Leaving the Fold: A Guide for Former Fundamentalists and Others Leaving Their Religion [Paperback]

Marlene Winell (Author), Steve Allen (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1993

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.

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.

Product Details

• Paperback: 312 pages
• Publisher: New Harbinger Publications (December 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1879237512
• ISBN-13: 978-1879237513
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #126,400 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #70 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Religious Studies > Psychology

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the most life-changing book I have ever read!, November 18, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Leaving the Fold: A Guide for Former Fundamentalists and Others Leaving Their Religion (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!

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This will speed your recovery!, October 31, 2002

By 

Marlene Winell (Santa Cruz, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Leaving the Fold: A Guide for Former Fundamentalists and Others Leaving Their Religion (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!

Also recommended: Losing Faith in Faith, by Dan Barker The Mind of the Bible Believer, by
Edmund Cohen

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Helpful Hopeful Wise, August 23, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Leaving the Fold: A Guide for Former Fundamentalists and Others Leaving Their Religion (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.