Your skepticism is a strength
Why becoming more skeptical may be a pathway to healing
A Note From Megan | Publication Date: September 19th, 2025
Since deprogramming from religious indoctrination, I’ve come to realize how important skepticism really is.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been someone who has readily believed something to be true just because someone in a position of authority said it was. You could say I was completely lacking in skepticism.
Of course, this was expected of me as I was systematically indoctrinated into a high-control religion. Whatever the pastor, Sunday school teacher, or AWANA leader said, I was to accept as “facts.” The most fantastical claims of people surviving a whale-swallowing or the magical proliferation of thousands of fish and loaves to cover a Jesus rally—facts.
I was also raised by what I would consider to be an especially naive mother. And she definitely modeled automatically deferring to authoritative voices over critical inquiry in many areas of life.
In considering my upbringing, I often wonder if my lack of skepticism is an outcome of my childhood conditioning or whether I was just born that way. The classic nature vs nurture debate…
The reason I don’t believe it’s solely a nurture issue is because at least 3 out of 4 of my brothers seemed innately skeptical of the many claims made by our religious leaders.
They just didn’t buy it.
My oldest brother openly voiced his disbelief from the beginning and was quickly labeled a “strong-willed” child while one of my younger brothers quietly played along until he was able to leave home.
They both maintained a skeptical nature despite strong efforts to force a “childlike faith” on them.
Not me though. I believed it all…hook, line, and Jonah-sized sinker.
Since leaving religion, I notice this tendency to automatically trust those in positions of authority has remained.
My brain seems to relish when it alights on “the thing” that is most certainly “the truth” about anything from navigating relationships to managing finances to optimizing health. So if a psychologist or financial expert or doctor makes a claim about the best way to optimize ______, my brain says, “yes! Let’s do it!”
Meanwhile, I have people in my life who hear the same exact claim and automatically think “hmm… sounds like a scam.”
I’ve started to feel a bit jealous of these people — the automatic skeptics — because this trait that seems to come naturally to them, I still have to actively work on cultivating each day.
The more I’ve reflected on this, the more I’ve realized that skepticism is not about being closed-minded or cynical. It’s about giving myself permission to pause before accepting something as truth.
For those of us indoctrinated into a high-control religion, skepticism towards our specific brand of religion was probably not allowed. Questioning meant doubting, and doubting was a moral failure. So it makes sense that many of us who were once “true believers” might still default into a kind of “reflexive trust” towards authoritative voices even after deprogramming.
This is why I have to be so intentional nowadays about cultivating healthy skepticism. The ability to be skeptical means I’m building the muscle of discernment so I don’t just replace one authority figure with another.
On my journey toward becoming more skeptical, I try to ask myself:
This doesn’t mean I automatically assume everything is a scam. It just means I give myself space to consider, rather than automatically defer.
If you relate to any of these challenges around skepticism and questioning authoritative voices, I hope you take what I’ve shared as a note of encouragement.
Whether you’ve always been a bit of a skeptic or you’re just now working to develop a more skeptical nature, questioning before accepting is a valuable skill.
Every time you pause to ask, “Do I really believe this?” or “Does this line up with my values?” you’re strengthening your ability to think critically and live freely.
The goal isn’t to doubt everything. It’s to learn how to trust wisely—starting with yourself!