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Recovering from Religion

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Unless you were raised by atheist parents, you probably had some recovering to do when you left religion. The purpose of RR is to provide a landing place for people when they jump from religion. With local support groups throughout the US, Canada, UK, and Australia, and real-time resources accessible to everyone, RR is where to turn when faith has lost its luster.

Website: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org
Location: International
Members: 551
Latest Activity: on Thursday

35 members like this

Discussion Forum

Has it Been Easy for Anyone?

Started by Nathan Hevenstone. Last reply by Loren Miller on Thursday. 8 Replies 0 Likes

I wonder if anyone who's gone from faith to non-faith has done it relatively easily? I ask because, for me, it's not really been that tumultuous. I guess it has a lot to do with my upbringing. Despite my family being really religious, it has also…Continue

Anyone still deal with anything like this?

Started by Starland Victor Seay. Last reply by blue pashmina on Thursday. 24 Replies 0 Likes

One thing I have noticed is a tendency to "doubt" my new path in life. I still want to reach for the Bible sometimes. I still hesitate somewhat when someone mentions Pascal's "Wager"...LOL! Even though I know that science teaches this and that no…Continue

Walking Away

Started by CD Free. Last reply by Diana May 2. 9 Replies 0 Likes

I'm guessing many here walked away from one religion or another. What religion did you walk away from? Did you look at other religions, if so what ones? What made you settle on Atheism?Continue

Maintaining family ties

Started by Diana. Last reply by jon taylor Apr 30. 11 Replies 1 Like

I was adopted into a fundamentalist Seventh Day Adventist pastor's family. My parents loved me and I enjoyed a happy and secure childhood. Although I felt disappointed that I couldn't take dancing lessons, be involved with local theater or…Continue

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Comment by Marshall on December 6, 2010 at 9:19pm: FYI, I have misspelled Darrel's first name...I am aware of this but simply too lazy to do anything about ti.

Comment by Marshall on December 6, 2010 at 9:15pm: If you are a fan of Dr. Darrell Ray (founder of Recovering from Religion and author of The God Virus) and/or a fan of intelligent conversation about the effects of religion in our and other cultures, then I invite you to listen to our recently released interview with the man/legend himself at:

http://agnosticsalvation.podomatic.com/player/web/2010-12-06T18_39_...

Feel free to share your thoughts with us either below in the comments or at agnosticsalvation@yahoo.com

thanks,

Marshall

Comment by Richard Goscicki on December 2, 2010 at 8:19pm: Darrel, I'll call in Sunday. We have a lot to talk about. Remember the name, Rich Goscicki, as you and I have shared a lot of common thoughts together over the years. I assure you I'll get into the conversation ad libitum, with liberty.

See you then,

Rich

Comment by Richard Goscicki on November 29, 2010 at 11:02am: Darrel, my book Mirror Reversal has been criticized for being raunchy. The following excerpt makes some important points about sex and religion, however. I think it's what you might be looking for.

It's copywrighted but you're welcome to use any part you like.

Rich

“Of course, I’m uninhibited. Do you think I should feel ashamed of my body ‘cause some sexless priest preaches humans should feel shame, that our bodies are dirty, that we’re naturally evil due to the original sin of Adam and Eve? Makes no sense at all. Why should I be punished for the sins of somebody who never even existed? And if they did exist thousands of years ago, would God punish me for the sins of my ancestors?”

She hopped off the bed and started putting on her hot pants. “People would be a lot better off if they took the example of Terence, instead of relying on a book of myths to determine what’s right and wrong. In places still living in the Dark Ages, religious alphas would rather stone a young girl to death than allow her to show her face in public. Does that sound like the will of God? A lovely girl should be allowed to show her pussy in public and nobody think anything of it. Our present-day bodies just happen, through millions of years of evolution, to be the containers or temples our consciousness resides in. If nature gave us bodies that looked like cars, should we be ashamed to show our exhaust pipes?

Wayne choked on a sip of water. “Our Terrence, who hangs out in the Eight Ball?”

“Not quite,” said Cynthia, slipping on her Rolling Stones shirt. “Don’t you remember in high school we studied Publius Terence, the slave playwright? The man born a slave wound up being one of the humanity’s greatest writer/philosophers. One of the first to write romantic comedies. He’s remembered for the statement: ‘Homo sum, humani nihil a me alienum puto.’ (I am man, nothing human is alien to me.) I’ll bet if the political alphas had more understanding and tolerance of the human condition, there wouldn’t be more than two million souls rotting away in cages – like zoo animals – in this country alone. What a horrible waste of humanity. By human condition, I mean we are conscious entities, destined to enjoy an incredibly vast and wonderful cosmos, to experience exquisite beauty and blissful physical pleasure, to have fun and love our families and our fellow voyagers through space. But, as wonderful as our human condition is, it’s ephemeral. Sadly, nature’s gift of consciousness is only on loan, and we must accept oblivion to give others a chance to share her bounty, as we were given our chance by our ancestors. Life is bittersweet: if people could face up to this sad existential situation, we’d have more compassion for each other, realize how wonderful consciousness is, and shun violence and the thrill-seeking risk of death. We all share the same sad inescapable fate: a lonely, dank grave and nothingness.”

Comment by Jen E. on November 25, 2010 at 3:51pm: I honor the Native Americans on TGD. Today I ate popcorn. I also did not say grace. lol

Comment by Matthew on November 25, 2010 at 12:44pm: Happy thanksgiving to you! I'm thankful for my wife, son, and my atheist groups. Have a great weekend.

Comment by L.Hunter on November 25, 2010 at 12:22pm: For those of us who chose to come out of the closet and have commited social suicide, I would like to say Happy Thanksgiving (Turkey Day). No we don't need to a sky daddy in order to be grateful for our time here on this side of the earth. Enjoy your day, even if you don't celebrate this holiday.

Comment by Reina Bosque on November 22, 2010 at 1:41pm: I know exactly what you mean Robin. Recently my father and I were in a car accident and both came out very lucky. If any one of several circumstances had been just a little different, we would both be dead. Everytime I told the story to anyone I had to catch myself before I ended up saying "thank god" everything worked out.

Comment by Gaylene Wetzel on November 21, 2010 at 7:25pm: @Kevin Benbow
Kevin you are not alone! Every now and then I find myself starting to pray(!!) and have to remind myself that if it didn't work when I believed, it's even less likely to now . . .

Comment by L.Hunter on October 25, 2010 at 9:12am: @ Fred, Very interesting comments about getting into the fresh air and away from religious indoctrination. There does seem to be some 'highs' that associated with religion. Being told that you can be saved, healed and delivered can be just what someone who suffers form low self esteem may need. (I'm not saying that you suffered from that, but many do and use religion to console their insecurities. I think we all deserve a pat on the back for escaping and remaining free from superstitious non sense.