Recovering From Religion

Latest Episodes:

E106: On Death, Dying and Disbelief w/ Candace Gorham, LCMHCS Oct 10, 2021

Show notes

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.

Candace R. M. Gorham MA, LPCS is a licensed professional mental health counselor. She is a former ordained minister turned atheist-humanist activist, researcher, and writer on issues related to race and religion. She is a member of the Black Humanist Alliance advisory board, The Secular Therapist Project, and The Clergy Project. Candace is also the author of "The Ebony Exodus Project: Why Some Black Women Are Walking Out on Religion—and Others Should Too."

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

E105: Grey Conversations: Dialogue When Salvation Isn't On The Line w/ David Teachout, LMHC Oct 09, 2021

Show notes

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. In this RfRx discussion, David will work through why this is still so enticing, even without a god, and how to expand beyond it when engaging with other people in dialogue and with ourselves in self-evaluation. 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

E104: Critical Thinking: Inoculating Yourself Against False Beliefs w/ Rob Palmer Oct 08, 2021

Show notes

Our brains evolved on the African savannah well enough to allow Homo Sapiens to survive in that harsh, unforgiving environment, and go on to populate the planet. But the thinking organ which developed to prevent our death at the hands of predators and the elements is far from perfect. We are primed to trust the opinions and anecdotes of those in our close circle, and the pronouncements of those in authority. We conclude that something is true based on inadequate personal experience, less-than-perfect memory, faulty logic, and a host of cognitive biases. These tendencies can lead us to believe in things which do not comport with reality, and often lead to bad decisions, and even harm. In this talk, Rob Palmer will discuss these topics from a skeptical perspective, because understanding our innate cognitive failings can help us all think more rationally, better avoid errors, and hopefully live better lives.

Rob Palmer is a skeptical activist who works to educate the public about critical thinking by contributing to Wikipedia as part of The Guerrilla Skepticism on Wikipedia project (GSoW), and by writing for Skeptical Inquirer as The Well-Known Skeptic. His column covers contemporary skeptical issues, and he has interviewed conference speakers, podcasters, YouTubers, scientists, activists, and TV personalities as diverse as Cosmos producer/writer Ann Druyan, Thomas Westbrook (Holy Koolaid), Seth Andrews (The Thinking Atheist), and actor/activist John de Lance (Q of Star Trek). Hosted by Eric Wells, the RfR Support Group Director and Helen Greene, RfR SGL & Helpline Agent Recorded on September 13, 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

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

E103: Remembering Sweetness: Happiness in a Time of Plague w/ Andy Thomson, M.D. Oct 07, 2021

Show notes

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.

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.

Hosted by Eric Wells, the RfR Support Group Director and Sherrie D’Souza, RfR Support Group Leader & Board Member

Recorded on September 6, 2021

Resource List

- “Becoming Attached” by Robert Karen

- “My Promised Land: The Triumph and Tragedy of Israel” by Ari Shavit

- “Can you connect with me now? How the presence of mobile communication technology influences face-to-face conversation quality” by Andrew K. Przybylski, Netta Weinstein

- “The evolutionary psychology of healing: A human success story” by Nicholas Humphrey:

E102: Kansas City Oasis & the Oasis Network w/ Niki Aktipis Oct 06, 2021

Show notes

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. Our Core Values define our community and help shape our interactions with each other, society, and the world: People are more important than beliefs, human hands solve human problems, reality is known through reason, meaning comes from making a difference, be accepting and being accepted.

Originally from Toledo, Ohio, Niki Aktipis now lives in Kansas City, Kansas with their guinea pigs, rabbits, leopard gecko, fish, and a rotational variety of foster pets. Currently, Niki is a Teach for America teacher at Wyandotte High School and the board president of Kansas City Oasis. They graduated from the University of Michigan in 2013 with a bachelor’s in Biopsychology and the University of Derby in 2015 with a masters in Conservation Biology. They are currently completing their master’s in Education from Fort Hays State University. Niki is an avid science enthusiast, environmentalist, social justice advocate, and a life-long secular humanist. They have been a part of the Oasis community since 2016 and are honored to support the continued growth of Kansas City Oasis.

Hosted by Eric Wells, the RfR Support Group Director and Sascha D’Souza, RfR OCE Regional Support Group Director

Recorded on August 30th, 2021

Resources

- Slides for the discussion: https://tinyurl.com/RfRxKCOasisSlides

- Oasis Community Network: https://www.oasisnetwork.com

- KC Oasis website: http://www.kcoasis.org

- KC Oasis FB page: https://www.facebook.com/KCOasis

- KC Oasis YouTube Channel: @KansasCityOasis

- KC Oasis Meetup Group: https://www.meetup.com/KCOasis

E101: Free Hearts Free Minds w/ Yasmine Mohammed Oct 05, 2021

Show notes

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. Yasmine Mohammed is a Canadian author and human rights activist advocating for the rights of women living within Islamic majority countries, as well as those who struggle under religious fundamentalism. She is the founder of Free Hearts Free Minds, an organization that provides psychological support for freethinkers living within Muslim majority countries, where the state sanctioned punishment for leaving Islam is death. Additionally, she is the author of the book Unveiled: How Western Liberals Empower Radical Islam. Hosted by Eric Wells, the RfR Support Group Director and Kara Griffin, RfR Helpline Agent Recorded on August 8, 2021 Resource List - Free Hearts Free Minds: http://www.freeheartsfreeminds.com - Unveiled: How Western Liberals Empower Radical Islam by Yasmine Mohammed - Banaz A Love Story: https://youtu.be/VepuyvhHYdM - Rainbow Railroad: https://www.rainbowrailroad.org - Secular Underground Network: https://secularundergroundnetwork.org - Ben Affleck, Sam Harris and Bill Maher Debate Radical Islam: https://youtu.be/vln9D81eO60 - RfRx Religion Spotlight - Islam with Yasmine Mohammed: https://youtu.be/wTMnpPacPTM More about Yasmine Mohammed & Free Hearts Free Minds - FHFM website: http://www.freeheartsfreeminds.com

E100: Mormonism w/ Shannon Grover and Bryce Blankenagel Oct 04, 2021

Show notes

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.

Shannon Grover was born and raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was a model Mormon. She went to church, held callings, went on a mission, married in the temple, stayed home, and stuffed all of her doubts into a locked closet. Five years ago, when the closet was so full the door broke, she finally faced reality and walked away. Now she is the co-host of the Glass Box Podcast with Bryce Blankenagel, while she works to break free of the conditioning the church imposed on her. Bryce Blankenagel was also born and raised in the LDS church and was also a model Mormon. However as a teenager he became less and less satisfied with the answers to the questions he asked his elders. At the age of 17 he stopped attending church and began to examine the religion he was born into. Bryce is the co-host of the Glass Box Podcast as well as the host of the Naked Mormonism podcast. Hosted by Eric Wells, the RfR Support Group Director and Sacha D’Souza, RfR Support Group Regional Director. Recorded on August 16, 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

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

E99: The Clergy Project w/ Charles Hill | RfRx Foundation Spotlight Oct 03, 2021

Show notes

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.

Charles Hill was raised in an Evangelical Christian home. After a 4 year career with the Columbus, OH Police Dept, he had an experience which led him to leave that career behind to enter full-time ministry. Charles and his wife started several successful churches, preached multiple times every weekend to locations around the world, and were well-known Christian conference speakers just before their theological world came crashing down. Following their deconversion they lost income, family, friends and community. He has been an RfR support group leader since 2014, as well as being the Communications Director and a Board Member for The Clergy Project. Charles and his wife, Tiffany, have been married for 25 years and have 3 amazing children. Towards the end of the show, former nun and current Clergy Project screener, Maureen Hart joined in on the discussion. Hosted by Eric Wells, the RfR Support Group Director and Helen Greene, RfR Support Group Leader and Ambassador Recorded on August 9, 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

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

E98: Black Nonbelievers w/ Mandissa Thomas | RfRx Foundation Spotlight Oct 02, 2021

Show notes

Want to learn more about Black Nonbelievers, and how to support our work? Mandisa Thomas will discuss the organization’s mission, why BN is needed, and how you can contribute. Black Non-Believers is celebrating their 10 year anniversary! Watch their anniversary video here: https://youtu.be/nMRAtsDE1og

Mandisa Thomas is the Founder and President of Black Nonbelievers. She currently serves on the Boards for American Atheists and the American Humanist Association, and facilitates the Morrow, Georgia chapter of Recovering from Religion. Mandisa has been the recipient of the following awards and recognition: - 2020 - Harvard Humanist of the Year (along with Sikivu Hutchinson and Ijeoma Oluo) - 2019 - Freethought Heroine (Freedom from Religion Foundation) - 2019 - Backbone Award (Secular Student Alliance) - 2018 - Person of the Year (Unitarian Universalist Humanist Association) Hosted by Eric Wells, the RfR Support Group Director, and Kara Griffin, RfR Helpline Agent. Recorded on August 2, 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

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

E97: Rebuilding When Your Foundation Crumbles w/ Katherine Roberts Oct 01, 2021

Show notes

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.

Katherine Roberts spent nearly 25 years as an evangelical, fundamental Christian, most of those years being in some form of ministry and eventually became ordained pastor. In 2018, after a long period of deconstructing from fundamentalist beliefs, she made a skeptical examination of the evidence for the existence of God, and today, she calls herself an atheist and a freethinker.

Hosted by Eric Wells, the RfR Support Group Director and Kara Griffin, RfR Helpline Agent.

Recorded on July 19, 2021

Atheist Community of Discord: https://discord.com/invite/B28xRKb

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

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