Calling All Ex-Fundamentalists!

Calling all ex-fundamentalists (from all varieties of groups with rigid, authoritarian qualities, including evangelical Christian, Mormon, Jehovah Witness, Christian Science, Scientology, Moonies, Eastern cults, etc.) who have successfully broken free and have a story to tell. Please help us at www.RecoveryFromReligion.org by submitting your testimonial!

A small group of us are putting together a new website designed to provide hope and resources to people who are in the process of leaving their dogmatic religion, and others who want to support them. We'd like visitors to know they are not alone in their struggle, others have successfully left, and help is available.

As many of you know, the rise of fundamentalist religion in this country is leaving millions of casualties in its wake. Countless Americans struggle every day with the confusion, fear, guilt, anger, and grief that often accompany leaving an all-encompassing world view, often while being ostracized from their prior social network. Many are desperate for support from others who can understand their experience.

www.RecoveryFromReligion.org will feature testimonials (both written and video) from former fundamentalists, and a selection of writings, faqs, resources, self-assessment quizzes, links, and other interactive functionality. We want visitors to the site to feel welcomed and at ease, not barraged by angry polemics or strident graphic design. This tone will be especially important because many who are in the early stages of leaving dogmatic religion worry that even seeking information is a sin.

This website will in general not be anti-God, anti-religion, or anti-spiritual. We are anti-dogma, to put it simply. We are concerned about HARMFUL FORMS of religion that take away individual sovereignty and require conformity to the group's theology, behavior, and mindset. The support and services we offer are designed to help people let go of dysfunctional beliefs (eg. original sin, hell-fire), reclaim their rights to their own thoughts and feelings, and rebuild their lives in line with their own chosen values.

Please help us build this resource by submitting your testimonial!

We're looking for testimonials that describe the challenges you faced, and some things that were helpful along the way. You may also want to describe how you're doing now, and offer any advice, suggestions, or encouragement you may have for folks who are considering leaving their dogmatic religion or still struggling through the process. You do not have to consider your own healing and growth to be finished. It's fine to talk about what you've experienced so far, and remaining issues you are still dealing with. The point is to provide visitors with some hope that there is life after fundamentalism. As you know, the phobia indoctrination about what will happen to you if you leave is pretty strong.

What's in it for you? Writing a testimonial to publish online could help you clarify your thoughts and even be a growth experience, and would certainly be a gift that will help others. Testimonials can be published anonymously by request. All email correspondence is 100% confidential. By way of thanks, we will give you access to the online version of Marlene Winell's book, "Leaving the Fold: A Guide for Former Fundamentalists and Others Leaving Their Religion." You can download the book and workbook for free.

• Video: Please upload your clip(s) to youtube.com and email the link(s) to recoveryfromreligiongmail.com">recoveryfromreligiongmail.com . If you don't have access to a video camera but are in the San Francisco Bay Area, you can also contact us. We are looking to have a testimonial video party in Alameda on October 6th from 10am to 1pm . Refreshments will be be provided. If you are interested, please RSVP by email to recoveryfromreligiongmail.com">recoveryfromreligiongmail.com as soon as you can. If this time doesn't work you, we may also be able to arrange another time.
• Written: Please try to keep it under 1000 words, although we can still publish your piece if it goes over this length. Send submissions to recoveryfromreligiongmail.com">recoveryfromreligiongmail.com and attach a headshot of yourself we can put up there. Please specify clearly that you would like us to post your testimonial on the website, and whether you would like us to credit you as the author or to publish your work anonymously.