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"Living Between Two Different Worlds": Experiences of Leaving a High-Cost Religious Group.

Maria BjörkmarkPeter NynäsCamilla Koskinen
Published in: Journal of religion and health (2021)
The aim of this interdisciplinary study is to gain a comprehensive understanding of individuals' subjective experiences after leaving a high-cost religious group and how these experiences have affected their lives. In-depth interviews were done with 18 participants who had left different religious communities in Finland. The interviews were analysed through a thematic analysis. The results show that religious disaffiliation is a life change that may affect an individual's life in profound ways. Life after being a member of a high-cost group may involve experiences of fear, guilt, sorrow, pain, loss and even suffering on an existential level. These experiences can have serious implications for one's well-being and health. However, life after religious disaffiliation also includes many positive aspects, such as experiences of joy, freedom, relief, gratitude and empowerment.
Keyphrases
  • mental health
  • healthcare
  • public health
  • chronic pain
  • spinal cord injury
  • physical activity
  • sleep quality