“Recovering Fundamentalists,” created in 2009, provides personal testimonies
(“Stories of Recovery”) of people leaving Baptist, Assemblies of God,
Pentacostal/Charismatic, Seventh Day Adventist, Jehovah’s Witness,
nondemoninational, and other religious communities. It welcomes people who
transition to progressive faiths and other forms of spirituality as well as people who
exit religion altogether. It also features a blog from various contributors on matters of
religion, faith, science, and public issues.
© Intrinsic Dignity 2012
“Recovering from Religion,” founded by Dr. Darrel Ray (author of The God Virus: How
Religion Infects Our Lives and Culture) and led by Executive Director Jerry DeWitt, a
former fundamentalist minister and the first graduate of The Clergy Project, provides
community and support to persons reconsidering religion. It features an online forum
and a growing number of local support groups that meet monthly for community,
fellowship, and discussion.
“Journey Free,” created by Dr. Marlene Winell, raised in a Christian missionary home,
provides resources -- including consulting and the powerfully helpful online “release
and reclaim” support group -- to support refugees from harmful religion. Author of the
deeply insightful Leaving the Fold - A Guide for Former Fundamentalists and Others
Leaving their Religion (1994), and intimately familiar with the trauma and depression
that precedes, accompanies, and follows deconversion, Dr. Marlene Winell is a
spokesperson for driving awareness of “Religious Trauma Syndrome.”
“Exchristian.net,” created in 2001, is the leading and most developed website for
deconverts from Christianity. In its fascinating blog and lively forum, thousands have
shared their stories and encouraged one another in leaving the chains and shackles
of authoritarian Christianity behind.
Many therapists and counselors are unfamiliar with the trauma caused by religion and
commonly experienced by those deconverting from it. Many are also unsympathetic
towards its victims. The Secular Therapist Project, at www.seculartherapy.org, helps
connect victims of religious abuse with secular therapists.
See Also
Janet Heimlich, author of Breaking Their Will: Shedding Light on Religious Child
Maltreatment, has compiled an extensive list of recovery resources here.
