Recovering from Religion 8th Anniversary

Eight years ago I almost by accident started Recovering from Religion. I was just trying to fill a need locally, when I realized that it would take far more than a small local meeting to fill a world wide need. The result has become recoveringfromreligion.org. It is now an international organization with programs serving thousands of people in countries from South Africa, to Australia, the UK to the US, Pakistan to Chile. We have over 70 volunteers doing work everyday to help people deal with the trauma and consequences of leaving religion. Our Hotline and Chatline have helped thousands of people. Our Secular Therapy Project now has 302 registered therapists and has enabled thousands of people to find a therapist that is secular and uses evidence-based methods. Our on-line resource pages, Podcast and Blog touch many thousands more. I am so incredibly honored to be part of this growing and caring organization.

The people who work and serve with RfR are the most amazing people I have ever had the privilege to work with, and the board is second to none. Our Executive Director, Gayle Jordan, has helped guide RfR to incredible growth and Platinum level at Guidestar. Over the last five months the board has done a deep review of all our programs, software, and volunteer services and will be launching and upgrading our whole line this summer. We will soon be able to serve far more people with the same resources and have a much wider international reach.

If you are unfamiliar with our organization, please check us out at recoveringfromreligion.org. Chances are you or someone you know and love, have been trapped and/or abused by a religion. When they finally left, they often lost friends and relatives. They may have lost jobs or a marriage simply by deciding the dogma they were taught no longer made sense.

Leaving one's religion can be difficult for many. It can be traumatizing for many others. It is easy to see this in those who leave the Jehovah's Witness or Mormonism, but it can be just a traumatizing to someone raised Catholic, Muslim or Baptist. Almost all religions claim they are uniquely true. They make claims and demand sacrifices that can often turn to abuse, intimidation and psychological entrapment. We are here to non-judgmentally help. Our volunteers are trained to listen and help you find your own way. While most of our volunteers are agnostics or atheists, most are themselves "recovering from religion." They have experienced the difficulties of leaving religion behind. At the same time, our volunteers have no interest deconverting anyone, they only want to offer a sympathetic ear and provide resources to help you in your own journey.

Most people did not choose their religion, they were simply born into it. Doing your own research and making up your own mind is what you do as an adult, no matter what your parents, preachers, priests, Imam or Sunday school teachers told you. We want you to know that you are not alone. Whether you are leaving Mormonism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Scientology or any number of other religions, the problems and difficulties are often similar. Our volunteers can point you to resources that help ease the way. From linking someone to an exMormon or exMuslim discussion group, to helping you find a local group of recovering religionists, to finding podcasts, books or blogs that address your specific concerns. That is what we do.

Addendum: After I wrote this article, we received a great mention and write up in the Atlantic on March 28, 2017. It is great recognition for the STP and RfR. https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2017/03/secular-therapy-in-the-south/520914/