Hello! Long time, no see!

If you've been wondering where I went, well, as much I love blogging... I've been loving writing a book even more! I just finished a manuscript several years in the making. Guys, I wrote a memoir. I know, I know. I'm too young for a memoir, what could I possibly have to write about? Maybe a homeless childhood, an arranged marriage as a teenager, and how I had to rebuild my life after leaving religion shattered me? With a little bit of Hollywood sprinkled in? Does that sound like something you might read? I hope so!

All of my writing energy was poured into my book in the five years since I last blogged. (Hello to all my new readers who joined in the meantime!) I have so missed sharing my thoughts with you and reading your insightful comments. I am excited to say that I am back at it! Only this time, my innermost ponderings will be shared in the blog I run at DaretoDoubt.org. It is my sincerest hope that if you enjoyed my writing here, you will continue following my musings there.

Dare to Doubt is a nonprofit organization I started for people detaching from harmful belief systems. It aims to help people recover from the damage of indoctrination by connecting them with mental health professionals, aid organizations, and peer groups for support. You can even search for resources specific to your background.

If you've ever felt alone for questioning your faith, or you've been outright abandoned or threatened for challenging the belief system you were raised in, Dare to Doubt is for you. This venture was born out of my own journey questioning and leaving evangelical Christianity. Oddly enough, my family didn't consider ourselves religious. That's partly why I hesitate to say Dare to Doubt is for people detaching from religion. Also, I like to be inclusive of the numerous non-religions that have harmed people, like meditation cults, destructive political groups, and other ideologies.

Have you ever heard of Religious Trauma Syndrome? The words rang through me with validation and hope when I first heard them. RTS is a mental health condition many who leave an authoritarian belief system struggle with (hello, old post on depression, I think I finally know at least one of your sources). It mimics PTSD, anxiety, BPD, and other psychological disorders. It is because I have personally experienced the crippling effects of Religious Trauma Syndrome that I am compelled to help others who might be going through a similar experience. This is what motivated me to start Dare to Doubt.

To be clear, I am not trying to dissuade anyone from believing in their faith. I deeply respect the subjectivity of truth, and I have no desire to bash what is real to you. In fact, I don't even think faith is something you can choose (see my latest blog, Is Faith a Choice?). My intention is to help those for whom faith is not real by letting them know they are not alone and there are resources available to ease what can be a very painful transition.

So there you have it. This is why I haven't blogged in a long time, but I am very much enjoying doing so again. Follow @DaretoDoubt on Twitter and Instagram for blog updates, book giveaways, and - special announcement - a video podcast I'll be starting this year interviewing "celebrities" and others who have made the brave decision to question their beliefs. I look forward to connecting with you all once more!

Thank you for contemplating life with me, and I hope you keep exploring its endless conundrums, joys, and sorrows at Dare to Doubt!

Warmly, Alice 

UPDATE: In addition to my blog at DaretoDoubt.org, I will continue blogging here where I can share my other thoughts not necessarily related to detaching from religion or other belief systems. My book is in the hands of an editor and nearly finished, and I’m so happy I have more time to write about other things and share them with you again!