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Understanding Religious Trauma Syndrome: It’s Time to Recognize It
The British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies ^ | Dr. Marlene Winell

Posted on 11/01/2014 7:35:52 PM PDT by Faith Presses On

...Article 1 of 3 by Dr. Marlene Winell...

...In my view, it is time for the mental health community to recognize the real trauma that religion can cause. Just like clearly naming problems like anorexia, PTSD, or bipolar disorder made it possible to stop self-blame and move ahead with treatment, we need to address Religious Trauma Syndrome. The internet is starting to overflow with stories of RTS and cries for help. On forums for former believers (such as exchristian.net), one can see the widespread pain and desperation...

...At present, raising questions about toxic beliefs and abusive practices in religion seems to be violating a taboo. In society, we treasure our freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and freedom of religion. Our laws and mores reflect the general principle that if we are not harming others, we can do as we like. Forcing children to go to church hardly seems like a crime. Real damage is assumed to be done by extreme fringe groups we call “cults” and people have heard of ritual abuse. Moreover, religious institutions have a vested interest in promoting an uncritical view.

But mind-control and emotional abuse is actually the norm for many large, authoritarian, mainline religious groups...


TOPICS: Current Events; General Discusssion; Moral Issues
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This Dr. Winell runs a group call Journeyfree.org dedicated to pathologizing Christianity, it seems. This article was published by a British professional association that says it's the leading UK association for cognitive behavioral therapy, which seems to be the most common approach used in counseling today. It claims to examine thoughts and behaviors for "irrationality." Not surprising that the UK would welcome these ideas.
1 posted on 11/01/2014 7:35:52 PM PDT by Faith Presses On
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To: Faith Presses On

Get ready for the entire MSM to run articles on this.


2 posted on 11/01/2014 7:38:05 PM PDT by GeronL (Vote for Conservatives not for Republicans)
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To: GeronL

Yes, and in the U.S. they’ll probably appear diplomatic at first. “Religion works wonders for some people, but for others....


3 posted on 11/01/2014 7:42:22 PM PDT by Faith Presses On
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To: GeronL

Yes, and in the U.S. they’ll probably appear diplomatic at first. “Religion works wonders for some people, but for others....


4 posted on 11/01/2014 7:42:23 PM PDT by Faith Presses On
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To: Faith Presses On

Unfortunately they’ll do more damage trying to strip people of their spirituality. Spirituality appear to be a necessary part of the human psyche that will arise on its own even without any kind of religious influences.

In a sense it explains why atheism and global warming belief have become religions in themselves.

There isn’t a single society that has managed to arise without some sort of spirituality or religion. Even remote isolated tribes created religion of some sort or another.


5 posted on 11/01/2014 7:46:44 PM PDT by cripplecreek (You can't half ass conservatism.)
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To: Faith Presses On

shrinks think they have the answers, gee, shocker.

given many shrinks are themselves seeing a shrink for their own problems,....


6 posted on 11/01/2014 7:48:10 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man ( Gone Galt; Not averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: Faith Presses On

Some people do run from mainstream religious groups because they find them too stifling.


7 posted on 11/01/2014 7:49:59 PM PDT by TBP (Obama lies, Granny dies.)
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To: Faith Presses On

If they recognize such a syndrome they should also recognize. “secular trauma syndrome,” which happens when you. come to see that the world’s ways don’t work. The only thing is that Jesus is there to carry you through it, while those who have left Christianity have no one.


8 posted on 11/01/2014 7:51:26 PM PDT by Faith Presses On
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To: cripplecreek
Unfortunately they’ll do more damage trying to strip people of their spirituality.

Of their spirituality, or of their religious doctrine? Those are not the same thing.

If someone's spirituality can be better expressed an fulfilled by moving to a different religious affiliation, why is that a problem?

9 posted on 11/01/2014 7:51:42 PM PDT by TBP (Obama lies, Granny dies.)
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To: Faith Presses On
Homosexuality is normal.

Christianity is deviant.

I think I detect a pattern here.

10 posted on 11/01/2014 7:51:55 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (Any energy source that requires a subsidy is, by definition, "unsustainable.")
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To: Secret Agent Man

I’ve known a few shrinks, and they were all crazy.


11 posted on 11/01/2014 7:52:34 PM PDT by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: Faith Presses On
But mind-control and emotional abuse is actually the norm for many large, authoritarian, mainline religious groups...

No, it's really not the "norm." But it does happen, and it does chase people away from church.

12 posted on 11/01/2014 7:52:53 PM PDT by TBP (Obama lies, Granny dies.)
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To: Faith Presses On

It’s not difficult to show how mainstream secularism and nihilistic Darwinism are as much religion as anything else, and that its traumatizing effects are far worse than those supposedly associated with Christian religion.

Can you say eugenics? abortion industry? Nazi death camps?

The breakup of the family.

Sadness, sorrow and apathy. Homicide. Suicide.


13 posted on 11/01/2014 7:53:57 PM PDT by reasonisfaith ("...because they believed not the love of the truth, that they might be saved." (2 Thessalonians))
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To: Faith Presses On; MeganC; Resettozero; LUV W; cripplecreek; GeronL
Companion Story this thread earlierhttp://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/3222151/posts

Yet Agian, Religion is the Opium of the Masses, Comrades!

FORWARD!!


14 posted on 11/01/2014 8:06:13 PM PDT by KC_Lion (Build the America you want to live in at your address, and keep looking up.- Sarah Palin)
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To: Faith Presses On
But mind-control and emotional abuse is actually the norm for many large, authoritarian, mainline religious groups...

This describes all Democrats, as well as the religious zealots of the right.

Both groups mindlessly babble their given talking points without ever examining the silliness of what they are repeating.

15 posted on 11/01/2014 8:09:12 PM PDT by meadsjn
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To: Faith Presses On

“But mind-control and emotional abuse is actually the norm for many large, authoritarian, mainline religious groups...”

Many, if not all, atheist-run countries turn out to become Communist and kill millions of people. They slowly slide down into a puddle of failure. Many countries and civilizations that have recognized religions, past and present, are considered to be the greatest the planet has ever know. Romans, Greeks, Hebrews, Egyptians, etc. Sure, religion doesn’t necessarily equal success, but it doesn’t prevent it either.


16 posted on 11/01/2014 8:14:03 PM PDT by Politicalkiddo ("Our fertitlity is not a disease that needs to be medicated."- Lila Rose)
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To: Faith Presses On

Waiting for treatment for my Moonbat Trauma Syndrome. Makes you smack your forehead so much you throw your neck out of joint.


17 posted on 11/01/2014 8:36:14 PM PDT by Some Fat Guy in L.A. (Still bitterly clinging to rational thought despite it's unfashionability)
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To: Faith Presses On

bump


18 posted on 11/01/2014 9:09:04 PM PDT by GeronL (Vote for Conservatives not for Republicans)
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To: KC_Lion

bump


19 posted on 11/01/2014 9:12:29 PM PDT by GeronL (Vote for Conservatives not for Republicans)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

On the subject of homosexuality, has any other mental illness been removed from the DSM? or is homosexuality the only one?


20 posted on 11/01/2014 9:24:00 PM PDT by joshua c (Please dont feed the liberals)
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