Leaving a cult can be a harrowing experience. When you’ve been cut off from the real world, you may run into lots of logistical and conceptual problems that make the outside harder to navigate. The Jehovah’s Witnesses are counting on your lack of experience with the outside world to send you running back to them.
But you don’t need them in your life. There are lots of great resources out there that can offer you help leaving a cult. Today, we’re going to talk about Dare to Doubt and what they have to offer.
Who Is Dare to Doubt?
Founded by Alice Greczyn, Dare to Doubt is an online information hub for people detaching from harmful belief systems, like cults. Through resource curation and inspirational and practical advice in the organization’s blog, Dare to Doubt provides an easy-to-navigate list of resources that can help anybody leaving a cult.
Dare to Doubt identifies its values as freedom, compassion, and self-trust. Its resources include books and articles, artistic media like movies, and religious-trauma-informed therapist recommendations.
What Does Dare to Doubt Do?
Dare to Doubt’s primary goal is to help people heal from the damage that cults cause. Their goal is to help people connect with support options like mental health professionals, aid organizations, and peer support groups.
Dare to Doubt advocates for victims of religious trauma and encourages understanding of Religious Trauma Syndrome. They hope that their resources can make it easier for people fleeing and recovering from religious abuse, mind control, and other destructive elements. They also want to serve as a place where doubters and former believers can find support and inspiration.
Essentially, Dare to Doubt exists to help you figure out what you need, and then help you meet those needs through supportive resources. The information they maintain on Religious Trauma Syndrome is particularly useful, as it provides information in compassionate terms that are easy to understand without a background in psychology.
How Can Dare to Doubt Help Ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses?
Dare to Doubt has an excellent content section specifically for exJWs. This includes links to support organizations and groups, media like podcasts and movies, and information about mental health professionals. The counselors featured all have experience with exJWS; one is a well-known and well-respected ex-JW herself! Her work has been instrumental in helping many former cult members on their journey to recovery.
When former Witnesses use these resources, they can find more than just technical support. One of the things that’s so important when leaving a cult is seeing yourself on the outside and realizing there is a future for you without the JWs. The people in the support groups linked here form communities just for people like you. Dare to Doubt can help you make those connections and find the places that can offer you real community.
Important Links
This is the 4th post in our resource series. You can see the others here:
Check out our Resource Series tag for more information and to see all of these great resources.