The Leaving-Religion Resource Guide
How to deconstruct religion, find existential health, be happy in life, and make the perfect cup of coffee
Thank you for being a paid subscriber! Your support is what makes this publication possible. To date, I have published 124 articles on Substack, covering a range of topics from religious deconstruction, existential health, non-religious spirituality, commentary on religious news, and a variety of subjects at the intersection of theology, philosophy and culture.
In those 124 articles I have recommended countless books and other resources, provided links to videos, podcasts and articles, and discussed several key figures associated with these topics of conversation. I decided to create a master list of recommended resources that I will update periodically. Hopefully you will find this to be a useful resource guide. I have organized the guide into several categories as you shall see, and offered brief descriptions of my recommendations.
Of course it’s impossible to list every worthwhile book and resource related to these areas, and I feel some trepidation in pondering those I did not include. Keep in mind that I forced myself to recommend only three books per category, in order to make such an endeavor manageable for the reader.
Most of these books are linked to Amazon. However, many of them are available through your public library, and some are available as a free online digital version.
Top Three Deconstruction Books Overall
There are many useful books written about religious deconstruction and the leaving-religion process. If a recent religion-leaver called and asked me what to read to get them grounded in a religious deconstruction process, I’d be prone to recommend these following three books. Two of them were published in the last couple years, and Leaving the Fold in 1993.
Last week I wrote an article about German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, who may have been the first person to have explicitly addressed several central religious deconstruction themes back in the late eighteenth century. But if someone contacted me at the beginning of their leaving-religion journey, I doubt I’d send them off to slog through a Nietzschean philosophy reading list.
What I appreciate about the following three books is that they are substantial, well-researched, relatable and practical guides for religious deconstruction, recovering from religious trauma or high-control religion, and cultivating an authentic, liberating and robust non-religious spirituality.
Leaving the Fold: A Guide for Former Fundamentalists and Others Leaving Their Religion by Marlene Winell
I’ve known Marlene Winell for many years. She is a pioneer in the field of religious deconstruction and Religious Trauma Syndrome. Leaving the Fold is one of the best comprehensive works on the leaving-religion process.
When Religion Hurts You: Healing from Religious Trauma and the Impact of High-Control Religion by Laura Anderson
This is a relatively new book but probably the most complete and practical work on religious deconstruction since Marlene Winell’s book.
is a licensed psychotherapist, trauma resolution coach, and religious trauma consultant.No Nonsense Spirituality: All the Tools No Belief Required by Brittney Hartley
Brittney Hartley is a graduate from my training and certification (CSD) program for non-religious Spiritual Directors through the Center for Non-Religious Spirituality. Her book is unparalleled in terms of offering the tools and mindsets for cultivating a post-religion spirituality, based upon philosophy, spirituality and science.
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