29. Faith to Faithless on Finding Community after Leaving High-Control Groups (part of Podcastathon 2025)

Humanism Now

This special episode of Humanism Now is released as part of Podcastathon 2025, the world’s largest podcast charity initiative. We’re proud to dedicate this episode to Faith to Faithless, a programme by Humanists UK supporting those leaving high-control religious groups.
Three incredible guests—George, Leena, and Sarah—share raw, courageous accounts of their journeys out of fundamentalist religions and the new communities they're helping to build.

Faith to Faithless is proudly marking its 10th anniversary in 2025, celebrating a decade of support, solidarity, and advocacy for apostates.

⭐ Episode Highlights

• Life inside high-control religious groups
• The emotional toll of shunning and "thought crimes"
• How Faith to Faithless supports apostates across the UK
• Starting new peer groups and reclaiming lost experiences
• Why public services and mental health professionals must understand apostasy better

📺 Introducing Faith to Faithless | Helping people leaving high-control religious groups (2 mins)

Need support?
If you or someone you know has been affected by the topics discussed in this episode, Faith to Faithless are here to help.

Faith to Faithless Helpline (UK): 0800 448 0748
📞Opening hours (Wed 10am–1pm, Thu 4pm–7pm, Fri 8am–11am)

📧 Email: [email protected]
🌐 More info: www.faithtofaithless.com

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Also mentioned in this episode:

• Recovering from Religion offers peer and professional support offering hope, healing, and support to those struggling with issues of doubt and non-belief. Contact RFR here.

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Podcastathon is the world’s largest podcast charity initiative — a global wave of inspiring episodes released simultaneously by podcasters everywhere, all in support of causes they care about.

The aim? To raise awareness for hundreds of charities by uniting storytellers in one powerful, coordinated moment each March.

🎧 Be part of the movement: podcasthon.org/register

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Chapters

1. Introducing Faith to Faithless guests (00:00:00)

2. George's personal journey - getting off the hamster wheel (00:01:25)

3. Leena on learning to embrace questioning & doubt (00:03:48)

4. Sarah's path out of dogma through science (00:05:40)

5. Internal struggles and 'thought-stopping' pressures of high control groups (00:08:14)

6. Different forms of leaving; being disfellowship, excommunication & shunning (00:12:07)

7. Support for those leaving high control groups (00:15:49)

8. Power of connecting with people who have similar lived experiences (00:21:55)

9. How to contact Faith to Faithless and connect with other support groups (00:26:04)

10. Future plans; building community and healing together (00:31:00)

11. Raising awareness and societal change (00:35:01)

12. Need for education and access to lifelong learning (00:39:59)

13. Changing minds on meat eating (00:42:42)