Accepting Blog Submissions: July-September, 2026
The Religious Trauma Network is pleased to announce our next guest blog series for July-September, 2026. We invite thoughtful, compassionate submissions that explore the themes outlined below. As always, we welcome a wide range of perspectives, religious backgrounds and lived experiences.
Please note: Submissions that self‑promote (books, blogs, businesses, podcasts, etc.) will not be considered.
July: God, Country and the Stories We Were Told
As the United States marks its 250th anniversary, many survivors are revisiting the messages they grew up with about God, America and what it meant to belong. For some, faith and national identity were woven together in ways that shaped how they saw themselves, their communities and the wider world. This month invites you to reflect on the stories you were taught about America’s spiritual meaning, how those messages shaped your early understanding of identity or purpose, and what has shifted for you as you’ve sought healing or clarity. We welcome pieces that explore your own experience, your own questions and the ways your perspective has changed over time.
Possible topics include:
The messages you heard about America’s spiritual role or destiny
How faith and patriotism were connected in your upbringing
What those beliefs meant for your identity or sense of belonging
How political or end-times narratives shaped your worldview
What changed for you as you began to question or re-examine those ideas
How you’re making sense of faith, country or identity now
August: Parenting After Religious Trauma
As a new school year approaches, many survivors are navigating what it means to parent while healing from the systems that shaped them. This month invites reflections on how your own story intersects with the way you raise, support or relate to children in your life. You might explore what you’re unlearning, what you’re reclaiming, what surprises you about parenting and how your healing journey shapes the environment you’re trying to create.
Possible topics include:
How your upbringing influences the way you parent today
What you’re unlearning or rethinking as you raise children
Moments when your child’s questions or behaviors bring up memories from your own upbringing
Navigating extended family or community expectations
Co-parenting across different belief systems
What you’re discovering about yourself through parenting
September: The Grief of Losing Community, Identity and Purpose
Leaving a religious community often brings a kind of grief that is hard to name. This month offers space to explore what that grief has looked like for you - the losses that were obvious, the ones that surprised you and the ones you’re still making sense of. You’re invited to reflect on how your identity shifted, what you’ve mourned, what you’ve rebuilt and how this grief has shaped your healing.
Possible topics include:
The grief you felt when belief or belonging changed
How losing community or identity affected your daily life
The loneliness or disorientation that followed leaving
What relationships shifted for you
How you’ve begun to rebuild meaning or connection
What you’re discovering about yourself in this season of change
Submission Guidelines
Word count: 800–1,500 words
Include: A brief author bio (under 100 words without self-promotion) and any relevant credentials; a headshot may also be submitted if comfortable
Deadlines: Submissions are due two weeks before the start of each month
Submit via: RTN Blog Submission Form
Editing: RTN reserves the right to suggest edits
Social media: Quotes from published pieces may be developed into graphics/posts
We encourage a range of perspectives, religious backgrounds and voices. All submissions should be sensitive to the experiences of others and avoid language that could be triggering or dismissive of trauma or personal choices.
Our goal is to empower readers, promote progress in healing, maintain ethical standards when discussing sensitive topics and foster respect for all experiences. We look forward to your thoughtful and compassionate contributions.