Recovering From Religion

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...

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-eval...

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...

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 psy...

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 worl...

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 ment...

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 uni...

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 Pr...

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 Bo...

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...

All the major world religions, both Eastern and Western, share more in common than most people realize - and often share the same skeletons in their closets. In this RfRx David will discuss patterns in the ways the concept of gods and God changes over millennia. Drawing upon the scholarship of many historians and social science disciplines, he'll trace out how religious ideas originated and evolve...

In On the Origin of Species Charles Darwin wrote, “Pain or suffering of any kind, if long continued, causes depression and  lessens the power of action; yet is well adapted to make a creature guard itself against any great or sudden evil.”  One hundred and sixty years later we have solid theories supported by evidence that depression’s core structure arises from an adaptation, not a brok...

Over the past several decades there has been a rise of Christian Nationalism in the United States. In this RfRx discussion, Seth will discuss the power that the Christian Nationalist movement currently wields, and how they use it. He will be exploring the way this ideology has been sold to the masses and injected into government, despite church state separation. There is a privilege to this moveme...

A surprisingly high percent of people believe in "psychics" and "mediums" (those claiming to see the future & communicate with the dead). Unfortunately, having supernatural beliefs inherent in being religious influences people to believe this at a rate over 5 times higher than atheists do. This leaves them open to psychological and financial devastation at the hands of con-artists. In this tal...

Religions teach nothing about actual sexuality, biology and why our bodies work as they do. In this talk Dr. Ray will be discussing some basic facts about sex, evolution and human sexuality, like why is the penis shaped as it is? What is it with all those sperm males produce? What is sexual dimorphism? Are we chimps, gorillas or bonobos? We breed cows, chickens and other animals, could we be breed...

In this presentation, we will discuss the psychological concepts of suffering and the “Martyrdom Effect.” We will also explore how self-inflicted suffering and martyrdom can lead to unhelpful core beliefs about the world and how to develop a healthier relationship with suffering. Hayley Twyman Brack is a licensed professional counselor and freelance writer in Oklahoma. Hayley has co-authored a tex...

Religion’s influence on socially-accepted gender identity, expression, and roles isn’t always overt.  Sarah’s journey out of religion ultimately led to authenticity, but being transgender in a broadly cis-het society is still made difficult by religion and dogmatic thinking. Sarah is a transgender woman who grew up in a small rural town in Illinois.  After leaving her Christian God belief and movi...

After explaining what Street Epistemology (also known as “SE”) is, Anthony Magnabosco will cover more advanced topics of the dialectical method of respectfully challenging belief claims. What are some common misunderstandings and criticisms of the approach? When should one probably not use the method? What things can get in the way of an effective conversation? You won’t want to miss this revealin...

Being a woman in ultra orthodox Judaism comes with additional challenges. As a young girl you are meant to serve your father and brothers - groomed to be a good wife. When you get married you relinquish even more of your rights and autonomy. In this “Religion Series” RfRx session we will explore the intricacies of Orthodox Judaism. Libby Pollak was born and raised in an ultra orthodox Hasidic comm...

*Trigger Warning - talk of suicide This discussion explores the religious community’s attempt to “fix” and change sexual orientations other than heterosexual, now known as Conversion Therapy, previously known as “ex-gay” treatments. The methodology varies, but the practice has been thoroughly debunked. Bill Prickett speaks about his personal experience, his rise as a leader in the conversion thera...

Many nonbelievers, especially those who have recently left their religion, struggle to redefine what the holidays mean to them. We'll discuss these challenges and provide ways to create your own meaningful rituals that will help you transform this time of year into a season of reason! Kayce Hodos, LCMHS is a licensed therapist specializing in postpartum mood and anxiety disorders. She recently sta...

In this session Teri and Ryan will explain the beliefs that the Seventh-Day Adventists (SDA) hold and their personal “coming out of religion” stories. We’ll discuss the history of the Seventh-Day Adventists, their practices and the struggles faced by those who leave. Ryan Bell is the host and producer of the Life After God podcast, the humanist chaplain at the University of Southern California, an...

Shunning is a hurtful and harmful practice that affects thousands of former members of high-control groups. A trauma-informed approach offers hope and the prospect of moving beyond feeling in bondage to inhumane rules. This presentation will give you tools and ideas for research that can help. Cathy S. Harris is a Clinical Social Worker with over 20 years' experience in a variety of settings helpi...

A religious identity is more than a label put on for church services. It is a way of seeing yourself, your relationships, and the world around you in a structured ethical way. Everything potentially has meaning at a cosmic level. Losing that sense of structure can be devastating. Here we’re going to look at why you don’t have to give up your Values, even the ones you had before, and consider how t...

Recorded on November 23, 2020. How do we know what is right and wrong? If not religion, where do we look for moral guidance? In this talk, Danielle LaSusa Ph. D. explores how we find or create a foundation for our moral decision-making outside the context of religion. Danielle LaSusa Ph. D. helps moms grapple with what it means to make a person. She is a Philosophical Coach and co-creator and co-h...