Increased Wellbeing from Social Interaction in a Secular Congregation
Authors: Michael Price & Jacques Launay Publication Journal: Secularism and Nonreligion, (7)1: 2018 A recent study explored whether secular congregations, like the Sunday Assembly, can provide the mental health benefits often associated with traditional religious gatherings, such as increased life satisfaction, reduced loneliness, and stronger social bonds. A typical Sunday Assembly service lasts about an […]
Percentage of U.S. Adults Suffering from Religious Trauma: A Sociological Study
Authors: Darren M. Slade, Adrianna Smell, Elizabeth Wilson, Rebekah Drumsta Publication Journal: Socio-Historical Examination of Religion and Ministry 5(1): 2023 A recent sociological study by the Global Center for Religious Research (GCRR), an organization that conducts academic research on the impact of religion, examines the prevalence of religious trauma in the United States. While most […]
Life After Social Death: Leaving the Jehovah’s Witnesses, Identity Transition, and Recovery
Authors: Heather J. Ransom Spooner, Rebecca L. Monk, Adam Qureshi, & Derek Heim Publication Journal: Pastoral Psychology, Volume 70, 2020 The Jehovah’s Witnesses (JW) religion is a fundamentalist Christian sect that believes humanity is living in the biblical “last days.” Known for rejecting politics, holidays, and unnecessary social interactions with nonbelievers, the faith fosters a […]
Religious and Spiritual Struggles Among Transgender And Gender-Nonconforming Adults
Authors: Julie J. Exline, Amy Przeworski, Emily K. Peterson, Margarid R. Turnamian, Nick Stauner, & Alex Uzdavines Publication Journal: Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 13(3), 2021 This 2021 study dives into the unique challenges faced by transgender and gender-nonconforming (TGNC) individuals on the topic of religion and spirituality. The researchers surveyed 305 TGNC adults, mostly […]
“We are the women our parents warned us against”: Identity Reconstruction and the Re-imagining of Gender After High-cost Religious Disaffiliation
Author: Bethany Gull, Ph.D Publication Journal: Symbolic Interaction, 45(1): 2021 Bethany Gull’s research delves into the transformative journeys of women leaving the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). Drawn from interviews with 20 female participants recruited from a women-only Facebook group for former members of the LDS, Gull’s study outlines a five-stage model […]
Apostate Report: Leaving Islam in North America
Authors: Sarah Haider, Muhammed Syed, Hasan Tauha, Jason Mickevich Publication Journal: Not applicable – self-published by Ex-Muslims of North America, 2021 A 2021 survey by Ex-Muslims of North America (EXMNA), in collaboration with George Mason University, provides a groundbreaking look at the lives of individuals who have left Islam in the U.S. and Canada. This […]
Should I Stay or Should I Go? Religious (dis)affiliation and depressive symptomatology
Author: Matthew May, PhD Publication Journal: Society and Mental Health, 8(3): 2018 Matthew May’s study explores how different types of religious affiliation—or disaffiliation—correlate with depressive symptoms over time. Research suggests that only about one-third of people who consider leaving a religion actually do. What happens to the other two-thirds? Using data from 2006-2012 derived from […]
Depression, PTSD, and Suicidal Ideation Among Ex-ultra-Orthodox Individuals in Israel
Author(s): Yossi Levi-Belz & Shachar Yalon Publication Journal: European Journal of Psychotraumatology (14,1): 2023 Introduction & purpose Disaffiliation from/exiting ultra-Orthodox communities is a deeply challenging process, often marked by traumatic experiences, culture shock, loss of worldview, and social disconnection. This study aimed to understand the psychological distress, specifically depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and […]