Recovering From Religion

Latest Episodes:

E116: "Stuck In a Threesome With Jesus" Science, Sexuality, and Sex After God w/ Dr. Darrel Ray Dec 01, 2021

Show notes

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

E115: Education, Wisconsin v. Yoder & The Amish Heritage Foundation w/ Torah Bontrager Nov 23, 2021

Show notes

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

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

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

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

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

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

+3 4505 2402 in Australia

+20 3856 8791 in the UK

+27 11 043 5323 in South Africa

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

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

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

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

E114: A Non-Believer's Holiday Survival Guide w/ David Teachout LMHC Nov 16, 2021

Show notes

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

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

Recorded on September 20, 2021.

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

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

E113: Facing Death As An Atheist: ALS & Dying Out Loud w/ Dave Warnock Nov 16, 2021

Show notes

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

Recorded in April of 2020.

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

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

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

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

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

E112: California Raisin': Growing Up Fundamentalist and Leaving It All Behind w/ Alexis Arralynn Nov 12, 2021

Show notes

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. She will provide helpful tips on reflecting back upon the past, working through identity crises, finding your own parenting style, and dealing with estranged relationships.
Alexis is a former Pentacostal and present day author of a podcast which focuses on family estrangement called “When the Bough Breaks”. She frequently speaks about estrangement or shunning in addition to childhood indoctrination and trauma. She lives in beautiful Washington state with her children. She plays music whenever she can and is also writing a new book about her experience growing up in a fundamental Christian family.

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

E111: Darwin Does Dope: An Evolutionary View of Substance Abuse w/ Dr Andy Thomson Nov 05, 2021

Show notes

Substance and alcohol abuse is so prevalent around the world that very few people have not succumbed to its temptation or know someone who has. There is substantial evidence that we and our ancient relatives used substances as antimicrobials and antiparasitic agents. A byproduct was these substances' ability to disable our prefrontal cortex, inhibit our inner chimp and stimulate our inner bee, to become the ultra social, eusocial organism that we are. Substances provide some of the same benefits as religion, helping to bind genetic strangers together and not teaching evolution impairs the understanding of this phenomena.
Dr Andy Thomson is a psychiatrist at University of Virginia Student Health Services. The 9/11 attacks triggered an interest in suicide terrorism, which led to the discovery of an unappreciated world of research into how and why human minds generate religious beliefs. Andy has written “Why We Believe In God(s): A Concise Guide to the Science of Faith” which brings that world to anyone interested.

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

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

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

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

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

E110: American Atheists w/ Samantha McGuire Oct 29, 2021

Show notes

American Atheists is a national civil rights organization that works to achieve religious equality for all Americans by protecting what Thomas Jefferson called the “wall of separation” between government and religion created by the First Amendment. They strive to create an environment where atheism and atheists are accepted as members of our nation’s communities and where casual bigotry against our community is seen as abhorrent and unacceptable. They promote understanding of atheists through education, outreach, and community-building and work to end the stigma associated with being an atheist in America.
Sam McGuire has a varied background in counseling, education, event planning and volunteer management. As National Field Director, she works with local grassroots activists, volunteers and affiliates to help them engage on emerging local civil rights issues, advocate for state level legislation, and build thriving communities.

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

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

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

+3 4505 2402 in Australia

+20 3856 8791 in the UK

+27 11 043 5323 in South Africa

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

E109: The Amish w/ Torah Bontrager Oct 22, 2021

Show notes

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. In this RfRx talk, we'll discuss what the Amish believe and how it's shaped their communities and activities; how it's different from other Christian belief systems; the difference between the Amish and Mennonite beliefs; and the harm that can come from these beliefs, specially when it comes to education and integrating into the modern world around them.
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.

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

E108: The Biology Of Religion w/ Dr. Mark Reimers, Ph.D. Oct 13, 2021

Show notes

Are humans 'hard-wired' for religion? Dr. Mark Reimers will describe recent evidence from neuroscience, genetics, anthropology, and psychology about the human propensity to be religious.
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

+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

E107: The Amway of Cults, Bad Perms & Other 1980s Atrocities with Rachel Roberts, Th.M. Oct 11, 2021

Show notes

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

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

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

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

To talk over the phone, dial:

(844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada

+3 4505 2402 in Australia

+20 3856 8791 in the UK

+27 11 043 5323 in South Africa

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