Conference call this Sunday and other news/articles

[mwinell]

Hello everyone,

I hope you are having a beautiful fall.

I’m writing about several things today.
• First of all, we are about to have another conference call for the
online Google group, Release and Reclaim, which I facilitate and which
has calls every month. If you haven’t taken part and would like to
have some support for your recovery process, please consider joining
us. I like to get to know you a bit first, so call me at
510-292-0509 and we’ll talk about whether it’s a good idea. This next
conference call is Sunday, Oct. 4 at 10 AM Pacific time.

• You might also want to just talk to me about your situation. We
can discuss it initially for no obligation and then consider options
for counselling or other help, such as attending a retreat.

• A big THANK-YOU to the folks who have written and offered to help
with this work. Yes, there is a need for counselors who understand.
Please call me and we can get acquainted. I often get email from
people asking for a counselor in their area. I’ve also considered
doing some professional training.

• An interesting article was just published in The Nation on line
called “The Nightmare of Christianity,” by Max Blumenthal.
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20090921/blumenthal. The author tells
the story of Matthew Murray, a disturbed exchristian who shot people
at New Life Church in Colorado Springs and then shot himself. The
author includes my involvement with the case and my experience on
CNN. A few days ago, Max was here in Berkeley on a book tour and we
were able to get together and talk. He was also frustrated that no
one ever tried to understand Murray’s rage. The media was sympathetic
toward the church and the church chalked the incident up to an attack
of Satan. What do you think? Have you been angry too? Blumenthal
has been analyzing the religious right and suggested I write an
article about the fundamentalist mindset in today’s politics. Why are
evangelicals so against universal health care? Isn’t taking care of
the sick a Christian think to do? Your comments are welcome.

• I recently came across the work of Jill Bolte Taylor, a brain
scientist who was able to observe herself having a stroke. Here is an
amazing video of her speaking: http://www.ted.com/talks/jill_bolte_taylor_s_powerful_stroke_of_insight.html
I find it very interesting in terms of “spirituality.” Many religions
try to define and monopolize ecstatic experience, and I think it’s one
of the things we need to reclaim. What’s your view?

Keep in touch.

Warm regards,
Marlene Winell