Religion Escape Factors

Most of their [people who escaped religion] stories reflect the following four themes:

1. Events that opened their eyes to religious manipulation in their life or family.
2. Long hidden or suppressed doubts about the teachings.
3. Their ultimate act or declaration of liberation from organized religion.
4. The double-edged sword of living without the crutch of a supernatural friend and learning to accept full responsibility for life.

~ Darrel Ray in The God Virus: How religion infects our lives and culture.