You can find it here:
Former fundamentalist preacher Joel Watts, now an active member of Christ Church United Methodist, holds a book of essays he co-edited on the process of leaving fundamentalism. The book includes a chapter on his isolating, fear-based affiliation with The Church of Jesus Christ. He left the church after 32 years and now speaks out on the dangers of repressive and rigid fundamentalist teachings
via The Charleston Gazette | Innerviews: Spiritual saga traces break from fundamentalist church.
To those discovering this site for the first time…thanks for stopping by.
For anyone swinging by, I can strongly recommend “From Fear to Faith”. Joel did a great job co-editing, and it’s a powerful book. I know of at least one person, personally, who it was a tremendous help for.
Thanks you, EA!
Well, has the you-goin’-t’-hell hate-mail started showing up at your door yet?
on the original article it has… and i suspect it will sooner or later. I did warn the pastor, tho… and it wouldn’t be the first time he has received nasty letters about me.
If you want to have some fun, start a recovering fundamentalist website similar to what some former Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons have done. You don’t have to run it. Just find someone you can trust and occasionally monitor it. Add other assistant administrators as the need arises.
In addition to helping others, you may discover a commonality in threads submitted by respondents. Regardless of denomination, many victims of religious abuse tend to have experiences similar to those of recovering alcoholics and addicts.
Sometimes, as can be the case with PTSD, simply knowing someone isn’t “the only one” breaks down self-imposed walls of isolation. Just being able to talk about these things in relative anonymity can be helpful.
Given time and a little patience, the enterprise might actually turn into a truly beneficial ministry. It may be an idea whose time has come.
At this point, think of it as something to pray about.
“From Fear to Faith” changed my life. I did not even know how deeply the grip of Fundamentalism had taken over my life. Great interview, Joel. Proud of you, as always.
Thanks, David!
Good interview. I didn’t realize you suffered that much. Makes my childhood look like a Disney story. Glad you made it out OK.
Me too, Gary.