with PTSD. Dr. Mark Eastwood joins us to share his experience going through conversion therapy himself to discuss how survivors can cope with its effects and how others can support those who have come out the other side of this awful practice.

Dr Mark Eastwood is an Executive and Non-Executive boardroom professional with extensive global governance experience, working for companies such as American Express and Rackspace Technology.  Mark has a doctorate in Global Management and wrote ‘How to care for our People’. Mark is a survivor of conversion therapy.

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok.

Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer

Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate

In this episode, cultural anthropologist Kara Griffin will discuss religion as a social institution. Why is religious belief so common, even considered by some to be a universal human experience? Is it possible to have a functional society without religious belief? Why do some people reject the dominant beliefs of the community they grew up in while others seemingly never question it? We will examine the role of religion as a social institution in various settings, debunk some common myths, and explore recent trends in religious beliefs and practices from an anthropological perspective.

Kara Griffin was born in Texas and raised in Southern Baptist, evangelical, and non-denominational mega-churches and private schools. After leaving the faith in the mid-2000s, Kara was able to pursue their passion for learning, traveling, and experiencing diverse cultures and perspectives. They holds undergraduate degrees in Psychology, International Relations, and Criminal Justice, a Master’s Degree in Dispute Resolution & Conflict Management, and a PhD in Anthropology.

Kara enjoys working with secular community services that support other people who may have experienced judgment, repression, or other struggles related to involvement with religious groups.

At RfR, Kara volunteers as the Online Programming Director and hosts the weekly RfRx Talks sessions. In their free time, Kara can be found volunteering, teaching and lecturing at universities and conferences, reading all kinds of books (especially sci-fi), and spending time with their dog, Snow.

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok.

Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer

Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate

This week on RfRx, Jack Wathey will discuss the Illusion of God’s Presence. Science has only begun to make sense of religion’s powerful grip on the human mind. Why do seven percent of members of the National Academy of Sciences believe in a personal god who answers prayer? The question is important because it probes the most irresistible essence of the appeal of religious and spiritual thinking. Using evidence from visual illusions, behavioral biology, and neuroscience, I offer an explanation for this and other puzzles of religion in terms of a cognitively impenetrable illusion, one that science has largely overlooked.

John C. Wathey is a retired computational biologist whose interests include evolutionary algorithms, the biology of nervous systems, and electoral reform. He got his PhD in Neurosciences at UC San Diego and has spent most of his career working on computer simulations of protein folding. His first book, The Illusion of God’s Presence, explores the evolution of the emotions and intuitions behind religious belief, emphasizing behavioral and psychological research. His latest book is The Phantom God: What Neuroscience Reveals about the Compulsion to Believe. It relates the motivating forces behind religiousness to the neural circuitry of embodiment, mother-infant attachment, adult sexual pair-bonding, addiction, selective attention, hallucinations, and many other neurological surprises.

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok.

Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer

Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate

Originally premiered May 13, 2020 Have you walked away from your faith and your spouse hasn’t? Are you struggling to find common ground? How can you manage this difference in your marriage? Can you make your marriage work?  This week we’ll be navigating through these tough questions and more. Join us as we talk with Rebecca Williams and provide you with some helpful tools on how to manage Mixed Secular/Religious Relationships. Rebecca Williams, LMFT, is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California. She is the owner of Inland Empire Couples Counseling and specializes in helping mixed faith and religious/secular couples have connected, intimate, satisfying relationships. In addition to education and professional experience, Rebecca knows from personal experience how hard it is to leave your faith but not want to leave your marriage too. Rebecca is developing an online course for religious/secular couples and also helps individuals who want to recover from the damaging or traumatizing effects of religion to go on and live their best lives. This discussion is hosted by Eric Wells, the RfR Support Group Director, and Todd Yoder, the RfR Helpline Director. Connect with Rebecca Instagram: @RebeccaRelationshipExpert  Twitter: @RebeccaWLMFT  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marriagecounselingriverside Resources - Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work by Dr. John Gottman - Eight Dates: Conversations for a Lifetime of Love by Drs Julie and John Gottman - Hold Me Tight by Dr Sue Johnson - In Faith and In Doubt by Dale McGowan - Everyone’s Agnostic - Mixed Faith Marriage Episode #242 - Marriage on a Tightrope podcast (one Mormon couple sharing their journey) RfR is a non-profit organization reliant upon both its volunteers and donations. Like what RfR does? Why not volunteer! There are quite a few options and we are always in need of volunteers. Head over to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org... for more info. Donations can be made at http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org... Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org To talk over the phone: (844) 368-2848 in the US 3 4505 2402 in Australia 20 3856 8791 in the UK

Have you ever wondered what brings religion and people together? Do you wish you would have let go of religion sooner? In this session we will examine the depths of our relationship to religion: What drew us to it in the first place? We will explore the signs that our faith was unravelling, and what kept us hanging on.

As a registered professional counsellor with a personal history of religious trauma syndrome, Janice is passionate about helping others understand their losses and embrace their new identity in the secular world. Her own deconversion experience compelled her to develop the on-line Divorcing Religion Workshop, a 6-week interactive workshop combining written exercises and group work to bring together those from diverse backgrounds who are walking a similar journey.  This discussion is hosted by Eric Wells, the RfR Support Group Director, and Amaia Perez, the RfR Online Programming Coordinator.

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok.

Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer

Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate

Coming out as a non-believer to friends and family can be terrifying, it invites judgement and criticism from people who care about you. In this RfRx talk, Erin Louis will share her own experiences in confronting the unfounded stereotypes and stigmas of being a former adult entertainer and how similar those experiences are to being an out-of-the-closet atheist. We’ll cover the various beliefs and non-beliefs of non-believers, share tips on identifying those stereotypes, and discuss how and when to come out of the closet.

Erin Louis is a former adult entertainer and a present-day author. She has written 3 non-fiction books about her life as a stripper and several short fiction stories. Erin has had a lifelong love of horror and dark humor, but more importantly, she’s an advocate for critical thinking, humanism, and healthy sexual expression.

Hosted by Eric Wells, the RfR Support Group Director, and Kara Griffin, RfR Helpline Agent

Recorded on May 31st, 2021

More about Erin Louis
- https://www.erinlouis.com
- Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/Erin-Louis
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/erinlouis666
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ErinLouis666

Atheist Community of Discord: https://discord.com/invite/B28xRKb

The primary focus of Recovering from Religion (RfR) is to offer hope, healing, and support to those struggling with issues of doubt and non-belief. This transitional period is an ongoing process that can result in a range of emotions, as well as a ripple effect of consequences throughout an individual’s life. We are here to help each other through this journey.

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.
To talk over the phone, dial:
(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada
+3 4505 2402 in Australia
+20 3856 8791 in the UK
+27 11 043 5323 in South Africa

Peer support is also available through local support groups. These groups offer monthly in-person meetings as a place to express doubts, fears, emotions & concerns about religion you wouldn't normally feel comfortable expressing in a religious community. Find your nearest support group at http://www.meetup.com/pro/recovering-from-religion

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

RfR has an immense collection of well-curated resources available as you go through your journey, including resources for mental and physical crises, working with relationships, issues stemming from specific religions, coming out stories, and much more. Head to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/resources for these helpful resources.

Subscribe to the
RfR Blog: https://medium.com/excommunications
RfR Podcast: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/podcast

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok or really wherever you hang out on social media.

How have the dominant species of religions evolved over human history? And why? Archeology suggests that some religious practices go back tens of thousands of years or more. However these ancient religious practices among hunter-gatherers bear little resemblance to organized religion today. Religions centered around morality emerged in early farming societies; a leading hypothesis is that such moralizing religions enabled trust and cooperation within these tight knit communities. High gods emerged about the time large scale societies formed; a leading hypothesis is that those gods functioned to give legitimacy to rulers. Dr Mark Reimers will discuss the evidence for and against these hypotheses as well as consider how priests and kings coöpted religious authority in the Bronze Age. A pivotal change in religious sensibility occurred in the first millennium BCE as the leaders in religious thinking attempted to disentangle religion and politics, giving rise to further attempts at reforms which eventually gave birth to Christianity and Islam. This talk will also include a discussion on the rapidly evolving religions of modern post-industrial societies.

Dr. Mark Reimers is a computational neuroscientist at Michigan State University where he researches how animal brains work and how human genes affect brain function. His broader aim is to ground our understanding of feeling and thought in the facts of biology. Dr. Reimers was raised Christian but found a path to humanism in his twenties. Since then he has been a humanist leader and speaker for over a decade in Virginia and now in Michigan.

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok.

Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer

Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate

Premiered Aug 15, 2020 There is no God. Now what? If this is the only life we have, how does that affect how we live our lives, how we treat each other, and cope with our own mortality. Award winning filmmaker and photographer photographer Chris Johnson created the coffee table photography book and documentary A Better Life in response to these questions and more. Chris Johnson is a New York-based photographer and filmmaker. He received his undergraduate degree in film production (along with a minor in religious studies) from Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec. His photography has been seen in various outlets, including The New York Times. He is the author of the coffee table photography book, A Better Life: 100 Atheists Speak Out on Joy & Meaning in a World Without God, as well as the documentary film version, A Better Life: An Exploration of Joy & Meaning in a World Without God. He has traveled the world on a screening/lecture tour about A Better Life, speaking and screening the film in over 120 cities on four continents from Reykjavik to Shanghai. In addition, he is the co-producer, co-director, and co-writer of the award winning documentary film, Merely Marvelous: The Dancing Genius of Gwen Verdon which premiered on the BBC in 2019. Hosted by Amaia Perez, the RfR Online Programming Director, and Eric Wells, the RfR Support Group Director. Resources  - Book: The Big Picture: On the Origins of Life, Meaning, and the Universe Itself by Sean Carroll Learn more about Chris Johnson - http://www.theatheistbook.com - A Better Life podcast: https://www.theatheistbook.com/pages/podcast

At one time, John Smid was one the most well-known names in “ex-gay” leadership, as the Executive Director of the country’s largest Conversion Therapy programs. These days, he lives a quiet live with his husband in a small town in Texas, and spends his time as a craftsman and custom furniture maker. John is currently back in the spotlight, as one of the main characters in the movie “Boy Erased” is loosely based on him. The REAL John Smid talks about his anger at the Fundamental theology that trapped him for so long, how he deals with his role as a former Conversion Therapy leader, and what he’s done to personally recover and move his life forward. The following links are for information purposes only to supplement the podcast content. RfR does not endorse this or any religious organization. John's book: https://goo.gl/e8ZhF6 "Grace Rivers" http://www.gracerivers.com/ "Grace Rivers" Facebook: https://goo.gl/iwuWQm J & L Creative Design: https://goo.gl/dKjECp

This week on RfRx, Rob Palmer will be joining us to discuss psychic predictions. In 2021, The Skeptic Zone producer and CSI Fellow Richard Saunders completed his 12-year project dubbed the Great Australian Psychic Prediction Project (GAPPP) – an analysis of almost 4,000 published paranormal predictions made by over 200 people claiming paranormal powers in Australia. The scoring of the predictions was performed by an international team of volunteers of which Rob was a member. In this presentation, an expanded version of the talk to be given at CSICon 2022 in a few weeks, Rob will share details and the results of this unique investigation into the precision (or lack thereof) of the published predictions of prominent, public, paranormal practitioners.

Rob Palmer has had a diverse career in engineering, having worked as a spacecraft designer, computer programmer, and software systems engineer. He began writing for Skeptical Inquirer in 2018, and to date has had 60 articles published by Skeptical Inquirer and other skeptic media (on three continents!). Rob writes about contemporary skeptical issues, and for his column he has interviewed individuals as diverse as astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, Penn Jillette (of Penn & Teller), John de Lancie (Star Trek’s Q!), Thomas Westbrook (Holy Koolaid), Drew McCoy (The Genetically Modified Skeptic), and Seth Andrews. Rob is also a public speaker and has given talks for various skeptic and humanist groups, (including RfR). He has been a speaker at Dragon Con, and twice (so far) at CSICon, the annual conference of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. He has also been interviewed about his work on various podcasts and YouTube shows, including The Skeptic Zone, Big Picture Science, Banachek’s Brain, and The Thinking Atheist.

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok.

Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer

Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate

Tim and Bill discuss the many ways people re-examine, and often abandoned, their faith, as well as the many emotions that go with it.

Then they’re joined by Luke King, a former Four-Square, Pentecostal Pastor and now host of the “Your Atheist Pastor" podcast that provides a place for those who’ve left their faith.

Luke is also a speaker, a blogger and a yoga instructor.  
In this engaging episode Luke tells his story, why he still sees himself as a pastor, and how yoga helped transform his self-image.
(And wait until you hear about his Instagram account!)

Luke’s podcast: youratheistpastor.org

In part 2 of this video series we sit down with Dr Darrel Ray, RfR's Founder & President, to learn about how this awesome organization got started.  Hosted by Eric Wells, RfR Support Group Director.  The primary focus of Recovering from Religion (RfR) is to offer hope, healing, and support to those struggling with issues of doubt and non-belief. This transitional period is an ongoing process that can result in a range of emotions, as well as a ripple effect of consequences throughout an individual’s life. We are here to help each other through this journey.

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

+3 4505 2402 in Australia

+20 3856 8791 in the UK

+27 11 043 5323 in South Africa

Peer support is also available through local support groups. These groups offer monthly in-person meetings as a place to express doubts, fears, emotions & concerns about religion you wouldn't normally feel comfortable expressing in a religious community. Find your nearest support group at https://www.meetup.com/pro/recovering-from-religion

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

RfR has an immense collection of well-curated resources available as you go through your journey, including resources for mental and physical crises, working with relationships, issues stemming from specific religions, coming out stories, and much more. Head to https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/resources for these helpful resources.

Subscribe to the RfR Blog: https://medium.com/excommunications

Secular Rarity will be joining us this week to talk about engaging in discussions about big ideas from religion, science, and philosophy in online settings without losing sight of our common humanity. He will share his experiences and tips for communicating compassionately and staying friendly through tough conversations so as to avoid the “angry atheist” stereotype. This will be an interactive discussion, so bring your questions for Secular Rarity!

This episode was recorded on 7-25-2022.

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok.

Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer

Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate

The Amish Heritage Foundation is a history-making nonprofit committed to empowering Amish women and children through education past the eighth grade, so they can choose their own futures. They provide services including cultural literacy training to institutions and individuals as well as raising public awareness about the crises hidden in Amish society. They envision that one day education will be a constitutional right for everyone in the US, and that Amish children will one day have the right to an education beyond the eight grade, including the right to learn about science, technology, engineering, mathematics, civics, law, philosophy, and the arts.

Torah Bontrager escaped in the middle of the night at age 15 so she could go to high school. She’s the author of Amish Girl in Manhattan and, to her knowledge, the first female Amish escapee to graduate from the Ivy League. Her story’s been featured on MTV and Forbes.com, among others. Today, she advocates for the right of Amish children to go to school beyond the 8th grade. Torah founded The Amish Heritage Foundation, which focuses on making education a federal right and overturning the Supreme Court case Wisconsin v. Yoder.

More about Torah Bontrager and The Amish Heritage Foundation
- https://www.TorahBontrager.com/courses
- https://www.AmishHeritage.org

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

+3 4505 2402 in Australia

+20 3856 8791 in the UK

+27 11 043 5323 in South Africa

Peer support is also available through local support groups. These groups offer monthly in-person meetings as a place to express doubts, fears, emotions & concerns about religion you wouldn't normally feel comfortable expressing in a religious community. Find your nearest support group at https://www.meetup.com/pro/recovering-from-religion

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

RfR has an immense collection of well-curated resources available as you go through your journey, including resources for mental and physical crises, working with relationships, issues stemming from specific religions, coming out stories, and much more. Head to https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/resources for these helpful resources.

Subscribe to the RfR Blog: https://medium.com/excommunications

In many Muslim majority countries doubting Islamic teachings, leaving the faith, or same-sex love can result in harsh punishments, ostratization, toture or even execution. As you might imagine, these repercussions result in fear and deep psychological trauma. In this RfRx discussion, Yasmine Mohammend will share with us how the nonprofit organization Free Hearts Free Minds is working to offer mental health support for these people. Free Hearts refers to supporting members of the LGBT community and Free Minds refers to supporting freethinkers who choose to denounce the religion they were born into. Yasmine Mohammed is a Canadian author and human rights activist advocating for the rights of women living within Islamic majority countries, as well as those who struggle under religious fundamentalism. She is the founder of Free Hearts Free Minds, an organization that provides psychological support for freethinkers living within Muslim majority countries, where the state sanctioned punishment for leaving Islam is death. Additionally, she is the author of the book Unveiled: How Western Liberals Empower Radical Islam. Hosted by Eric Wells, the RfR Support Group Director and Kara Griffin, RfR Helpline Agent Recorded on August 8, 2021 Resource List - Free Hearts Free Minds: http://www.freeheartsfreeminds.com - Unveiled: How Western Liberals Empower Radical Islam by Yasmine Mohammed - Banaz A Love Story: https://youtu.be/VepuyvhHYdM - Rainbow Railroad: https://www.rainbowrailroad.org - Secular Underground Network: https://secularundergroundnetwork.org - Ben Affleck, Sam Harris and Bill Maher Debate Radical Islam: https://youtu.be/vln9D81eO60 - RfRx Religion Spotlight - Islam with Yasmine Mohammed: https://youtu.be/wTMnpPacPTM More about Yasmine Mohammed & Free Hearts Free Minds - FHFM website: http://www.freeheartsfreeminds.com

Because most fundamentalist religions are such high demand belief-systems, when it’s suddenly gone, it can be a very disorienting, confusing and painful time in someone's life. One can find themselves, as Katherine Roberts did, with a shaken worldview and lost without the underpinnings of their old faith. Gleaning from her own journey out of faith, and looking back at the challenges that she faced, Katherine will offer practical advice to those finding themselves sitting amongst the ruins of their former faith, wondering where to start to rebuild in a healthy way.

Katherine Roberts spent nearly 25 years as an evangelical, fundamental Christian, most of those years being in some form of ministry and eventually became ordained pastor. In 2018, after a long period of deconstructing from fundamentalist beliefs, she made a skeptical  examination of the  evidence for the existence of God, and today, she calls herself an atheist and a freethinker.

Hosted by Eric Wells, the RfR Support Group Director and Kara Griffin, RfR Helpline Agent.

Recorded on  July 19, 2021

Atheist Community of Discord: https://discord.com/invite/B28xRKb

The primary focus of Recovering from Religion (RfR) is to offer hope, healing, and support to those struggling with issues of doubt and non-belief. This transitional period is an ongoing process that can result in a range of emotions, as well as a ripple effect of consequences throughout an individual’s life. We are here to help each other through this journey.

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

+3 4505 2402 in Australia

+20 3856 8791 in the UK

+27 11 043 5323 in South Africa

Peer support is also available through local support groups. These groups offer monthly in-person meetings as a place to express doubts, fears, emotions & concerns about religion you wouldn't normally feel comfortable expressing in a religious community. Find your nearest support group at https://www.meetup.com/pro/recovering-from-religion

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

RfR has an immense collection of well-curated resources available as you go through your journey, including resources for mental and physical crises, working with relationships, issues stemming from specific religions, coming out stories, and much more. Head to https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/resources for these helpful resources.

Subscribe to the RfR Blog: https://medium.com/excommunications

Cults come in a variety of expressions, though they have commonalities. Our guest for this episode is an expert on this subject, as well as a former cult member herself.

Dr. Janja Lalich is a researcher, author, and educator specializing in cults and extremist groups with a particular focus on charismatic relationships, political and other social movements, ideology, and social control. She was a Fulbright scholar and is Professor Emerita of Sociology at California State University, Chico, and the founder and former director of the Center for Research on Influence and Control. Her books are considered essential to understand the attraction of these groups. She presents four ways to not only explain the power of cults, but also the control they have over their followers. Her latest book is one of the most extensive examinations of those who’ve left cults.
Janja consults with education, mental health, business and legal professionals, and is a regular spokesperson for the media. 

Tim and Bill also discuss the ongoing NXIVM trial, and how Janja's research helps to understand this kind of group.

Janja’s Website: http://cultresearch.org/
Janja’s Books: https://goo.gl/vGMML6

More about Recovering from Religion:

Did you know Recovering from Religion has local support groups?
https://bre.is/sndPcEW6E

Looking for a therapist who will respect your views?
https://www.seculartherapy.org/

Interested in meeting other people who have made the journey to recovery?
RfR is hosting a fall outing in Mars Hill, NC.
September 20-22,  2019
https://bre.is/cIC5j8dih 

  

We want to hear your story.
Use the RfR Podcast hotline: 209-294-0681
Or fill out the form at the bottom of the RfR podcast page: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/podcast

For the first RfRx episode of 2023, we are joined by former Canadian Pentecostal turned secular activist, Stacie Grahn. From Pentecostal to Reformed theology, she only ever wanted to find the truth. In this episode, Stacie will discuss her incredible journey over the past year as, not intending to get rid of her faith, she overcame fear, faced down cognitive dissonance, and ultimately found healing in online activism.

After 38 years of living the “perfect” Christian life, being a mother of 3 young boys and a wife of 15 years, Stacie Grahn began to have doubts about her faith as she watched countless other Christians fall for conspiracies. How could people shun science and blindly believe misinformation so easily? That was the tipping point for her to examine what she believed and why. From Pentecostal to Reformed theology, Stacie only ever wanted to find the truth. When the cognitive dissonance was finally put to rest, she found healing in online activism and publicly de-converting. She now shares her story through various online platforms, promotes secular and skeptic thinking, and loves connecting with others who have been through the same religious trauma she experienced.

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok.

Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer

Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate

RfR Support Group Director and host, Eric Wells, sits down with RfR Founder & President, Dr Darrel Ray.  Dr Ray talks about his work as a corporate psychologist, the impetus for his two books, why and how he started RfR, how he incorporated his past work experience into forming RfR and a lot more.  The primary focus of Recovering from Religion (RfR) is to offer hope, healing, and support to those struggling with issues of doubt and non-belief. This transitional period is an ongoing process that can result in a range of emotions, as well as a ripple effect of consequences throughout an individual’s life. We are here to help each other through this journey.

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok.

Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer

Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate

Debbie Glander is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, cofounder of Authenticity Workshops, and a Certified Daring Way™ Facilitator, utilizing methodology based on the research of Dr. Brené Brown. Debbie works with clients individually in her private practice and facilitates a “Healing from Religious and Spiritual Trauma” process group. She has her own story of being raised Jehovah Witness. 

Kari Groff is a former Adventist missionary to Micronesia, but is now passionate about building communities with those who’ve also experienced the trauma of a strict, dogmatic religious culture. 

Join us as we talk with these women about the power and control of shame, as well as recognizing religious abuse.

Debbie’s Website: www.debbieglander.com

UPDATE: We recently put out an appeal for a Producer for the Recovering from Religion podcast. We're pleased to announce that we’ve found one, and we’ll be introducing our new Producer in an upcoming episode.  Thank you!

This week on RfRx we will have Jennifer Manlowe on to discuss Religious Trauma and the Search for Identity. She will cover the traumatic effects of religious indoctrination on body, identity, self worth, and body image. How do we find dignity and self esteem post-breakup with religion? And what if we aren’t ready to give up everything about our former religious identity and beliefs?

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok.

Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer

Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate

Nearly everyone’s life has been touched by addiction. It could be your addiction or a family member or a friend. Recovery programs are primarily faith-based, but there are secular options. In this RfRx event, we will compare and contrast secular evidence-based addiction recovery, such as SMART Recovery, with faith-based addiction recovery, such as Alcoholics Anonymous.

Brian is a 5-year volunteer with Recovering from Religion serving in various ways including Helpline Agent, Resource Curator, Volunteer Interviewer, and RfR Support Group Facilitator in Nashville. Brian has also volunteered for 5 years with SMART Recovery as a Support Group Facilitator and Tennessee Regional Coordinator. Thes volunteer roles at RfR and SMART are peer support and Brian is not a professional expert in either area. As a trained and experienced meeting facilitator, however, Brian will lead a mock SMART Recovery meeting with vigorous discussion although without giving professional advice.  Hosted by Eric Wells, the RfR Support Group Director and Medlin Nolasco, RfR Helpline volunteer & RfRx Social Host.

Recorded on April the 12th, 2021

https://smartrecovery.org

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok.

Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer

Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate

With the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers in the news, as well as male lone-shooters almost daily, we might ask: “What is going on with men and boys?” Or maybe you've heard the term "incel" and wondered where that is coming from? This week on RfRx, Dr. Ray will discuss a wide range of issues, trends and statistics that may surprise you - from dating site trends, to college attendance, marriage, and a host of other things affecting men and boys.

Dr Darrel Ray is the Founder & President of Recovering from Religion. He has been a psychologist for over thirty years and is the author of four books: including "The God Virus-How Religion Infects Our Lives and Culture" and "Sex and God-How Religion Distorts Sexuality". Dr. Ray has been a student of religion most of his life and holds a Masters Degree in religion as well as a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology/Anthropology with a Doctorate in Psychology.

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok.

Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer

Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate

In this RfRx session we will discover that sexual integrity is simply about being yourself and getting honest with yourself and others about who you are as a sexual being. We will also discuss how to integrate, instead of compartmentalize sexuality.

Dr. Steven Davidson, Ph.D. (Certified Sex Therapist, Licensed Clinical Social Worker) is a psychotherapist and sex therapist in private practice in Fort Lauderdale FL. He sees clients at his office or online via tele-therapy. His clients are individuals and couples from all walks of life who are seeking solutions to sexual problems.

Hosted by Amaia Perez, the RfR Online Programming Director, and Eric Wells, the RfR Support Group Director. 

Resources

- “Mating in Captivity” by” Esther Perel

- “Sex Outside the Lines” by Chris Donaghue

- “Guide to Getting it On” by Paul Joannides  

More about Dr. Steven Davidson 

- https://www.drstevendavidson.com

- https://www.facebook.com/The-Sexual-Integrity-Coach

In this RfRx talk, Sikivu Hutchinson discusses the major themes of Black feminist identity and artistic control in her new road novel “Rock 'n' Roll Heretic”, vis-a-vis overcoming trauma, victim-blaming and silence around sexual violence, misogynoir (anti-Black misogyny) and corruption in faith-based communities.

Sikivu Hutchinson is a writer, educator, and director. Her books include “Humanists in the Hood: Unapologetically Black, Feminist, and Heretical” (2020), the novel “White Nights, Black Paradise” (2015) and the new novel “Rock ’n’ Roll Heretic: The Life and Times of Rory Tharpe” (2021). She is the founder of the Women’s Leadership Project, Black Skeptics Los Angeles and a co-facilitator of the Black LGBTQI+ Parent and Caregiver group.

Hosted by Eric Wells, the RfR Support Group Director and Mandisa Thomas, Founder and President of Black NonBelievers and RfR Support Group Leader.

Resource List
- “Humanists in the Hood: Unapologetically Black, Feminist, and Heretical” by Sikivu Hutchinson: https://www.amazon.com/Humanists-Hood...
- “At the Dark End of the Street: Black Women, Rape and Resistance” by Danielle L. McGuire: https://www.amazon.com/At-Dark-End-St...
- “Killing the Black Body: Race, Reproduction, and the Meaning of Liberty” by Dorothy: https://www.amazon.com/Killing-Black-... Roberts:
- “Aretha Franklin, Sexual Violence and the Culture Dissemblance”, an article for the African American Intellectual History Society (AAIHS) by Rachel Zellars: https://www.aaihs.org/aretha-franklin...
- “Love with Accountability: Digging up the Roots of Child Sexual Abuse” an anthology: https://www.amazon.com/Love-Accountab...
- “The Ebony Exodus Project: Why Some Black Women Are Walking Out on Religion―and Others Should Too” by Candace R. M. Gorham LPC: https://www.amazon.com/Ebony-Exodus-P...
- Black Diamond Queens: Black women and Rock ‘n’ Roll by Maureen Mahon: https://www.amazon.com/Black-Diamond-...

Upcoming Event:
Juneteenth at the Museum of the African Diaspora presents Shredding While Black and Female: http://sikivuhutchinson.com/2021/05/1...

Atheist Community of Discord: https://discord.com/invite/B28xRKb

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.
To talk over the phone, dial:
(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada
Important RfR Links:
RfR Support Groups: http://www.meetup.com/pro/recovering-...
Secular Therapy Project: http://www.seculartherapy.org
Donation link: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate

We are kicking off Pride Month with an intimate conversation with adult content creator Arden Hart. We’ll talk about gender diversity, sex positivity and adult entertainment. We’ll also learn about common arguments used to advance anti-trans laws and where those arguments are flawed in reasoning and evidentiary backing. Bring your questions for Arden and join us for a celebration of queer identities!

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok.

Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer

Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate

Explore what it means to be "spiritual" or live meaningfully without the outmoded accessories of religious trappings. Rachel Roberts will offer definitions of terms that illustrate how ancient human inclinations, such as spirituality, are still relevant but need to be recontextualized in the 21st century. She will also provide examples and ideas for nonreligious meaning-making traditions and rituals that can enhance everyday living and the overarching life journey. Being connected to something greater than ourselves, whether it's community, love, nature, or any other value, is the epicenter of secular spirituality.

Rachel Roberts is the author of Confessions of an American None: A Credo of Sorts. The study of religion has been her passion since young adulthood. She has a bachelor's degree with an emphasis on philosophy of religion, and a masters degree in Theological Studies from Southern Methodist University. She grew up in a Christian cult with her mother, yet her father was an atheist. After an on-again, off-again relationship with Christianity as an adult, Rachel found her truth and freedom in coming out as a non-believer. Rachel has three children, a dog named Tito, and a cat named Strudel. Her guilty pleasures include gummy bears, a crisp IPA, and Star Trek.

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

+3 4505 2402 in Australia

+20 3856 8791 in the UK

+27 11 043 5323 in South Africa

Peer support is also available through local support groups. These groups offer monthly in-person meetings as a place to express doubts, fears, emotions & concerns about religion you wouldn't normally feel comfortable expressing in a religious community. Find your nearest support group at https://www.meetup.com/pro/recovering-from-religion

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

RfR has an immense collection of well-curated resources available as you go through your journey, including resources for mental and physical crises, working with relationships, issues stemming from specific religions, coming out stories, and much more. Head to https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/resources for these helpful resources.

Subscribe to the RfR Blog: https://medium.com/excommunications

There is safety in religious beliefs such as rules to follow, clear consequences, and structured relationships. When we step out of our religion into the big wide world, it’s a struggle to release the rules, to ignore the dogma we’ve been raised to trust. June has learned to recognize that rules-based voice, challenge it and embrace life without the safety net of religion — mostly! She will be providing some tips on feeling comfortable on the other side of belief.

June happily resides in Sandy Springs, Georgia, with her husband, Dave, and their dog, Sodapop. They have two wonderful adult children and two grandchildren. She is an enthusiastic exerciser and an accomplished cook. She and her husband enjoy hiking with Sodapop, traveling, scuba diving, trying new restaurants, concerts, and whatever other adventures they can find. Reading and a constant desire to learn keeps her busy too.

A trauma survivor who struggles with mental illness, June is continuously reaching for hope like the characters in her books. She openly discusses her personal struggles on her blog, JuneConverse.com

Decide to Hope is her first novel and relies a great deal on her own experience with trauma, choices, recovery and hope. If you’d like to discuss trauma, coping and recovery, contact her at JuneConverse.com or DecideToHope.com

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

+3 4505 2402 in Australia

+20 3856 8791 in the UK

+27 11 043 5323 in South Africa

Peer support is also available through local support groups. These groups offer monthly in-person meetings as a place to express doubts, fears, emotions & concerns about religion you wouldn't normally feel comfortable expressing in a religious community. Find your nearest support group at https://www.meetup.com/pro/recovering-from-religion

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

RfR has an immense collection of well-curated resources available as you go through your journey, including resources for mental and physical crises, working with relationships, issues stemming from specific religions, coming out stories, and much more. Head to https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/resources for these helpful resources.

Subscribe to the RfR Blog: https://medium.com/excommunications

Since 2014, Kansas City Oasis has provided a community for secular families, believing the human experience is better when shared. Our goal is to cultivate an environment where you will find new friends and a place to belong, regardless of your beliefs, gender identity or sexual orientation. Our Core Values define our community and help shape our interactions with each other, society, and the world: People are more important than beliefs, human hands solve human problems, reality is known through reason, meaning comes from making a difference, be accepting and being accepted.

Originally from Toledo, Ohio, Niki Aktipis now lives in Kansas City, Kansas with their guinea pigs, rabbits, leopard gecko, fish, and a rotational variety of foster pets. Currently, Niki is a Teach for America teacher at Wyandotte High School and the board president of Kansas City Oasis. They graduated from the University of Michigan in 2013 with a bachelor’s in Biopsychology and the University of Derby in 2015 with a masters in Conservation Biology. They are currently completing their master’s in Education from Fort Hays State University. Niki is an avid science enthusiast, environmentalist, social justice advocate, and a life-long secular humanist. They have been a part of the Oasis community since 2016 and are honored to support the continued growth of Kansas City Oasis.

Hosted by Eric Wells, the RfR Support Group Director and Sascha D’Souza, RfR OCE Regional Support Group Director 

Recorded on August 30th, 2021

Resources

- Slides for the discussion: https://tinyurl.com/RfRxKCOasisSlides

- Oasis Community Network: https://www.oasisnetwork.com

- KC Oasis website: http://www.kcoasis.org

- KC Oasis FB page: https://www.facebook.com/KCOasis

- KC Oasis YouTube Channel: @KansasCityOasis

- KC Oasis Meetup Group: https://www.meetup.com/KCOasis

In our very first RfRx Religion Series session, Lloyd Evans and Sherrie D’Souza will discuss their experiences in the Jehovah's Witnesses (JW) and how they left religion. They cover the JW belief system, how Watchtower works, and what challenges people face when leaving the religion.

Lloyd Evans is the founder and senior editor of http//:JWsurvey.org - a website that promotes freeness of thought among Jehovah's Witnesses. He is also author of "The Reluctant Apostate," a book that chronicles his experiences growing up as a JW and his journey to freedom from Watchtower indoctrination. His @John Cedars YouTube channel hosts a range of videos aimed at dissecting the various teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses, as well as new developments in the religion.  More about Lloyd: http//:JWsurvey.org Twitter: @cedarsjwsurvey YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/JohnCedars

Sherrie Dsouza is an ex-Jehovah’s Witness who is now dedicated to sharing her waking up adventure and the truth about the dark side of the Jehovah’s Witnesses including child abuse, corrupt leadership and indoctrination practices. She is the survey editor for JWsurvey.org and is a Support Group Co-Leader for Recovering from Religion. She started the first RfR support group in Sydney, Australia. She currently lives with her husband in South West Sydney, Australia, where she enjoys meditating, reading, and science fiction.  More about Sherrie: Twitter: @SherrieDSouza  Hosted by Eric Wells, the RfR Support Group Director, and Amaia Peraz, the RfR Online Programming Director.

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok.

Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer

Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate

A religious identity is more than a label put on for church services. It is a way of seeing yourself, your relationships, and the world around you in a structured ethical way. Everything potentially has meaning at a cosmic level. Losing that sense of structure can be devastating. Here we’re going to look at why you don’t have to give up your Values, even the ones you had before, and consider how to build meaning/purpose/ethics into your life without cosmic interruption.

David Teachout, LMHC is a licensed mental health counselor who grew up in Michigan, home of taking the first day of hunting season off from school, and went to a bible college in my then quest to become a minister for Christianity. Questions ensued, answers were not forthcoming, and the result is a life of studying humanity from a place of curiosity rather than condemnation. David currently resides in the Seattle area, with a career almost entirely focused on psychology and possess a sometimes frustrating desire to pursue complicated conversations  Hosted by Amaia Perez, the RfR Online Programming Director, and Eric Wells, the RfR Support Group Director.

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok.

Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer

Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate

David Teachout returns to help us answer the perennial question: What does love got to do with it? What is this fantastic emotion? From troubadours to modern musicians and rom-coms, myths to personal declarations, love and its many manifestations is almost as synonymous with humanity as the capacity for reason. Perhaps that’s why they’re so often pitted against one another. Let’s explore love, both as a feeling and an emotion, a few expressions of it including monogamy, polyamory and relationship anarchy, and find a few principles to help us on our own tunnels of love.

David Teachout is a mental health therapist and photographer, focused on and teaching how creativity intersects with mental flexibility to work through life’s struggles. David grew up as a Christian fundamentalist, attending a bible college and receiving a bachelor’s in theology and psychology. During his studies there, David deconverted and has been on a journey of appreciating humanity and all the stories we create to build meaning and purpose. David has a master’s in both forensic psychology and counseling psychology, and is currently at work on a doctorate in clinical psychology. David has been actively working within the field of psychology as therapist, social worker, advocate, and subject-matter-expert, for over fifteen years. In his spare time, David enjoys reading a copious amount, both fiction and non-fiction, exploring perspective through photography, and maintains a blog at www.lifeweavings.com and a podcast at www.humanitysvalues.com

The primary focus of Recovering from Religion (RfR) is to offer hope, healing, and support to those struggling with issues of doubt and non-belief. This transitional period is an ongoing process that can result in a range of emotions, as well as a ripple effect of consequences throughout an individual’s life. We are here to help each other through this journey.

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok.

Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer

Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate

Nitai Joseph was born into a Hare Krishna family. After becoming very devout as a teenager, he joined an offshoot sect, and moved to a small, off-grid monastery in Northern California. 

For almost seven years, Nitai was assistant to the leader, experiencing intense psychological and financial abuse, manipulation, and deprivation. 

These days, Nitai is working for education and recovery resources for survivors of cults, cultic environments and interpersonal abuse more broadly. He currently serves on the Advisory Council of the International Cultic Studies Association, and is working toward a Master’s degree in the Psychology of Coercive Control. 

Nitai’s Website: http://arecoveringmonk.com/

We want to hear your story.
Use the RfR Podcast hotline: 209-294-0681
Or fill out the form at the bottom of the RfR podcast page: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/podcast

More about Recovering from Religion

Did you know Recovering from Religion has local support groups?
https://bre.is/sndPcEW6E

Looking for a therapist who will respect your views?
https://www.seculartherapy.org/

Interested in meeting other people who have made the journey to recovery?
RfR is hosting a fall outing in Mars Hill, NC.
https://bre.is/cIC5j8dih 

Have you ever wondered how to introduce children to science? Do you believe that children should grow in an environment that fosters critical thinking skills and curiosity? J.R. will discuss how he grew up in an Orthodox Jewish household, and became a secular author of humanist science children’s book series entitled Annabelle & Aiden.

J.R. Becker Holds a BA in Philosophy, and a Juris Doctorate from Emory University's School of Law. After becoming a father, J.R. was inspired to author the Annabelle & Aiden children's book series. The first book, on evolution, was banned by Christian World News, and went on to become a #1 Bestseller on Amazon. Since it launched in late 2016, the 6-book series has won various awards, raised $70,000 on Kickstarter, and has sold over 20,000 copies. Joseph lives in New Jersey with his wife Leah, and two children, Annabelle & Aiden.

Hosted by Amaia Perez, the RfR Online Programming Director, and Eric Wells, the RfR Support Group Director.

Learn more about J.R. Becker

- http://www.AnnabelleAndAiden.com

- https://www.facebook.com/AnnabelleandAiden

The primary focus of Recovering from Religion (RfR) is to offer hope, healing, and support to those struggling with issues of doubt and non-belief. This transitional period is an ongoing process that can result in a range of emotions, as well as a ripple effect of consequences throughout an individual’s life. We are here to help each other through this journey.

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

+3 4505 2402 in Australia

+20 3856 8791 in the UK

+27 11 043 5323 in South Africa

Peer support is also available through local support groups. These groups offer monthly in-person meetings as a place to express doubts, fears, emotions & concerns about religion you wouldn't normally feel comfortable expressing in a religious  community. Find your nearest support group at https://www.meetup.com/pro/recovering-from-religion

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

RfR has an immense collection of well-curated resources available as you go through your journey, including resources for mental and physical crises, working with relationships, issues stemming from specific religions, coming out stories, and much more. Head to https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/resources for these helpful resources.

Dr. Devin Singh is a social theorist and scholar of religion and theology, serving as Associate Professor of Religion at Dartmouth College. He received his Ph.D. from Yale, where he was named a Whiting Fellow, Yale's highest recognition for research in the humanities. He was also trained in social scientific theory and methods at the University of Chicago (M.A.), theology and divinity at Trinity International University (M.Div.), and religious studies at Pomona College (B.A.).

Devin has a rich and diverse ethnic and theological background, and says his study of religion was a way of making sense of his upbringing and the complexities of the world he encountered, and to help others see, appreciate, and navigate the nuance and complexities of life together on this planet. He is motivated to further mutual understanding, toleration, justice, and compassion--as well as meaningful and sustainable work, productivity, and value creation. 

In this episode, we talk about his book “Divine Currency” that delves into how economic ideas structured early Christian thought and society, giving crucial insight into why money holds such sway in the West. The book examines the religious and theological sources of money's power, it shows how early Christian thinkers borrowed ancient notions and metaphors of money and economic exchange from the Roman Empire as a basis for their new theological arguments. 

Devin's website: http://www.devinsingh.com/
Devin’s book: Divine Currency: The Theological Power of Money in the West. 

More about Recovering from Religion

Did you know Recovering from Religion has local support groups?
https://www.meetup.com/pro/recovering-from-religion/#groups

Looking for a therapist who will respect your views?
https://www.seculartherapy.org/

Interested in meeting other people who have made the journey to recovery? 

RfR is hosting a fall outing in Mars Hill, NC.
https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/fall-excursion-2019

We want to hear your story.

Use the RfR Podcast hotline: 209-294-0681
Or fill out the form at the bottom of the RfR podcast page: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/podcast

Lately some of us may be dealing with a series of controversial headlines and contentious social issues that can lead to unpleasant interpersonal interactions. The wrong approach to difficult conversations can cause significant damage in both personal and professional relationships and can ultimately escalate conflict. In this RfRx, Dr. Betty Iglesias Snyder will be joining us to discuss techniques for developing communication competence and navigating difficult situations confidently. She will go over tactics to manage your own emotions during high heat moments and help you to de-escalate tense situations, leading to more constructive outcomes.

Dr. Betty Iglesias Snyder is a trainer, coach, mediator, consultant, and facilitator. She teaches courses in communication, mediation, psychology of conflict, culture, gender, peace building, and neuroscience. She served as director and factulty member of dispute resolution programs at multiple universities. She provides a wide range of dispute resolution and conflict management services for individuals, organizations, and communities. She is a published author and has been featured in two documentaries.

Recorded 7-11-2022.

This episode was hosted by Dr. Kara Griffin and co-hosted by Helen Greene.

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok.

Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer

Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate

Originally premiered on RfRx YouTube Channel May 8, 2020 We are all grieving in some shape or form, some more than others.  How do you handle your grief, how does one handle grief now if you’ve given up the belief that a god is in control? How should we respond to someone who is grieving? This week we’ll be navigating through these questions and more. Join us as we talk with Kayce Hodos, LPC and provide you with some tools on how to manage our grief. Resources  - The Grieving Nonbeliever’s Bill of Rights: http://griefbeyondbelief.org/the-grieving-nonbelievers-bill-of-rights/ - Holmes and Rahe Social Adjustment Scale: https://www.stress.org/holmes-rahe-stress-inventory - Association For Death Education and Counseling: https://www.adec.org "Afterlife" - (Netflix) - Ricky Gervais’s beautiful depiction of a man’s grieving process after losing his wife. Accurately captures how complicated grief is and all the things people grieve throughout the lifespan. "Fleabag" - (Amazon Prime) - Irreverent amazon prime show about a woman’s lack of healthy coping after her friend’s death; Layers and layers of loss; explores relationships with family; the final season deals with religion. "The Good Place" - (Netflix) - More about morality and what it means to be a good person; what is good enough; does a great job of pointing out the absurdity of the idea of an afterlife and the notion that people are simply either good or bad. Stuff You Should Know Podcast - Episode 111: How Dying Works Kayce Hodos, LPC, a licensed therapist in Wake Forest, NC. She has advanced training in loss and grief and postpartum depression and anxiety. She is a screened mental health provider with the Secular Therapy Project and a large part of RfR’s new online mental health programming. Find her on the web at: Website: https://www.kaycehodos.com Educational and coaching resources: https://www.nuancecoaching.com Twitter: @kaycehodos  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KayceHodosLPC This discussion is hosted by Eric Wells, the RfR Support Group Director, and Todd Yoder, the RfR Helpline Director. 

Experiencing abuse is already difficult, yet it can be made more so when systems in place to support your growth are themselves the source of the abuse. The social relationship embodied as religious ideology is powerful because it connects us to one another, and provides a structure for meaning/purpose and ethics for one’s life. We’ll look at how this structure can be and is used to undermine the building of self-worth, perpetuating a moral injury form of abuse, and how to move through and beyond it with resiliency. As an educator and trainer for health providers and other professionals, David Teachout also has a private practice helping adults and couples with learning resiliency skills related to relationship difficulties and trauma. He maintains a podcast, “Humanity’s Values,” and a blog related to mental health topics. David has worked in mental health care for 15 years, and holds a master’s in both forensic and counseling psychology, as well as currently working towards a PsyD in Clinical Psychology. He’s also worked in community mental health, social work, criminal justice, elder care, and child advocacy. Hosted by Eric Wells, the RfR Support Group Director and Sacha D’Souza, RfR Regional Support Group Director.  Recorded on June 15, 2021 Resource list: - “A Liberated Mind” by Steven C. Hayes - “Leading the Life You Want” by Stewart Friedman - “The Moral Injury Workbook” by Wyatt R. Evans - “Resilient” by Rick Hanson - “ACT on life, not on Anger” by Georg H. Eifert - “The Meaning of Human Existence” by Edward O. Wilson - “The confidence Gap” by Russ Harris - “Searching for sunday” by Rachel Held Evans - “Trusting Doubt” by Valerie Tarico - “Being Wrong: Adventures in the Margin of Errors” by Kathryn Schulz Learn more about David Teachout, LMHC - https://www.lifeweavings.com - https://www.humanitysvalues.com - https://www.facebook.com/lifeweavingsllc - https://www.twitter.com/lifeweavings Atheist Community of Discord: https://discord.com/invite/B28xRKb

Do you miss those awesome church summer camps, but no longer relate to the religious parts? That's what the Fall Excursion is all about. We sit down with Shanon Nebo, RfR's Treasurer and Excursion Director, to learn all about it.  Hosted by Eric Wells, RfR Support GroupOnline Programming Director.

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok.

Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer

Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate

This discussion was recorded in April of 2020 just as the initial Covid-19 lockdowns were taking effect. In this episode, Dr. Ray discusses several ways your psychology effects how you respond to crisis and how you can optimize to take on these challenges. For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org. Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org. To talk over the phone, dial: (844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok. Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate

The holiday season can be a time of strong emotional reactions, and not just because of the usual religious overtones. Feelings of disconnection and loneliness can be experienced due to the pressure of traditions and social expectations, even when around loved ones. In this RfRx we’ll discuss how holidays affect us, from personal and social influences, and steps to take to stay connected to ourselves and others despite differences.

As an educator and trainer for health providers and other professionals, David Teachout also has a private practice helping adults and couples with learning resiliency skills related to relationship difficulties and trauma. He maintains a podcast, “Humanity’s Values,” and a blog related to mental health topics. David has worked in mental health care for 15 years, and holds a master’s in both forensic and counseling psychology, as well as currently working towards a PsyD in Clinical Psychology. He’s also worked in community mental health, social work, criminal justice, elder care, and child advocacy.  Hosted by Eric Wells, the RfR Support Group Director and Kara Griffin, RfR Helpline Agent.  

Recorded on September 20, 2021. 

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org. 

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org. To talk over the phone, dial: (844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada +3 4505 2402 in Australia +20 3856 8791 in the UK +27 11 043 5323 in South Africa Peer support is also available through local support groups. These groups offer monthly in-person meetings as a place to express doubts, fears, emotions & concerns about religion you wouldn't normally feel comfortable expressing in a religious community. Find your nearest support group at https://www.meetup.com/pro/recovering-from-religion If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org. RfR has an immense collection of well-curated resources available as you go through your journey, including resources for mental and physical crises, working with relationships, issues stemming from specific religions, coming out stories, and much more. Head to https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/resources for these helpful resources. Subscribe to the RfR Blog: https://medium.com/excommunications

In this week’s RfRx, Tahlia Newland will join us to discuss Tibetan Buddhism. Its practices, beliefs, and leadership may be foreign and exotic to Western minds, making it a tempting religion to join. We’ll learn about its belief systems, its leadership, some history, and the struggles adherents experience within and trying to transition out of this religion.

Tahlia Newland has published seven novels-four of which have won literary awards-one book of short stories, and a non-fiction book on writing. She works as an editor and publisher for AIA Publishing. Tahlia devoted twenty-years of her life to the study and practice of Tibetan Buddhism, twelve of those years in partial home retreat. She lives in the Australian bush with a musical husband, a filmmaker daughter, and a couple of cheeky Burmese cats.

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok.

Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer

Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate

This week on RfRx, Dr. John Wathey will return to discuss his latest work, The Phantom God. Does neuroscience have anything to say about the existence of God or the basis of human spiritual beliefs? Many books have been written about this, but most have strayed from the
scientific method. In this talk Dr. Wathey will take a more rigorous approach, emphasizing two big ideas.One is religious compulsion, which includes the appeal of ritual, the tenacity of religious belief, and the religious obsession with sex. The other is religious phantoms: the idea that the feeling of God’s presence is a phantom sensation, directly analogous to the phantom limb of an amputee. Here we’ll explore how the brain handles embodiment and the fascinating illusions that happen when the circuitry of embodiment goes awry.

John C. Wathey is a retired computational biologist, whose interests include evolutionary algorithms, the biology of nervous systems, and electoral reform. He got his PhD in Neurosciences at UC San Diego and has spent most of his career working on computer simulations of protein folding. His first book, The Illusion of God’s Presence, explores the evolution of the emotions and intuitions behind religious belief, emphasizing behavioral and psychological research. His latest book is The Phantom God: What Neuroscience Reveals about the Compulsion to Believe. It relates the motivating forces behind religiousness to the neural circuitry of embodiment, mother-infant attachment, adult sexual pair-bonding, addiction,selective attention, hallucinations, and many other neurological surprises.

Join us this week for the RfRx Halloween Special Episode! David Teachout will be returning to speak about the psychology of fear, its effects on our lives, and how to overcome it. Come talk with us about what terrifies you - and what doesn’t anymore. Help us celebrate our favorite secular holiday by bringing your spooky costumes, scary stories, and skeptical questions. Stick around for the hangout afterwards to compete for best costume bragging rights.

David Teachout is a mental health therapist and photographer, focused on and teaching how creativity intersects with mental flexibility in working through the inevitable difficulties in life. David grew up as a Christian fundamentalist, attending a bible college and receiving a bachelor’s in theology and psychology. During his studies there, David deconverted and has been on a journey of more deeply appreciating the many nuances of humanity ever since. David has a master’s in both forensic psychology and counseling psychology, and is currently at work on a doctorate in clinical psychology. David has been actively working within the field of psychology as therapist, social worker, advocate, and subject-matter-expert, for over fifteen years.

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok.

Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer

Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate

 Dave Warnock was an Evangelical pastor and church leader for more than 40 years. He gradually moved away from Christianity, which came at a huge personal cost, including the breakup of his marriage, being shunned by two of his children, missing out on his grandchildren, and the loss of his entire community of friends. 

Earlier this year, Dave was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), and told he had three to five years to live. Suddenly, with the awareness that life is incredibly brief, his life became infinitely more precious. Instead of succumbing to the depression, anger, and hopelessness, he decided to begin living life to the fullest. In this poignant and often funny episode, Dave talks about what it means to be “Dying Out Loud.” 

Dave’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/DaveWarnock.DyingOutLoud/

More about Recovering from Religion

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https://www.seculartherapy.org/

Interested in meeting other people who have made the journey to recovery?
RfR is hosting a fall outing in Mars Hill, NC.
https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/fall-excursion-2019

We want to hear your story.
Use the RfR Podcast hotline: 209-294-0681
Or fill out the form at the bottom of the RfR podcast page: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/podcast

When transitioning out of religion, we may leave more than just a deity behind. Views on any number of social issues can unexpectedly shift from one side of to another. This shift tends to provide the flexibility of seeing the issues from many different viewpoints, which can be both a blessing and a curse. In this RfRx, Gayle Jordan will share her eye-opening, frustrating, and hilarious story of running as an open atheist for a seat as a Tennessee State Senator in 2016 & 2018. We’ll also explore how her views on social issues changed as she transitioned from being a devout Southern Baptist to identifying as an atheist.

Gayle Jordan is an estate-planning attorney and former Southern Baptist who left the faith years ago when her then-teenagers began asking questions she could not answer. Her research led her (and her children) into the light of reason and rationality. Years later, she still feels the effects, both positive and negative, of that dramatic shift in perspective and attitude. It is this sympathy and compassion that drives her to reach out to help others navigate the emotional and physical process involved in leaving one’s faith. Gayle lives in Oregon where she raises goats and chickens, and is trying her hand at grape-growing at her sunny hillside home affectionately known as Peak Heathen. She blogs about a variety of topics at Happy. Healthy. Heathen.

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok.

Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer

Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate

This week at RfRx, Professor of Biology Dr. Nathan Lents will be joining us to discuss the history of the modern Intelligent Design movement. He will cover the major tenets and efforts of Intelligent Design and how they get the science wrong. He will review some recent attempts to promote the movement as a scientific one, and discuss how the claims have been debunked.

Nathan H. Lents, Ph.D. is Professor of Biology and Director of the Cell and Molecular Biology program at John Jay College of the City University of New York. He is also a visiting professor of Forensic Science at the University of Lincoln in the UK, and an elected fellow for the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. Dr. Lents’s research explores the evolution of the human genome and the genetics of human uniqueness. He has published over 40 research articles and book chapters and his work has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, The National Science Foundation, and the US Department of Education. Professor Lents is also a very busy science writer. He blogs for Psychology Today and maintains The Human Evolution Blog, and his musings on human origins have appeared in Science, The Wall Street Journal, The Huffington Post, The Guardian, The Observer, Skeptic Magazine, Skeptical Inquirer, and others. He is also the author of two popular science books: Not So Different: Finding Human Nature in Animals and Human Errors: A Panorama of our Glitches, from Pointless Bones to Broken Genes.

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok.

Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer

Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate

Rob Palmer will be joining us to discuss the application of skepticism and critical thinking to paranormal beliefs. He will examine the evidence for several common paranormal beliefs frequently entertained by religious and non-religious folks, including ghosts, haunted houses, near death experiences, reincarnation, and demonic possession.

Rob is a skeptical activist who writes for Skeptical Inquirer as The Well-Known Skeptic. He writes about contemporary skeptical issues, and has interviewed conference speakers, scientists, TV personalities, and skeptical and atheist activists. Rob takes a special interest in combating the dangerous belief in psychics and mediums, and he educates the public about the harm that often befalls vulnerable victims who trust in people claiming these abilities.

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok.

Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer

Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate

Platitudes and pithy statements are so enthralling, even when supposedly dedicated to reason and rationality. “Just follow the science,” “the truth will set you free,” “trust your intuition” are just a few examples of simple, and seemingly deep, platitudes. In this RfRx, David Teachout will join us once again to explore why platitudes are so enthralling, even when supposedly dedicated to reason and rationality. We’ll cover ways to reinvigorate our humility, delve into the “scout mindset,” as well as learn to acknowledge that religion isn’t the source of our irrationality, we are.

As an educator and trainer for health providers and other professionals, David Teachout also has a private practice helping adults and couples with learning resiliency skills related to relationship difficulties and trauma. He maintains a podcast, “Humanity’s Values,” and a blog related to mental health topics. David has worked in mental health care for 15 years, and holds a master’s in both forensic and counseling psychology, as well as currently working towards a PsyD in Clinical Psychology. He’s also worked in community mental health, social work, criminal justice, elder care, and child advocacy.

For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org.

Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org.

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

+3 4505 2402 in Australia

+20 3856 8791 in the UK

+27 11 043 5323 in South Africa

Peer support is also available through local support groups. These groups offer monthly in-person meetings as a place to express doubts, fears, emotions & concerns about religion you wouldn't normally feel comfortable expressing in a religious community. Find your nearest support group at https://www.meetup.com/pro/recovering-from-religion

If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org.

RfR has an immense collection of well-curated resources available as you go through your journey, including resources for mental and physical crises, working with relationships, issues stemming from specific religions, coming out stories, and much more. Head to https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/resources for these helpful resources.

Subscribe to the RfR Blog: https://medium.com/excommunications