Recovering From Religion

Latest Episodes:

E126: Who TF Am I Now? w/ Ferron P. Wiley Feb 08, 2022

Show notes

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.

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.

Exposing Sexual Abuse of Children in the Evangelical Church

Author Ferron P. Wiley shares his traumatic experience in public talks and his 'Memoirs of Innocence Lost' book series.

Growing up in the Christian church should provide guidance and spiritual enrichment, not abuse or shameful secrets. Author Ferron P. Wiley is finally telling his traumatic story of abuse and betrayal in the Christian church in order to help others in similar situations.

Tabernacle of Lies, the first book in the Memoirs of Innocence Lost series which recounts the story of Ferron's upbringing in Rochester, New York, and his introduction to Christian faith traditions. Additionally, this was in the mid-1980s during the rise of American televangelism networks like PTL with Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker. Against this backdrop, young Wiley endured censure from the pulpit because of his homosexuality – all while being sexually abused by the same ministers privately. Surrounded by hypocrisy, Wiley shares his struggle with organized religion and self-affirmation. His passion for music and performance provides an outlet for self-expression.

Mr. Wiley is available for interviews and can be contacted at fwileybookclub@gmail.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.

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

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

E125: History - All About RfR w/ Founder Dr. Darrel Ray Feb 03, 2022

Show notes

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

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

E124: The Courage To Be Yourself - Rebuilding Your Identity After Leaving a Religion w/ Janice Selbie, RPC Feb 02, 2022

Show notes

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.

Janice was born and raised in a charismatic Christian home, attending Pentecostal,

Vineyard, and other Evangelical churches before eventually marrying a man who would become a pastor. In her 30s she became ultraconservative, donning a head-covering, homeschooling their children, and rejecting any vestiges of secular life (TV, radio, music, newspapers, magazines, etc.). “I referred to myself as ‘Mennocostal,’ frequently attending closed Mennonite churches run by the Holdeman Mennonites.”

It wasn’t until her 40s that Janice began experiencing doubts about her deeply held faith. As her marriage unraveled, her questions grew. She found herself wondering about the impact of religion on sexuality, gender roles and equality, social justice, and more.

“Not permitted to explore these questions, I felt like a beach ball held beneath the water for too long. My sadness, confusion, and anger threatened to explode if something didn't change.”

After ending her decades-long marriage, Janice went back to school to attain her Diploma of Applied Psychology and Counselling.

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

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

E123: Introduction - All About RfR w/ Executive Director Gayle Jordan Jan 29, 2022

Show notes

In this very first video of the All About RfR multi-part series, we get to meet Gayle Jordan, the Executive Director of Recovering from Religion (RfR) to talk about what RfR is and the need it serves. Hosted by Eric Wells, RfR Support Group Director.

Please subscribe to the podcast for episodes which will describe how Recovering From Religion functions, who does what, and how that could relate to you.

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

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

E122: Nudist Life - What It Is & Why It Can Be Good For You w/ Gwen Blodgett Jan 25, 2022

Show notes

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.
Gwen Blodgett spent the majority of her life in a fundamentalist evangelical background living and teaching extreme religious ideas, was a missionary, pastor‘s wife, Christian bookstore owner, gospel clown and a teacher and advocate of purity culture. Gwen lives full-time in a clothing optional community and frequently goes days without clothes. She is the host of Gwensday, a weekly talk/music show on Nude Radio. She has found the principles of nudist lifestyle enjoyable and a source of healing for her own religious trauma. Gwen joined RFR as a helpline agent in the summer of 2019 and currently serves on the RFR board and as the project director for RFR 3.0 an initiative to improve the technology used at RFR.

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

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

E121: Secular Spirituality: Beyond Woo Woo & Religious Claims w/ Rachel Roberts Jan 22, 2022

Show notes

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

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

E120: Sexual Integrity: Finding The Courage To Be Yourself w/ Dr Steven Davidson, LCSW Jan 11, 2022

Show notes

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.

Dr. Steven Davidson is a psychotherapist and clinical sexologist based in Fort Lauderdale, FL. He has over thirty years experience working with individuals and couples on issues pertaining to relationships and sexuality. He sees clients virtually and at his office. Dr. Davidson is The Sexual Integrity Coach®.

Dr. Davidson is a native of Nashville, TN. He has a masters degree in social work and a doctoral degree in clinical sexology. He has developed and facilitated workshops for healthcare professionals on the subjects of sexuality, addiction, trauma, and professional ethics. You can reach him through his websites sexualintegritycoach.com or drstevendavidson.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

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

E119: The Supremacy Of Religious Rights In The Shadow Of A Pandemic w/ Torah Bontrager Dec 22, 2021

Show notes

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

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

E118: Christian Nationalism In America w/ Andrew Seidel Dec 14, 2021

Show notes

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 Andrew Seidel will discuss what it is, the role it plays in society now and historically, how to spot it, and how to fight it. This discussion is based off of his bestselling book The Founding Myth.

Andrew L. Seidel is a constitutional and civil rights attorney, activist, and former Grand Canyon tour guide. He has a B.S. in neuroscience and a few law degrees, each with academic honors and awards. His first book, The Founding Myth: Why Christian Nationalism is Un-American, ended the debate about whether America was founded as a Christian nation or not. As Andrew likes to say:

At the Freedom From Religion Foundation, Andrew works to ensure that the government officials don’t use offices and power that belong to “We the people” to promote their personal religion. He has appeared on outlets from MSNBC to Fox News and his writing has been featured in Slate, ThinkProgress, Religion Dispatches, Religion News Service, The Hill, Irish Central, the Cap Times, the Salt Lake Tribune, the Austin-American Statesman, the Oklahoman, Forbes, Rewire News, and scholarly journals. When not litigating cases or standing up for freethinkers’ rights at FFRF travels the country discussing American history, the Constitution, religion, the law, his book, religious freedom, and why America needs a secular revival.

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

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

E117: Finding Inner Safety Without Dogma w/ June Converse Dec 08, 2021

Show notes

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

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