This guide helps readers who have rejected rigid religious upbringings find new independence and self-love. Learn to accept conflicted feelings and choose a healthy reality. Learn to live in the here and now.
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Library Journal
Winell, daughter of a missionary and now a psychologist, had a genuine "born again" Christian experience and then much later went through another rebirth and found herself apart from that tradition. Although she criticizes fundamentalism for its rigidity, militancy, authority, and strong opposition to modern culture, she focuses on understanding and rebuilding, addressing herself not only to fundamentalists (Christian, Jewish, and Muslim) who feel the call but also to those who left and then realize, perhaps years later, that they need to think through the hold that religion still has on their lives. She then addresses issues of healing, reclaiming buried feelings, finding and loving oneself, and growing. Highly recommended for seminary and public libraries.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
36 of 37 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
For the person who has been moderately to severely hurt by their christian faith, Marlene Winell's book gives a voice to those whose personal lives have been filled with guilt, fear, shame, and repression, and authenticates their painful experiences with her own, and with quotes from others telling of their emotional trauma's inflicted on them by fundamentalist Christianity. With each chapter focussing on different stages of recovery, this book gives a compre- hensive understanding of the root causes that often lead to aspects such as: low self-esteem, loss of emotional feelings, loss of critical thinking, the loss of ability to feel natural emotions, among with other painful aspects that can be caused. Most importantly this is not angry book about blaming christianity. This book is primarily a book about recovery and hope. The abuses that fundamental Christianity can cause are addressed, the reader is then showed steps of recovery, that if followed, will lead to a healthier sense of individual identity and a more positive approach towards living life in this world. In summary, if you feel you have been hurt by fundamentalist christianity, I heartily recommend this book. This may be the very book you have been looking for!
25 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
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!
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
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Dr. Winell views religious fundamentalism through the lens of psychology and treats it as a valid addiction or disorder. It normalizes and clearly articulates the unfortunate outcomes for those immersed in religious fundamentalism. Rather than "Christian bashing," Winell's discussion focuses on humane needs that are sorely ignored within the fundamentalist system. Frank, easy to read, well organized, helpful, I think this book is hopefilled for those scarred by the mind control techniques of fundamentalist belief systems. It also provides a wellspring of resources in reading and thinking differently. This book is so spot on, my co-therapist and I will be using it as our model text in our religious recovery/former fundamentalist support group.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
A Useful Guide for those harmed by religion
Dr. Winell is really at the forefront when it comes to addressing the serious psychological harms perpetrated on people by certain toxic religious beliefs. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Dude_Lebowski
A very important book for individuals and our society
I can't say enough good about Dr. Winell's wonderful book! I relate to and appreciate it on two distinct levels: 1) Having "been there," and 2) Having counseled and taught many... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Howard Pepper
If you're questioning your faith this is the book for you.
I came across this book when I was having a hard time breaking away from my old beliefs and what a particular church taught me. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Carly Foster
Lonely planet for the spiritual traveller
Marlene Winell writes from her own experience and this permeates every page. Leaving a fundamentalist mind-set is a long, harrowing process which takes its tolll on many levels -... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Kristina
Workshop invitation from the author
Hello there,
If you are reading about this book, you might like to know that I hold periodic retreats. Read more
If you are reading about this book, you might like to know that I hold periodic retreats. Read more
Published on August 3, 2008 by Marlene Winell
A must read for anyone in the process of de-conversion & recovering...
This book gives me the comfort and determination to recover from a religion I no longer believe in. The recovery experience shared by the author was very well presented and to the... Read more
Published on December 27, 2007 by slowmothe1st
Tired of living with fear and guilt?
As a voracious reader, no other book has touched me the way this one has. I feel as though I have been released from prison. Read more
Published on April 18, 2007 by Thomas R. Braden
A light in the darkness.
I have found Miss Winell's book invaluable in my ongoing healing process from authoritative religion and other authoritative ways of thinking whether it be family systems, various... Read more
Published on March 13, 2007 by Jack Nalbandian
Highly reccommend
Reading this book will put words onto emotions that you never knew how to describe. Problems that you don't know how to put a finger on- this book puts the finger right on it for... Read more
Published on May 4, 2006 by Danielle Souris
You will see yourself in every page!
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. Read more
Published on August 26, 2004 by Mindguy
Inside This Book
(learn more)
First Sentence:
Breaking away from your faith has had an impact on your life, and probably a profound one. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
religious damage, idea monster, monster talk, fundamentalist framework, fundamentalist system, inner advisor, former fundamentalists, rigid religion, former believers, religious addiction, fundamentalist family, fundamentalist families, missionary kids, inner child Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Holy Spirit, Little Jan, Jesus Christ, Religion Recovery Group, Losing God, Marlene Winell, New Testament, Old Testament New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Breaking away from your faith has had an impact on your life, and probably a profound one. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
religious damage, idea monster, monster talk, fundamentalist framework, fundamentalist system, inner advisor, former fundamentalists, rigid religion, former believers, religious addiction, fundamentalist family, fundamentalist families, missionary kids, inner child Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Holy Spirit, Little Jan, Jesus Christ, Religion Recovery Group, Losing God, Marlene Winell, New Testament, Old Testament New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 100
books:
See all 100 books this book cites
7
books
cite this book:
See all 7 books citing this book
- Self Esteem A Family Affair by Jean Illsley Clarke on page 162, Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- Fundamentalism: Hazards and Heartbreaks by Rod L. Evans on page 89, Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- The Mind of the Bible-Believer by Edmund D. Cohen on page 80, Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- The True Believer by Eric Hoffer on page 58, Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- Combatting Cult Mind Control: The #1 Best-selling Guide to Protection, Rescue, and Recovery from Destructive Cults by Steven Hassan on page 63, Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
See all 100 books this book cites
- Religious Schools v. Children's Rights by James G. Dwyer on 4 pages
- The Fundamentals of Extremism: The Christian Right in America by Kimberly Blaker on page 225, and Back Matter
- Wounded in the Name of God by Brent Coleman in Back Matter
- Vouchers within Reason: A Child-Centered Approach to Education Reform by James G. Dwyer in Back Matter
- Perfecting Your Private Practice: Suggestions and Strategies for Psychologists by Dr. Joan Neehall-Davidson on page 342
See all 7 books citing this book
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