Recovering from Religion
David Teachout will be returning this week to discuss more about reproductive health issues. We'll explore the psychology behind sexuality and autonomy, the effects on individuals when those are challenged, and what we can do to help navigate the emotional landscape that results.
Recovering from Religion
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.
Recovering from Religion
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
Recovering from Religion
Recovery programs are primarily faith-based, but there are secular options.
Recovering from Religion
Tonight we are joined by Secular Rarity! Just a silly guy who enjoys engaging in discussions about religion, science, and philosophy, he has been involved in many different Atheist communities both in front of and behind the camera. He has been a guest on numerous podcasts and is currently a regular host for live shows produced by the Atheist Community of Austin.
Recovering from Religion
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.
Recovering from Religion
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.
Recovering from Religion
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.
Recovering from Religion
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 Pinto 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 Boricua (boree-qua) ameRican. In her spare time, she loves to CrossFit and paint.
Recovering from Religion
Aired 12/18/2021 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.
Recovering from Religion
Aired 04/07/2021 In the midst of a new Presidential administration and battling a global health pandemic, many atheists still face challenges with openly expressing their views, and fear ostracism from family members and friends.
Recovering from Religion
Coming out as a non-believer to friends and family can be terrifying, it invites judgement and criticism from people who care about you.
Recovering from Religion
Ferron P. Wiley is an author, public speaker, and podcast host with a unique and wry sense of humor. He has twenty-plus years in the mental health industry working with children adolescents and adults. Having also served ten years presiding as Founder and Senior Pastor of a radically inclusive non-denominational church, he has been afforded a wide range of experiences and insight across the spectrum of humanity. Since recently leaving the Christian faith his core objective is to encourage people who perhaps are not well connected to their own personal value, help them to establish that as a foundation and to learn strategies to use that value as a springboard for pursuing happier and more productive lives.
Recovering from Religion
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.
Recovering from Religion
Aired 11/22/2021 Growing up in fundamentalist religious households, the trauma that children experience due to the belief systems of their parents can last a lifetime and be very difficult to work through. Alexis will talk about how she got herself out of the fundamentalist belief system and the path she took to discovering her own identity.
Recovering from Religion
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.
Recovering from Religion
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.
Recovering from Religion
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.
Recovering from Religion
Do you feel bad about things you did or said when you were religious? Do you feel guilty doing or thinking things that your religion taught were "wrong" even though you don't believe that anymore? Rebecca and Praia will help you understand what's going on here and what to do about it, so you can live a happier, lighter, guilt-free life.
Recovering from Religion
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.
Recovering from Religion
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.
Recovering from Religion
Susan Gerbic is the founder of the Guerrilla Skepticism on Wikipedia project (GSoW). This is an organization of volunteers contributing to the accuracy of Wikipedia in many languages. She also is the founder of a local skeptic group, the Monterey County Skeptics, which holds an annual short conference known as a SkeptiCamp. Since 2018, Susan has been a fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI), and she is a frequent contributor to their online magazine, the Skeptical Inquirer. She also makes regular appearances on The Skeptic Zone, billed as "the podcast from Australia for Science and Reason." In 2019, Susan was awarded the Robert P. Balles Prize for Critical Thinking, and in 2018 she used a grant from the James Randi Educational Foundation to establish a non-profit, About Time, focusing on scientific skepticism and activism. While her particular focus has been on educating the public about psychic mediums – which she has dubbed "Grief Vampires" and which we will discuss tonight – Susan's activism encompasses many areas of interest to scientific skepticism, such as alternative-medicine, conspiracy theories, and facilitated communications.
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.
Recovering from Religion
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.
Recovering from Religion
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 bachelors in theology and psychology. During his studies there, David de-converted 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.
Recovering from Religion
Aired 11/24/2021 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.
Recovering from Religion
Aired 17/3/2021 Many nonbelievers, especially those who have recently left their religion, struggle to redefine what the holidays mean to them. We'll discuss these challenges and provide ways to create your own meaningful rituals that will help you transform this time of year into a season of reason!
Recovering from Religion
Nudist life, what it is, what it isn't and how to explore it. The discussion will also include key aspects of nudism and how these can be healing from shame.
Recovering from Religion
Throughout millennia people have been treated like objects, and not as the free-willed individuals they were. We are really not too far removed from the days of chattel marriages and slavery, and those outdated ideas of people as objects still show up in our religious belief systems, our language, and our behaviors. In this RfRx discussion, Glenda Jordan will explore the difference between objectification and empowerment. When is a woman objectified? What makes a woman empowered? These buzzwords may seem confusing at first, but through the lens of contemporary feminist theory and female performance, the distinction between the two will become clear. Glenda Jordan is a professional model and artist, with a decade long career in Las Vegas as a dancer and entertainer. Raised Southern Baptist, Glenda had her secular and feminist awakening in her early 20s. When she's not performing or working in her studio, she enjoys marathon video game sessions, traveling, and spending time with her many pets.
Recovering from Religion
Janice Selbie spent nearly 4 decades as an Evangelical Christian. After divorcing her husband and her religion, she became a Registered Professional Counsellor and religious recovery consultant. In addition to working 1:1 with clients recovering from religious trauma, Janice developed the Divorcing Religion Workshop and founded the Conference on Religious Trauma – as well as the upcoming Shameless Sexuality: Life After Purity Culture online conference, happening in October.
Recovering from Religion
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.
Recovering from Religion
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.
Recovering from Religion
In the 1980's and 90's, sexual "purity" became a major focus in sectors of Christian culture within the United States. This movement, now referred to as "purity culture," had detrimental effects, including stunted LGBTQI+ identity exploration, dissociation from one's body, under-reported sexual assaults, and relationship struggles. Join us as we explore specific concepts taught within purity culture, its impacts & developmental trauma, as well as tips and resources for identifying the trauma in oneself and working through it. Content warning: This discussion will have a lot of heteronormitive language and heavy gendered language. We understand that can be triggering & stressful, but know it's intentional because it's a part of breaking down the core concepts of purity culture. This discussion was held in the beginning of Pride Month and purity culture is especially damaging to the LGBTQ+ community.
Recovering from Religion
Shunning is a hurtful and harmful practice that affects thousands of former members of high-control groups. A trauma-informed approach offers hope and the prospect of moving beyond feeling in bondage to inhumane rules. This presentation will give you tools and ideas for research that can help.
Recovering from Religion
PTSD is a well-known phenomenon stemming from traumatic experiences, such as war, car accidents, or physical abuse. Dr. Ray and Dr. Garcia will be bringing to light how religion can be added to that list of PTSD causes as well as the psychology behind Religious Trauma. They will also discuss concrete ways to identify and deal with the effects of Religious Trauma.
Recovering from Religion
Christy Powell is a licensed professional counselor with Valence Counseling and focuses a large part on religious trauma and sex-positive care in Texas. He also is one of the main hosts for the Secular Sexuality podcast, created originally by Dr. Darrel Ray.
Recovering from Religion
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.
Recovering from Religion
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.
Recovering from Religion
We are innately sexual creatures. What should come naturally gets mutilated and destroyed by shame, fear, and ignorance. We crave emotional intimacy, yet dare to risk letting others know who we really are. In this RfRx discussion, Dr Steven Davidson will discuss why we get trapped in denying our sexuality and how we can overcome it and be that much closer to becoming our true selves.
Recovering from Religion
The idea of sex addiction is a religious notion at its root. Since 1983 religions have used the idea of sex addiction as a tool of Purity Culture. In this discussion, Dr Darrel Ray joins us once again to talk about the roots of the concept of sex addiction and how it affects you and our entire culture. This does not mean people don't have concerns and problems with their sexual behavior, but we need to treat the real issues NOT an imaginary problem based in religious ideology. 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.
Recovering from Religion
Religion can distort many things in our lives that are natural, including sex! Have you been taught that sex is only permitted in the context of marriage or procreation? Or that anything other than a monogamous heterosexual relationship will lead to damnation? That porn is addictive and will lead to a degenerate behavior? Do you struggle with guilt because you masturbate? We'll be tackling these questions and more along with providing some helpful tools for those of us who are struggling with these issues.
Recovering from Religion
Transitioning out of religion isn't easy. Many of us have built our personal identity around our religious worldview and community, but what to do when that's gone or slipping away? We may be left feeling perplexed, confused, depressed and anxious in the aftermath of departing long held faith practices. This RfRx discussion will focus on strategies to rebuild a sense of self and self worth after one's religious identity is stripped away, as well as making rational decisions about unhealthy behaviors in contrast with sin consciousness.
Recovering from Religion
Trigger Warning: suicide & death Suicide is an ever present part of our human experience, be it through an acquaintance, friend, or family member taking their own life, or something even more personal, such as suicidal thoughts and attempts. When faced with suicide whether it's as close as someone coming to you for help, or as distant as media reports, it can be daunting to know what to do and if you could have done something to prevent it. In this RfRx discussion, Dr. Andy Thomson will walk us through how to assess the signs, how to understand why suicide is a human universal, as well as why the risks are higher for veterans, trauma survivors, members of the LGBT+ community, and health care professionals. 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. His current interest is in Darwinian psychiatry, evolutionary medicine, and evolutionary psychology and their applications to clinical depression, antidepressant medications, religious belief, substance abuse, well-being, resilience, suicide risk assessment, and psychiatric illness. Dr Thomson has written "Why We Believe In God(s): A Concise Guide to the Science of Faith" which brings that world to anyone interested.
Recovering from Religion
Cathy Harris will present an explanation for how self-esteem, suicidal ideation, self-harm can follow leaving cult membership behind. Why would this happen after gaining our freedom? How can we cope and move beyond self-destructive thoughts and behaviors? Cathy Harris is a Clinical Social Worker with over 20 years experience in a variety of settings helping people get beyond traumatic experiences, and on to living their best life. Cathy was recruited into a religious cult at 17 years old. At 43, she began to question this membership, and left the group. In spite of being shunned by family and friends, she has found a life she loves.
Recovering from Religion
What do you say when your parents give you religious gifts? What do you do when your friend says they'll pray for you? How do you respond when someone starts preaching to you about how you're deceived, need to change your ways, and return to the faith? Join us on Monday for a discussion about how to have and set good boundaries with your friends and family.
Recovering from Religion
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.
Recovering from Religion
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 proven 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, DEI consultant, and facilitator. She teaches courses in communication, mediation, psychology of conflict, culture and gender, peacebuilding, and neuroscience and has served as director and faculty member of dispute resolution programs at multiple universities. She has provided a wide range of alternative dispute resolution and conflict management services with individuals, organizations and communities. She is a published author and has been featured in two documentaries.
Recovering from Religion
Dating, seeking romantic partnerships, and establishing personal connections can be extremely challenging. As nonbelievers, it is important to evaluate our approaches and thinking, as well as manage our expectations in order to achieve the types of relationship(s) we want. Mandisa Thomas will offer advice and insight, as well as discuss possible solutions to assist with dating as a nonbeliever.
Recovering from Religion
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.
Recovering from Religion
The adjustment to parenthood is one of the most stressful transitions of a lifetime. The sleep deprivation alone is enough to make you question how the human race has survived. This conversation will provide tips for managing the overwhelming demands of life with a newborn, setting boundaries with religious grandparents, and coping with postpartum depression and anxiety. We'll also cover some realistic ways you can offer support to new parents.
Recovering from Religion
Aired: 01/23/2021. Children are not just little adults and their mental health concerns cannot be viewed and treated the same way we would address adult mental health. Add on a layer of nonbelief and you are truly facing a different set of circumstances, especially when it comes to seeking treatment.
Recovering from Religion
From holidays and gifts to kids and grandkids, dealing with religious in-laws and extended family members can be a minefield of hurt feelings and hard conversations.
Recovering from Religion
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.
Recovering from Religion
What happens when one partner doesn't believe? What happens when the foundation of your relationship is no longer the foundation? Sherrie D'Souza will share her experiences and insights gained from navigating different faiths in a marriage relationship. And - spoiler alert! - returning co-host Sacha D'Souza will be joining the conversation to share his perspective, as well. For tonight's episode we are going to be hearing from our very own Sherrie D'Souza who is an RfR Board member, chair for RfR Australia, international development director for RfR, wife to co-host Sacha D'Souza and former Jehovah's Witness.
Recovering from Religion
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. We 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. We promote understanding of atheists through education, outreach, and community-building and work to end the stigma associated with being an atheist in America.
Recovering from Religion
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.
Recovering from Religion
What is going on in your life for which you could use the advice and counsel from a professional therapist? For this RfRx session we've invited 3 mental health professionals to answer your questions. They are professionals in the fields of individual therapy, relationships, pregnancy, child raising, family counselling, sex therapy, alcohol/substance abuse, stress management, grief, end-of-life, personal growth and more.
Recovering from Religion
Finding a mental health professional who is evidence-based, as well as a good fit for you, can be difficult at times. In this RfRx discussion, we will talk about what it means for a therapist to be a "good fit", best-case scenarios, strategies for finding a mental health professional, and identifying limitations that can make this search a difficult task. Dr. McKie-Voerste is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Dalton State College and teaches courses including Counseling Skills and on the Psychology of Religion. He also is a co-director for the Secular Therapy Project and owns a private practice in Chatsworth, GA.
Recovering from Religion
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.
Recovering from Religion
Professional clergy" such as pastors, priests, ministers, rabbis, and imams, face some unique challenges when transitioning out of religion. Their livelihood relies on leading their flock, but when their faith is gone, they may be "stuck in the pulpit" usually without the skills or connections to simply walk away. Charles, Hill, former minister and current Communications Director for The Clergy Project, will discuss the unique challenges faced by these professional clergy who no longer believe what they're preaching and how The Clergy Project provides a safe, supportive landing space for them to share and discuss their loss of faith, family, career livelihoods, divorce, mental health and even suicide.
Recovering from Religion
Aired: 03/20/2021 *Trigger Warning - talk of suicide This discussion explores the religious community's attempt to "fix" and change sexual orientations other than heterosexual, now known as Conversion Therapy, previously known as "ex-gay" treatments.
Recovering from Religion
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.
Recovering from Religion
This RfRx discusses how to deconstruct strict gender roles and stereotypes post-religion. Giving up the strict prescriptions of what you are 'supposed' to be will free you to live life more fully and to lovingly enjoy who you are!
Recovering from Religion
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.
Recovering from Religion
All the major world religions, both Eastern and Western, share more in common than most people realize - and often share the same skeletons in their closets.
Recovering from Religion
Aired 02/02/2022 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 non-religious 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.
Recovering from Religion
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. 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.
Recovering from Religion
The Amish Heritage Foundation is a history-making nonprofit committed to empowering Amish women and children with education beyond the 8th grade level, enabling them to better create and choose their futures. They provide educational services to Amish people, foster public awareness about the crises hidden in Amish society, as well as creating and making cultural literacy training available to agencies, institutions, and individuals. They envision that one day Amish children will have the right to learn beyond the 8th grade (including the right to learn about science, technology, engineering, math, civics, law, philosophy, and the arts) and that education will be a constitutional right for every U.S. citizen.
Recovering from Religion
As an offshoot of the Mennonites, the Amish have been around since the 17th century and are well known for their public-facing quaint and austere lives. However, along with their historical and religious cousins, the Mennonites and other Anabaptists, those who are on the inside know it's not at all an idyllic life within these isolated religious communities.
Recovering from Religion
Mandisa Thomas will discuss the organization's mission, why BN is needed, and how you can contribute.
Recovering from Religion
In this week's RfRx, Tahlia Newland will join us to discuss what Tibetan Buddhism is. 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 is an editor, publisher and mask maker and was a Tibetan Buddhist for 20 years. She spent twelve years in a partial home retreat, completed advanced practices, trained as a meditation instructor, and was the Teaching Services Director of Rigpa Australia's Distance Education Centre for 12 years. She left her Tibetan Buddhist community, Rigpa, after revelations that her teacher, Sogyal Rinpoche, was physically, emotionally and sexually abusing his close students. She wrote a book called Fallout: Recovering from Abuse in Tibetan Buddhism about the subsequent learning she and others went through in the wake of the revelations. She also has a YouTube channel called Beyond the Temple.
Recovering from Religion
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.
Recovering from Religion
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.
Recovering from Religion
A surprisingly high percent of people believe in "psychics" and "mediums" (those claiming to see the future & communicate with the dead). Unfortunately, having supernatural beliefs inherent in being religious influences people to believe this at a rate over 5 times higher than atheists do. This leaves them open to psychological and financial devastation at the hands of con-artists. In this talk, Rob reveals how psychics and mediums manipulate people into believing they have special abilities (on TV and in person), and explain why science says that these paranormal claims are untrue. He presents details about believers defrauded of enormous sums (up to their entire life savings), and he will explain how the legal system is not on your side if you become a victim.
Recovering from Religion
In this session Teri and Ryan will explain the beliefs that the Seventh-Day Adventists (SDA) hold and their personal "coming out of religion" stories. We'll discuss the history of the Seventh-Day Adventists, their practices and the struggles faced by those who leave.
Recovering from Religion
This week on RfRx, popular guest speaker David Teachout will be returning to discuss putting the pneuma back into spirituality - an exploration of pneuma, Greek for breath or life, at the heart of spirituality and why the transcendent doesn't have to leave humanity behind.
Recovering from Religion
Every major world religion has a venerated founder figure who changed the course of history, but...how well do the biographies of these beloved figures actually hold up to scrutiny? According to historians of religion, surprisingly poorly.
Recovering from Religion
This week, 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 of 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.
Recovering from Religion
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.
Recovering from Religion
Are humans 'hard-wired' for religion?
Recovering from Religion
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.
Recovering from Religion
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. Dr. Kara Griffin holds undergraduate degrees in Psychology, International Relations, and Criminal Justice, a Master's Degree in Dispute Resolution & Conflict Management, and a PhD in Anthropology. A former southern baptist evangelical mega-church member, they enjoy working with secular community services that support other people who may have experienced judgement, repression, trauma or other struggles related to involvement with religious groups. At RfR, Kara serves as the Online Programming Director and (usually) hosts the weekly RfRx Talks sessions.
Recovering from Religion
John C. Wathey (Wah-thee) 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.
Recovering from Religion
Events of the modern era have perplexed and confounded many of us. Conspiracy theories and the conspiracy theory mindset is very attractive to folks coming out of religion as a way to help make sense of the world we find ourselves in. No one is immune from ridiculous beliefs, no one. Stephanie Kemmerer joins us to share her story of how she fell into the rabbit hole, how she escaped, and the lessons she learned along the way. Doubt is the way out. Stephanie Kemmerer has been published in Skeptical Inquirer magazine and AIPT Comics. Her main interests include studying conspiracy theories and true crime, cathartically tormenting her Sims, and studying the 1990s era of militias and extremists. Her cat Squeaks was sent from the future by David Icke to free humanity from the Reptilians. She currently resides in Sunnyvale, CA, but someday hopes to visit her home planet Niburu.
Recovering from Religion
In this RfRx session Taylor will discuss what MLMs are, the risks and statistics involved with MLMs, who they prey on, and how to avoid falling into one
Recovering from Religion
Understanding our innate cognitive failings can help us all think more rationally, better avoid errors, and hopefully live better lives.
Recovering from Religion
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.
Recovering from Religion
The beliefs we grow up with go way beyond the question of whether there is a god. Religious ideology insinuates itself into every aspect of our thoughts and beliefs.
Recovering from Religion
Aired: 04/14/2021 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.
Recovering from Religion
Rob Palmer is a Guerilla Skepticism on Wikipedia team member and skeptical activist who writes for Skeptical Inquirer as The Well-Known Skeptic. He does public speaking and writing about contemporary skeptical issues, and has interviewed conference speakers, scientists, TV personalities (Star Trek's Q!), and many skeptical & atheist activists. He takes a special interest in combating dangerous beliefs and educating the public about the harm that often befalls vulnerable victims who trust in people making paranormal and supernatural claims. While claims like these are commonly believed, Rob reminds us that extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. Tonight we will be examining how good the evidence is for some common paranormal and supernatural beliefs, as well as why so many believe extraordinary claims without sufficient evidence.
Recovering from Religion
Dr. Kara Griffin was raised a fundamentalist Christian, receiving intensive instruction and indoctrination from sources including private church schools and homeschool groups, Bill Gothard's Institute in Basic Life Principles, purity culture youth seminars, and evangelical mega-churches. After leaving the faith in college, Kara began pursuing their lifelong passion for learning and appreciating - rather than condemning - the diversity of humans and other animals.
Recovering from Religion
A foundational piece of fundamentalist thinking is black/white, us vs them, view of the world. Often, even having left the structure of religion behind, we still maintain that either/or worldview.
Recovering from Religion
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.
Recovering from Religion
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.
Recovering from Religion
Aired 12/22/21 If you grew up in a deeply religious household, were homeschooled or went to a religious school, you might have been given some serious disinformation about American history. Christian Nationalism has demanded the creation of myths and the revision of history. In this RfRx discussion Adnrew Seidel will discuss what it is, the role it plays in society now and historically, how to spot it, how to fight it. This RfRx discussion is based on his eye-opening, bestselling book, "The Founding Myth
Recovering from Religion
Aired 01/26/2022 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 that 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.
Recovering from Religion
Aired: 08/11/2021 Over the past several decades there has been a rise of Christian Nationalism in the United States. In this RfRx discussion, Seth will discuss the power that the Christian Nationalist movement currently wields, and how they use it.
Recovering from Religion
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.
Recovering from Religion
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.
Recovering from Religion
This RfRx discussion looks at developing intentional communities to make your new life functional and enjoyable. In the age of COVID-19, this discussion will also explore how we can work to combat loneliness & build community amidst the need to self-isolate.
Recovering from Religion
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Recovering from Religion
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Recovering from Religion
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.
Recovering from Religion
The feelings of isolation and despair that many experience when leaving religion can be overwhelming. Many still think they must endure the attacks and questions that come from their family and friends alone. However, secular communities abound and are waiting for you to plug into them. This week we will talk about the importance of having communities, how to find, build, get involved in and support these communities so that we can not only help ourselves, but also help others.
Recovering from Religion
Continuing the RfRx discussions, this week features Dave Warnock, 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.
Recovering from Religion
Between systemic oppression, disease, political upheaval, climate change, war, famine, and a multitude of other tragedies, it's easy to feel hopeless right now. In Hope in a Godless World we'll cover how to be hopeful in the face of it all, without appealing to any religious afterlife or divine justice, so that you can say yes to the world with energy and determination.
Recovering from Religion
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.
Recovering from Religion
In the current climate of Black Lives Matter, dismantling institutional structures and civil unrest, engaging the Black community means more interaction with believers, and having potentially tough conversations. Mandisa Thomas will discuss how to better engage religious counterparts or both personal and professional levels, and why it is important to try and forge working relationships while also standing strong with our nonbelief.
Recovering from Religion
The future of our society rests in many ways on how the ongoing challenge of racial injustice in the country is addressed. We also may not understand how racism affects the mental health and overall perspectives of people leaving religion. Yet, atheists/humanists remain divided over what, if anything, should guide humanist thought and actions toward matters of racial and other societal injustices. It is important that the secular community knows that critical thinking, education, and recovery includes addressing, understanding and undoing other societal problems as well.
Recovering from Religion
In this RfRx session Mandisa and Praia will discuss body positivity, how it may vary from person to person, will explore systemic factors that impact body positivity, and provide strategies for overcoming negative body imagery.
Recovering from Religion
Religion can take over our entire lives and shape every aspect of ourselves including our community, traditions, relationships with others and our identity. In this session of RfRx we will explore how we can find our new identity after leaving religion and how we can grow without the guidance of an all knowing God
Recovering from Religion
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.
Recovering from Religion
Dr. Darrel Ray returns to RfRx to tell us about "Religious Trauma, Its Roots and Its Treatments." Religious abuse is the root of religious trauma and often goes unrecognized by therapists and clients alike. Children raised in toxic environments do not know it is toxic; it just seems normal to them. When they experience symptoms later in life, failure to identify the root cause leads to inappropriate treatments. Appropriate identification and treatment can often lead to rapid improvement and positive outcomes. Misidentification can lead to years of frustration and inappropriate treatment.
Recovering from Religion
After explaining what Street Epistemology (also known as "SE") is, Anthony Magnabosco will cover more advanced topics of the dialectical method of respectfully challenging belief claims. What are some common misunderstandings and criticisms of the approach? When should one probably not use the method? What things can get in the way of an effective conversation? You won't want to miss this revealing discussion with one of the most proficient practitioners of this fascinating method of conversation!
Recovering from Religion
Religion's influence on socially-accepted gender identity, expression, and roles isn't always overt. Sarah's journey out of religion ultimately led to authenticity, but being transgender in a broadly cis-het society is still made difficult by religion and dogmatic thinking.
Recovering from Religion
The experience of parenthood comes with a whole host of profound philosophical concerns around what it means to make, raise, and be a person, including questions of life's purpose and meaning, identity and roles, ethics and values, and human relationships to time, change, and death. Yet, this deeply philosophical dimension of parenthood is all but absent from both the public discourse and the history of philosophy. Together, we'll explore some of these philosophical questions of parenthood as well as some of the reasons that dominant representations parenthood typically fail to reflect the depth, richness, and meaning of the experience.
Recovering from Religion
The history of Christianity is a combination of individual struggles, institutional power and the profoundly human desire to find an answer to existence. The tension we all experience in the search for that answer is between the singularity of fundamentalism and the pluralism of a world that is so much bigger than any single perspective can hope to hold. We'll be looking at Christianity as a whole through a lens of motivated reasoning and that human tendency to prefer a single path to truth.
Recovering from Religion
Religion teaches a lot of bad ideas about our bodies and sexuality, none of which are based in biology or even reality. Coming out of religion, many people experience difficulty with knowing who they are sexually. Some people have experienced trauma around their sexuality and have deep doubts rooted in Purity Culture. Most people need to learn new ideas, skills and may need therapy to overcome past abuse - both physical and psychological. Dr. Ray will talk about ways to identify roadblocks to accepting your sexuality and learning to thrive as a sexual being.
Recovering from Religion
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.
Recovering from Religion
Rebuilding our identity after divorcing religion can feel like a daunting task. At some point, we must determine our post-religious values and confront identities which were placed on us by our parents and religious community. Once we have established who we are not, it is time to consider whom we wish to be and take steps in that direction. At this point, you must call upon the courage to be yourself, which has ramifications in every imaginable arena, from sexuality to social media. Janice Selbie, RPC joins us once again to share tips on coping with leaving our past identity behind and finding the courage to rebuild our new identities after transitioning out of religion.
Recovering from Religion
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 hosts 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, and is currently working towards a Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology. He's also worked in community mental health, social work, criminal justice, elder care, and child advocacy. Healthy relationships, including family, friendships, partnerships, coworkers, and leader/subordinate relationships, can be difficult to maintain in the best of situations. It becomes impossible, however, when one person in the relationship is committed to behaviors that are coercive, deceptive, destructive, and/or self-serving. These unhealthy traits sometimes show up in two pathological ways, narcissism and psychopathy. While these personality traits are not nearly as common as perhaps experience, TV shows, movies and the internet would have you believe, there's still plenty of signs to keep an eye out for. In this RfRx, we'll explore those traits and ways to reduce the influence the people with those traits may have on you.
Recovering from Religion
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.
Recovering from Religion
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 which looks at different topics with a heavy focus on academia as well as being the co founder and co host of the weekly Skeptic Hangout Podcast and a Host on the ACA's non Prophet's show. In addition he has been a regular host on Ethan Micheal's 'The Perspective', International Freethinkers 'We are parents' and guest host on 'Truth Wanted' and 'Talk Heathen' - both produced by the ACA. Outside of Skepticism he has been a regular guest host on the Bloody Good Film Podcast - a weekly Podcast that discusses action and horror movies.
