Rae M

“Unlearning is challenging. Do not expect neat, tidy resolutions, or assume that we will instantly fix the world’s ills in a single dialogue. We can, however, get closer to those goals if we are willing to be uncomfortable.”
― Sonya Renee Taylor, The Body Is Not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love

“Like other feelings, guilt should not be considered an end in itself, nor as punishment. Guilt is a signal to do something differently, and this is functional for survival. When mistakes are viewed this way, they become learning experiences. You feel bad, review what happened, make new decisions about what you would do in the future, and repair whatever damage you can. “Neurotic guilt,” like that often fostered by religion, is a different matter. It tends to be excessive and inappropriate, based on the expectations of others instead of personal values or dwelling on the error rather than using the guilt feelings to make a change. In your religious experience, committing a sin made you a sinner, a bad deed made a bad person. This global condemnation creates low self-worth and more neurotic guilt and misery.”
― Marlene Winell, Leaving the Fold: A Guide for Former Fundamentalists and Others Leaving Their Religion

“When you no longer consider yourself one of the chosen elite, there is no need to look down on others. In fact, the human flaws and struggles you see around you might become a valued part of your new sense of shared humanity.”
― Marlene Winell, Leaving the Fold: A Guide for Former Fundamentalists and Others Leaving Their Religion

“Consider this hypothesis: when we don’t see ourselves reflected in the world around us, we make judgments about that absence. Invisibility is a statement.”
― Sonya Renee Taylor, The Body Is Not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love