Dr. Grisel Lopez-Escobar, PhD (in Counseling),
Licensed Mental Health Counselor Providing Virtual Therapy to Adult Clients
in the States of AK, AZ, CA, CO, DE, FL, ID, IN, LA, MA, ME, NV, OR, SC, TX, UT, VT, WI & WY, USA
Specializing in Supporting Clients who are Newly Secular or Deconstructing from High Control Religions, Groups or Cults: Religious Trauma / Faith Crisis, Religious Deconstruction / Purity Culture / Religious Residue / Mixed-Faith Relationships / Secular Therapy
Infidel
A derogatory term used to describe someone who is not part of a specific faith or who rejects its core doctrines
You’re labeled an infidel after disclosing your loss of belief.
You are excluded from community events and conversations.
You are viewed as morally inferior or spiritually “lost.”
Potential clinical implications (especially in high control settings)
Dehumanization and marginalization may foster feelings of worthlessness or fear.
Social rejection can occur, especially in cultures where religious conformity is tied to acceptance.
Heightened identity conflict could arise as you're forced to reconcile your new beliefs with community rejection.