I am a recovering fundamental christian and have never been happier! I always hated the OT god and thought something was wrong with me. The first thing I read that helped me was Thomas Paine's The Age of Reason. That was when I discovered I was not alone in my feelings and thoughts. I have been reading forbidden books ever since. My heart goes out to those who are bound by any religion.
Newest Messages of Hope
Anne
My study of church history has been helpful in my recovery.
Another part that has been extremely helpful is beginning to learn how to practice mindfulness.
Chris
I still want to be a christian - but a very liberal, universalist type
who embraces diversity and is open to other religions. The last thing
I want is to substitute one unhealthy religion for another one so I am
going to be very cautious. The most effective thing for me has been
the realization that the bible is not inerrant. All of fundamentalism
rests on that and once I saw that everything else fell into place.
Another turning point for me was Phillup Gulley and John Mullholland's
book "If God is Love." (They are universalists with a christian
background.) I highly recommend this book.
Kevin
I have been able to slowly, but effectively, transform my life and start to learn how to be happy and enjoy each day. The key to my success was by letting my identity be free. . . I was a full time jehovahs witness and i had a nervous breakdown as the beliefs that i was being taught were not really helping me develop as an individual. I am still am very much isolated, however i am making great strides to meet new people and make friends outside the faith.
I find it helpful to ask myself every morning 'what do you want to do today? what would make you happy today?' this really helps as i make every day special and it helps me be more diverse in my activities. for instance, one day i may work on a website project that i am doing, and the next day i may go out for coffee with a friend. i can't stress to you enough how much this has helped me. . . i have a long way to go still with everything, however i am positive that i can continue to make changes in my life and enjoy the rest of my life instead of falling back on suicide or alcohol as a way out.
Mary
It's crazy because I have all these emotions back. I'm sad alot and have alot of anxiety and tears, but also there is also this spring in my step. This feeling that I can look people in the eyes, as if I'm seeing people I haven't seen in years. And, also, this pride that I'm a woman.
It is as if the world has come alive for the first time since I was young, as if my senses and mind are waking up from the dead. The smell of a parking lot when I come out of a store, mmmmmmm, smells so good, my world is alive! Weird, I know. ;)
