Photo: Image by StockSnap from Pixabay By Jonathan Grisham I woke up this morning in a panic. I had another dream reminiscent of the cult I left so many years ago. It’s been so long, why does this still bother me? I’m sure if you have left a cult- like church, this feeling resonates asContinueContinue reading “Surviving Religious Abuse Led Me to Advocacy”
Tag Archives: leaving
Stop, Drop, and Heal
Photo: Image by misterfarmer from Pixabay Editorial Note: The following is reprinted with permission from Karl Forehand’s blog. It was originally published on January 22, 2024. By Karl Forehand Seven or eight years ago, we began what most people call deconstruction. Laura was silent about it because I was a pastor, and she did not want to interfereContinueContinue reading “Stop, Drop, and Heal”
The Most Important Insight I Gained after Deconstructing
Photo: Image by Felix from Pixabay By Celestine Alderwood Upon leaving a lengthy, highly conservative relationship with my children in tow, I began rethinking my beliefs. This was only possible after we found safety and freedom. I remember feeling grateful to the higher power we were taught to believe in. Still, a flood of emotionsContinueContinue reading “The Most Important Insight I Gained after Deconstructing”
Blue Christmas: Breaking generational abuse patterns during the holidays
Image by Leonhard Niederwimmer from Pixabay Editorial Note: The following is reprinted with permission from Amber Schultz’s blog. It was originally published on December 25, 2022. By Amber Schultz It’s the most wonderful time of the year. At least that is what we are told. I remember very few Christmases. Ones I remember are not the best times.ContinueContinue reading “Blue Christmas: Breaking generational abuse patterns during the holidays”
Poem: Holy Hell
By Megan Benninger FreedFrom the creedI believed I’m relieved!Once devoutNow kicked outFull of doubtI’m calling outThe ploysOf your good old boysI’m making noiseWith my big fat voiceRejoiceWhen they hate youReject andBerate youIt’s shitI admitI won’t submitI’m “not a good fit”But I still won’t quitThis handmaidenNow forsakenHas awakenedAnd my classification’s Now “tool of Satan”Swell!Toll the knellI’ll cast aContinueContinue reading “Poem: Holy Hell”
You Can Move On
Photo: Image by Couleur from Pixabay. By Melissa Neeb In response to those who tell you that you should stay at your church even when church people hurt you because “You are there for God, not people,” or that “Every church is full of sinners,” you could respond by saying… Nothing. Noth-ing. You don’t oweContinueContinue reading “You Can Move On”
I found true peace walking away from the church
By Lydia Joy Launderville What is peace? If you asked me as a fundamentalist, I would have answered “a peace of that passeth all understanding,” which because it was far beyond understanding, I never truly did, well, actually, understand it. I never felt peace in abuse. I never had piece of mind either. I justContinueContinue reading “I found true peace walking away from the church”
They Told Me I Would Never Be Happy. They Lied.
Photo: Image by phfilipposarci from Pixabay Editorial Note: The following is reprinted with permission from Laura Launderville’s blog. It was originally published on July 31, 2023. By Laura Launderville I recently attended a workshop that the nonprofit that I volunteer with hosted. It was a writing workshop and I had never done one before. So I didn’tContinueContinue reading “They Told Me I Would Never Be Happy. They Lied.”
It’s Not Fair: Living with Chronic Illness
Photo: Image by StockSnap from Pixabay Editorial Note: The following is reprinted with permission from Laura Launderville’s blog. It was originally published on June 25, 2023. By Laura Launderville One of the things I feel that has helped me with my own battle with facial pain is helping others. I volunteer with a nonprofit that supports patientsContinueContinue reading “It’s Not Fair: Living with Chronic Illness”
Why do you say you left fundamentalism?
A Bob Jones University van in the parking lot of Grace Bible Church in Colorado Springs in spring 2013 | Photo: Eleanor Skelton Editorial Note: The following is reprinted with permission from Eleanor Skelton’s blog. It was originally published on January 15, 2015. By Eleanor Skelton The biggest question that surfaced during the series on why I left fundamentalistContinueContinue reading “Why do you say you left fundamentalism?”
The Vashti Initiative 