Holidays

Rethinking “Good Friday” and the “Atonement”: Whose Guilt?

On “Good Friday,” I’m thinking about how little was good about it. The atonement is a Christian doctrine that is both absurd and horrible. The cross is a symbol of execution and represents Christianity. Iconic images of our country’s major religion are violent and unjust: A powerful male outsider forcibly Read more…

By admin, 7 months ago

Holidays

What Child is This?

We can probably agree we don’t like the commercialism of Christmas, the stress, or the holiday angst. Yet at the center of it all there is a powerful image that speaks to all of us – the Child. It’s fascinating to me that once a year so many people stop Read more…

By admin, 10 monthsDecember 17, 2023 ago

Holidays

If You Want to Enjoy Christmas, Avoid the Toxic Christian Message

Many of us have enjoyed the traditions of Christmas and wonder how to go about it after leaving the Christian faith. (more…)

By marlene, 14 yearsMarch 9, 2011 ago

Welcome

Journey Free is a professional organization dedicated to helping people transition out of harmful religions, recover from trauma, and rebuild their lives. Leaving a strict religion can be a total life crisis. We are here to help! Journey Free has developed programs for both individuals and groups. If you are recovering from religious harm, we have great respect for your strength and courage. Please know that you are not alone and things can get better.

Our founder and director is Marlene Winell, Ph.D., psychologist and author of Leaving the Fold: A Guide for Former Fundamentalists and Others Leaving Their Religion. She has been working in religious recovery for over 25 years and originated the term, Religious Trauma Syndrome.