Faith to Faithless, Supporting people who have left religious groups

Faith to Faithless, a service of Humanists UK which supports people who have left high-control religious groups
Terri O'Sullivan, Apostate Services Development Officer for Faith to Faithless

Our colleagues in Humanists UK provide a service for 'Apostates', as ex-religious people are sometimes called, and Terri will talk about the issues people in the UK may face when leaving a high-control religion. Apostates sometimes face discrimination, shunning from family and friends, homelessness, loss of income, public shaming, and other forms of religious abuse which can even include threats and violence. Terri will talk about these issues and what is being done and needs to be done to support such people.

Terri was raised as a Jehovah's Witness which she left at the age of 21 resulting in her becoming homeless for a short while. She went on to set up a support group for former Jehovah's Witnesses in 2007 called XJW Friends, and joined the leadership team of Faith to Faithless in 2015. She completed her degree in social psychology at the University of Kent and conducted research into the long-term effects of ostracism from a religious community. She continued this line of research at Tilburg University in the Netherlands in her master's degree and studied the relationship between religious fundamentalism and ostracism.

The meeting will be chaired by Alex Simpson. All are welcome whether members or non-members and wherever you live.

Please note that this is an online only meeting via Zoom. Once you RSVP, you will be provided with the link to the meeting. Just click on this link when it is time to join the meeting. You can also join the meeting using a Zoom account and the following details:
Meeting ID: 744 950 4423
Passcode: Humanists

We are arranging a "Humanist Pub Night" in the back room of The Kenilworth on Wednesday 4 June from 7pm onwards to allow people to meet together informally and discuss these topics. See separate Meetup for full details.