Reba Riley - Post-traumatic church syndrome: a memoir of humor and healing

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Hilarious, courageous, provocative, profound... Reba Riley brings the light for seekers of all paths, reminding us that every journey of transformation begins exactly where we are. If the Pray in Eat, Pray, Love had a gutsy, wise, funny little sister whod never been to India, it would be Post-Traumatic Church Syndrome .

Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love

Post-Traumatic Church Syndrome is a brilliant, emotional, and audacious rampage through religious sensibility, an exploration I recommend without hesitation. Enjoy!

William Paul Young, author of The Shack

Reba Riley is a natural-born storyteller and writer whom I expect to be reading for many years to come.

Brian D. McLaren, author/speaker (brianmclaren.net)

Whatever your beliefs or lack thereof, whether you pay heed to a savior or a spirit animal, you should read this moving, funny, thoughtful book. Reba Riley has traveled the unlikely mystics path and come back with an enormously entertaining, immensely hopeful report.

A. J. Jacobs, author of The Year of Living Biblically

Rileys debut gently offers... a powerful love that is greater than any single religious expression.

Publishers Weekly

Post-Traumatic Church Syndrome is real. Been there done that. If you have been there too, this book is going to let you know you are not alone. Prepare to be encouraged. Prepare to survive. Courageous and wonderful Reba Riley to the rescue!

Frank Schaeffer, author of Why I Am an Atheist Who Believes in God

Post-Traumatic Church Syndrome is a literary and philosophical triumph. Reba Riley reveals the strength of spirit through the vulnerability of flesh with tears, laughter, and soul-stirring moments of profound revelation. Her first bookcertainly not her lastis so much more than a memoir about faith; its a celebration of all that defines the human condition.

Christian Piatt, author of postChristian: Whats left? Can we fix it? Do we care?

This is such a good book. Written like a novel, its a firsthand account of the authors yearlong bid to overcome the legacy of crushing religious experiences. Setting herself the challenge of encountering thirty religions by the age of thirty could have been a rather shallow exercise in spiritual tourismbut it isnt. What results is gloriously irreverent and profound in equal measure, full of humanity, compassion, and insight. The book is very much a Christian journey, but nonetheless it has a lot to say about spiritual experience as a whole.... In willing to be vulnerable, flawed, and confused, Reba Riley shares something powerful, essential, and incredibly real.

Nimue Brown, author of When A Pagan Prays

Reba Rileys spiritual journey has become an invaluable resource for countless people who are shedding religion for a more open and authentic spirituality. By identifying and describing the dynamics of Post-Traumatic Church Syndrome, she has paved the way of freedom for many who are suffering from religious pathology. Despite her brilliance, Reba has a down-to-earth, compassionate, and humorous way about her. She has a gift for storytelling, which makes her writing both enlightening and entertaining. If youre up for an adventure in exploring new possibilities of expanding and deepening your relationship to yourself, God, others, and the world, read Reba Riley.

Jim Palmer, author of Divine Nobodies and Notes from (Over) the Edge

Rileys book is so compelling: beautifully written, exceedingly funny, and refreshingly honest. As she described her journey of spiritual and physical healing, I rooted for her with every page. Rileys story is also compelling because it is our story, our journey. We can identify with her spiritual pain, her questions, her prejudices, her fears. Her experience proves that if we are willing to open ourselves up and listen, we too can find God everywhere and know the Love that is for us all. It is a book of profound hope.

Kristen E. Vincent, author of A Bead and a Prayer: A Beginners Guide to Protestant Prayer Beads

If your soul has ever doubted, if your feet have ever lost their way, if your halos always just a little askew, or if your heart has been wounded by a faith community, Reba Rileys humorous, honest memoir about exploring the Godiverse is just the thing for you.

Sarah Thebarge, author of The Invisible Girls: A Memoir

Written with beckoning eloquence and humor, Reba Riley describes an amazing interfaith journey through the depth of her broken humanity in a quest for healing and the face of God. Post-Traumatic Church Syndrome is a most valuable and inspirational guide to those on a path toward enlightenment, and especially to those seeking healing from spiritual abuse. It should be on the shelves of every counseling center and divinity school.

Franklyn Schaefer, author of Defrocked

Moments of laughing and tears. It provided much needed closure for me in many ways. I love Reba Riley and her heart and work. Im honored to be her teacher and also, through her book, her student. (Deep bow of respect.) Namaste.

Bushi Yamato Damashii, Roshi/Zen monk at Daishin Buddhist Temple & Mindfulness Center, and former Baptist minister

Honest, witty, and reflective... Reba is real when it comes to religion and what it takes to unpack that word in our culture today. This is a book for anyone who has fumbled, wondered, fallen away, or wanted something bigger to hold them close at night. She doesnt claim to have all the answers, but Reba, undoubtedly, is asking all the right questions.

Hannah Brencher, author of If You Find This Letter

Whether youre spiritual, religious, or neither, Reba Rileys grace, wit, charm, and profound insight will make you laugh and think. She is an author to watch!

Jen Lancaster, New York Times bestselling author of I Regret Nothing

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Copyright 2015 by Rebecca Moyer

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First Howard Books hardcover edition August 2015

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Riley, Reba.

Post-traumatic church syndrome : a memoir of humor and healing/Reba Riley.First [edition].