Recovering From Religion

Latest Episodes:

E146: Exiting the Rabbit Hole: From Red Pill to Recovery w/ Stephanie Kemmerer May 05, 2022

Show notes

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.

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.

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

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

E145: The Evolution of Religion w/ Dr Mark Reimers, PhD May 03, 2022

Show notes

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

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

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

E144: Engaging with the Public as an Atheist w/ David G. McAfee Apr 21, 2022

Show notes

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

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

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

E143: The Fall Excursion - All About RfR w/ Excursion Director & RfR Treasurer Shanon Nebo Apr 21, 2022

Show notes

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

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

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

E142: Connecting Low Self-Esteem & Self-Harm to Cult Membership w/ Cathy Harris Apr 21, 2022

Show notes

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 their best life. She was recruited to 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.

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

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

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

E141: Objectification vs Empowerment w/ Glenda Jordan Apr 12, 2022

Show notes

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.

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

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

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

E140: Tibetan Buddhism w/ Tahlia Newland Mar 30, 2022

Show notes

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

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

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

E139: Resources Collection - All About RfR w/ Resource Director Dan Cancro Mar 30, 2022

Show notes

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

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

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

E138: Paganism, An Ancient New Religion w/ Helen Greene Mar 30, 2022

Show notes

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

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

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

E137: Surviving & Conquering Conversion Therapy w/ Dr Mark Eastwood Mar 23, 2022

Show notes

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

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

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

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