Who are we?

Coping Without Religion (CWR) is a real life support group in Toronto, Canada for people who are dealing with problems related to leaving organized religion (e.g. Ex-Muslims, Ex-Christians) or living without any religion.

It is a self-help group where the facilitator is not a professional such as a psychologist or social worker but a person who also has problems related to leaving an organized religion and living without religion.

This group is based on the idea that talking about our problems improves our health and quality of life. We have been in operation since February 2004.

What do we offer?

• Basic educational material
• A non-judgmental group of peers
• Share experiences and resources
• A place to express yourself in confidence

What do we not offer?

• A place to promote ideologies or religions or a way of life
• A substitute for professional help

Cost?

Our support group is always free of charge. Members who can afford it make small donations to help support our operating costs.

Is this group right for me?

This groups is for 2 types of people:
1. People who have problems as a consequence of leaving an organized religion or a cult.
2. People who have problems because they do not have a religion.

Support groups may not be for everyone. We suggest that newcomers try their best to attend at least 2 or 3 meetings before deciding if this approach feels right for them.

Where and when do we meet?

Where:

Centre for Inquiry Ontario
216 BEVERLEY ST (major intersection : St. George St. and College St. - south of College, between Spadina and University)
TORONTO ON M5T 1Z3

When: Bi-weekly on Sundays at 3 pm.

How can I get reminders of meetings?

You may join our Yahoo! Group.

How can I join?

Click to join Coping Without Religion

And just show up at one of our meetings.

Support Group Guidelines

• Nobody has to talk, but everybody is encouraged to do so.
• You should not interrupt others while they speak.
• You should not have side conversations.
• Do not tell anyone what to do. But you may share what works for you.
• Do not go on preaching any religion or life philosophy.
• What is said in this room stays in this room.
• Everyone is equal.

Facts

• In 2001, it is estimated that 16.2% of the Canadian population do not have a religion (Statistics Canada, 2001)

• Polls of representative samples show that organized religion has declined greatly in many Western nations (Altermeyer, 2004)

• Up to one-third of Americans switch religions at some time during their lives (Loveland, 2003)

References
Altermeyer, B. (2004). The decline of organized religion in Western civilization. International Journal for the Psychology of Religion. 14(2), 77-89.

Loveland, M. T. (2003). Religious switching: Preference development, maintenance, and change. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 42(1), 147-157.

"When I left Islam and ran away to Canada, I didn't have much support from others who were in the same shoes. I had problems such as anger, anxiety, etc. The Coping Without Religion Support Group would have been a great help but it didn't exist back then." - Murtad Mama, Ex-Muslim