Recovering from Religion

Recovering from Religion (RfR) is an international non-profit organization that helps people who have left, or are in the process of leaving religion,[5] or are dealing with problems arising out of theistic doubt or non-belief. RfR utilizes support groups, telephone and chat helplines, and an online peer support community for "people in their most urgent time of need".[6][7] It is headquartered in Kansas City, Kansas.

Recovering from Religion
Founded2009
FounderDarrel Ray
TypeNon-profit
Legal status501(c)3 organization[1]
Key people
Darrel Ray (Founder)[2]
Gayle Jordan (Executive Director)
Nathan Phelps (Emeritus Board Member)[3][4]
Websiterecoveringfromreligion.org

History

Recovering from Religion was founded in 2009 by Kansas-based atheist activist and psychologist Darrel Ray.[2] RfR includes former Westboro Baptist Church member Nathan Phelps among its board of directors as an Emeritus Board Member.[8] In December 2011 RfR appointed Clergy Project member and former pastor Jerry DeWitt as its executive director.[9] Sarah Morehead, once an evangelical Southern Baptist, was appointed its Deputy Executive Director at the same time. DeWitt resigned in 2012 to pursue personal projects. Sarah Morehead was appointed Executive Director on January 1, 2013, and remained until October 25, 2015.[10] Gayle Jordan was appointed Executive Director on January 7, 2016.[11]

In 2012, Recovering from Religion included over 100 local chapters scattered across the United States, each one meeting monthly, typically with 10 to 12 participants.[2] By 2013 RfR announced fundraising for its Hotline Project, a toll free phone number featuring trained support agents, which was funded in a matter of weeks, as well as The Secular Therapist Project. In 2014 RfR offered online classes dubbed "Recovering Your Sexuality" for individuals working through the negative impact of religion on their sexual development and identity.[12]

Hotline Project

RfR launched The Hotline Project on the February 27, 2015, with former pastor Teresa MacBain serving as the director.[13] According to MacBain, the hotline is a peer-support call center for people struggling with issues of faith, doubt, and nonbelief. The number in the US is 84 - I Doubt It (844-368-2848). The call agents are trained to offer support and resources without influencing the caller toward or away from any religious belief or lack of belief. "The greatest gift we offer those who call is compassion without judgement. Each person must walk their own path, we just want to be a 'shoulder to lean on' when needed." remarked Ms. MacBain in a speech given at the Gateway to Reason Conference.[14] This service is a free 24/7 service run by volunteers.[15]

The Hotline Project was developed in response to the large volume of calls and e-mails that RfR receives daily from people who are seeking help and support in their time of doubt, and want to leave religion, but do not know whom to turn to or what to do next.[16] The aim of the service provided by this hotline is not to lead callers away from religion, but to provide advice and support for those who struggle with their doubts. In an interview with The Christian Post, Sarah Morehead said: "It's not our place to do anything but encourage exploration and discovery, and to provide a solid support structure as people reconsider the role of religion in their lives".[6] The service was updated in June 2017 offering more stream-lined technology and changed to the Helpline Project, offering not only a call line and chatline but also an online community.

Christian apologist William Lane Craig criticised the hotline, suggesting it should be disconnected as it is the wrong number to call. According to him "this atheist hotline will offer nothing."[17]

The Secular Therapy Project
Main article: Secular Therapy Project

In 2012, Darrel Ray launched the "Secular Therapist Project" as part of RfR. It employed a website dedicated to connecting people seeking help with therapists who do not make use of religious beliefs in therapy.[18] In September 2017, RfR updated the project's name to the Secular Therapy Project, and launched a brand new website and database.[19]

Ex-Communications

The Ex-Communications blog was created in 2014 to offer support and insight for those people who are either in the process of leaving religion, closeted atheists, or dealing with religious doubts. The blog is written by people who have left faith and who can offer their perspective and support for those who are in doubt or are on their journey out of faith. Nathan Phelps, son of Fred Phelps, founder of the Westboro Baptist Church, is one of the blog's regular contributors. Other writers include Justin Vollmar, an ex-pastor.[20]

The organization says that "Ex-Communications is for everyone who feels they have been negatively impacted by religion, or knows someone who has. We want to start conversations with the questioning but still religious believer, the closeted nonbeliever desperate to know they are not alone in their doubts and growing secularism, and even the life-long nonbeliever looking to understand and support their friends or family as they struggle with the fallout from faith. The writers on this blog come from all walks of life, and all versions of religious belief systems".[20]

RfR podcast

The "rebooted" iteration of the RfR podcast began in October 2018 and is co-hosted by Tim Rymel and Bill Prickett. It is neither an anti-religion nor a pro-religion podcast. Pricket explains, "Tim has talked about coming to the place where he really doesn't know and doesn't necessarily see himself as a Christian. My journey was different. I still see myself as a person of faith. So we're not here to evangelize one way or the other. We want to provide a safe place for what you believe and where you are in your faith journey right now."[21]

Per the RfR website, "In these broadcasts, we talk to those who’ve been harmed by extreme religion and religious practices. You meet guests with personal experiences and insights in various religions and religious groups, including Mormonism, Jehovah Witnesses, Scientology, religio-political activism, and more...We also bring in experts who can offer help, hope and healing." Guests have included: Lloyd Evans, Janja Lalich, John Smid, and Angela Soffe.[22]

Prior to 2018 the RfR podcast was hosted by military veteran Scott Smith, with the help of his wife Jennifer Smith. Both died on November 27, 2017, in an apparent murder-suicide.[23][24]

See also

References
  1. "Donate". RR website. Recovering from Religion. Archived from the original on 21 January 2015. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  2. Robert F. Worth (22 August 2012). "From Bible-Belt Pastor to Atheist Leader". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  3. Kimberly Winston (17 December 2012). "Phelps' son condemns plan to picket Newtown funerals". The Washington Post. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  4. Kimberly Winston (21 March 2014). "Atheist Nate Phelps on his father: I mourn 'the man he could have been'". The Washington Post. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  5. Lori Aratani (24 March 2012). "'Godless' rally for recognition". The Washington Post. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  6. Michael Gryboski (4 June 2013). "Atheist Group Seeks Funding for Hotline for Those Leaving Religion". The Christian Post. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  7. Greta Christina (25 June 2013). "7 groups atheists can turn to in times of need". Salon. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  8. "Board of Directors". Recovering from Religion. Retrieved 2018-07-21.
  9. Kimberly Winston (30 April 2012). "Pastor's loss of faith started with loss of hell". USA Today. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  10. "Recovering From Religion Bids Executive Director Farewell". October 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-02-28.
  11. "RfR Hires New Executive Director". Recovering from Religion. Retrieved 2016-02-28.
  12. "Recovering Your Sexuality". Archived from the original on 9 February 2015. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  13. "Leaving your religion? Now, there's a hotline to help". religionnews.com. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  14. Ryan, Andrew (6 June 2013). "Atheists plan hotline for doubters who lose faith. Wait, what?". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  15. Dan Merica (4 June 2013). "Atheists to start 1-800 hotline for doubters". CNN Religion Blog. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  16. "Atheist Hotline Will Offer Answers To Those Questioning Religion". Inquisitr.com. 5 June 2013. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  17. Anugrah Kumar (18 June 2013). "Christian Philosopher William Lane Craig Calls Atheist Hotline a 'Wrong Number'". The Christian Post. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  18. Darrel Ray. "About the Recovering From Religion Secular Therapist Project". Secular Therapy. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  19. Pierce, Jonathan (2017-09-04). "The Updated Secular Therapy Project". A Tippling Philosopher. Retrieved 2019-11-06.
  20. "Welcome to Ex-Communications!". Patheos. 12 November 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  21. Prickett, Bill; Rymel, Tim (25 October 2018). "Intro of Podcast and Co-Hosts". Recovering from Religion (Podcast). PodBean. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
  22. "Recovering from Religion Podcast". Recovering from Religion. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
  23. Thorpe, Jen (29 November 2017). "Prominent Atheist Podcaster Dies in Murder-Suicide". Podcaster News. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
  24. Gee, David (27 November 2017). "Atheist Activist Kills Wife and Himself in "Suspected Murder-Suicide"".
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