Journey Free

RTS on Alternet: Dr. Valerie Tarico interviews Marlene Winell

marlene — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 23:40:24 +0000

“Religious Trauma Syndrome: How Some Organized Religion Leads to Mental Health Problems“ Groups that demand obedience and conformity produce fear, not love and growth. Continue HERE for the article from March 25, 2013.

March theme is Adventure on JF Calendar

marlene — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 05:06:10 +0000

“Security is mostly a superstition.

It does not exist in nature. . .

Life is either a daring adventure or nothing” -Helen Keller

If we think about it, we can realize how much we care about safety and predictability. We are uncomfortable with being unable to know or [...]

Personal Development Exercises for February on the JF Calendar

marlene — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 04:14:15 +0000

Here are the exercises we are using in the Personal Development Group this month. In general, what we will do each month is practice daily the theme for the month. This is described in Exercise #1. The other exercises are also options. But I think the most unique thing about this group will be the [...]

Personal Development Group forming

marlene — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 01:12:29 +0000

Based on the new Journey Free 2013 Calendar, a new virtual group dedicated to personal development is forming. This will be especially relevant to folks recovering from religious indoctrination, but will not be limited to “reclaimers” or focused on religious material. Rather, we will be addressing important and liberating ideas each month, and practicing alternative [...]

Coping with Religious Family over the Holidays

marlene — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 14:04:17 +0000

At this time of year it’s hard to avoid dealing with the differences you have with your family. If you are a “reclaimer” (reclaiming your life after being religious) who has been raised in a religious household, holiday times can be very uncomfortable when other family members are still devout. Having worked through these issues [...]

Valerie Tarico speaks on Recovering from Religion

marlene — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 17:32:59 +0000

Dr. Tarico is a psychologist from Seattle and a member of Journey Free’s Board of Advisors. Her insights on religion and psychology are unparalleled. Don’t miss her book, Trusting Doubt, and read her blog, Awaypoint.wordpress.com. She also has a YouTube channel called Trusting Doubt.

Mark Twain understood Religious Trauma Syndrome

marlene — Sun, 14 Oct 2012 05:14:08 +0000

Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain)

“I am greatly troubled by what you say. I wrote Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn for adults exclusively, and it always distresses me when I find that boys and girls have been allowed access to them. The mind that becomes soiled in youth can never again be washed clean; I know [...]

Interview excerpt: Living Life as It Is

marlene — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 02:31:46 +0000

Reclaimers

marlene — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 04:01:11 +0000

Ok, I think we can acknowledge we have a subculture now – a group of people who were once religious but have left and are reclaiming their lives. This group is special and identifiable. It’s not just exChristian; it’s exMormon, exMuslim, ex-Jehovah-Witness, ex-cult, and ex-authoritarian. But we need a name. I believe the terms that [...]

Why being an animal is so important

marlene — Sat, 05 May 2012 22:14:30 +0000

This is a YouTube series of 3 videos from Marlene’s talk at a retreat, explaining why she thinks the most important thing about accepting evolution has nothing to do with the Garden of Eden. It’s about understanding ourselves for who we are – animals. Just as Copernicus and Galileo helped us understand that the earth [...]