Leaving the Fold

Dearest J,

I began reading a book called “Leaving the Fold: A Guide for Former Fundamentalists and Others Leaving Their Religion” by Marlene Winell, Ph.D.

I began reading this book as part of my ACA meeting for spiritual abuse survivors.

Here’s a just a bit of the Introduction that I found so helpful:

“Religion is supposed to be good for you. Yet people get hurt in religious systems, sometimes seriously. I used to think that although damage was done by so-called cults, most religion is essentially benign. It could give you some comfort as a child and teach you some values, but then you grew up and away from it. It wasn’t until I looked back on my struggle to grow free of my own indoctrination, and heard the stories of others, that I realized that this kind of emotional and mental damage can be profound.

In conservative Christianity you are told you are unacceptable. You are judged with regard to your relationship to God. Thus you can only be loved positionally, not essentially. And, contrary to any assumed ideal of Christian love, you cannot love others for their essence either. This is the horrible cost of the doctrine of original sin. Recovering from this unloving assumption is perhaps the core task when you leave the fold. It is also a discovery of great joy – to permit unconditional love for yourself and others.”

Just WOW. If that doesn’t nail my experience on the head, I don’t know what would.

I also watched this episode today with Maya Angelou on Oprah, and wow again. It’s just so beautiful. Their faith is not one of repression and depression and dis-ease. Just beautiful.

I realize that their faith falls upon the Unity, New Though, ACIM realm. It’s not New Age per-se, but it’s acknowledging the Christ within. It’s acknowledging the sparkle WITHIN oneself. So yeah.

Thanks for listening!

<3