Leaving the Fold: A Guide for Former Fundamentalists and Others Leaving Their Religion

by Marlene Winell

Book Overview

This guide helps readers who have rejected rigid religious upbringings find new independence and self-love. Learn to accept conflicted feelings and choose a healthy reality. Learn to live in the here... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1933993235
• ISBN13: 9781933993232
• Release Date: January 2006
• Publisher: Apocryphile Press
• Length: 316 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.9" x 8.8"

Customer Reviews

You will see yourself in every page!

I am SO glad that Dr. Winell wrote "Leaving the Fold". I am just starting to read it, and it is uncanny how much I relate to every page. I thought my experiences were unusual, but now I realize that my 23 years of Catholic/Born-Again Christian experiences have really been a form of abuse, one in which I took part in willingly, not realizing until now the extent of the damage done. I am in therapy now, and the book is helping me to realize that my repulsion to religion (in spite of my continued yearning for spirituality) makes sense, given how the church has clouded my thinking. It's amazing how "Churchianity" has caused and/or exacerbated many of my various issues. I look forward to using the book to help my therapist (who WAS also very religious) and I to help me overcome all that past conditioning, and to reach toward really becoming an adult. The book has helped me realize why I am and "adult", but still don't feel grown up. The church has fostered a pseudo parent-child relationship with me, and I have been living as a functional "adolescent" for all these years. Whew! Now I can finally live and think for myself. Thank you...thank you...thank you!!! P.S. Does anyone know how I can get involved with a support group for this issue? I live in the Glendale/Pasadena area (San Gabriel/San Fernando Valley areas of Los Angeles)? Please feel free to email me (at ljgagnon@yahoo.com) if you know of a group, or are interested in starting one.

Helpful Hopeful Wise

Dr. Winell views religious fundamentalism through the lens of psychology and treats it as a valid addiction or disorder. It normalizes and clearly articulates the unfortunate outcomes for those immersed in religious fundamentalism. Rather than "Christian bashing," Winell's discussion focuses on humane needs that are sorely ignored within the fundamentalist system. Frank, easy to read, well organized, helpful, I think this book is hopefilled for those scarred by the mind control techniques of fundamentalist belief systems. It also provides a wellspring of resources in reading and thinking differently. This book is so spot on, my co-therapist and I will be using it as our model text in our religious recovery/former fundamentalist support group.

This will speed your recovery!

It's been a few years since I wrote this book and I want to thank my readers for letting me know it was so helpful. A common response has been "I wish I had this book a long time ago - it would have saved me a lot of pain and struggle." I began writing it to clarify my own experience and then found that many people could relate. So I have tried to identify the key recovery issues for anyone leaving a rigid kind of religion, and Christian fundamentalism in particular. Since then, I have worked on additional topics related to recovering from religious indoctrination, such as sexuality and pleasure, reclaiming spirituality, and the impact on relationships. An issue for many people is how to relate to others who are still "in the fold" such as parents, friends, or partners. I am interested in your ideas and experiences if you would like to write - .... You can read about what I am doing on my website - just search under Marlene Winell. Also, I am available for counseling by telephone in Santa Cruz, CA. I wish you all much joy, peace, and happiness! Also recommended: Losing Faith in Faith, by Dan Barker The Mind of the Bible Believer, by Edmund Cohen

Affirming, Reassuring, Enlightening

Like Father Leo Booth's _When God Becomes A Drug_ this book frankly faces fundamentalism with all the hurts and limitations that can come with it. It has been over 20 years since I had the experience, but it can still be troubling. I encourage anyone trying to leave a controlling fundamentalist church to read this book. It doesn't try to tell you where you should end up philosophically, but it doesn't pull any punches about the harm done by fundamentalism either.

the most life-changing book I have ever read!

For the person who has been moderately to severely hurt by their christian faith, Marlene Winell's book gives a voice to those whose personal lives have been filled with guilt, fear, shame, and repression, and authenticates their painful experiences with her own, and with quotes from others telling of their emotional trauma's inflicted on them by fundamentalist Christianity. With each chapter focussing on different stages of recovery, this book gives a compre- hensive understanding of the root causes that often lead to aspects such as: low self-esteem, loss of emotional feelings, loss of critical thinking, the loss of ability to feel natural emotions, among with other painful aspects that can be caused. Most importantly this is not angry book about blaming christianity. This book is primarily a book about recovery and hope. The abuses that fundamental Christianity can cause are addressed, the reader is then showed steps of recovery, that if followed, will lead to a healthier sense of individual identity and a more positive approach towards living life in this world. In summary, if you feel you have been hurt by fundamentalist christianity, I heartily recommend this book. This may be the very book you have been looking for!