Reviews
After leaving my old religion, I felt alone, not feeling connected to anyone in my hometown and surrounding area. I came upon the Religious Recovery group in Meetup.com, which is made up of very wonderful people who experienced similar losses and hurt. I am no longer alone.
It's encouraging not to feel restricted, controlled or condemned and to freely experience life from what I personally feel is right for me. I have overcome many mental blocks due to the welcoming and friendly atmosphere I experience with this group. I have a new sense of independence and confidence.
The group offers a book, Every Path Leads Home, by Wayne Holmes which offers guidance for the road ahead. But overall, it is the wonderful encouragement offered from the group that I so appreciate.
Now I feel my journey in life can include anyone, even those from the old religion that hurt me because of the confidence and wholeness I feel within. I know who I am and what I can accomplish. This group is an amazing support group. I'm very grateful I found them in my area. Thank you!
- Melody
I went through an emotional roller coaster when I realized I had been brought up inside a "totalizing" religion — a religion which claimed to have the “truth”— but in reality, did not. At first, I tried to just brush it off and move on with life, but I had no idea how traumatic this whole thing was really going to be. When I tried to make new friends, they didn’t seem to understand why I was having a hard time with the subject of religion in the first place. I felt alone and lost. This is what I call “entering the wilderness period”.
I know some people who haven’t fared so well through the wilderness period. Some people’s live spiral out of control and some end up going back because they feel like it’s just too hard to navigate in the big outside world. But some make new lives and know that leaving is the best thing they ever did for themselves. I put myself in that latter category, but I’ve had help to get there. At first I tried meeting secular social groups, and later I started attending a very inclusive church, but nothing clicked. It wasn’t what I was looking for. I didn’t know it that time, but what I really needed was to heal.
Then I found Religious Recovery on Meetup.com. For the first time I was able to meet people who understood how I was feeling. They listened and provided the support I really needed. We met together and talked and listened to each other. Until one day, I finally felt like the old wound had healed, and it was time to walk confidently into a new life of my own creation. There will always be scars, and more healing to do of course, but I am eternally grateful for this group and for what it has given me. Now I just want to be there for the next person who’s been where I was and needs the support that this community is uniquely qualified to offer.
N. G.
I’ve attended 12-step meetings in the past, but never thought about having a similar meeting to help with religious issues. I wish I’d known of this organization after I went through my divorce. It was painful enough, but the church’s reaction left me feeling like a failure. Church friends turned on me. I felt as if I’d lost everything, even my faith in God. It took years for me to heal on my own. I know that healing would have come sooner had there been a group like this to turn to.
R.H.
Religious Recovery is a place where I can be accepted for who I am, no matter my beliefs or background. It’s a place where I can heal and feel free to share with others without judgment or fear. It’s like nothing else out there and I’m so happy to be part of it!
S.M.
Religious Recovery is an amazing group that gave me support and courage to grow when I was questioning my spiritual path. I knew what my belief system was, but I was having trouble fitting that into what I saw happening at the church I was attending.
Thanks to Religious Recovery, I was able to see that it's okay to question - I don't have to just 'go with the flow' because that is what is expected of me. I have not changed my belief system, but neither have I changed churches.
However, I am at peace with myself and my path, and I am now able to put aside my discomfort with the decisions of others and get more of what I need from my church of choice."
M.C.
"Religious Recovery is the perfect place for me to feel welcome and finally be at peace. This group creates an opportunity for me to express my feelings about my whole life process of experiencing good and bad situations about religion.
As a child I was confused about my own religion and the differences of religions throughout my inner circle of friends and family. I feel that Religious Recovery will help to heal the unfortunate experiences that I have had in the past. I am so grateful that there is a place I can go and speak my truth and not be judged on what my belief system of spiritually is and what it means to me."
A.P.
“Religious Recovery helped me put God back into my life and gave me a new perspective. My beliefs are just that, mine. It’s ok for me to feel the way I do about the people who caused this chaos.
The important thing is to know I don't have to feel guilty, that just because I questioned my faith it doesn’t mean I turned away from God. The group sessions helped me realize I wasn't alone--that what happened in the past made me a stronger person now. It actually made me realize what religion was not, what I wanted, and what I was looking for. It would have been easier knowing all this as I was living through it.”
L.G.
After leaving my old religion, I felt alone, not feeling connected to anyone in my hometown and surrounding area. I came upon the Religious Recovery group in Meetup.com, which is made up of very wonderful people who experienced similar losses and hurt. I am no longer alone.
It's encouraging not to feel restricted, controlled or condemned and to freely experience life from what I personally feel is right for me. I have overcome many mental blocks due to the welcoming and friendly atmosphere I experience with this group. I have a new sense of independence and confidence.
The group offers a book, Every Path Leads Home, by Wayne Holmes which offers guidance for the road ahead. But overall, it is the wonderful encouragement offered from the group that I so appreciate.
Now I feel my journey in life can include anyone, even those from the old religion that hurt me because of the confidence and wholeness I feel within. I know who I am and what I can accomplish. This group is an amazing support group. I'm very grateful I found them in my area. Thank you!
- Melody
I went through an emotional roller coaster when I realized I had been brought up inside a "totalizing" religion — a religion which claimed to have the “truth”— but in reality, did not. At first, I tried to just brush it off and move on with life, but I had no idea how traumatic this whole thing was really going to be. When I tried to make new friends, they didn’t seem to understand why I was having a hard time with the subject of religion in the first place. I felt alone and lost. This is what I call “entering the wilderness period”.
I know some people who haven’t fared so well through the wilderness period. Some people’s live spiral out of control and some end up going back because they feel like it’s just too hard to navigate in the big outside world. But some make new lives and know that leaving is the best thing they ever did for themselves. I put myself in that latter category, but I’ve had help to get there. At first I tried meeting secular social groups, and later I started attending a very inclusive church, but nothing clicked. It wasn’t what I was looking for. I didn’t know it that time, but what I really needed was to heal.
Then I found Religious Recovery on Meetup.com. For the first time I was able to meet people who understood how I was feeling. They listened and provided the support I really needed. We met together and talked and listened to each other. Until one day, I finally felt like the old wound had healed, and it was time to walk confidently into a new life of my own creation. There will always be scars, and more healing to do of course, but I am eternally grateful for this group and for what it has given me. Now I just want to be there for the next person who’s been where I was and needs the support that this community is uniquely qualified to offer.
N. G.
I’ve attended 12-step meetings in the past, but never thought about having a similar meeting to help with religious issues. I wish I’d known of this organization after I went through my divorce. It was painful enough, but the church’s reaction left me feeling like a failure. Church friends turned on me. I felt as if I’d lost everything, even my faith in God. It took years for me to heal on my own. I know that healing would have come sooner had there been a group like this to turn to.
R.H.
Religious Recovery is a place where I can be accepted for who I am, no matter my beliefs or background. It’s a place where I can heal and feel free to share with others without judgment or fear. It’s like nothing else out there and I’m so happy to be part of it!
S.M.
Religious Recovery is an amazing group that gave me support and courage to grow when I was questioning my spiritual path. I knew what my belief system was, but I was having trouble fitting that into what I saw happening at the church I was attending.
Thanks to Religious Recovery, I was able to see that it's okay to question - I don't have to just 'go with the flow' because that is what is expected of me. I have not changed my belief system, but neither have I changed churches.
However, I am at peace with myself and my path, and I am now able to put aside my discomfort with the decisions of others and get more of what I need from my church of choice."
M.C.
"Religious Recovery is the perfect place for me to feel welcome and finally be at peace. This group creates an opportunity for me to express my feelings about my whole life process of experiencing good and bad situations about religion.
As a child I was confused about my own religion and the differences of religions throughout my inner circle of friends and family. I feel that Religious Recovery will help to heal the unfortunate experiences that I have had in the past. I am so grateful that there is a place I can go and speak my truth and not be judged on what my belief system of spiritually is and what it means to me."
A.P.
“Religious Recovery helped me put God back into my life and gave me a new perspective. My beliefs are just that, mine. It’s ok for me to feel the way I do about the people who caused this chaos.
The important thing is to know I don't have to feel guilty, that just because I questioned my faith it doesn’t mean I turned away from God. The group sessions helped me realize I wasn't alone--that what happened in the past made me a stronger person now. It actually made me realize what religion was not, what I wanted, and what I was looking for. It would have been easier knowing all this as I was living through it.”
L.G.
