INTERNET RESOURCES FOR FORMER MEMBERS OF
CULTIC & FUNDAMENTALIST GROUPS
A Note to Believers: In this and other pages on this site it is not my intention to attack any religious organization or the beliefs of anyone who is satisfied with her or his current religious experience. My aim as a psychotherapist with an interest in the psychology of religion is rather to reach people who, like myself, have for whatever reason found their former beliefs inadequate. My own experience of shattered faith would have been much less difficult had I known that others had gone through something similar. It is my hope that sharing what I have learned will help make things a little easier for others who have also left a "fold" that could no longer contain them.
AS is often noted, quality of the material available on the web is extremely variable. While I don't necessarily agree with everything on all of the following sites, and have serious reservations about the tone of some, they offer a lot of information. Remember that the course of internet searching, as in "real" life, is often anything but direct. The internet is continually changing. While I try to periodically check this list, some of the following sites may no longer be active, but in surfing through the list you will likely discover other useful sources of information. Stay open to possibilities, follow your curiosity, and enjoy exploring! Be sure to explore the links that most of the following sites provide. Remember, you don't have to restrict yourself anymore!
The anti-cult sites in particular have a wealth of information on a great many groups. If the group in which you are interested is not listed, try the more general sites and use a search engine to locate other sites. Sites about groups other than the one to which you belonged may be helpful as the similarity of experience with restrictive groups, regardless of apparent differences, is often striking, especially if you have had the notion that your group is unique. Most likely you will find that you are not alone after all.
There are also links to religious/spiritual sites on my page, Religious Studies & Spirituality Links.
General
Essay on Restrictive Religious Groups and an article on Psychological Issues of Former Members of Restrictive Religious Groups.
A very accessible article by a scholar of religion on The Nature of Religious Experience.
Rest Ministries, a conservative Christian group, has a lot of information on Spiritual Manipulation & Abuse that is worth taking a look at even if you don't identify as Christian.
Leaving the Fold: A Guide for Former Fundamentalists and Others Leaving Their Religion by Marlene Winell Ph.D. is the best book I have come across on the process of leaving a restrictive religious group. While Winell specifically addresses former fundamentalists, her insights can be applied to similar groups ranging from well established churches to New Age cults. The book also contains an extensive list of resources useful for anyone seeking to broaden his/her horizons. Dr. Winell does telephone counseling - see her web site for further information.
"How to Leave A Religion" offers some very useful and succinct guidelines.
The Reason Project, founded by noted critic of religion Sam Harris, “is devoted to spreading scientific knowledge and secular values in society. The foundation draws on the talents of prominent and creative thinkers in a wide range of disciplines to encourage critical thinking and erode the influence of dogmatism, superstition, and bigotry in our world.”
Recovering From Religion offers information and support, including support groups in some places.
Leaving Christianity has lots of useful information along with a great many links to other sites.
Field Guide to the Wild World of Religion has a lot of well researched information “on the wild and wooly world of modern religious groups and teachers” with a particular focus on non-mainstream Protestant movements.
Fundamentalism/Evangelical Christianity
Recovering Fundamentalists is a very useful, and thoughtful, resource.
Southern Baptists - A History of Controversy is a good summary of controversies in the denomination that for many represents the fundamentalist establishment.
Spiritual Abuse is an article by a former fundamentalist who also has written a book on her experience of dysfunctional religion. (Although this article is on my site, I don't agree with all of the views expressed by the author.)
People United for Religious Freedom has information on TV evangelists.
One of my most surprising discoveries as a former believer in the Bible as the literal word of God, was that not all forms of Christianity limit believers to "Thus saith the Lord" pronouncements. If you "find more grace in the search for meaning than in absolute certainty, in the questions than in the answers, have religious interests and longings but cannot accept the beliefs and dogmas you associate with Christianity, and are repelled by claims that Christianity is the only way,” you may be interested in The Center for Progressive Christianity.
Biblical scholars who approach the Bible as a historical document have come to some conclusions that present a serious challenge to the belief that the Bible is the inerrant and literal Word of God. "From Jesus to Christ: The First Christians" has material from an outstanding PBS "Frontline" presentation on early Christian history. "The Bible's Buried Secrets" is a PBS "Nova" program about the history of the Hebrew Bible (also known as the "Old Testament" by Christians).
Humor is a great way to recover from religious abuse. If you can laugh about it, you are no longer caught in it. For a very well done parody of "holier than thou" fundamentalism that is too often mixed with right wing politics, visit the Landover Baptist Church. (NOTE: this is definitely not a real church!)
Seventh-day Adventist
I am a former Seventh-day Adventist. You may be interested in my story: Leaving the Garden: On Being A Former Adventist, as well as my articles with a historical focus: The Apocalyptic Background of the Seventh-day Adventist Church: Zoroaster to William Miller and Ellen G. White & Adventism: From the Great Disappointment to a Worldwide Movement. There are also links to other Adventist related material on those pages.
Ellen White Exposed has a wealth of historical information about Adventism and its prophetess Ellen White, much of which is not available elsewhere.
New Perspectives on Seventh-day Adventism has a great deal of information about current controversies within Adventism along with beautiful artwork and great quotes from the likes of T. S. Elliot and Plato.
While it seems like the discussions have died down from what they were a few years ago, Adventist of Tomorrow Discussion Forum has current and former Adventists, as well as interested non-Adventists, posting on a variety of topics relating to SDA with lively, often heated discussions.
Spectrum, a liberal Adventist journal with no official ties to the denomination, publishes dissenting views and scholarly studies that sometimes diverge from the official General Conference line.
Some of the many sites run by former Adventists who have adopted an Evangelical or Fundamentalist perspective that basically regards Adventist doctrines as heretical:
Also check out the many links from the above sites.
World Wide Church of God - Herbert W. & Garner Ted Armstrong
The Ambassador File has information on a group that shares many beliefs with Seventh-day Adventists. There are also links to information about the Philadelphia Church of God.
Jehovah's Witness
Progressive Alternative Network for JW's & Ex-JW's is a good place for questioning JW's as well as ex-JW's who are uncomfortable with the extreme views advocated by both JW's and many of their critics.
Ex-Jehovah's Witness Forum and Recovery Site is "for people who have left the Jehovah's WitnessOrganization; who are considering leaving; or simply for those interested in the JW's."
Watchtower Information Service
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Whistle Blower has an angry tone and lots of information about a great many controversial aspects of JW.
Later Day Saints (Mormon)
Recovery From Mormonism has a wealth of material. Click on "Articles and Links about Mormonism" for other sites for questioning and/or former Mormons.
The Way International (TWI) & International Churches of Christ (ICC)
toss and ripple is a blog by Carol Welch, a former member of The Way International.
The mission of the Grease Spot Cafe is "to provide information that tells the other side of the story about The Way International and its trustees" with the hope of helping "those who have been impacted by The Way make connections with people and information which will support their particular process of recovery."
Losing the Way is the title of a book and a blog by a former member of The Way International
International Church of Christ/Boston Movement
REVEAL: Leaving the International Churches of Christ (ICC) includes information and resources for people who have been involved in ICC or other "discipling" groups.
Pentecostal & Charismatic Christian Groups
The Association of Former Pentecostals has information and resources, including discussion forums, for anyone who has questions about Pentecostal and non-denominational Charismatic groups.
Cults of All Kinds
While I think the anti-cult crusaders are sometimes overly alarmist and naive about religion in addition to often being closely allied with the religious establishment, they perform an invaluable service in pointing out potential dangers of isolative and authoritarian groups. The following sites have a wealth of information about various "cults," religious and secular, along with extensive resources for those who have been involved with such groups:
Nori J. Muster is a former member of the International Society for Krisna Consciousness who has written a well balanced account of her experiences in the group. She also has an excellent online "Cult Survivors Handbook." She also has The Nitty Gritty On Cults site with the slogan: “Don’t join dangerous cults: Practice safe sects!”
International Cultic Studies Association - taking a scholarly approach, ICSA has over time assumed a more open minded stance, recognizing that not every cultic group is destructive.
Rick Ross, an anti-cult activist, has an extensive on-line archive of information about a great many controversial groups.
Spiritual Abuse Recovery Resources is a conservative Christian site primarily concerned with Bible based groups.
Refocus: Recovering Former Cultists’ Support Network
Sexual Abuse by Religious Leaders
Among the many stories I have heard of abuse in religious communities, the most appalling involve sexual abuse. I've repeatedly heard about pillars of the local church, ministers and priests, evangelists, teachers, lay and youth leaders of many groups and denominations exploiting those who looked to them for spiritual guidance. Psychoanalysis tells us that what is repressed will likely be acted out. As conservative religion so often encourages the repression of sexuality, sexual acting out is not at all uncommon in conservative religious communities. Far too many leaders in religious communities take advantage of the trust placed in them to try to fulfill their own secret needs. And much too often the church establishment has been much less than supportive of the victims of sexual abuse perpetrated by its "shinning lights."
Advocate Web has a wealth of information promoting "awareness and understanding of the issues involved in the exploitation of persons by trusted helping professionals" including abuse by clergy.
Ann Lammers, Ph.D, MFT is a Vermont psychotherapist and colleague who specializes in working with survivors of clergy sexual abuse.
Original Material & Photographs ©2009 James C. Moyers
May be reproduced with source cited
