Skeptic movements can alienate former believers they converted

Evidence

Hayley Stevens was the organizer of a British ghost hunting group at the age of 16 and then became a prominent critic of the ghost believer scene. After prolonged activity in the British skeptic environment, the psychology student has since distanced herself from the skeptic scene, which she perceives as contemptuous of believers and in parts misogynistic. Still, she continues to actively advocate enlightenment and scientific thinking. — Holm Gero Hümmler, Ulrike Schiesser, Fact and Prejudice, 37

Categorization

• XREF: Contrasts with the ‘conversion’ narratives in Grams, Stange, Wittschier: here the skeptical direction itself repels. Echoes the critique that skepticism can become its own rigid in-group. — connects to: IRS debunking paradoxically reinforces redemption theory’s appeal to believers — Anna Merlan, Republic of Lies, 607

Related

• Deconverts often become bitter toward their former belief community. (similarity 0.81)