Faith to Faithless conference on apostasy

From Dr George Askwith, an active member of Faith to Faithless

Faith to Faithless is Humanists UK’s specialist service supporting the ex-religious as they deal with religious trauma and loss of community. On Wednesday 9th October, they held a conference on apostasy with the theme “The Systematic Nature of Religious Abuse”. The conference covered the mechanisms of religious abuse and its lasting impact, specifically the trauma suffered by “apostates”, that is people who leave “high control” or “high cost” religious communities, and featured presentations by leading experts in religious abuse and trauma alongside first-hand testimony. It was intended for academics, activists, therapists, human services professionals, policymakers and the general public.

The keynote speaker was the feminist activist and founder of Southall Black Sisters Pragna Patel, an expert in justice, equality, women’s rights, and religious fundamentalism, particularly in the South Asian community. Other speakers included:

• Dr Kristin Aune from the Centre for Peace and Security at Coventry University

• Dr James Murphy from the Open University

• Alexander Barnes-Ross, former Scientologist 

• Yehudis Fletcher, founder of Nahamu which addresses issues related to abuse within some sections of the Jewish community

• Rachel Reign from Survivors Universal UK, which advocates for leavers of the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG)

• Zara Kay, founder of Faithless Hijabi, which provides mental health support for ex-Muslims around the world

In Humanists UK's announcement of the conference, Terri O’Sullivan, their Apostate Services Development Officer, said:

“The high prevalence and varied forms of religious abuse in the UK today … is not widely known or appreciated. It is weekly that we hear from survivors of domestic abuse for example, who are told by religious leaders that the solution for their suffering is that they need to be ‘more submissive’ or ‘better wives’. Former members who speak out have too often been ignored or labelled as ‘bitter’ in the past.”

The conference examined religions and rape culture, where some religious doctrines and leadership create and promote “rape culture” and how this impacts those who leave. The conference also explored the failure of the state, that is, how UK state policies may unintendedly hide, or even facilitate, religious abuse and hinder vulnerable people from accessing support agencies. Apostates can experience abusive behaviours, such as shunning, domestic violence, coercive control, and “honour-based” violence, which can include sexual violence and attempted murder. The conference explored how some religious systems generate environments that contribute to abuse, and the use of religious doctrines by leaders to shield these practices from accountability.

Throughout the conference, humanist pastoral support was available to anyone who needed to take a break from the presentations, or who found themselves affected by the stories.

Further information

Faith to Faithless is the Humanists UK programme dedicated to providing specialist support to apostates. As well as providing a national helpline, it supports apostates through a programme of peer support facilitated by trained specialist volunteers, and it provides awareness training to public services, including NHS divisions and police forces. Faith to Faithless operates under a stringent safeguarding policy, prioritising the safety and wellbeing of all those reaching out for support.