24/08/2024
The Humanists UK website interviews one of the volunteers for their helpline service which offers support and guidance for people who are leaving high control religious groups, which tend to be those with very conservative and closed interpretation of scripture and who exert a high level of control over an individual's social and economic life. Volunteer Lya says "As someone who left a high-control religion myself, I know what it feels like to feel isolated and alone after someone leaves their faith. Although I was fortunately accepted by my family when I came out to them as non-religious, I knew that wasn’t the case for most ‘apostates’... People leaving high-control religions often feel trapped and they feel as though they’ve got nobody to turn to or talk to about how they feel. The Faith to Faithless helpline gives them a platform to open up about their struggles with faith and the opportunity to speak with other apostates who have left high-control religions." Lya says to people who are considering breaking with high control religious groups, "Don’t hesitate to call, as the helpline volunteers are passionate about what we do. Almost all of us have lived experience of leaving a high control religion and we’re here to listen to you and support you as best as we can. One of the most common themes with callers is the social isolation that many of them experience when they leave a religion and their search for an alternative community. Most callers left religions where all the people in their lives were adherents of that religion, and as a result, they found it difficult to make friends or socialise with people. Often, I point them to the Faith to Faithless peer support group. Another common theme is religious trauma, for example callers stating that they still feared Hell even though they no longer believed in it. For callers who are experiencing religious trauma, I offer to send them information on religious trauma counselling." The Faith to Faithless helpline is a groundbreaking service dedicated to supporting people who have left high-control religious groups. Calls are free from all mobiles and landlines and won’t appear on itemised bills.
Wednesday 10:00 – 13:00
Thursday 16:00 – 19:00
Friday 08:00 – 11:00
Freephone: 0800 448 0748.
