Seating limited.
Posted on 03/03/2006 1:26:22 PM PST by dukeman
RELEASE AND RECLAIM
A weekend intensive for letting go of religious indoctrination and reclaiming your life. Led by Marlene Winell, Ph.D.
The effects of authoritarian religious training can last a long time and run deep, seriously impacting your ability to enjoy life. The process of leaving one's faith often creates intense feelings of confusion, grief, anxiety, and anger. Full recovery can be difficult if the issues are not clear and you feel alone in the struggle.
This workshop is designed to support you in this process of healing and growth. The weekend is a powerful group experience of sharing personal history, examining key issues, and exploring new liberating concepts. In addition to discussion, we will use experiential methods including art, guided visualization, movement, and role-play. There will also be time for shared meals, relaxation, and fun. Because we are staying together, we will have the chance to get acquainted and begin a lasting support system beyond the weekend. As a special bonus, we will have massage and acupuncture treatments available, and guests are welcome to stay another night.
WHEN: FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 7PM until SUNDAY, MARCH 4, 3PM.
WHERE: RIO DEL MAR, CA (east side of Santa Cruz, near the beach)
The closest airport is SAN JOSE, and we will arrange transportation together from there. The setting is a large wonderful house with hot tub, fireplace, and other amenities. See http://agptspics.homestead.com/TRM.html for photos
REQUIREMENTS: 1) Telephone discussion with Marlene Winell to determine appropriateness for you, 2) completion of pre-workshop written exercises.
COST: $320 for the workshop, $120 for room and board Total: $440
A deposit of $100 will secure a space, half of the remainder is due by Feb. 18 ($170), and the balance due at the workshop ($170).
Early registration discount: $20 (Full payment by Feb. 18) REBATE for completed written exercises: $40 (email or bring writings to workshop; rebates will be given at the workshop)
Workshop objectives are to help you:
Release the hold of dysfunctional religious teachings.
Reclaim your own thoughts and feelings.
Discover self-love and learn to trust yourself.
Recognize and draw from your own inner resources for wisdom and strength.
Explore new avenues for meaning in life.
Appreciate the freedom and power when you take personal responsibility for your life.
Practice enjoying life now instead of waiting for the next; reclaim your right to pleasure.
A Resource list will be available with recommended books and readings and websites.
To register, send an email to mwinell@gmail.com with your contact information. You will receive more details, a registration form, and written exercises.
Register soon to save a place. Group size is limited by design.
For more information, write to mwinell@gmail.com or call 510-649-1256. Also, if you want to take part in a weekend but this one does not work for you, please ask to be on the mailing list.
About Dr. Winell: Marlene Winell is a psychologist and Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies. She grew up in a fundamentalist missionary family, spent some years as a "born-again" Christian, and then went through her own recovery and growth process. She has worked in human services for 30 years and specializes in helping clients who are recovering from religious indoctrination. She is the author of Leaving the Fold: A Guide for Former Fundamentalists and Others Leaving Their Religion. Her private practice is in Berkeley, CA: she also consults by telephone. www.marlenewinell.com 510-649-1256
What a load of crap.
Yeah, I stumbled upon this while surfing around DU. The prevailing view there is that religious faith, and especially Christianity, is a mental disorder from which one needs to "recover." The non-believers on DU are very hostile to other DUers who profess Christianity. They are very puzzled by matters of faith and they get quite angry about it.
You say that as if the same thing doesn't happen here (albeit on a smaller scale).
Part of being a believer in Christ is some day folks are going to be persecuted for His Names' Sake.
Time is getting a little tight...
This is essentially training to undermine faith of beleivers on a grass roots level. The shrink who is leading this thing has a screening method in the hope of weeding out spies. This is soooooo like liberals. Watch them introduce it into colleges and public schools and watch the media tout it as the latest thing. It is going to appeal to the New Agers...the "spiritual" fadists.
Seating limited.
There's a lot of hurting people out there who were chased away from the church by well-meaning, but wrong-headed Christians. Rather than ascribe this exercise to some sort of anti-Christian conspiracy, we should recognize that this conference raises some valid points.
That's total B.S. Moral relativism sucks.
You're Arminian slip is showing.
Rather than ascribe this exercise to some sort of anti-Christian conspiracy, we should recognize that this conference raises some valid points.
Your neo-Episcopalian slip is showing.
Go to the website. It IS an anti-Christian conspiracy.
Who's a "moral relativist"? There are absolute rights and wrongs - but that doesn't mean every rule that the Church enforces is God-given or right.
There is no shortage of abusive churches out there. You don't have to be a cult to be an abusive church - there are churches with orthodox theology, but a legalistic approach. Kind of like the Pharisees. These churches chase people away from Christianity.
Don't get me wrong - Christianity is God's gift to humanity. The salvation found in Christ alone is the only hope for mankind. The Church, however, has gotten in the way of this message and made up her own rules. Dating is evil; courtship is the way to go. (I remember all too well the I Kissed Dating Goodbye wars in the 1990's.) Don't drink alchohol - even though the Bible says to do so in moderation. Don't go see movies or listen to secular music - instead, watch and listen to the overpriced dreck that is Christian movies and music. And God help the person who struggles with real sins. The church will ostracize him. I've watched it happen.
St. Augustine, when he saw these problems, said - "the Church is a whore, but she is my mother." Unfortunately, too few people see things this way, but are alienated.
Hey, let's not say things we can't take back! We don't need to get mean now!
I am not saying that this conference is right, but that there is a grain of truth that should not be blithely rejected as part of an "anti-Christian conspiracy."
A quote attributed to Ghandi was "I don't reject your Christ. I love your Christ. It's just that so many of you Christians are unlike your Christ." The story, which may or may not be true, was that one day, as a young lawyer in South Africa, he was intrigued by the Christian faith, and went to visit a Christian church, but was barred by a racist who refused to admit a non-white.
The world is full of people like this - people whose experience with Christianity is entirely negative. They reject Christianity (wrongfully) because they rightfully reject the twisted version we have made of it. It hurts us to blithely reject these persons as part of an "anti-Christian conspiracy."
So, it's wrong to have therapy to change homosexuals, but it's okay for religious people?
Marlowe is correct. Your statement reflects an Arminian belief. Calvinists would say everything works together for good to those who are CALLED according to God's purpose. Every "error" the Church has made hasn't hurt people but in someway foster God's plan as eggregious as those errors might have been.
The ACTUAL Church of our Lord Jesus Christ has only served to further God's end. It never hurts.
And about as deep as her faith...
Coming out of a cult, I can attest that there are times (and not insignificant amounts of times) where I am overcome with grief that I no longer affirm the teachings of that church. I miss my friends. I am often lost and confused, and without someone to guide me in the "normal" ways of believing, I would have no choice but to return to it.
So, seeing something like this, if it was geared to deprogramming people from cult tactics, would be great. What makes me hesitate, though, is the activities they do in the one spoken about in the article. I would prefer just straight, hard-core Bible study time and theology classes.
But that is me.
Even a broken clock is right twice a day, But you'd be a fool to pay for such a clock.
God predestined it, so it must be okay? No thanks.
The ACTUAL Church of our Lord Jesus Christ has only served to further God's end. It never hurts.
Who defines what is the "actual" church? This is the "no true Scotsman" fallacy - and counter-scriptural. Re-read Ezek. 16, Hosea, and Rev. 17. The Church can be a filthy whore - and she sometimes has been.
Right. And some weren't so well-meaning. There are a lot of dangerous, manipulative, power-crazed people loudly proclaiming Christianity who have extracted all faith, hope and especially love from their religion.
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