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Recovering From Religion

Recovering From Religion
Author: Recovering From Religion
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Subscribe for weekly discussions with cult survivors, experts in religious trauma recovery, and other topics related to recovering from religious harms. This show is hosted by volunteers from Recovering From Religion, which is a non-profit organization that works to provide hope, healing, and support for people who have questions or doubts about their faith.
Whether you are an atheist, religious, or leaving a cult, we hope you will find this podcast helpful. We aren’t here to talk you out of or into faith. We just provide a safe place to examine beliefs. Episodes are adapted from RfRx events.
Whether you are an atheist, religious, or leaving a cult, we hope you will find this podcast helpful. We aren’t here to talk you out of or into faith. We just provide a safe place to examine beliefs. Episodes are adapted from RfRx events.
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This week on RfRx, join us for a conversation with educator, philosopher, and author Nicholas Lamar Soutter on the importance of education. We'll explore the power dynamics behind education and knowledge. What counts as legitimate knowledge - and who gets to decide? Come for the conversation, stay for the hangout after the show.Join Us Live Every Monday!https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/rfrxhttps://linktr.ee/RecoveringFromReligionhttps://www.facebook.com/RecoveringfromReligionhttps://instagram.com/rfrorghttps://www.tiktok.com/@recoveringfromreligionhttps://bsky.app/profile/recoveringfromreligion.orghttps://www.linkedin.com/company/rfrorg
When studying cultural anthropology, one is generally taught to treat every belief system with respect and to keep one's opinions to themselves. Speaking up on the ideas of skepticism is usually frowned upon. Malorie Mackey used to feel strongly that all beliefs should be respected, as she came from an anthropological background. However, after living in the world of skepticism for some time, she has concluded that some belief systems are harmful. When do they become harmful? And when do you step in once they do? Join us for this analysis of when beliefs become destructive and how this sensitive topic should be approached. And plan on staying for the post-show hangout.Join Us Live Every Monday!https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/rfrxhttps://linktr.ee/RecoveringFromReligionhttps://www.facebook.com/RecoveringfromReligionhttps://instagram.com/rfrorghttps://www.tiktok.com/@recoveringfromreligionhttps://bsky.app/profile/recoveringfromreligion.orghttps://www.linkedin.com/company/rfrorg
In this special Women's History Month episode of RfRx, we hear from a group of inspirational women sharing their personal journeys of leaving religion. They discuss how patriarchy shaped their experiences and the challenges they faced in breaking free from its influence. Their stories highlight the strength and resilience involved in resisting and rejecting patriarchal systems.Join Us Live Every Monday!https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/rfrxhttps://linktr.ee/RecoveringFromReligionhttps://www.facebook.com/RecoveringfromReligionhttps://instagram.com/rfrorghttps://www.tiktok.com/@recoveringfromreligionhttps://bsky.app/profile/recoveringfromreligion.orghttps://www.linkedin.com/company/rfrorg
The definition and nature of biological sex in humans should be a straightforward scientific question, so why is the topic so controversial even among skeptics and science communicators? This week on RfRx, Dr. Steven Novella will tackle this subject. Novella is an Associate Professor of Clinical Neurology, host of The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe podcast, author of three books as well as the NeuroLogica blog, and founding editor and regular contributor to the Science-Based Medicine blog.Join Us Live Every Monday!https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/rfrxhttps://linktr.ee/RecoveringFromReligionhttps://www.facebook.com/RecoveringfromReligionhttps://instagram.com/rfrorghttps://www.tiktok.com/@recoveringfromreligionhttps://bsky.app/profile/recoveringfromreligion.orghttps://www.linkedin.com/company/rfrorg
This week on RfRx, Neil The 604 Atheist joins us to discuss his journey away from his former beliefs and will make a case for the importance of human rights over human beliefs. Neil is a Canadian, humanist, and atheist who hosts a show featuring deconversion stories on YouTube. Join us for the talk and stay for the hangout after the show.Join Us Live Every Monday!https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/rfrxhttps://linktr.ee/RecoveringFromReligionhttps://www.facebook.com/RecoveringfromReligionhttps://instagram.com/rfrorghttps://www.tiktok.com/@recoveringfromreligionhttps://bsky.app/profile/recoveringfromreligion.orghttps://www.linkedin.com/company/rfrorg
This week on RfRx, David Teachout will give a talk based on his presentation at last year’s Fall Excursion. Now is your chance to join the conversation! David will present a call to living healthy lives based on bodies and community where mental health is more than simply dealing with a diagnosis. Bring your questions for David and stay for the hangout after the show!Join Us Live Every Monday!https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/rfrxhttps://linktr.ee/RecoveringFromReligionhttps://www.facebook.com/RecoveringfromReligionhttps://instagram.com/rfrorghttps://www.tiktok.com/@recoveringfromreligionhttps://bsky.app/profile/recoveringfromreligion.orghttps://www.linkedin.com/company/rfrorg
Health misinformation isn’t just spreading—it’s shaping policy at our highest levels. From vaccine skepticism, to chemophobia and food safety, to erasing public health protections, bad science and ideological decisions are impacting all of us. This week on RfRx, Dr. Andrea Love will discuss how selective science rejection takes hold, why it’s getting worse, and what we all can do to fight back against the erosion of evidence-based science and medicine. Bring your questions for Andrea and stick around for the hangout after the show!Join Us Live Every Monday!https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/rfrxhttps://linktr.ee/RecoveringFromReligionhttps://www.facebook.com/RecoveringfromReligionhttps://instagram.com/rfrorghttps://www.tiktok.com/@recoveringfromreligionhttps://bsky.app/profile/recoveringfromreligion.orghttps://www.linkedin.com/company/rfrorg
This week on RfRx, Secular Rarity is back to discuss Community Building in Difficult Times. SR is a host of The Atheist Experience and a founding member of The Conversation Coalition Nashville. He will share with us about his latest work and new opportunities for community building in secular spaces. Bring your questions for SR and stick around for the hangout after the show!Join Us Live Every Monday!https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/rfrxhttps://linktr.ee/RecoveringFromReligionhttps://www.facebook.com/RecoveringfromReligionhttps://instagram.com/rfrorghttps://www.tiktok.com/@recoveringfromreligionhttps://bsky.app/profile/recoveringfromreligion.orghttps://www.linkedin.com/company/rfrorg
Join us on the next RfRx with horticultural sciences professor Kevin Folta.Internet influencers turn people away from healthy food choices. Social media screams that we are being systematically poisoned by a broken regulatory system in cahoots with America’s farmers and food processors.From seed oils to herbicides to genetically engineered crops, disinformation and chemophobia are confusing many people about food safety, and harming public health.Despite all the negative hype, scientists say that we live in a time with the safest, most abundant food supply in human history.Join Us Live Every Monday!https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/rfrxhttps://linktr.ee/RecoveringFromReligionhttps://www.facebook.com/RecoveringfromReligionhttps://instagram.com/rfrorghttps://www.tiktok.com/@recoveringfromreligionhttps://bsky.app/profile/recoveringfromreligion.orghttps://www.linkedin.com/company/rfrorg
This week on RfRx, biologist and science communicator Forrest Valkai returns to the show. Forrest is known for his unique blend of engaging science lessons, insightful dialogues on skepticism, and heartfelt advocacy for social progress. Over the course of his online career, Forrest has championed science and reason, raised tens of thousands of dollars for charity, and taught audiences of all ages to love science and each other. This week Forrest will discuss how to teach evolution to a creationist. Bring your questions for Forrest and stay for the hangout after the show!Join Us Live Every Monday!https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/rfrxhttps://linktr.ee/RecoveringFromReligionhttps://www.facebook.com/RecoveringfromReligionhttps://instagram.com/rfrorghttps://www.tiktok.com/@recoveringfromreligionhttps://bsky.app/profile/recoveringfromreligion.orghttps://www.linkedin.com/company/rfrorg
This week on RfRx, Chris Shelton talks with us about the lesser known challenges of cult recovery. Chris is a former Scientologist and Sea Org member and is now a writer, podcaster, and advocate for critical thinking. He holds a Masters degree in the psychology of coercive control. He’ll discuss the big issues that get in the way of recovery and how to face the obstacles you don’t expect to run into.Come for the talk and stay for the hangout!Join Us Live Every Monday!https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/rfrxhttps://linktr.ee/RecoveringFromReligionhttps://www.facebook.com/RecoveringfromReligionhttps://instagram.com/rfrorghttps://www.tiktok.com/@recoveringfromreligionhttps://bsky.app/profile/recoveringfromreligion.orghttps://www.linkedin.com/company/rfrorg
This week on RfRx, join us for a conversation with Ember, host of Good News on The TransPositions, and advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. A proponent of science, equality, freedom, and reason, she opposes oppressive, repressive, and regressive ideologies. In this episode, we’ll discuss the intersection of conspiracy theories, christian nationalism, and bodily autonomy, and what you can do about it.https://linktr.ee/RecoveringFromReligionhttps://www.facebook.com/RecoveringfromReligionhttps://instagram.com/rfrorghttps://www.tiktok.com/@recoveringfromreligionhttps://bsky.app/profile/recoveringfromreligion.orghttps://www.linkedin.com/company/rfrorg
Have you ever wanted to learn more about historical events and figures that are mentioned in religious texts but keep running across content that merely defends the belief system instead of critically examining evidence for any of the claims? This week on RfRx, John Gleason, aka Godless Engineer, will explain some of the differences between historical scholarship and apologetics. We’ll talk about the methods and goals used by scholars of history, how some apologetics masquerade as scholarship while failing to adhere to basic historical methods, and how to tell the difference. And John will go over some recent examples of New Testament scholarship (and not scholarship) to look out for. Bring your questions for John and stay for the hangout after the show. https://linktr.ee/RecoveringFromReligionhttps://www.facebook.com/RecoveringfromReligionhttps://instagram.com/rfrorghttps://www.tiktok.com/@recoveringfromreligionhttps://bsky.app/profile/recoveringfromreligion.orghttps://www.linkedin.com/company/rfrorg
Why do intelligent people fall for science denial, pseudoscience, or conspiracy theories? In today’s talk, Melanie Trecek-King explores how cognitive biases, social influences, and deeply held beliefs can trap us in misinformation. Drawing on her own experience, she explains why facts alone often fail to change minds, and how curiosity, skepticism, and empathy can help us navigate today’s complex information landscape — and connect with those who disagree with us.Join Us Live Every Monday!https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/rfrxhttps://linktr.ee/RecoveringFromReligionhttps://www.facebook.com/RecoveringfromReligionhttps://instagram.com/rfrorghttps://www.tiktok.com/@recoveringfromreligionhttps://bsky.app/profile/recoveringfromreligion.orghttps://www.linkedin.com/company/rfrorg
Why do intelligent people fall for science denial, pseudoscience, or conspiracy theories? In today’s talk, Melanie Trecek-King explores how cognitive biases, social influences, and deeply held beliefs can trap us in misinformation. Drawing on her own experience, she explains why facts alone often fail to change minds, and how curiosity, skepticism, and empathy can help us navigate today’s complex information landscape — and connect with those who disagree with us.Join Us Live Every Monday!https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/rfrxhttps://linktr.ee/RecoveringFromReligionhttps://www.facebook.com/RecoveringfromReligionhttps://instagram.com/rfrorghttps://www.tiktok.com/@recoveringfromreligionhttps://bsky.app/profile/recoveringfromreligion.orghttps://www.linkedin.com/company/rfrorg
This week on RfRx, author David Fitzgerald returns to expand on his discussion of religious history. The presentation will cover recent findings in archaeology and history related to the founders, origins and early development of our major world religions. Bring your questions for the live Q&A with David and stay for the hangout after the talk!https://linktr.ee/RecoveringFromReligionhttps://www.facebook.com/RecoveringfromReligionhttps://instagram.com/rfrorghttps://www.tiktok.com/@recoveringfromreligionhttps://bsky.app/profile/recoveringfromreligion.orghttps://www.linkedin.com/company/rfrorg
Join us this week as the RfRx team celebrates Festivus. Festivus is a secular holiday celebrated on December 23 as an alternative to the commercialism of the Christmas season, popularized by the Seinfeld TV series. There will be the traditional Airing of Grievances, claims of Festivus Miracles, and perhaps even some Feats of Strength (if we can figure out how to do this on Zoom!) Be prepared with your questions, miracle claims, and grievances… and as usual join us for the post-show hangout.https://linktr.ee/RecoveringFromReligionhttps://www.facebook.com/RecoveringfromReligionhttps://instagram.com/rfrorghttps://www.tiktok.com/@recoveringfromreligionhttps://bsky.app/profile/recoveringfromreligion.orghttps://www.linkedin.com/company/rfrorg
Join us this week as a panel of RfR volunteers share their own deconversion/deconstruction stories. What circumstances made them leave their religion? How has this changed their lives? What were the repercussions? What other beliefs have they changed as a result of leaving their faith beliefs behind? Be prepared with questions, and as usual, join us for the post-show hangout where you will be able to directly talk with the panelists.https://linktr.ee/RecoveringFromReligionhttps://www.facebook.com/RecoveringfromReligionhttps://instagram.com/rfrorghttps://www.tiktok.com/@recoveringfromreligionhttps://bsky.app/profile/recoveringfromreligion.orghttps://www.linkedin.com/company/rfrorg
Why is there so much variation in sex organs? Why is the human penis shaped so different than a chimpanzee’s or bonobo’s? What is it with the duck vagina? How many penis heads does an echidna have? How many species are truly monogamous? What is social monogamy? Why is masturbation so common among all primates?These and many other sexy and funny questions will be answered in this week’s RfRx talk by Dr. Darrel Ray, RfR President and author of Sex & God: How Religion Distorts Sexuality.https://linktr.ee/RecoveringFromReligionhttps://www.facebook.com/RecoveringfromReligionhttps://instagram.com/rfrorghttps://www.tiktok.com/@recoveringfromreligionhttps://bsky.app/profile/recoveringfromreligion.orghttps://www.linkedin.com/company/rfrorg
This week on RfRx, David Teachout returns to discuss the functionality of our emotions. Social and interpersonal turmoil draws out the inevitability of judgments as we determine how to move forward in our lives. Emotions, rather than being end-goals, can be used as directions, pointing us to what matters, and giving impetus to our actions. By slowing down, we can be more deliberate and flexible in our behavior, instead of habitual and self-destructive. Bring your questions for David and stick around for the hangout after the show.https://linktr.ee/RecoveringFromReligionhttps://www.facebook.com/RecoveringfromReligionhttps://instagram.com/rfrorghttps://www.tiktok.com/@recoveringfromreligionhttps://bsky.app/profile/recoveringfromreligion.orghttps://www.linkedin.com/company/rfrorg