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Humanists UK @humanists.uk · 2d

Our service @faith2faithless.bsky.social – which supports people leaving high-control religious groups – continues to grow! We brought together nearly 100 academics, therapists, journalists, and people directly affected to share vital info for better support 🧵

humanists.uk/2025/10/03/a...

Apostasy Conference 2025 spotlights mental health impact of religious abuse

On Wednesday, Humanists UK’s Faith to Faithless programme hosted the Apostasy Conference 2025 in Covent Garden in London. The event was a huge success, welcoming nearly 100 attendees including academi...

humanists.uk

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Raj LB @rajlb.bsky.social · 7d

Dr Gillie Jenkinson (Hope Valley Counselling) arguing that therapists need specialist training for dealing with eating disorders; the same is true for dealing with somebody who is leaving a cult.

#AposCon25

www.hopevalleycounselling.com

Hope Valley Counselling — Counselling for Coercive, Cultic and Spiritual Abuse

We provide specialist therapeutic services to help those who have experienced coercive, cultic, spiritual abuse and religious trauma.

www.hopevalleycounselling.com

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Raj LB @rajlb.bsky.social · 7d

Ex-cult followers or leavers from high-control religions can have so little interaction with the outside world, they quite literally cannot cope with a supermarket because they've never been and the choice is overwhelming.

#AposConf25

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Humanists UK @humanists.uk · 6d

We are horrified by the dreadful attack in Manchester today, which has claimed lives and left others in a serious condition. Our deepest thoughts are with the victims, their families, and the wider community — especially on this day of Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.

Violence, prejudice, and hatred directed at people because of their identity is abhorrent. No one should ever face fear or violence for their identity or beliefs. Everyone in our country must be safe to practise their religion or live in accordance with their worldview in peace.

Find the full statement on: https://humanists.uk/2025/10/02/humanists-uk-statement-on-manchester-synagogue-attack/

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Faith to Faithless @faith2faithless.bsky.social · 6d

This Sunday, our very own volunteer Ffion, will talk about her journey from Islam and her home country at the Leicester Secular Society.

Leicester Secular Society @leicsecularsociety.bsky.social · 8d

📢 How Did It Feel to Be in My Shoes? A Woman’s Journey from Silence to Strength.

Join us this Sunday, 5th Oct at 6:30pm at Secular Hall, for a powerful personal talk on navigating patriarchy, faith, and resilience in an Islamic Mediterranean society.

Faith to Faithless @faith2faithless.bsky.social · 7d

Our keynote speaker Dr Darrel Ray taking to the stage to discuss how religion impacts the brain. It’s fascinating and horrifying in equal measure to hear about the effect of purity culture and shame on individuals in high-control religious groups.

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Clare Elcombe Webber @celcs.bsky.social · 8d

I could not be more honoured to be at the first ever in-person @faithtofaithless.bsky.social conference, on Apostasy and Mental Health, joined by incredible therapists, academics, survivors & activists. #AposConf25

www.faithtofaithless.com

Watch our video youtu.be/zMNayPn26YY?...

Faith to Faithless

Visit the post for more.

www.faithtofaithless.com

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Faith to Faithless @faith2faithless.bsky.social · 7d

And we’re off with #AposConf25!

Faith to Faithless is ten years old this year, and we’re celebrating with our first in-person conference, focusing on the mental heath impacts of leaving high-control religions, and we have an incredible line-up of international experts.

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Faith to Faithless @faith2faithless.bsky.social · 7d

We are delighted to have so many therapists, researchers, survivors, and activists with us today for our first in-person conference, celebrating an incredible ten years of Faith to Faithless.

Raj LB @rajlb.bsky.social · 8d

Looking forward to @faith2faithless.bsky.social's Apostasy Conference 2025 (a service of @humanists.uk)

#AposConf2025

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Faith to Faithless @faith2faithless.bsky.social · 13d

We’re thrilled to host solicitor Kathleen Hallisey to speak at the Apostasy Conference in London 1 Oct.

Kathleen defends survivors of abuse in religious settings and campaigns for legislation change to protect people from coercive cultic abuse.

Tickets: humanists.uk/events/apost...

Faith to Faithless @faith2faithless.bsky.social · 15d

We can't wait to welcome back our friend @apostatealex.bsky.social Alexander Barnes-Ross, former Scientologist and activist to talk at the Apostasy Conference on 1 Oct in London.

Limited tickets still available: humanists.uk/events/apost...

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Humanists UK @humanists.uk · 20d

Leaving religion can come at a high personal cost – not only socially or culturally, but mentally and emotionally. Yet the psychological impact of religious trauma and deconversion remains one of the most overlooked issues in mainstream mental health discourse. 🧵

humanists.uk/events/apost...

Apostasy Conference 2025 | The effect of apostasy on mental health

humanists.uk

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Faith to Faithless @faith2faithless.bsky.social · 20d

This year marks 10 years of Faith to Faithless 💛

For a decade, we’ve supported people leaving high-control religions — often at great personal cost.

Help us keep going for the next 10 years. Every gift makes a difference.

👉 www.humanists.uk/ftf-fundraiser2025

A photo of two women arm in arm and smiling, both wearing purple t shirts with Faith to Faithless written on. In the background is a wall of flowers in rainbow colours.

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Faith to Faithless @faith2faithless.bsky.social · 22d

humanists.uk/events/apost...

Apostasy Conference 2025 | The effect of apostasy on mental health

humanists.uk

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Faith to Faithless @faith2faithless.bsky.social · 22d

Exciting news!

Psychotherapist & researcher Dr Gillie Jenkinson, a leading voice in recovery from cults & high-control religions, will speak at the Apostasy Conference 2025 in London on 1 Oct.

🎟 Tickets: humanists.uk/events/apost...

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Faith to Faithless @faith2faithless.bsky.social · 27d

Leaving a high-control religion can feel like starting from scratch. You rebuild.

Then life throws another hardship, and it feels like you’re starting again – again.

But you’re not. Each time you rise, your strength and resilience grow. You’re building your safety net.

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Faith to Faithless @faith2faithless.bsky.social · 28d

Join Bangor Humanists to hear Dr Darrel Ray founder of @recoveringfromreligion.org on “Recovering from Religions&Cults Why is it so Difficult?”

He’ll also be in Nottingham (5 Oct) & Oxford (6 Oct)
Professionals: don’t miss him at the Apostasy Conference in London 1 Oct
humanists.uk/events/recov...

Recovering from Religion, Cults, High Control Groups: Why is it so difficult? | Bangor Humanists

humanists.uk

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Faith to Faithless @faith2faithless.bsky.social · 29d

We’re saddened by the death of Dr Robert Jay Lifton, whose work on cults & high-control groups gave survivors language to name their experiences. His insights into thought reform & mind control remain a cornerstone of understanding & healing. 💙
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/04/o...

Robert Jay Lifton, Psychiatrist Drawn to Humanity’s Horrors, Dies at 99

www.nytimes.com

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Faith to Faithless @faith2faithless.bsky.social · Sep 9

🌱 Are you warm, empathetic & a good listener?

Volunteer in the well-being room at the Apostasy Conference (Wed 1 Oct, Covent Garden, London).

✅ Just a few hours of your time
✅ Full training provided
✅ Lunch & refreshments
✅ Expenses paid

👉 opportunities.humanists.uk/jobs/6414939...

Volunteer role: Non-Religious Pastoral Carer at Apostasy Conference 2025 - Humanists UK

Closing date: 23 September 2025

opportunities.humanists.uk

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Faith to Faithless @faith2faithless.bsky.social · Sep 4

We’re thrilled to announce Dr Travis McKie-Voerste, Director of the Secular Therapy Project, as a speaker at the Apostasy Conference 2025 🗓️ 1 Oct, London.

Talk: Sanctified Harm: The Costs of Religious Assumptions in Therapy
humanists.uk/events/apost...

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Faith to Faithless @faith2faithless.bsky.social · Sep 3

A great resource created by ICSA - a checklist to help you prepare to leave a high-control group.

icsatoday.substack.com/p/thinking-a...

Thinking about leaving a high-control group? This checklist can help you prepare

Leaving a high-control group or environment can be one of the most courageous and difficult decisions a person makes.

icsatoday.substack.com

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Faith to Faithless @faith2faithless.bsky.social · Aug 28

Speaker Spotlight!

We’re thrilled to welcome Dr Darrel Ray to the Apostasy Conference 2025

Founder of Recovering from Religion and the Secular Therapy Project, Darrel is a leading voice on religious trauma and recovery.

📅 1 Oct | 📍 London
humanists.uk/events/apost...

Poster with a picture of Dr Darrel Ray, with his talk title - Religious Trauma and your brain. Advert for the Apostasy Conference 2025 in Covent Garden, London on 1st October.

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Humanists UK @humanists.uk · Aug 26

Today is day one of #thatshumanism! 🎉 – our popular social media campaign featuring our much-loved animations with Stephen Fry. To celebrate, we're launching a brand-new series of posters designed for schools, teachers, and anyone curious about the humanist approach to life. 🧵

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Faith to Faithless @faith2faithless.bsky.social · Aug 7

Excited to announce our Apostasy Conference exploring religious trauma and how best to support - on Wed 1 Oct, London!

Speakers:
*Dr Darrel Ray @recoveringfromreligion.org
*Dr Travis McKie-Voerste
*Dr Savin Bapir-Tardy
*Dr Gillie Jenkinson
*more to come...

Tickets: humanists.uk/events/apost...

Apostasy Conference 2025 | The effect of apostasy on mental health

humanists.uk

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Dr Calonddu @drcalonddu.bsky.social · Aug 6

So proud to be a tiny part of this research.

Faith to Faithless @faith2faithless.bsky.social · Aug 6

This research confirms what we see every day: people leaving high-control religions face immense barriers to rebuilding their lives. Without informed support, too many are left isolated, misunderstood, and at risk. But with the right help, recovery is possible.

humanists.uk/2025/08/05/g...

Groundbreaking study exposes hidden struggles of ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses in the UK

A groundbreaking study published in The International Journal for the Psychology of Religion has shed light on the profound and long-lasting challenges faced by people leaving the Jehovah’s Witnesses ...

humanists.uk

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