Leaving the Fold

Rating:
Summary: A good guide to the dangers of devotion
Review: As a former fundamentalist, I have worked over the past ten years with individuals and small groups focusing on recovery from religious dysfunction and addiction. Although there are several other excellent resources on this topic, Winell's book is essential for understanding how Christian fundamentalism and conventional Christian religion can foster dependency in its adherents. Winell describes her own Pentecostalist upbringing and the processes she explored for moving from authoritarian belief to a holistic adult faith. Using a convenient workbook format, supplemented with helpful checklists, Winell guides the reader through a three-part path to recovery: Sorting It Out, Healing, and Growth. An extensive Resource section provides a listing of books, media and organizations pertinent to the role of religion in the life of the individual and society. Winell works from the perspective of one who is recovering from a Christian form of dysfunctional belief. Several other authors have dealt with religious addiction in general, or in other traditions. These include: "Blind Faith: Recognizing and Recovering From Dysfunctional Religious Groups", by Kaye Marie Porterfield, "Cults In Our Midst", by Margaret Thaler Singer, and "Creating Love: The Next Great Stage of Growth", by John Bradshaw.

Rating:
Summary: An excellent resource for understanding religious addiction
Review: As a former fundamentalist, I have worked with individuals and small groups focusing on recovery from religious dysfunction and addiction. Although there are several other excellent resources on this topic, Winell's book is essential for understanding how Christian fundamentalism and conventional Christian religion can foster dependency in its adherents.

Winell describes her own Penetecostalist upbringing and the processes she explored for moving from authoritarian belief to a holistic adult faith. Using a convenient workbook format, supplemented with helpful checklists, Winell guides the reader through a three-part path to recovery: Sorting It Out, Healing, and Growth. An extensive Resource section provides a listing of books, media and organizations pertinent to the role of religion in the life of the individual and society.

Winell works from the perspective of one who is recovering from a Christian form of dysfunctional belief. Several other authors have dealt with religious addiction in general, or in other traditions. These include: "Blind Faith: Recognizing and Recovering From Dysfunctional Religious Groups", by Kaye Marie Porterfield, "Cults In Our Midst", by Margaret Thaler Singer, and "Creating Love: The Next Great Stage of Growth", by John Bradshaw.

Rating:
Summary: DON'T READ THIS BOOK UNLESS----
Review: Don't read this book unless you want to have your carefully constructed biblical ideas challenged. I found this book extremely helpful in looking at the ways in which I could articulate my concerns with the ridiculous "you can have your cake and eat it too" answers I got from my church. This book is concise, clear and 'nonjudgemental'.

Rating:
Summary: A Life-Saving Book for a Rarely Addressed Issue
Review: Fundamentalist christianity is considered to be a main-stream, and therefore benign, religion by most people today. Therefore, people who make the lonely journey out of a literal faith in the Bible often find themselves misunderstood, even by those who are not literalists themselves. There are support groups for other problems, but few ex-Christians find anyone, even a counselor, who can relate. This book provides do-it-yourself counsel from a psychologist who has been there. During the rawest time in my process of walking away from the faith, this book was the only thing that helped me stay sane. This book helps you understand what you attracted you to the faith and what was ultimately lacking in it. Some of the exercises may seem a little childish, but if you take the time to do them, you will find that you have grown in your recovery after finishing the book. Thank you Marlene Winell!

Rating:
Summary: You will see yourself in every page!
Review: 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 [e-mail]) if you know of a group, or are interested in starting one.

Rating:
Summary: Looking for some understanding?
Review: Im writing this review personally for and with the utmost respect for people who may be in the process of making what could be the loneliest,exciting and frightening move of their lives.

When a human being trusts and follows their innermost seeking heart into worlds and ideas that had been until that moment unknown, It is often an accomplishment for mankind,worthy of celebration,dignity and honor.
Yet,often these same pioneering people are often left unsupported and are often in fact openly maligned and stifled by authorities,peers and family who feel threatened by such actions.
World history is full of examples of people that were
misunderstood.We acknowledge them generations later today as seekers of truth ahead of there times.The astronomer Cecco d Ascoli trusted his eyes, mind and heart and merely suggested that men may live on the "other" side of the earth. Although the Pythagorean school in Greece had suggested the earth was spherical in 500bc the church could not yet accept such a concept. In the bible it was written that the heavens are above and the earth below.It was then believed that the earth had antipodes or two flat sides top and bottom.Skies,trees and people on top and the underworld below.He was merely suggesting that perhaps distant people lived on the other "side" of the earth as well.The church fathers could not conceive of a biblical heaven both above and below?The sky afterall was "up" therefore how could there be men on the other side of the earth?Wouldnt they fall off?The bible,afterall was the infallible word of God and to hold views that differed was equal to heresy.He merely sought to advance and discover a greater truth about the earth.He never renounced belief in God or heaven "above" yet he was burnt alive by the church in 1327 as an unbeleiver and a heretic.
As we now know,There are infact people on the "other" side of the earth. No matter where you tread,the heavens are indeed above and below.You do not deserve to be burned for your explorations.This book will help your journey.Questioning a beleif system can leave a person with little certainty in the once comfortable and familiar systems of support.(church,friends,pastors,youth group leaders)
Often family members do not understand the turmoil.  A way of thinking and being is undergoing great rebuilding. In somecases a way of being a person had known for an entire lifetime is questioned,tested,strengthened and sometimes shaken to the ground.To question these beleifs can bring about feelings of terror about hell and feelings of utter guilt and helplessness..  To even question ones faith can bring about what feels like utter and total death to God and retribution from the same. It can also bring about feelings of freedom and liberty,newness and a light spirit.

Marlene Winnels book is for those people who want to expand. It isnt necessarily about leaving "God" so much as its about becoming introduced with a new life. Your own life and what you really think underneath all the fear,habitual patterns,stuffed feelings and pat answers.As you progress you will need to look into new ways of thinking for your self;dealing with the fear that will raise its head;gaining the ability to enjoy life without so much control and worry.
This book offers a peice of such help.If your going through the change on your own this book can be a releif.I especially liked the sections that dealt with the emotions,thinking for ones self as a person,and the ideas about new directions for learning and building a life in the present.

It is possible to enjoy the sun and the trees,both sides of life,the world and all that is in it.
Thank you Marlene, your book was a light.

Rating:
Summary: Looking for some understanding?
Review: Im writing this review personally for and with the utmost respect for people who may be in the process of making what could be the loneliest,exciting and frightening move of their lives.

When a human being trusts and follows their innermost seeking heart into worlds and ideas that had been until that moment unknown, It is often an accomplishment for mankind,worthy of celebration,dignity and honor.
Yet,often these same pioneering people are often left unsupported and are often in fact openly maligned and stifled by authorities,peers and family who feel threatened by such actions.
World history is full of examples of people that were
misunderstood.We acknowledge them generations later today as seekers of truth ahead of there times.The astronomer Cecco d Ascoli trusted his eyes, mind and heart and merely suggested that men may live on the "other" side of the earth. Although the Pythagorean school in Greece had suggested the earth was spherical in 500bc the church could not yet accept such a concept. In the bible it was written that the heavens are above and the earth below.It was then believed that the earth had antipodes or two flat sides top and bottom.Skies,trees and people on top and the underworld below.He was merely suggesting that perhaps distant people lived on the other "side" of the earth as well.The church fathers could not conceive of a biblical heaven both above and below?The sky afterall was "up" therefore how could there be men on the other side of the earth?Wouldnt they fall off?The bible,afterall was the infallible word of God and to hold views that differed was equal to heresy.He merely sought to advance and discover a greater truth about the earth.He never renounced belief in God or heaven "above" yet he was burnt alive by the church in 1327 as an unbeleiver and a heretic.
As we now know,There are infact people on the "other" side of the earth. No matter where you tread,the heavens are indeed above and below.You do not deserve to be burned for your explorations.This book will help your journey.Questioning a beleif system can leave a person with little certainty in the once comfortable and familiar systems of support.(church,friends,pastors,youth group leaders)
Often family members do not understand the turmoil.  A way of thinking and being is undergoing great rebuilding. In somecases a way of being a person had known for an entire lifetime is questioned,tested,strengthened and sometimes shaken to the ground.To question these beleifs can bring about feelings of terror about hell and feelings of utter guilt and helplessness..  To even question ones faith can bring about what feels like utter and total death to God and retribution from the same. It can also bring about feelings of freedom and liberty,newness and a light spirit.

Marlene Winnels book is for those people who want to expand. It isnt necessarily about leaving "God" so much as its about becoming introduced with a new life. Your own life and what you really think underneath all the fear,habitual patterns,stuffed feelings and pat answers.As you progress you will need to look into new ways of thinking for your self;dealing with the fear that will raise its head;gaining the ability to enjoy life without so much control and worry.
This book offers a peice of such help.If your going through the change on your own this book can be a releif.I especially liked the sections that dealt with the emotions,thinking for ones self as a person,and the ideas about new directions for learning and building a life in the present.

It is possible to enjoy the sun and the trees,both sides of life,the world and all that is in it.
Thank you Marlene, your book was a light.

Rating:
Summary: Helpful Hopeful Wise
Review: 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

Rating:
Summary: This Book is Sure to Open Your Eyes!
Review: WOW! This book showed me, for the first time in my life, that I am not alone! If I got nothing else from this book, I discovered that there are other people like me - people who need to learn to live in the "here and now" and not wait for the "glorious afterlife". The majority of this book I found to be articulate and well thought-out. As another reviewer stated above, the inner child portion of the book was not terribly useful for me, but others may find it helpful. Overall, this is an excellent book and I recommend it highly.