If we hope to fight and eventually heal from misogyny, we must first be able to identify and understand it.

Despite the undeniable progress for women and girls in the 20th and 21st centuries, misogyny is still alive and well in today’s culture—often in ways that are more subtle and more insidious than the outright sexism of the past, and in spaces that we overlook or excuse as normative.

Misogyny has shape-shifted through the generations while maintaining a consistent through-line: it blinds individuals and cultures from seeing women as equal image-bearers, fosters hierarchies rather than partnerships, disdains vulnerability, and prevents all of us—women and men alike—from fully thriving.

In For the Love of Women, Dorothy Littell Greco draws on in-depth research, interviews, biblical concepts, and vulnerable personal experience to explore how misogyny continues to impact six spheres of contemporary culture:

1. Healthcare
2. Government
3. The workplace
4. Media and entertainment
5. The church
6. Intimate relationships

While recent movements succeeded in raising consciousness and initiating important changes connected to misogynistic practices, alarming trends and rhetoric are on the rise in America today. We still have a lot of work to do—and the battle is more urgent than ever.

Like other deeply rooted, systemic injustices, misogyny is neither morally neutral nor random. It’s pernicious and calculated. For the Love of Women is for anyone who wants to educate, inspire, and empower themselves and women collectively to affect real change for everyone’s benefit.

“Holy Disobedience is a visceral portrayal of a daughter’s quest for the dark truth beneath the religious veneer of forced beauty and familial cover-ups. Spiers’s writing is propulsive and intelligent.” -Tia Levings, author of the New York Times bestselling A Well-Trained Wife

Holy Disobedience is a gripping, unflinching story by Melissa Duge Spiers about growing up in the shadow of control, silence, and secrets within the strict, fundamentalist Seventh-day Adventist Church. When Melissa learns that her father, a respected pastor, was a serial child predator shielded by the church, her world implodes. But this revelation is only the beginning.

From being beaten for resisting a childhood home perm to seducing a forbidden public-school athlete to reclaim her autonomy, Melissa’s early years were shaped by repression, shame, and indoctrination. Her escape from high-control religion launched her into a life of risk: Wall Street jobs, New York nightclubs, Hollywood hookups, and a series of abusive relationships. And yet, in these extremes, she was searching. Through self-reflection and finding her voice, and through an unexpected friendship with her father’s first victim, Melissa slowly reconstructs the self she was never allowed to know.

Holy Disobedience is not just a survivor’s tale. It’s a story of fierce honesty, radical freedom, and the beautiful mess of becoming whole.

https://www.instagram.com/the.glory.whole/

Laura and JD have a unique perspective, having been part of a ministry family for 20-25 years. The discussion begins with religion and turns to what truly makes for great people and great families.

You’ll enjoy this!

Are you serious about deconstruction and asking bigger questions?

If that’s the case, this book was created for you. As a former pastor, I made the mistake of deconstructing a bit and then trying to start something new, as I was trained to do. The problem with that approach is that I wasn’t ready to begin something new.

I hadn’t delved deeply enough or asked enough questions. The first stage of deconstruction typically includes assessing our beliefs regarding hell and the afterlife, supporting queer individuals and women in their fight for equality, and achieving a better understanding of racism and privilege.

Many people in deconstruction communities expend significant effort criticizing Evangelicals and attempting to gain a following. While I believe they deserve intense criticism, this strategy fails to effectively tackle the problem because they generally don’t listen to us!

Our tendency to punish our former organizations sometimes overlooks the challenging process of healing and growth. It is the same trap we fell into in our former associations.

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Order Now!

Campfires occupy a special spot in the mosaic of history. They act as communal hubs across different cultures and faiths. The campfire’s circular design fosters equal participation within the collective group. The flames at the center draw our focus and encourage face-to-face interactions as we exchange experiences, wisdom, and insights about the world beyond. It is where legendary myths and tales are born.

Order Now – Study Questions in each chapter!

This book is named Campfires in the Desert as it stems from nearly 400 discussions we held with individuals on our podcast, The Desert Sanctuary, and our aspiration to improve.

Laura and JD have a unique perspective, having been part of a ministry family for 20-25 years. The discussion begins with religion and turns to what truly makes for great people and great families.

You’ll enjoy this!

Are you serious about deconstruction and asking bigger questions?

If that’s the case, this book was created for you. As a former pastor, I made the mistake of deconstructing a bit and then trying to start something new, as I was trained to do. The problem with that approach is that I wasn’t ready to begin something new.

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I hadn’t delved deeply enough or asked enough questions. The first stage of deconstruction typically includes assessing our beliefs regarding hell and the afterlife, supporting queer individuals and women in their fight for equality, and achieving a better understanding of racism and privilege.

Many people in deconstruction communities expend significant effort criticizing Evangelicals and attempting to gain a following. While I believe they deserve intense criticism, this strategy fails to effectively tackle the problem because they generally don’t listen to us!

Our tendency to punish our former organizations sometimes overlooks the challenging process of healing and growth. It is the same trap we fell into in our former associations.

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Order Now!

Campfires occupy a special spot in the mosaic of history. They act as communal hubs across different cultures and faiths. The campfire’s circular design fosters equal participation within the collective group. The flames at the center draw our focus and encourage face-to-face interactions as we exchange experiences, wisdom, and insights about the world beyond. It is where legendary myths and tales are born.

Order Now – Study Questions in each chapter!

This book is named Campfires in the Desert as it stems from nearly 400 discussions we held with individuals on our podcast, The Desert Sanctuary, and our aspiration to improve.

Essentia-limited implies exploring whether the fundamental nature of God inherently includes limitations, a concept generally rejected by traditional theology, which defines God’s essence as inherently limitless and infinite. 

Existential impotence is a concept discussed in philosophy and psychology that refers to a person’s perceived lack of power or ability to take effective action in the face of life’s fundamental challenges or to create personal meaning and live authentically. It involves a sense of helplessness or powerlessness related to the core “existential dilemmas” of human existence, rather than a specific physical condition.

Are you serious about deconstruction and asking bigger questions?

If that’s the case, this book was created for you. As a former pastor, I made the mistake of deconstructing a bit and then trying to start something new, as I was trained to do. The problem with that approach is that I wasn’t ready to begin something new.

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I hadn’t delved deeply enough or asked enough questions. The first stage of deconstruction typically includes assessing our beliefs regarding hell and the afterlife, supporting queer individuals and women in their fight for equality, and achieving a better understanding of racism and privilege.

Many people in deconstruction communities expend significant effort criticizing Evangelicals and attempting to gain a following. While I believe they deserve intense criticism, this strategy fails to effectively tackle the problem because they generally don’t listen to us!

Our tendency to punish our former organizations sometimes overlooks the challenging process of healing and growth. It is the same trap we fell into in our former associations.

Order Now!

Campfires occupy a special spot in the mosaic of history. They act as communal hubs across different cultures and faiths. The campfire’s circular design fosters equal participation within the collective group. The flames at the center draw our focus and encourage face-to-face interactions as we exchange experiences, wisdom, and insights about the world beyond. It is where legendary myths and tales are born.

Order Now – Study Questions in each chapter!

This book is titled Campfires in the Desert because it stems from nearly 400 discussions we held with individuals on our podcast, The Desert Sanctuary, and from our aspiration to improve.

This is part 2 of our discussion with Nora as she discusses the pain of a high-control Amish lifestyle. While she admits there were parts of that life that she cherished, there were also parts that were devastating and unbearable.

If you haven’t already, go back and listen to part 1.

Reach out to Nora on Tiktok or Facebook.

Are you serious about deconstruction and asking bigger questions?

If that’s the case, this book was created for you. As a former pastor, I made the mistake of deconstructing a bit and then trying to start something new, as I was trained to do. The problem with that approach is that I wasn’t ready to begin something new.

I hadn’t delved deeply enough or asked enough questions. The first stage of deconstruction typically includes assessing our beliefs regarding hell and the afterlife, supporting queer individuals and women in their fight for equality, and achieving a better understanding of racism and privilege.

Many people in deconstruction communities expend significant effort criticizing Evangelicals and attempting to gain a following. While I believe they deserve intense criticism, this strategy fails to effectively tackle the problem because they generally don’t listen to us!

Our tendency to punish our former organizations sometimes overlooks the challenging process of healing and growth. It is the same trap we fell into in our former associations.

Order Now!

Campfires occupy a special spot in the mosaic of history. They act as communal hubs across different cultures and faiths. The campfire’s circular design fosters equal participation within the collective group. The flames at the center draw our focus and encourage face-to-face interactions as we exchange experiences, wisdom, and insights about the world beyond. It is where legendary myths and tales are born.

Order Now – Study Questions in each chapter!

This book is named Campfires in the Desert as it stems from nearly 400 discussions we held with individuals on our podcast, The Desert Sanctuary, and our aspiration to improve.

Available now!

Thanks for considering us, autographed copies are $20

Karl Forehand

This is part 1 of our discussion with Nora as she discusses the pain of a high-control Amish lifestyle. While she admits there were parts of that life that she cherished, there were also parts that were devastating and unbearable. Enjoy part 1 of 2.

Reach out to Nora on Tiktok or Facebook.

Are you serious about deconstruction and asking bigger questions?

If that’s the case, this book was created for you. As a former pastor, I made the mistake of deconstructing a bit and then trying to start something new, as I was trained to do. The problem with that approach is that I wasn’t ready to begin something new.

I hadn’t delved deeply enough or asked enough questions. The first stage of deconstruction typically includes assessing our beliefs regarding hell and the afterlife, supporting queer individuals and women in their fight for equality, and achieving a better understanding of racism and privilege.

Many people in deconstruction communities expend significant effort criticizing Evangelicals and attempting to gain a following. While I believe they deserve intense criticism, this strategy fails to effectively tackle the problem because they generally don’t listen to us!

Our tendency to punish our former organizations sometimes overlooks the challenging process of healing and growth. It is the same trap we fell into in our former associations.

Order Now!

Campfires occupy a special spot in the mosaic of history. They act as communal hubs across different cultures and faiths. The campfire’s circular design fosters equal participation within the collective group. The flames at the center draw our focus and encourage face-to-face interactions as we exchange experiences, wisdom, and insights about the world beyond. It is where legendary myths and tales are born.

Order Now – Study Questions in each chapter!

This book is named Campfires in the Desert as it stems from nearly 400 discussions we held with individuals on our podcast, The Desert Sanctuary, and our aspiration to improve.

Available now!

Thanks for considering us, autographed copies are $20

Karl Forehand

Stuart Delony, is a former pastor who walked out of the church but couldn’t shake the ways of Jesus. These days, he hosts Snarky Faith—a podcast and platform that wrestles with faith, culture, and meaning from the fringe. He is not here to fix Christianity. He’s determined to name what’s broken, find what’s still worth keeping, and hold space for the questions that don’t have clean answers.

If you’ve been burned, disillusioned, or just done with the noise—welcome. You’re in good company. Also check out the new book this month:

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/snarkyfaith/

Are you serious about deconstruction and asking bigger questions?

If that’s the case, this book was created for you. As a former pastor, I made the mistake of deconstructing a bit and then trying to start something new, as I was trained to do. The problem with that approach is that I wasn’t ready to begin something new.

I hadn’t delved deeply enough or asked enough questions. The first stage of deconstruction typically includes assessing our beliefs regarding hell and the afterlife, supporting queer individuals and women in their fight for equality, and achieving a better understanding of racism and privilege.

Many people in deconstruction communities expend significant effort criticizing Evangelicals and attempting to gain a following. While I believe they deserve intense criticism, this strategy fails to effectively tackle the problem because they generally don’t listen to us!

Our tendency to punish our former organizations sometimes overlooks the challenging process of healing and growth. It is the same trap we fell into in our former associations.

Order Now!

Campfires occupy a special spot in the mosaic of history. They act as communal hubs across different cultures and faiths. The campfire’s circular design fosters equal participation within the collective group. The flames at the center draw our focus and encourage face-to-face interactions as we exchange experiences, wisdom, and insights about the world beyond. It is where legendary myths and tales are born.

Order Now – Study Questions in each chapter!

This book is named Campfires in the Desert as it stems from nearly 400 discussions we held with individuals on our podcast, The Desert Sanctuary, and our aspiration to improve.

Available now!

Thanks for considering us, autographed copies are $20

Karl Forehand

Gaslighting for God is a no-BS survival guide to dodging narcissistic gurus and reclaiming your spiritual sanity—with wit, wisdom, and a whole lot of side-eye. With the sharpness of a court jester’s wit, Garrison uncovers the tactics of narcissistic gurus who weaponize faith to build empires—whether they’re celebrity pastors pushing prosperity gospel or retreat leaders draped in faux humility.

https://www.beckygarrison.com/

Are you serious about deconstruction and asking bigger questions?

If that’s the case, this book was created for you. As a former pastor, I made the mistake of deconstructing a bit and then trying to start something new, as I was trained to do. The problem with that approach is that I wasn’t ready to begin something new.

I hadn’t delved deeply enough or asked enough questions. The first stage of deconstruction typically includes assessing our beliefs regarding hell and the afterlife, supporting queer individuals and women in their fight for equality, and achieving a better understanding of racism and privilege.

Many people in deconstruction communities expend significant effort criticizing Evangelicals and attempting to gain a following. While I believe they deserve intense criticism, this strategy fails to effectively tackle the problem because they generally don’t listen to us!

Our tendency to punish our former organizations sometimes overlooks the challenging process of healing and growth. It is the same trap we fell into in our former associations.

Order Now!

Campfires occupy a special spot in the mosaic of history. They act as communal hubs across different cultures and faiths. The campfire’s circular design fosters equal participation within the collective group. The flames at the center draw our focus and encourage face-to-face interactions as we exchange experiences, wisdom, and insights about the world beyond. It is where legendary myths and tales are born.

Order Now – Study Questions in each chapter!

This book is named Campfires in the Desert as it stems from nearly 400 discussions we held with individuals on our podcast, The Desert Sanctuary, and our aspiration to improve.

Available now!

Thanks for considering us, autographed copies are $20

Karl Forehand

The Cultimatum Podcast

A deep dive into the dark world of cults, coercive control, and trauma recovery. Hosted by survivor and producer Melody Post, Cultimatum gives voice to those who’ve escaped — and educates those who never saw it coming.

Are you serious about deconstruction and asking bigger questions?

If that’s the case, this book was created for you. As a former pastor, I made the mistake of deconstructing a bit and then trying to start something new, as I was trained to do. The problem with that approach is that I wasn’t ready to begin something new.

I hadn’t delved deeply enough or asked enough questions. The first stage of deconstruction typically includes assessing our beliefs regarding hell and the afterlife, supporting queer individuals and women in their fight for equality, and achieving a better understanding of racism and privilege.

Many people in deconstruction communities expend significant effort criticizing Evangelicals and attempting to gain a following. While I believe they deserve intense criticism, this strategy fails to effectively tackle the problem because they generally don’t listen to us!

Our tendency to punish our former organizations sometimes overlooks the challenging process of healing and growth. It is the same trap we fell into in our former associations.

Order Now!

Campfires occupy a special spot in the mosaic of history. They act as communal hubs across different cultures and faiths. The campfire’s circular design fosters equal participation within the collective group. The flames at the center draw our focus and encourage face-to-face interactions as we exchange experiences, wisdom, and insights about the world beyond. It is where legendary myths and tales are born.

Order Now – Study Questions in each chapter!

This book is named Campfires in the Desert as it stems from nearly 400 discussions we held with individuals on our podcast, The Desert Sanctuary, and our aspiration to improve.

Available now!

Thanks for considering us, autographed copies are $20

Karl Forehand

Recruited into the fundamentalist Quiverfull movement as a young wife, Tia Levings learned that being a good Christian meant following a list of additional life principles––a series of secret, special rules to obey. Being a godly and submissive wife in Christian Patriarchy included strict discipline, isolation, and an alternative lifestyle that appeared wholesome to outsiders. Women were to be silent, “keepers of the home.”

Tia knew that to their neighbors her family was strange, but she also couldn’t risk exposing their secret lifestyle to police, doctors, teachers, or anyone outside of their church. Christians were called in scripture to be “in the world, not of it.” So, she hid in plain sight as years of abuse and pain followed. When Tia realized she was the only one who could protect her children from becoming the next generation of patriarchal men and submissive women, she began to resist and question how they lived. But in the patriarchy, a woman with opinions is in danger, and eventually, Tia faced an urgent and extreme choice: stay and face dire consequences or flee with her children.

Told in a beautiful, honest, and sometimes harrowing voice, A Well-Trained Wife is an unforgettable and timely memoir about a woman’s race to save herself and her family and details the ways that extreme views can manifest in a marriage.

Are you serious about deconstruction and asking bigger questions?

If that’s the case, this book was created for you. As a former pastor, I made the mistake of deconstructing a bit and then trying to start something new, as I was trained to do. The problem with that approach is that I wasn’t ready to begin something new.

I hadn’t delved deeply enough or asked enough questions. The first stage of deconstruction typically includes assessing our beliefs regarding hell and the afterlife, supporting queer individuals and women in their fight for equality, and achieving a better understanding of racism and privilege.

Many people in deconstruction communities expend significant effort criticizing Evangelicals and attempting to gain a following. While I believe they deserve intense criticism, this strategy fails to effectively tackle the problem because they generally don’t listen to us!

Our tendency to punish our former organizations sometimes overlooks the challenging process of healing and growth. It is the same trap we fell into in our former associations.

Order Now!

Campfires occupy a special spot in the mosaic of history. They act as communal hubs across different cultures and faiths. The campfire’s circular design fosters equal participation within the collective group. The flames at the center draw our focus and encourage face-to-face interactions as we exchange experiences, wisdom, and insights about the world beyond. It is where legendary myths and tales are born.

Order Now – Study Questions in each chapter!

This book is named Campfires in the Desert as it stems from nearly 400 discussions we held with individuals on our podcast, The Desert Sanctuary, and our aspiration to improve.

Available now!

Thanks for considering us, autographed copies are $20

Karl Forehand

I am fully convinced that connection is essential for us as human beings. It begins early in life when we form an attachment to our mother or caregiver. If we don’t receive proper care during childhood, we can face issues later on. The quality of that care is essential and significantly affects us. We need connection with others for many reasons, which I don’t have time to explain fully. Still, I have learned that these connections don’t need to be tied to an ineffective system, especially in cases involving trauma.

Are you serious about deconstruction and asking bigger questions?

If that’s the case, this book was created for you. As a former pastor, I made the mistake of deconstructing a bit and then trying to start something new, as I was trained to do. The problem with that approach is that I wasn’t ready to begin something new.

I hadn’t delved deeply enough or asked enough questions. The first stage of deconstruction typically includes assessing our beliefs regarding hell and the afterlife, supporting queer individuals and women in their fight for equality, and achieving a better understanding of racism and privilege.

Many people in deconstruction communities expend significant effort criticizing Evangelicals and attempting to gain a following. While I believe they deserve intense criticism, this strategy fails to effectively tackle the problem because they generally don’t listen to us!

Our tendency to punish our former organizations sometimes overlooks the challenging process of healing and growth. It is the same trap we fell into in our former associations.

Order Now!

Campfires occupy a special spot in the mosaic of history. They act as communal hubs across different cultures and faiths. The campfire’s circular design fosters equal participation within the collective group. The flames at the center draw our focus and encourage face-to-face interactions as we exchange experiences, wisdom, and insights about the world beyond. It is where legendary myths and tales are born.

Order Now – Study Questions in each chapter!

This book is named Campfires in the Desert as it stems from nearly 400 discussions we held with individuals on our podcast, The Desert Sanctuary, and our aspiration to improve.

Available now!

Thanks for considering us, autographed copies are $20

Karl Forehand

A couple of years ago, a group of women encouraged me to read women’s stories. They echoed each other’s sentiments that men, especially pastors, tend to read theology and leadership books, but ignore stories about women’s experience.

Instead of reading the stories, Laura and I interviewed and listened to women who had experienced toxic religion, and I learned so much. But a few weeks ago, I got serious and cracked open a couple of actual books and read them cover to cover. I’ve repeated the advice over the past two years to other people, but nothing replaces the experience of making the time and experiencing all of it!

In Fog of Faith, Leona is cast into bewildering disgrace and poverty—with a baby, a violent husband, and shattered faith. She hacks through the bones of her Mennonite naïveté to confront harsh realities. This riveting and morally unflinching memoir, recommended by MS Magazine, delivers intense suspense, humor and unusual wisdom.

Are you serious about deconstruction and asking bigger questions?

If that’s the case, this book was created for you. As a former pastor, I made the mistake of deconstructing a bit and then trying to start something new, as I was trained to do. The problem with that approach is that I wasn’t ready to begin something new.

I hadn’t delved deeply enough or asked enough questions. The first stage of deconstruction typically includes assessing our beliefs regarding hell and the afterlife, supporting queer individuals and women in their fight for equality, and achieving a better understanding of racism and privilege.

Many people in deconstruction communities expend significant effort criticizing Evangelicals and attempting to gain a following. While I believe they deserve intense criticism, this strategy fails to effectively tackle the problem because they generally don’t listen to us!

Our tendency to punish our former organizations sometimes overlooks the challenging process of healing and growth. It is the same trap we fell into in our former associations.

Order Now!

Campfires occupy a special spot in the mosaic of history. They act as communal hubs across different cultures and faiths. The campfire’s circular design fosters equal participation within the collective group. The flames at the center draw our focus and encourage face-to-face interactions as we exchange experiences, wisdom, and insights about the world beyond. It is where legendary myths and tales are born.

Order Now – Study Questions in each chapter!

This book is named Campfires in the Desert as it stems from nearly 400 discussions we held with individuals on our podcast, The Desert Sanctuary, and our aspiration to improve.

Available now!

Thanks for considering us, autographed copies are $20

Karl Forehand

The Family Peace Initiative (FPI) is a certified battering intervention program operated by Halley Counseling Services, P.A. Presently, FPI operates more than 25+ groups in communities throughout the state of Kansas. Along with direct service, the staff of the FPI conducts training through workshops and conferences focusing on battering intervention facilitation and battering motivation.

FPI was born out of the work of Dorthy Stucky Halley, LMSW, and Steve Halley, LSCSW. Dorthy received grant funding for a battering intervention program in the early 1990s. In 2002, significant program changes occurred and FPI was born. A new curriculum was created and a new focus on intervention was undertaken that was research and evidence-based.

In 2007 the Department of Corrections (DOC) and the Kansas Coalition against Domestic and Sexual Violence (KCSDV) along with the Topeka YWCA, invited Halley Counseling to participate in a pilot project focusing on people who were on parole for domestic violence offenses. The project was terminated as a result of the economic crash of 2008. At that time, Halley Counseling and the YWCA agreed that the program would be maintained and worked together to keep the Family Peace Initiative in operation.

Today: FPI not only operates more than 25+ groups in multiple communities throughout Kansas but also offers justice-involved work with youth. In addition, FPI consults with the Department of Corrections in multiple states, assisting in establishing battering intervention programs in prison facilities and parole offices.

Along with direct service, the staff of the FPI conducts training through workshops and conferences internationally, focusing on battering intervention facilitation and battering motivation. The Family Peace Initiative Training Series has been established to advance the skills of those who facilitate battering intervention programs. Our “Cracking The Code” workshop has brought a new understanding to the field of domestic violence as to the motivations of those who batter.

Are you serious about deconstruction and asking bigger questions?

If that’s the case, this book was created for you. As a former pastor, I made the mistake of deconstructing a bit and then trying to start something new, as I was trained to do. The problem with that approach is that I wasn’t ready to begin something new.

I hadn’t delved deeply enough or asked enough questions. The first stage of deconstruction typically includes assessing our beliefs regarding hell and the afterlife, supporting queer individuals and women in their fight for equality, and achieving a better understanding of racism and privilege.

Many people in deconstruction communities expend significant effort criticizing Evangelicals and attempting to gain a following. While I believe they deserve intense criticism, this strategy fails to effectively tackle the problem because they generally don’t listen to us!

Our tendency to punish our former organizations sometimes overlooks the challenging process of healing and growth. It is the same trap we fell into in our former associations.

Order Now!

Campfires occupy a special spot in the mosaic of history. They act as communal hubs across different cultures and faiths. The campfire’s circular design fosters equal participation within the collective group. The flames at the center draw our focus and encourage face-to-face interactions as we exchange experiences, wisdom, and insights about the world beyond. It is where legendary myths and tales are born.

Order Now – Study Questions in each chapter!

This book is named Campfires in the Desert as it stems from nearly 400 discussions we held with individuals on our podcast, The Desert Sanctuary, and our aspiration to improve.

Available now!

Thanks for considering us, autographed copies are $20

Karl Forehand

The Religious Trauma Collective

We are therapists who have personal and professional experience with religious harm and the trauma that can come from losing your worldview and identity, where it was once found in faith.

We see a significant gap in understanding of this harm and this particular trauma, there is no agreed-upon term for it or appreciation for how deep it goes. People can often lose family, community, belonging, income and certainty. 

We struggled to find people who could understand what we had been through as we recovered and realised, across Australia and New Zealand, there were very few working specifically in this area, or, they were hard to find.

Are you serious about deconstruction and asking bigger questions?

If that’s the case, this book was created for you. As a former pastor, I made the mistake of deconstructing a bit and then trying to start something new, as I was trained to do. The problem with that approach is that I wasn’t ready to begin something new.

I hadn’t delved deeply enough or asked enough questions. The first stage of deconstruction typically includes assessing our beliefs regarding hell and the afterlife, supporting queer individuals and women in their fight for equality, and achieving a better understanding of racism and privilege.

Many people in deconstruction communities expend significant effort criticizing Evangelicals and attempting to gain a following. While I believe they deserve intense criticism, this strategy fails to effectively tackle the problem because they generally don’t listen to us!

Our tendency to punish our former organizations sometimes overlooks the challenging process of healing and growth. It is the same trap we fell into in our former associations.

Order Now!

Campfires occupy a special spot in the mosaic of history. They act as communal hubs across different cultures and faiths. The campfire’s circular design fosters equal participation within the collective group. The flames at the center draw our focus and encourage face-to-face interactions as we exchange experiences, wisdom, and insights about the world beyond. It is where legendary myths and tales are born.

Order Now – Study Questions in each chapter!

This book is named Campfires in the Desert as it stems from nearly 400 discussions we held with individuals on our podcast, The Desert Sanctuary, and our aspiration to improve.

Available now!

Thanks for considering us, autographed copies are $20

Karl Forehand

Finding Truth starts with asking good questions

Are you serious about deconstruction and asking bigger questions?

If that’s the case, this book was created for you. As a former pastor, I made the mistake of deconstructing a bit and then trying to start something new, as I was trained to do. The problem with that approach is that I wasn’t ready to begin something new.

I hadn’t delved deeply enough or asked enough questions. The first stage of deconstruction typically includes assessing our beliefs regarding hell and the afterlife, supporting queer individuals and women in their fight for equality, and achieving a better understanding of racism and privilege.

Many people in deconstruction communities expend significant effort criticizing Evangelicals and attempting to gain a following. While I believe they deserve intense criticism, this strategy fails to effectively tackle the problem because they generally don’t listen to us!

Our tendency to punish our former organizations sometimes overlooks the challenging process of healing and growth. It is the same trap we fell into in our former associations.

Order Now!

Campfires occupy a special spot in the mosaic of history. They act as communal hubs across different cultures and faiths. The campfire’s circular design fosters equal participation within the collective group. The flames at the center draw our focus and encourage face-to-face interactions as we exchange experiences, wisdom, and insights about the world beyond. It is where legendary myths and tales are born.

Order Now – Study Questions in each chapter!

This book is named Campfires in the Desert as it stems from nearly 400 discussions we held with individuals on our podcast, The Desert Sanctuary, and our aspiration to improve.

Available now!

Thanks for considering us, autographed copies are $20

Karl Forehand

Finding Truth starts with asking good questions

Are you serious about deconstruction and asking bigger questions?

If that’s the case, this book was created for you. As a former pastor, I made the mistake of deconstructing a bit and then trying to start something new, as I was trained to do. The problem with that approach is that I wasn’t ready to begin something new.

I hadn’t delved deeply enough or asked enough questions. The first stage of deconstruction typically includes assessing our beliefs regarding hell and the afterlife, supporting queer individuals and women in their fight for equality, and achieving a better understanding of racism and privilege.

Many people in deconstruction communities expend significant effort criticizing Evangelicals and attempting to gain a following. While I believe they deserve intense criticism, this strategy fails to effectively tackle the problem because they generally don’t listen to us!

Our tendency to punish our former organizations sometimes overlooks the challenging process of healing and growth. It is the same trap we fell into in our former associations.

Order Now!

Campfires occupy a special spot in the mosaic of history. They act as communal hubs across different cultures and faiths. The campfire’s circular design fosters equal participation within the collective group. The flames at the center draw our focus and encourage face-to-face interactions as we exchange experiences, wisdom, and insights about the world beyond. It is where legendary myths and tales are born.

Order Now – Study Questions in each chapter!

This book is named Campfires in the Desert as it stems from nearly 400 discussions we held with individuals on our podcast, The Desert Sanctuary, and our aspiration to improve.

Available now!

Thanks for considering us, autographed copies are $20

Karl Forehand

This was a big lesson for me.

Celebrating my accomplishments is something that I look forward to during every project, but it’s hard for me to do. Several guides in my life, including my current therapist, have reminded me of this fact. This issue is a sticky situation I find myself in because I was taught early not to be proud. The definition of pride and confidence got tangled up in my ego and false humility.

Because developing the ego is a primary part of the first half of our lives, we understand that we need to be determined and confident to accomplish goals. But if we don’t celebrate after each completion, then accomplishments only leave us with the ache of desire to achieve more. I realized I was conditioned to strive for something “significant” to do, and then I lost my way when I realized it’s possibly all in the definition of what is significant.

Are you serious about deconstruction and asking bigger questions?

If that’s the case, this book was created for you. As a former pastor, I made the mistake of deconstructing a bit and then trying to start something new, as I was trained to do. The problem with that approach is that I wasn’t ready to begin something new.

I hadn’t delved deeply enough or asked enough questions. The first stage of deconstruction typically includes assessing our beliefs regarding hell and the afterlife, supporting queer individuals and women in their fight for equality, and achieving a better understanding of racism and privilege.

Many people in deconstruction communities expend significant effort criticizing Evangelicals and attempting to gain a following. While I believe they deserve intense criticism, this strategy fails to effectively tackle the problem because they generally don’t listen to us!

Our tendency to punish our former organizations sometimes overlooks the challenging process of healing and growth. It is the same trap we fell into in our former associations.

Order Now!

Campfires occupy a special spot in the mosaic of history. They act as communal hubs across different cultures and faiths. The campfire’s circular design fosters equal participation within the collective group. The flames at the center draw our focus and encourage face-to-face interactions as we exchange experiences, wisdom, and insights about the world beyond. It is where legendary myths and tales are born.

Order Now – Study Questions in each chapter!

This book is named Campfires in the Desert as it stems from nearly 400 discussions we held with individuals on our podcast, The Desert Sanctuary, and our aspiration to improve.

Available now!

Thanks for considering us, autographed copies are $20

Karl Forehand

Organized religion and many other institutions operate under the mistaken belief that we cannot trust ourselves due to our inherent flaws. We often think leaders possess a unique ability that distinguishes them from others, leading us to defer to and submit to them.

In these organizations, both actual and perceived hierarchical structures rely on a certain level of shame to maintain control and functionality. The organization consistently takes precedence over the individual, and one of the Christian teachings asserts that we cannot trust our intuition because of our inherent flaws. Consequently, in my tradition, I was taught to trust and obey—and to keep questions to a minimum!

Are you serious about deconstruction and asking bigger questions?

If that’s the case, this book was created for you. As a former pastor, I made the mistake of deconstructing a bit and then trying to start something new, as I was trained to do. The problem with that approach is that I wasn’t ready to begin something new.

I hadn’t delved deeply enough or asked enough questions. The first stage of deconstruction typically includes assessing our beliefs regarding hell and the afterlife, supporting queer individuals and women in their fight for equality, and achieving a better understanding of racism and privilege.

Many people in deconstruction communities expend significant effort criticizing Evangelicals and attempting to gain a following. While I believe they deserve intense criticism, this strategy fails to effectively tackle the problem because they generally don’t listen to us!

Our tendency to punish our former organizations sometimes overlooks the challenging process of healing and growth. It is the same trap we fell into in our former associations.

Order Now!

Campfires occupy a special spot in the mosaic of history. They act as communal hubs across different cultures and faiths. The campfire’s circular design fosters equal participation within the collective group. The flames at the center draw our focus and encourage face-to-face interactions as we exchange experiences, wisdom, and insights about the world beyond. It is where legendary myths and tales are born.

Order Now – Study Questions in each chapter!

This book is named Campfires in the Desert as it stems from nearly 400 discussions we held with individuals on our podcast, The Desert Sanctuary, and our aspiration to improve.

Available now!

Thanks for considering us, autographed copies are $20

Karl Forehand

“Just listening is what turns a victim into a survivor.”

– Christine Ristaino

When we ask women who have survived abuse and narcissistic relationships within organized religion what men can do to help the situation, they almost always express a desire for men to listen to their survivor stories. Religion encourages us to study theology, leadership, and growth practices. Unfortunately, survivors’ stories are often overlooked due to the time needed to build relationships and foster effective communication.

Are you serious about deconstruction and asking bigger questions?

If that’s the case, this book was created for you. As a former pastor, I made the mistake of deconstructing a bit and then trying to start something new, as I was trained to do. The problem with that approach is that I wasn’t ready to begin something new.

I hadn’t delved deeply enough or asked enough questions. The first stage of deconstruction typically includes assessing our beliefs regarding hell and the afterlife, supporting queer individuals and women in their fight for equality, and achieving a better understanding of racism and privilege.

Many people in deconstruction communities expend significant effort criticizing Evangelicals and attempting to gain a following. While I believe they deserve intense criticism, this strategy fails to effectively tackle the problem because they generally don’t listen to us!

Our tendency to punish our former organizations sometimes overlooks the challenging process of healing and growth. It is the same trap we fell into in our former associations.

Order Now!

Campfires occupy a special spot in the mosaic of history. They act as communal hubs across different cultures and faiths. The campfire’s circular design fosters equal participation within the collective group. The flames at the center draw our focus and encourage face-to-face interactions as we exchange experiences, wisdom, and insights about the world beyond. It is where legendary myths and tales are born.

Order Now – Study Questions in each chapter!

This book is named Campfires in the Desert as it stems from nearly 400 discussions we held with individuals on our podcast, The Desert Sanctuary, and our aspiration to improve.

Available now!

Thanks for considering us, autographed copies are $20

Karl Forehand

One of the leading Trauma Coaches in the Deconstruction world finds herself with some new wall art — 2 ethics violations from AAMFT and more on the way.

Rick Pidcock, of Baptist News Global, reported this week on the story.

We sat down to discuss his latest blog from Baptist News Global

Rick Pidcock is a freelance writer based in South Carolina. He is a former Clemons Fellow with BNG and recently completed a master of arts degree in worship from Northern Seminary. He is a stay-at-home father of five kids and produces music under the artist name Provoke Wonder. Follow his blog at www.rickpidcock.com

Dr. Laura Anderson is a licensed psychotherapist, trauma resolution coach, religious trauma consultant, speaker, author, and educator.

The views expressed in this podcast are the opinions of The Desert Sanctuary (Karl and Laura Forehand) and BNG (Rick Pidcock). It is our hope for a better future.

There is a time to revisit the past. Sometimes, we must connect with our former selves to find genuine healing. Additionally, while making plans is essential, future pursuits can often lead to distractions that result in unproductive living.

The ideal place for us to live is wherever we are.

Many religions suggest that our bodies are inherently flawed, leading to suspicion of their signals. This perspective is both misguided and harmful. Embracing a trauma-informed approach allows us to appreciate that our bodies hold valuable wisdom and are crucial for fostering our intuition and healing from trauma. They convey essential messages for recovery, underscoring the need to cultivate a mind-body practice in conjunction with somatic healing.

Are you serious about deconstruction and asking bigger questions?

If that’s the case, this book was created for you. As a former pastor, I made the mistake of deconstructing a bit and then trying to start something new, as I was trained to do. The problem with that approach is that I wasn’t ready to begin something new.

I hadn’t delved deeply enough or asked enough questions. The first stage of deconstruction typically includes assessing our beliefs regarding hell and the afterlife, supporting queer individuals and women in their fight for equality, and achieving a better understanding of racism and privilege.

Many people in deconstruction communities expend significant effort criticizing Evangelicals and attempting to gain a following. While I believe they deserve intense criticism, this strategy fails to effectively tackle the problem because they generally don’t listen to us!

Our tendency to punish our former organizations sometimes overlooks the challenging process of healing and growth. It is the same trap we fell into in our former associations.

Order Now!

Campfires occupy a special spot in the mosaic of history. They act as communal hubs across different cultures and faiths. The campfire’s circular design fosters equal participation within the collective group. The flames at the center draw our focus and encourage face-to-face interactions as we exchange experiences, wisdom, and insights about the world beyond. It is where legendary myths and tales are born.

Order Now – Study Questions in each chapter!

This book is named Campfires in the Desert as it stems from nearly 400 discussions we held with individuals on our podcast, The Desert Sanctuary, and our aspiration to improve.

Available now!

Thanks for considering us, autographed copies are $20

Karl Forehand

Many religions suggest that our bodies are inherently flawed, leading to suspicion of their signals. This perspective is both misguided and harmful. Embracing a trauma-informed approach allows us to appreciate that our bodies hold valuable wisdom and are crucial for fostering our intuition and healing from trauma. They convey essential messages for recovery, underscoring the need to cultivate a mind-body practice in conjunction with somatic healing.

Are you serious about deconstruction and asking bigger questions?

If that’s the case, this book was created for you. As a former pastor, I made the mistake of deconstructing a bit and then trying to start something new, as I was trained to do. The problem with that approach is that I wasn’t ready to begin something new.

I hadn’t delved deeply enough or asked enough questions. The first stage of deconstruction typically includes assessing our beliefs regarding hell and the afterlife, supporting queer individuals and women in their fight for equality, and achieving a better understanding of racism and privilege.

Many people in deconstruction communities expend significant effort criticizing Evangelicals and attempting to gain a following. While I believe they deserve intense criticism, this strategy fails to effectively tackle the problem because they generally don’t listen to us!

Our tendency to punish our former organizations sometimes overlooks the challenging process of healing and growth. It is the same trap we fell into in our former associations.

Order Now!

Campfires occupy a special spot in the mosaic of history. They act as communal hubs across different cultures and faiths. The campfire’s circular design fosters equal participation within the collective group. The flames at the center draw our focus and encourage face-to-face interactions as we exchange experiences, wisdom, and insights about the world beyond. It is where legendary myths and tales are born.

Order Now – Study Questions in each chapter!

This book is named Campfires in the Desert as it stems from nearly 400 discussions we held with individuals on our podcast, The Desert Sanctuary, and our aspiration to improve.

Available now!

Thanks for considering us, autographed copies are $20

Karl Forehand

Many religions suggest that our bodies are inherently flawed, leading to suspicion of their signals. This perspective is both misguided and harmful. Embracing a trauma-informed approach allows us to appreciate that our bodies hold valuable wisdom and are crucial for fostering our intuition and healing from trauma. They convey essential messages for recovery, underscoring the need to cultivate a mind-body practice in conjunction with somatic healing.

Are you serious about deconstruction and asking bigger questions?

If that’s the case, this book was created for you. As a former pastor, I made the mistake of deconstructing a bit and then trying to start something new, as I was trained to do. The problem with that approach is that I wasn’t ready to begin something new.

I hadn’t delved deeply enough or asked enough questions. The first stage of deconstruction typically includes assessing our beliefs regarding hell and the afterlife, supporting queer individuals and women in their fight for equality, and achieving a better understanding of racism and privilege.

Many people in deconstruction communities expend significant effort criticizing Evangelicals and attempting to gain a following. While I believe they deserve intense criticism, this strategy fails to effectively tackle the problem because they generally don’t listen to us!

Our tendency to punish our former organizations sometimes overlooks the challenging process of healing and growth. It is the same trap we fell into in our former associations.

Order Now!

Campfires occupy a special spot in the mosaic of history. They act as communal hubs across different cultures and faiths. The campfire’s circular design fosters equal participation within the collective group. The flames at the center draw our focus and encourage face-to-face interactions as we exchange experiences, wisdom, and insights about the world beyond. It is where legendary myths and tales are born.

Order Now – Study Questions in each chapter!

This book is named Campfires in the Desert as it stems from nearly 400 discussions we held with individuals on our podcast, The Desert Sanctuary, and our aspiration to improve.

Available now!

Thanks for considering us, autographed copies are $20

Karl Forehand

Are you serious about deconstruction and asking bigger questions?

If that’s the case, this book was created for you. As a former pastor, I made the mistake of deconstructing a bit and then trying to start something new, as I was trained to do. The problem with that approach is that I wasn’t ready to begin something new.

I hadn’t delved deeply enough or asked enough questions. The first stage of deconstruction typically includes assessing our beliefs regarding hell and the afterlife, supporting queer individuals and women in their fight for equality, and achieving a better understanding of racism and privilege.

Many people in deconstruction communities expend significant effort criticizing Evangelicals and attempting to gain a following. While I believe they deserve intense criticism, this strategy fails to effectively tackle the problem because they generally don’t listen to us!

Our tendency to punish our former organizations sometimes overlooks the challenging process of healing and growth. It is the same trap we fell into in our former associations.

Order Now!

Campfires occupy a special spot in the mosaic of history. They act as communal hubs across different cultures and faiths. The campfire’s circular design fosters equal participation within the collective group. The flames at the center draw our focus and encourage face-to-face interactions as we exchange experiences, wisdom, and insights about the world beyond. It is where legendary myths and tales are born.

Order Now – Study Questions in each chapter!

This book is named Campfires in the Desert as it stems from nearly 400 discussions we held with individuals on our podcast, The Desert Sanctuary, and our aspiration to improve.

Available now!

Thanks for considering us, autographed copies are $20

Karl Forehand

Are you serious about deconstruction and asking bigger questions?

If that’s the case, this book was created for you. As a former pastor, I made the mistake of deconstructing a bit and then trying to start something new, as I was trained to do. The problem with that approach is that I wasn’t ready to begin something new.

I hadn’t delved deeply enough or asked enough questions. The first stage of deconstruction typically includes assessing our beliefs regarding hell and the afterlife, supporting queer individuals and women in their fight for equality, and achieving a better understanding of racism and privilege.

Many people in deconstruction communities expend significant effort criticizing Evangelicals and attempting to gain a following. While I believe they deserve intense criticism, this strategy fails to effectively tackle the problem because they generally don’t listen to us!

Our tendency to punish our former organizations sometimes overlooks the challenging process of healing and growth. It is the same trap we fell into in our former associations.

Order Now!

Campfires occupy a special spot in the mosaic of history. They act as communal hubs across different cultures and faiths. The campfire’s circular design fosters equal participation within the collective group. The flames at the center draw our focus and encourage face-to-face interactions as we exchange experiences, wisdom, and insights about the world beyond. It is where legendary myths and tales are born.

Order Now – Study Questions in each chapter!

This book is named Campfires in the Desert as it stems from nearly 400 discussions we held with individuals on our podcast, The Desert Sanctuary, and our aspiration to improve.

Available now!

Thanks for considering us, autographed copies are $20

Karl Forehand

Are you serious about deconstruction and asking bigger questions?

If that’s the case, this book was created for you. As a former pastor, I made the mistake of deconstructing a bit and then trying to start something new, as I was trained to do. The problem with that approach is that I wasn’t ready to begin something new.

I hadn’t delved deeply enough or asked enough questions. The first stage of deconstruction typically includes assessing our beliefs regarding hell and the afterlife, supporting queer individuals and women in their fight for equality, and achieving a better understanding of racism and privilege.

Many people in deconstruction communities expend significant effort criticizing Evangelicals and attempting to gain a following. While I believe they deserve intense criticism, this strategy fails to effectively tackle the problem because they generally don’t listen to us!

Our tendency to punish our former organizations sometimes overlooks the challenging process of healing and growth. It is the same trap we fell into in our former associations.

Order Now!

Campfires occupy a special spot in the mosaic of history. They act as communal hubs across different cultures and faiths. The campfire’s circular design fosters equal participation within the collective group. The flames at the center draw our focus and encourage face-to-face interactions as we exchange experiences, wisdom, and insights about the world beyond. It is where legendary myths and tales are born.

Order Now – Study Questions in each chapter!

This book is named Campfires in the Desert as it stems from nearly 400 discussions we held with individuals on our podcast, The Desert Sanctuary, and our aspiration to improve.

Available now!

Thanks for considering us, autographed copies are $20

Karl Forehand

Rebecca is a dedicated advocate working tirelessly with both communities and schools across the United States to tackle poverty and heal trauma. Her journey began in 2011 when, as a single mother of three, she fought her way out of poverty and a trailer park. Discovered by a local poverty resolution project, Rebecca’s transformative journey led her to ESSDACK. She later went on to establish multiple projects aimed at assisting families across the country. 

After earning her college degree with an emphasis on education, Rebecca turned her attention to public schools, sparking a trauma-informed schools movement in her state and beyond. Widely recognized in Kansas and throughout the United States for her groundbreaking work in building trauma-informed schools, Rebecca is a captivating presenter. Her lived experience invites audiences into a powerful narrative of healing, hope, and restoration.

Rebecca is a master facilitator, a generous storyteller, and possesses a unique talent for distilling and conveying complex concepts around the brain, behavior, and healing. Her carefully crafted work has illuminated the path for hundreds of schools and thousands of teachers on their journey to creating trauma-informed cultures and frameworks. More importantly, she guides participants in identifying their current position, their goals, and the path forward as a system.

Currently, Rebecca is the Director of Student Services/Resilience at ESSDACK, a school board member, and an active collaborator with Youth Core Ministries in expanding poverty resolution projects in Kansas and beyond. She is a wife to her soul mate, a mother to three incredible sons, and she treasures mentoring women in her hometown.

Coming in May!

Our New Course!

Religious Trauma Resources

Treasure Trove of Trauma Resources

The Desert Sanctuary Podcast

https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-desert-sanctuary/id1345562241

Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His books include Out into the Desert, Leaning Forward, Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father’s Heart, The Tea Shop, and Being: A Journey Toward Presence and Authenticity. He is the creator of The Desert Sanctuary podcast and community. He has been married to his wife Laura for 35 years and has one dog named Winston. His three children are grown and are beginning to multiply! You can read more about the author here.

Rebecca is a dedicated advocate working tirelessly with both communities and schools across the United States to tackle poverty and heal trauma. Her journey began in 2011 when, as a single mother of three, she fought her way out of poverty and a trailer park. Discovered by a local poverty resolution project, Rebecca’s transformative journey led her to ESSDACK. She later went on to establish multiple projects aimed at assisting families across the country. 

After earning her college degree with an emphasis on education, Rebecca turned her attention to public schools, sparking a trauma-informed schools movement in her state and beyond. Widely recognized in Kansas and throughout the United States for her groundbreaking work in building trauma-informed schools, Rebecca is a captivating presenter. Her lived experience invites audiences into a powerful narrative of healing, hope, and restoration.

Rebecca is a master facilitator, a generous storyteller, and possesses a unique talent for distilling and conveying complex concepts around the brain, behavior, and healing. Her carefully crafted work has illuminated the path for hundreds of schools and thousands of teachers on their journey to creating trauma-informed cultures and frameworks. More importantly, she guides participants in identifying their current position, their goals, and the path forward as a system.

Currently, Rebecca is the Director of Student Services/Resilience at ESSDACK, a school board member, and an active collaborator with Youth Core Ministries in expanding poverty resolution projects in Kansas and beyond. She is a wife to her soul mate, a mother to three incredible sons, and she treasures mentoring women in her hometown.

https://www.essdack.org/

Coming in May!

Our New Course!

Religious Trauma Resources

Treasure Trove of Trauma Resources

The Desert Sanctuary Podcast

https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-desert-sanctuary/id1345562241

Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His books include Out into the Desert, Leaning Forward, Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father’s Heart, The Tea Shop, and Being: A Journey Toward Presence and Authenticity. He is the creator of The Desert Sanctuary podcast and community. He has been married to his wife Laura for 35 years and has one dog named Winston. His three children are grown and are beginning to multiply! You can read more about the author here.

Larry Jordan spent 25 years in investment banking, assisting companies, governments, and non-profit agencies in issuing over $10 billion of municipal bonds for capital projects and cash flows.

In 2011, he quit his job and sold his house to spend his life in service. He drove veterans to the VA clinic, prepared 1,000 tax returns for low-income families, taught school in Africa, and volunteered for the American Red Cross.

Over the last 20 years, he traveled around the world, read over 1,000 books about spirituality, and had some powerful experiences in several spiritual traditions, including baking in a sweat lodge, chanting to Shiva, meditating in a zendo, and whirling with the dervishes.

His first book, The Way: Meaningful Spirituality for a Modern World was a Silver winner in the 2024 Nautilus Book Awards.

Coming in May!

Our New Course!

https://www.youtube.com/embed/LJhjoVf-GSQ

Religious Trauma Resources

Treasure Trove of Trauma Resources

The Desert Sanctuary Podcast

https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-desert-sanctuary/id1345562241

Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His books include Out into the Desert, Leaning Forward, Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father’s Heart, The Tea Shop, and Being: A Journey Toward Presence and Authenticity. He is the creator of The Desert Sanctuary podcast and community. He has been married to his wife Laura for 35 years and has one dog named Winston. His three children are grown and are beginning to multiply! You can read more about the author here.

Larry Jordan spent 25 years in investment banking, assisting companies, governments, and non-profit agencies in issuing over $10 billion of municipal bonds for capital projects and cash flows.

In 2011, he quit his job and sold his house to spend his life in service. He drove veterans to the VA clinic, prepared 1,000 tax returns for low-income families, taught school in Africa, and volunteered for the American Red Cross.

Over the last 20 years, he traveled around the world, read over 1,000 books about spirituality, and had some powerful experiences in several spiritual traditions, including baking in a sweat lodge, chanting to Shiva, meditating in a zendo, and whirling with the dervishes.

His first book, The Way: Meaningful Spirituality for a Modern World was a Silver winner in the 2024 Nautilus Book Awards.

Coming in May!

Our New Course!

https://www.youtube.com/embed/LJhjoVf-GSQ

Religious Trauma Resources

Treasure Trove of Trauma Resources

The Desert Sanctuary Podcast

https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-desert-sanctuary/id1345562241

Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His books include Out into the Desert, Leaning Forward, Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father’s Heart, The Tea Shop, and Being: A Journey Toward Presence and Authenticity. He is the creator of The Desert Sanctuary podcast and community. He has been married to his wife Laura for 35 years and has one dog named Winston. His three children are grown and are beginning to multiply! You can read more about the author here.

Larry Jordan spent 25 years in investment banking, assisting companies, governments, and non-profit agencies in issuing over $10 billion of municipal bonds for capital projects and cash flows.

In 2011, he quit his job and sold his house to spend his life in service. He drove veterans to the VA clinic, prepared 1,000 tax returns for low-income families, taught school in Africa, and volunteered for the American Red Cross.

Over the last 20 years, he traveled around the world, read over 1,000 books about spirituality, and had some powerful experiences in several spiritual traditions, including baking in a sweat lodge, chanting to Shiva, meditating in a zendo, and whirling with the dervishes.

His first book, The Way: Meaningful Spirituality for a Modern World was a Silver winner in the 2024 Nautilus Book Awards.

Coming in May!

Our New Course!

https://www.youtube.com/embed/LJhjoVf-GSQ

Religious Trauma Resources

Treasure Trove of Trauma Resources

The Desert Sanctuary Podcast

https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-desert-sanctuary/id1345562241

Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His books include Out into the Desert, Leaning Forward, Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father’s Heart, The Tea Shop, and Being: A Journey Toward Presence and Authenticity. He is the creator of The Desert Sanctuary podcast and community. He has been married to his wife Laura for 35 years and has one dog named Winston. His three children are grown and are beginning to multiply! You can read more about the author here.

Larry Jordan spent 25 years in investment banking, assisting companies, governments, and non-profit agencies in issuing over $10 billion of municipal bonds for capital projects and cash flows.

In 2011, he quit his job and sold his house to spend his life in service. He drove veterans to the VA clinic, prepared 1,000 tax returns for low-income families, taught school in Africa, and volunteered for the American Red Cross.

Over the last 20 years, he traveled around the world, read over 1,000 books about spirituality, and had some powerful experiences in several spiritual traditions, including baking in a sweat lodge, chanting to Shiva, meditating in a zendo, and whirling with the dervishes.

His first book, The Way: Meaningful Spirituality for a Modern World was a Silver winner in the 2024 Nautilus Book Awards.

Coming in May!

Our New Course!

https://www.youtube.com/embed/LJhjoVf-GSQ

Religious Trauma Resources

Treasure Trove of Trauma Resources

The Desert Sanctuary Podcast

https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-desert-sanctuary/id1345562241

Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His books include Out into the Desert, Leaning Forward, Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father’s Heart, The Tea Shop, and Being: A Journey Toward Presence and Authenticity. He is the creator of The Desert Sanctuary podcast and community. He has been married to his wife Laura for 35 years and has one dog named Winston. His three children are grown and are beginning to multiply! You can read more about the author here.

Bruce Epperly has served as a congregational pastor and university chaplain, university and seminary professor and administrator, and is a prolific author and lectionary commentator. With over forty years joining pulpit and classroom, Bruce recently retired from congregational ministry after serving eight years as Senior Pastor of South Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, Centerville, MA . He has relocated from Cape Cod to the Washington DC suburbs to be closer to his family. He continues to teach as Adjunct Faculty
at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington DC.

Ordained in the United Church of Christ and Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), he is the author of more than 80 books in theology, spirituality, healing and wholeness, scripture, and clergy wellbeing, including Jesus: Mystic, Healer, and Prophet; The Elephant is Running: Process and Open and Relational Theology and Religious Pluralism; and Simplicity, Spirituality, and Service: The Timeless Wisdom of Francis, Clare, and Bonaventure; The Jubilee Years: Embracing Clergy Retirement; A Center in a Cyclone: Twentieth Century Clergy Selfcare;  Francis of Assisi: From Privilege to Activism; Mystics in Action: 12 Saints for Today; Prophetic Healing: Howard Thurman’s Vision of Contemplative Activism; 101 Soul Seeds for Grandparents Working for a Better World;  Process Theology: Embracing Adventure with God; 101 Soul Seeds for a Joyful
Retirement. His publications are available on Amazon and from his publishers as well as your local bookstore.

Coming in May!

Our New Course!

https://www.youtube.com/embed/LJhjoVf-GSQ

Religious Trauma Resources

Treasure Trove of Trauma Resources

The Desert Sanctuary Podcast

https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-desert-sanctuary/id1345562241

Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His books include Out into the Desert, Leaning Forward, Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father’s Heart, The Tea Shop, and Being: A Journey Toward Presence and Authenticity. He is the creator of The Desert Sanctuary podcast and community. He has been married to his wife Laura for 35 years and has one dog named Winston. His three children are grown and are beginning to multiply! You can read more about the author here.

Bruce Epperly has served as a congregational pastor and university chaplain, university and seminary professor and administrator, and is a prolific author and lectionary commentator. With over forty years joining pulpit and classroom, Bruce recently retired from congregational ministry after serving eight years as Senior Pastor of South Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, Centerville, MA . He has relocated from Cape Cod to the Washington DC suburbs to be closer to his family. He continues to teach as Adjunct Faculty
at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington DC.

Ordained in the United Church of Christ and Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), he is the author of more than 80 books in theology, spirituality, healing and wholeness, scripture, and clergy wellbeing, including Jesus: Mystic, Healer, and Prophet; The Elephant is Running: Process and Open and Relational Theology and Religious Pluralism; and Simplicity, Spirituality, and Service: The Timeless Wisdom of Francis, Clare, and Bonaventure; The Jubilee Years: Embracing Clergy Retirement; A Center in a Cyclone: Twentieth Century Clergy Selfcare;  Francis of Assisi: From Privilege to Activism; Mystics in Action: 12 Saints for Today; Prophetic Healing: Howard Thurman’s Vision of Contemplative Activism; 101 Soul Seeds for Grandparents Working for a Better World;  Process Theology: Embracing Adventure with God; 101 Soul Seeds for a Joyful
Retirement. His publications are available on Amazon and from his publishers as well as your local bookstore.

Coming in May!

Our New Course!

https://www.youtube.com/embed/LJhjoVf-GSQ

Religious Trauma Resources

Treasure Trove of Trauma Resources

The Desert Sanctuary Podcast

https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-desert-sanctuary/id1345562241

Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His books include Out into the Desert, Leaning Forward, Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father’s Heart, The Tea Shop, and Being: A Journey Toward Presence and Authenticity. He is the creator of The Desert Sanctuary podcast and community. He has been married to his wife Laura for 35 years and has one dog named Winston. His three children are grown and are beginning to multiply! You can read more about the author here.

Bruce Epperly has served as a congregational pastor and university chaplain, university and seminary professor and administrator, and is a prolific author and lectionary commentator. With over forty years joining pulpit and classroom, Bruce recently retired from congregational ministry after serving eight years as Senior Pastor of South Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, Centerville, MA . He has relocated from Cape Cod to the Washington DC suburbs to be closer to his family. He continues to teach as Adjunct Faculty
at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington DC.

Ordained in the United Church of Christ and Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), he is the author of more than 80 books in theology, spirituality, healing and wholeness, scripture, and clergy wellbeing, including Jesus: Mystic, Healer, and Prophet; The Elephant is Running: Process and Open and Relational Theology and Religious Pluralism; and Simplicity, Spirituality, and Service: The Timeless Wisdom of Francis, Clare, and Bonaventure; The Jubilee Years: Embracing Clergy Retirement; A Center in a Cyclone: Twentieth Century Clergy Selfcare;  Francis of Assisi: From Privilege to Activism; Mystics in Action: 12 Saints for Today; Prophetic Healing: Howard Thurman’s Vision of Contemplative Activism; 101 Soul Seeds for Grandparents Working for a Better World;  Process Theology: Embracing Adventure with God; 101 Soul Seeds for a Joyful
Retirement. His publications are available on Amazon and from his publishers as well as your local bookstore.

Coming in May!

Our New Course!

https://www.youtube.com/embed/LJhjoVf-GSQ

Religious Trauma Resources

Treasure Trove of Trauma Resources

The Desert Sanctuary Podcast

https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-desert-sanctuary/id1345562241

Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His books include Out into the Desert, Leaning Forward, Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father’s Heart, The Tea Shop, and Being: A Journey Toward Presence and Authenticity. He is the creator of The Desert Sanctuary podcast and community. He has been married to his wife Laura for 35 years and has one dog named Winston. His three children are grown and are beginning to multiply! You can read more about the author here.

A 30+ year music industry veteran, Derek Webb has sold millions of albums as a founding member of Texas-based folk/rock band Caedmon’s Call and ruffled political & spiritual feathers alike during his over 25-year solo career.

His latest project, Survival Songs, is no exception. Written and recorded in just one month, the new album is a powerful response to the urgent need for comfort, courage, and empowerment, especially for queer youth facing growing threats in today’s culture.

As an artist, citizen, and dad of teens, Webb invites listeners to join him on tour and experience these powerful songs live: a soundtrack for survival in dangerous times.

Derek Webb’s new album offers songs for LGBTQ solidarity – The Christian Century

https://www.derekwebb.com/epk

https://www.derekwebb.com/shows

Coming in May!

Our New Course!

https://www.youtube.com/embed/LJhjoVf-GSQ

Religious Trauma Resources

Treasure Trove of Trauma Resources

The Desert Sanctuary Podcast

https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-desert-sanctuary/id1345562241

Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His books include Out into the Desert, Leaning Forward, Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father’s Heart, The Tea Shop, and Being: A Journey Toward Presence and Authenticity. He is the creator of The Desert Sanctuary podcast and community. He has been married to his wife Laura for 35 years and has one dog named Winston. His three children are grown and are beginning to multiply! You can read more about the author here.

Bruce Epperly has served as a congregational pastor and university chaplain, university and seminary professor and administrator, and is a prolific author and lectionary commentator. With over forty years joining pulpit and classroom, Bruce recently retired from congregational ministry after serving eight years as Senior Pastor of South Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, Centerville, MA . He has relocated from Cape Cod to the Washington DC suburbs to be closer to his family. He continues to teach as Adjunct Faculty
at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington DC.

Ordained in the United Church of Christ and Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), he is the author of more than 80 books in theology, spirituality, healing and wholeness, scripture, and clergy wellbeing, including Jesus: Mystic, Healer, and Prophet; The Elephant is Running: Process and Open and Relational Theology and Religious Pluralism; and Simplicity, Spirituality, and Service: The Timeless Wisdom of Francis, Clare, and Bonaventure; The Jubilee Years: Embracing Clergy Retirement; A Center in a Cyclone: Twentieth Century Clergy Selfcare;  Francis of Assisi: From Privilege to Activism; Mystics in Action: 12 Saints for Today; Prophetic Healing: Howard Thurman’s Vision of Contemplative Activism; 101 Soul Seeds for Grandparents Working for a Better World;  Process Theology: Embracing Adventure with God; 101 Soul Seeds for a Joyful
Retirement. His publications are available on Amazon and from his publishers as well as your local bookstore.

Coming in May!

Our New Course!

https://www.youtube.com/embed/LJhjoVf-GSQ

Religious Trauma Resources

Treasure Trove of Trauma Resources

The Desert Sanctuary Podcast

https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-desert-sanctuary/id1345562241

Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His books include Out into the Desert, Leaning Forward, Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father’s Heart, The Tea Shop, and Being: A Journey Toward Presence and Authenticity. He is the creator of The Desert Sanctuary podcast and community. He has been married to his wife Laura for 35 years and has one dog named Winston. His three children are grown and are beginning to multiply! You can read more about the author here.

Religious Addiction – 4 of 4

This Episode “Questions for Enablers 5-7

Robert Minor holds a Ph.D. from the University of Iowa and has done research in India,Japan, Taiwan, the Near East, and Europe. Besides his interest in history of religions methodology, he concentrates on Indian religious thought and texts, and religion and gender. Among his publications are numerous articles and eight books, three of which were published both in the United States and India: Sri Aurobindo: The Perfect and the Good; Bhagavadgita: An Exegetical Commentary and Modern Indian Interpreters of the Bhagavadgita.

His recent books include The Religious, the Spiritual, and the Secular: Auroville and Secular India (SUNY Press), Scared Straight: Why It’s So Hard to Accept Gay People and Why It’s So Hard to be Human (HumanityWorks!) and When Religion Is an Addiction

Coming in May!

Our New Course!

Religious Trauma Resources

Treasure Trove of Trauma Resources

The Desert Sanctuary Podcast

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-desert-sanctuary/id1345562241

Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His books include Out into the Desert, Leaning Forward,  Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father’s Heart, The Tea Shop and Being: A Journey Toward Presence and Authenticity.  He is the creator of The Desert Sanctuary podcast and community.  He is married to his wife Laura of 35 years and has one dog named Winston.  His three children are grown and are beginning to multiply! You can read more about the author here.

Religious Addiction – 3 of 4

This Episode “Quesions for Enablers 1-4”

• Religion is the addiction our culture promotes
• Who are the enablers?
• Dependence with the addict
• The need to be “nice”
• Making excuses
• Blaming ourselves

Stay tuned for part 4 with Robert N. Minor, PhD

Robert Minor holds a Ph.D. from the University of Iowa and has done research in India,Japan, Taiwan, the Near East, and Europe. Besides his interest in history of religions methodology, he concentrates on Indian religious thought and texts, and religion and gender. Among his publications are numerous articles and eight books, three of which were published both in the United States and India: Sri Aurobindo: The Perfect and the Good; Bhagavadgita: An Exegetical Commentary and Modern Indian Interpreters of the Bhagavadgita.

His recent books include The Religious, the Spiritual, and the Secular: Auroville and Secular India (SUNY Press), Scared Straight: Why It’s So Hard to Accept Gay People and Why It’s So Hard to be Human (HumanityWorks!) and When Religion Is an Addiction

Coming in May!

Our New Course!

Religious Trauma Resources

Treasure Trove of Trauma Resources

The Desert Sanctuary Podcast

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-desert-sanctuary/id1345562241

Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His books include Out into the Desert, Leaning Forward,  Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father’s Heart, The Tea Shop and Being: A Journey Toward Presence and Authenticity.  He is the creator of The Desert Sa

Religious Addiction – 2 of 4

This Episode “The Challenges of Addiction”

• Taking Time Off
• Enlightened Witnesses
• Stop Chasing Perfection
• Journey or Tour
• Need for Control
• Ambiguity and Certainty
• Cultural Prejudice
• Marketplace of Souls

Stay tuned for part 3 and 4 with Robert N. Minor, PhD

Robert Minor holds a Ph.D. from the University of Iowa and has done research in India,Japan, Taiwan, the Near East, and Europe. Besides his interest in history of religions methodology, he concentrates on Indian religious thought and texts, and religion and gender. Among his publications are numerous articles and eight books, three of which were published both in the United States and India: Sri Aurobindo: The Perfect and the Good; Bhagavadgita: An Exegetical Commentary and Modern Indian Interpreters of the Bhagavadgita.

His recent books include The Religious, the Spiritual, and the Secular: Auroville and Secular India (SUNY Press), Scared Straight: Why It’s So Hard to Accept Gay People and Why It’s So Hard to be Human (HumanityWorks!) and When Religion Is an Addiction

Coming in May!

Our New Course!

Religious Trauma Resources

Treasure Trove of Trauma Resources

The Desert Sanctuary Podcast

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-desert-sanctuary/id1345562241

Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His books include Out into the Desert, Leaning Forward,  Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father’s Heart, The Tea Shop and Being: A Journey Toward Presence and Authenticity.  He is the creator of The Desert Sanctuary podcast and community.  He is married to his wife Laura of 35 years and has one dog named Winston.  His three children are grown and are beginning to multiply! You can read more about the author here.

This Episode will be released on both The Unlearning Curve and the Desert Sanctuary podcasts. This episode is an introduction to the situation, and the second episode dives deeper into how we have operated in the past and how people enable the abuser to behave badly (led by Megan South Benninger).

History

During the 2023 incident with platforming an accused abuser at the Theo bros beer camp, The New Evangelicals and Tim Whitaker were deeply involved in participating and promoting. When abuse survivors asked for an explanation, they were ignored, dismissed, and harassed, including me.

Megan Benninger joined us on the Desert Sanctuary Podcast to discuss the incident, but very few supportive actions were taken by the speakers who were encouraged to speak up. Tim responded with a video, after 5 minutes of research and talking to the accused abuser, that was eventually removed by his board. Here is our podcast episodes if you want that history. I will also include other episodes that followed, with several others.

The Current Situation

Last year (2024), there was an incident between Tim Whitaker and a female employee, which was severe enough to warrant an investigation by Grace, an organization suited to helping groups like churches get the facts about issues that arise.

Here are some of the blogs that came out.

The Organization Comes First – Karl Forehand

 TNE Reckoning Announcement – from RV and W1(link to report)

Allegations against Tim Whitaker and The New Evangelicals show how hierarchy transfers to progressive ministries – Rick Pidcock

That time I got an angry call from the subject of an article about anger and abuse –

Rick Pidcock

Is Nowhere Safe? 5 Things Whistleblower Helpers Should Do Instead of Repeating Harmful History – Rebecca Hopkins

TNE and Trauma: Not So Fast is Wiser than Let’s Move On – Tia Levings

Bodies Behind the Bus Podcast

The Net Grace report was a thorough report, but even while the online communities were trying to digest it and report on the situation, Tim Whittaker behaved badly and tried actively to convince people not to make this a big deal. The incident involved rage driving, which traumatized the victim, and Tam posted a video at his workout facility with the song “Student Driver.” Various things led us to believe that he was not serious about changing or the allegations, TNE was partially responsible for enabling this behavior.

Travel Tips for the Desert – Part 3

Travel Tips for the Desert – Part 2

Travel Tips for the Desert – Part 1

How to Survive a Stroke

Coming in May!

Our New Course!

Religious Trauma Resources

Treasure Trove of Trauma Resources

The Desert Sanctuary Podcast

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-desert-sanctuary/id1345562241

Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His books include Out into the Desert, Leaning Forward,  Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father’s Heart, The Tea Shop and Being: A Journey Toward Presence and Authenticity.  He is the creator of The Desert Sanctuary podcast and community.  He is married to his wife Laura of 35 years and has one dog named Winston.  His three children are grown and are beginning to multiply! You can read more about the author here.

401 – Tim Whitaker & TNE – Still Not Getting It

This Episode will be released on both The Unlearning Curve and the Desert Sanctuary podcasts. This episode is an introduction to the situation, and the second episode dives deeper into how we have operated in the past and how people enable the abuser to behave badly (led by Megan South Benninger).

History

During the 2023 incident with platforming an accused abuser at the Theo bros beer camp, The New Evangelicals and Tim Whitaker were deeply involved in participating and promoting. When abuse survivors asked for an explanation, they were ignored, dismissed, and harassed, including me.

Megan Benninger joined us on the Desert Sanctuary Podcast to discuss the incident, but very few supportive actions were taken by the speakers who were encouraged to speak up. Tim responded with a video, after 5 minutes of research and talking to the accused abuser, that was eventually removed by his board. Here is our podcast episodes if you want that history. I will also include other episodes that followed, with several others.

The Current Situation

Last year (2024), there was an incident between Tim Whitaker and a female employee, which was severe enough to warrant an investigation by Grace, an organization suited to helping groups like churches get the facts about issues that arise.

Here are some of the blogs that came out.

The Organization Comes First – Karl Forehand

 TNE Reckoning Announcement – from RV and W1(link to report)

Allegations against Tim Whitaker and The New Evangelicals show how hierarchy transfers to progressive ministries – Rick Pidcock

That time I got an angry call from the subject of an article about anger and abuse –

Rick Pidcock

Is Nowhere Safe? 5 Things Whistleblower Helpers Should Do Instead of Repeating Harmful History – Rebecca Hopkins

TNE and Trauma: Not So Fast is Wiser than Let’s Move On – Tia Levings

Bodies Behind the Bus Podcast

The Net Grace report was a thorough report, but even while the online communities were trying to digest it and report on the situation, Tim Whittaker behaved badly and tried actively to convince people not to make this a big deal. The incident involved rage driving, which traumatized the victim, and Tam posted a video at his workout facility with the song “Student Driver.” Various things led us to believe that he was not serious about changing or the allegations, TNE was partially responsible for enabling this behavior.

Travel Tips for the Desert – Part 3

Travel Tips for the Desert – Part 2

Travel Tips for the Desert – Part 1

How to Survive a Stroke

Coming in May!

Our New Course!

Religious Trauma Resources

Treasure Trove of Trauma Resources

The Desert Sanctuary Podcast

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-desert-sanctuary/id1345562241

Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His books include Out into the Desert, Leaning Forward,  Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father’s Heart, The Tea Shop and Being: A Journey Toward Presence and Authenticity.  He is the creator of The Desert Sanctuary podcast and community.  He is married to his wife Laura of 35 years and has one dog named Winston.  His three children are grown and are beginning to multiply! You can read more about the author here.

Religious Addiction – 1 of 4

This Episode “The High of Righteousness”

• Religion Never Does Anything
• Avoiding the work
• Price of Nice Enabling
• Does society need you to be an addict?
• How to know you’re an addict
• Confirmation bias
• Othering
• Bypassing

So it begins, our 4 part interview with Robert N. Minor, PhD

Robert Minor holds a Ph.D. from the University of Iowa and has done research in India,Japan, Taiwan, the Near East, and Europe. Besides his interest in history of religions methodology, he concentrates on Indian religious thought and texts, and religion and gender. Among his publications are numerous articles and eight books, three of which were published both in the United States and India: Sri Aurobindo: The Perfect and the Good; Bhagavadgita: An Exegetical Commentary and Modern Indian Interpreters of the Bhagavadgita.

His recent books include The Religious, the Spiritual, and the Secular: Auroville and Secular India (SUNY Press), Scared Straight: Why It’s So Hard to Accept Gay People and Why It’s So Hard to be Human (HumanityWorks!) and When Religion Is an Addiction (HumanityWorks!).

Travel Tips for the Desert – Part 3

Travel Tips for the Desert – Part 2

Travel Tips for the Desert – Part 1

How to Survive a Stroke

Coming in May!

Our New Course!

Religious Trauma Resources

Treasure Trove of Trauma Resources

The Desert Sanctuary Podcast

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-desert-sanctuary/id1345562241

Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His books include Out into the Desert, Leaning Forward,  Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father’s Heart, The Tea Shop and Being: A Journey Toward Presence and Authenticity.  He is the creator of The Desert Sanctuary podcast and community.  He is married to his wife Laura of 35 years and has one dog named Winston.  His three children are grown and are beginning to multiply! You can read more about the author here.

Campfires are essential to our history as gathering spots for various cultures and faiths. Their circular setup encourages equal involvement among community members. With fire at the heart, we focus on each other, fostering an environment for sharing experiences and perspectives in the broader world. Campfires have sparked numerous myths and tales. This book culminates nearly 400 discussions from our podcast, The Desert Sanctuary.

We use the desert metaphor because it illustrates how individuals often feel when they question their religion and cultural norms. They frequently experience an identity crisis, reflecting on questions like, “Who am I?” and “What should I do next?”

Think of each chapter as a gathering around a campfire, where you can listen to stories and share experiences with fellow travelers. These campfire sessions aren’t lectures that demand your agreement; instead, each chapter serves as a platform for discussion, encouraging us to release our certainties while exploring the truths we uncover from various campfires.

Section 1 offers Travel Tips for Deconstruction, designed as conversation starters to inspire thought-provoking discussions. Section 2 summarizes Good Questions collected from the campfires we attended. We hope this travel guide helps you navigate your journey of discovery more effectively, allowing you to embrace who you are and where you are while finding peace!

Travel Tips for the Desert – Part 3

Travel Tips for the Desert – Part 2

Travel Tips for the Desert – Part 1

A Stroke and a Song

Our New Course is ready to review for FREE! Start Here 

YouTube Playlist – click here

Religious Trauma Resources

Treasure Trove of Trauma Resources

The Desert Sanctuary Podcast

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-desert-sanctuary/id1345562241

Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His books include Out into the Desert, Leaning Forward,  Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father’s Heart, The Tea Shop and Being: A Journey Toward Presence and Authenticity.  He is the creator of The Desert Sanctuary podcast and community.  He is married to his wife Laura of 35 years and has one dog named Winston.  His three children are grown and are beginning to multiply! You can read more about the author here.

Some churches are bold enough to reach beyond their own walls. For a more progressive church, this could involve setting up a booth at a pride festival. Churches engage in parades and community activities and offer free babysitting during their Vacation Bible School and summer camps, hoping to encourage parents to attend the final program of the event. While these activities may be presented as a means to “save souls,” their primary aim often serves as a recruitment strategy.

In many contemporary churches, systems are in place to warmly welcome individuals at the entrance, address their inquiries, and connect them with the congregation and the church’s mission. This practice of excessive kindness, often observed with new pastors, is referred to as the honeymoon phase. During this time, the community expresses immense joy over a new pastor, overwhelming them with praise while reserving their grievances for later.

Travel Tips for the Desert – Part 3

Travel Tips for the Desert – Part 2

Travel Tips for the Desert – Part 1

How to Survive a Stroke

Our New Course is ready to review for FREE! Start Here 

YouTube Playlist – click here

Religious Trauma Resources

Treasure Trove of Trauma Resources

The Desert Sanctuary Podcast

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-desert-sanctuary/id1345562241

Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His books include Out into the Desert, Leaning Forward,  Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father’s Heart, The Tea Shop and Being: A Journey Toward Presence and Authenticity.  He is the creator of The Desert Sanctuary podcast and community.  He is married to his wife Laura of 35 years and has one dog named Winston.  His three children are grown and are beginning to multiply! You can read more about the author here.

When we earnestly explore our identity, I believe we will uncover it. In this journey of self-discovery, we might also encounter our wounds. The shame and trauma we reveal may stem from various experiences with the church, or perhaps these issues were overlooked as the church focused on other matters.

By being fully present, we gain deeper insights into ourselves, enhancing our ability to heal and grow to our full potential. In this process, we cultivate a keen intuition, and the necessary guides will likely show up just when needed.

If we start with a bunch of assumptions about truth and give ourselves to the group first, we may find that the church achieves its goals at our expense.

Travel Tips for the Desert – Part 3

Travel Tips for the Desert – Part 2

Travel Tips for the Desert – Part 1

A Stroke and a Song

Our New Course is ready to review for FREE! Start Here 

YouTube Playlist – click here

Religious Trauma Resources

Treasure Trove of Trauma Resources

The Desert Sanctuary Podcast

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-desert-sanctuary/id1345562241

Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His books include Out into the Desert, Leaning Forward,  Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father’s Heart, The Tea Shop and Being: A Journey Toward Presence and Authenticity.  He is the creator of The Desert Sanctuary podcast and community.  He is married to his wife Laura of 35 years and has one dog named Winston.  His three children are grown and are beginning to multiply! You can read more about the author here.

As I deepen my understanding of trauma and its healing, I’ve come to recognize that articulating my feelings and their location within me is crucial for recovery. This realization was transformative; however, I noticed that religion often overlooks this concept. By its nature, faith tends to dismiss feelings (and even certain facts) in order to embrace the narrative established by those who first created the beliefs.

Travel Tips for the Desert – Part 3

Travel Tips for the Desert – Part 2

Travel Tips for the Desert – Part 1

How to Survive a Stroke

Our New Course is ready to review for FREE! Start Here 

YouTube Playlist – click here

Religious Trauma Resources

The Desert Sanctuary Podcast

Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His books include Out into the Desert, Leaning Forward,  Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father’s Heart, The Tea Shop and Being: A Journey Toward Presence and Authenticity.  He is the creator of The Desert Sanctuary podcast and community.  He is married to his wife Laura of 35 years and has one dog named Winston.  His three children are grown and are beginning to multiply! You can read more about the author here.

The preachers I once respected were exceptionally skilled at conveying the idea, “The world is against you.” This resonated with the congregations I attended, as they often preferred to escape reality by immersing themselves in an artificial community. However, if we take a step back and look at the universe more objectively, we may discover the contrary. Some might even argue that the world (or universe) actually supports our advancement.

When we step beyond narrow religious beliefs, we don’t put ourselves at risk; instead, we create an opportunity to align with our world and experience more of what we seek.

If God exists, maybe this was what was meant by “Fear not!”

Travel Tips for the Desert – Part 3

Travel Tips for the Desert – Part 2

Travel Tips for the Desert – Part 1

How to Survive a Stroke

Our New Course is ready to review for FREE! Start Here 

YouTube Playlist – click here

Religious Trauma Resources

The Desert Sanctuary Podcast

Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His books include Out into the Desert, Leaning Forward,  Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father’s Heart, The Tea Shop and Being: A Journey Toward Presence and Authenticity.  He is the creator of The Desert Sanctuary podcast and community.  He is married to his wife Laura of 35 years and has one dog named Winston.  His three children are grown and are beginning to multiply! You can read more about the author here.

If God is real, He should be better than me in many ways. He should use his ability and power to enhance everything in the world. If God has all these abilities that could help me, he/she/they should help me and not require or desire that I “worship” them for being better. The fact that God is better than me is under intense scrutiny as I journey and discover, especially since he seems to be more like these narcissistic “toddlers” than several humans that I have come to admire.

Keep asking good questions!

Travel Tips for the Desert – Part 2

Travel Tips for the Desert – Part 1

A Stroke and a Song

Our New Course is ready to review for FREE! Start Here   

YouTube Playlist – click here

Religious Trauma Resources

The Desert Sanctuary Podcast

Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His books include Out into the Desert, Leaning Forward,  Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father’s Heart, The Tea Shop and Being: A Journey Toward Presence and Authenticity.  He is the creator of The Desert Sanctuary podcast and community.  He is married to his wife Laura of 35 years and has one dog named Winston.  His three children are grown and are beginning to multiply! You can read more about the author here.

Just because the church service feels right and gives the illusion of something magical, doesn’t mean that it is necessarily the best thing for us spiritually—it’s entirely plausible that we are simply addicted to it.

Travel Tips for the Desert – Part 3

Travel Tips for the Desert – Part 2

Travel Tips for the Desert – Part 1

Our New Course is ready to review for FREE! Start Here   

YouTube Playlist – click here

Religious Trauma Resources

The Desert Sanctuary Podcast

Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His books include Out into the Desert, Leaning Forward,  Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father’s Heart, The Tea Shop and Being: A Journey Toward Presence and Authenticity.  He is the creator of The Desert Sanctuary podcast and community.  He is married to his wife Laura of 35 years and has one dog named Winston.  His three children are grown and are beginning to multiply! You can read more about the author here.

We persist in posing the questions in this series. Some may think these inquiries lead to bitterness or that we’re simply stirring up trouble by raising them. My hope is that these questions guide us toward a more evolved state of being. Outside of organized religion, I can truly listen to the whispers and feel the rhythm of the universe, discovering peace and comfort in the process. My solace comes not from a definitive belief system but from a mindset that continually questions everything.

Travel Tips for the Desert – Part 3

Travel Tips for the Desert – Part 2

Travel Tips for the Desert – Part 1

A Stroke and a Song

Our New Course is ready to review for FREE! Start Here 

YouTube Playlist – click here

Religious Trauma Resources

The Desert Sanctuary Podcast

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-desert-sanctuary/id1345562241

Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His books include Out into the Desert, Leaning Forward,  Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father’s Heart, The Tea Shop and Being: A Journey Toward Presence and Authenticity.  He is the creator of The Desert Sanctuary podcast and community.  He is married to his wife Laura of 35 years and has one dog named Winston.  His three children are grown and are beginning to multiply! You can read more about the author here.

My deconstruction began when I started asking questions. The questions weren’t the regular softball questions we asked Sunday school teachers, which propped up what the teacher was already trying to assert. These questions caused the rest of the class to groan, mumble, and, most likely, talk about me behind my back.

I continue to ask the questions in this series. Many would believe that these questions make us bitter or that we’re just causing problems by asking them. I hope the questions help us evolve into a better state of being. Being outside of organized religion, I can finally hear the whispers and observe the drumbeat of the universe, along with the peace and comfort that I find. I find my comfort not in a finalized belief statement, but in a way of being that continues to question everything.

Travel Tips for the Desert – Part 3

Travel Tips for the Desert – Part 2

Travel Tips for the Desert – Part 1

A Stroke and a Song

Our New Course is ready to review for FREE! Start Here 

Religious Trauma Resources

The Desert Sanctuary Podcast

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-desert-sanctuary/id1345562241

Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His books include Out into the Desert, Leaning Forward,  Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father’s Heart, The Tea Shop and Being: A Journey Toward Presence and Authenticity.  He is the creator of The Desert Sanctuary podcast and community.  He is married to his wife Laura of 35 years and has one dog named Winston.  His three children are grown and are beginning to multiply! You can read more about the author he

My deconstruction began when I started asking questions. The questions weren’t the regular softball questions we asked Sunday school teachers, which propped up what the teacher was already trying to assert. These questions caused the rest of the class to groan, mumble, and, most likely, talk about me behind my back.

I continue to ask the questions in this series. Many would believe that these questions make us bitter or that we’re just causing problems by asking them. I hope the questions help us evolve into a better state of being. Being outside of organized religion, I can finally hear the whispers and observe the drumbeat of the universe, along with the peace and comfort that I find. I find my comfort not in a finalized belief statement, but in a way of being that continues to question everything.

Travel Tips for the Desert – Part 3

Travel Tips for the Desert – Part 2

Travel Tips for the Desert – Part 1

A Stroke and a Song

Our New Course is ready to review for FREE! Start Here 

Religious Trauma Resources

The Desert Sanctuary Podcast

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-desert-sanctuary/id1345562241

Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His books include Out into the Desert, Leaning Forward,  Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father’s Heart, The Tea Shop and Being: A Journey Toward Presence and Authenticity.  He is the creator of The Desert Sanctuary podcast and community.  He is married to his wife Laura of 35 years and has one dog named Winston.  His three children are grown and are beginning to multiply! You can read more about the author here.

My deconstruction began when I started asking questions. The questions weren’t the regular softball questions we asked Sunday school teachers, which propped up what the teacher was already trying to assert. These questions caused the rest of the class to groan, mumble, and, most likely, talk about me behind my back.

I continue to ask the questions in this series. Many would believe that these questions make us bitter or that we’re just causing problems by asking them. I hope the questions help us evolve into a better state of being. Being outside of organized religion, I can finally hear the whispers and observe the drumbeat of the universe, along with the peace and comfort that I find. I find my comfort not in a finalized belief statement, but in a way of being that continues to question everything.

Travel Tips for the Desert – Part 3

Travel Tips for the Desert – Part 2

Travel Tips for the Desert – Part 1

A Stroke and a Song

Our New Course is ready to review for FREE! Start Here 

YouTube Playlist – click here

Religious Trauma Resources

The Desert Sanctuary Podcast

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-desert-sanctuary/id1345562241

Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His books include Out into the Desert, Leaning Forward,  Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father’s Heart, The Tea Shop and Being: A Journey Toward Presence and Authenticity.  He is the creator of The Desert Sanctuary podcast and community.  He is married to his wife Laura of 35 years and has one dog named Winston.  His three children are grown and are beginning to multiply! You can read more about the author here.

My deconstruction began when I started asking questions. The questions weren’t the regular softball questions we asked Sunday school teachers which propped up what the teacher was already trying to assert. These questions caused the rest of the class to groan, mumble, and most likely, talk about me behind my back.

I continue to ask the questions in this series. Many would believe that these questions make us bitter or that we’re just causing problems by asking them. I hope the questions help us evolve into a better state of being. Being outside of organized religion, I can finally hear the whispers and observe the drumbeat of the universe and the peace and comfort that I find. I find my comfort not in a finalized belief statement, but a way of being that continues to question everything.

Travel Tips for the Desert – Part 3

Travel Tips for the Desert – Part 2

Travel Tips for the Desert – Part 1

A Stroke and a Song

Our New Course is ready to review for FREE! Start Here 

YouTube Playlist – click here

Religious Trauma Resources

The Desert Sanctuary Podcast

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-desert-sanctuary/id1345562241

Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His books include Out into the Desert, Leaning Forward,  Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father’s Heart, The Tea Shop and Being: A Journey Toward Presence and Authenticity.  He is the creator of The Desert Sanctuary podcast and community.  He is married to his wife Laura of 35 years and has one

My deconstruction began when I started asking questions. The questions weren’t the regular softball questions we asked Sunday school teachers which propped up what the teacher was already trying to assert. These questions caused the rest of the class to groan, mumble, and most likely, talk about me behind my back.

I tried asking the questions to mentors and those higher up in our denominational structures. Although the answers from these leaders were more polished like they had quoted them a few times, they didn’t really strike at the heart of the problem or answer the question. Most leaders weren’t very patient with people asking questions, and they usually found a way to mock me.

In a way, asking the questions was liberating, almost like I was speaking for generations of people who asked the same question and got the same non-answers. Most of the beliefs in question were holes in the doctrinal assumptions that had existed for centuries if not millennia. I could almost hear Sunday school teachers, former pastors, and lifelong church members whispering to me from the grave to please continue to ask these questions.

To be honest, sometimes questions do not have obvious answers and may never be answered sufficiently, but I still believe we have to keep asking the question if we really want answers. Doubling down on our ignorance is no way to make progress before long.

I continue to ask the questions in this series. Many would believe that these questions make us bitter or that we’re just causing problems by asking them. I hope the questions help us evolve into a better state of being. Being outside of organized religion, I can finally hear the whispers and observe the drumbeat of the universe and the peace and comfort that I find. I find my comfort not in a finalized belief statement, but a way of being that continues to question everything.

Travel Tips for the Desert – Part 3

Travel Tips for the Desert – Part 2

Travel Tips for the Desert – Part 1

A Stroke and a Song

Our New Course is ready to review for FREE! Start Here 

YouTube Playlist – click here

Religious Trauma Resources

The Desert Sanctuary Podcast

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-desert-sanctuary/id1345562241

Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His books include Out into the Desert, Leaning Forward,  Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father’s Heart, The Tea Shop and Being: A Journey Toward Presence and Authenticity.  He is the creator of The Desert Sanctuary podcast and community.  He is married to his wife Laura of 35 years and has one dog named Winston.  His three children are grown and are beginning to multiply! You can read more about the author here.

Our New Course is ready to review for FREE! Start Here

YouTube Playlist – click here

Religious Trauma Resources

The Desert Sanctuary Podcast

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-desert-sanctuary/id1345562241

Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His books include Out into the Desert, Leaning Forward,  Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father’s Heart, The Tea Shop and Being: A Journey Toward Presence and Authenticity.  He is the creator of The Desert Sanctuary podcast and community.  He is married to his wife Laura of 35 years and has one dog named Winston.  His three children are grown and are beginning to multiply! You can read more about the author here.

Ginger Healy MSW, LCSW is a clinical social worker with almost 30 years of experience in the field. Ginger has worked as a child abuse investigator, hospital social worker, and school therapist. She spent 15 years as the social service supervisor at an international adoption agency and was able to travel to provide support for orphanages all over the world.

This job continues to inform her work on attachment and trauma needs in children. She is currently the director of programs for the Attachment & Trauma Network where she co-anchors the podcast “Regulated and Relational” and speaks across the nation on trauma-informed schools, therapeutic parenting, and community engagement.

Ginger is also the author of Regulation and Co-Regulation: Accessible Neuroscience that Brings Calm into the Classroom. Ginger is married and has four children who have been her greatest teachers about developmental trauma and neurodiversity. She loves to travel and read.

https://thedesertsanctuary.org/

Religious Trauma Resources

The Desert Sanctuary Podcast

Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His books include Out into the Desert, Leaning Forward,  Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father’s Heart, The Tea Shop and Being: A Journey Toward Presence and Authenticity.  He is the creator of The Desert Sanctuary podcast and community.  He is married to his wife Laura of 35 years and has one dog named Winston.  His three children are grown and are beginning to multiply! You can read more about the author here. 

Talk therapies engage only the mind, which helps with the awareness that hopefully leads to changes in behavior. Somatic Therapy cultivates body awareness so that people can explore thoughts, emotions, and memories together to enable change, increase resilience, and improve symptoms of PTSD, depression, and anxiety. Then, we are not just aware but more able to respond to the demands and triggers of life and improve our overall well-being.

Evolving From Religious Trauma is a book created by Karl and Laura Forehand © 2024

Images are courtesy of Filmora®

https://thedesertsanctuary.org/

Religious Trauma Resources

The Desert Sanctuary Podcast

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-desert-sanctuary/id1345562241

Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His books include Out into the Desert, Leaning Forward,  Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father’s Heart, The Tea Shop and Being: A Journey Toward Presence and Authenticity.  He is the creator of The Desert Sanctuary podcast and community.  He is married to his wife Laura of 35 years and has one dog named Winston.  His three children are grown and are beginning to multiply! You can read more about the author here. 

Guy Stephens is a passionate advocate and a nationally recognized expert on restraint and seclusion. In 2019, Guy founded the Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint (AASR), a highly respected national nonprofit organization. AASR’s mission is to inform changes in policy and practice to reduce and eliminate the use of punitive and
exclusionary discipline and outdated behavioral management approaches and end the school-to-prison pipeline. Guy promotes trauma-informed, neuroscience-aligned, neurodiversity-arming, relationship-driven, and collaborative approaches to working with children. He has presented at conferences and events across North
America and regularly speaks as a guest lecturer for undergraduate and graduate courses. Guy currently serves on the board of directors for The Arc of Maryland and PDA North America. Guy believes that we can do better for all children and adults; if we can, we must. Guy understands that we must embrace neurodiversity and neuroscience to create safe and inclusive environments and ensure equal rights and opportunities for all.

Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His books include Out into the Desert, Leaning Forward,  Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father’s Heart, The Tea Shop and Being: A Journey Toward Presence and Authenticity.  He is the creator of The Desert Sanctuary podcast and community.  He is married to his wife Laura of 35 years and has one dog named Winston.  His three children are grown and are beginning to multiply! You can read more about the author here. 

Parenting is a daunting endeavor. I always felt like it was the most monumental task I ever attempted, yet I had the least training of anything else. There were classes and books available, but they were all over the place regarding theories and practices. My parents got some interesting advice from their religious peers, which only caused me more confusion when considering how I would tackle this challenging road ahead.

As I experimented with different approaches, I found something that worked with the firstborn but could have done better with the strong-willed middle child. My third child was magnificently different from either of them, and then religion and being a pastor muddied the water even further. It was like an excursion with no map and bad travel guides. Everyone had a theory, but no coherent way forward emerged.

To add to the mix, I entered parenthood with a reasonable amount of unaddressed trauma that I did not even realize I had. During the early years of parenthood, there was not enough time to breathe, much less address shadow material or consider such things. Their lives depended on us, and we did our best to keep our heads above water.

Evolving From Religious Trauma is a book created by Karl and Laura Forehand © 2024

Images are courtesy of Filmora®

https://thedesertsanctuary.org/

Religious Trauma Resources

The Desert Sanctuary Podcast

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-desert-sanctuary/id1345562241

Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His books include Out into the Desert, Leaning Forward,  Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father’s Heart, The Tea Shop and Being: A Journey Toward Presence and Authenticity.  He is the creator of The Desert Sanctuary podcast and community.  He is married to his wife Laura of 35 years and has one dog named Winston.  His three children are grown and are beginning to multiply! You can read more about the author here. 

Keynote Speaker, Trauma Responsive Education, Restorative Justice, Poverty Resolution, Reimagining At-Risk Learners as At-Promise, Building Educational and Community Systems for Better Outcomes

“I see you, I hear you, I am with you” – is a phrase Rebecca coined to help people understand the foundational approach for building resilience in kids and staff.

Rebecca is a dedicated advocate working tirelessly with both communities and schools across the United States to tackle poverty and heal trauma. Her journey began in 2011 when, as a single mother of three, she fought her way out of poverty and a trailer park. Discovered by a local poverty resolution project, Rebecca’s transformative journey led her to ESSDACK. She later went on to establish multiple projects aimed at assisting families across the country. 

After earning her college degree with an emphasis on education, Rebecca turned her attention to public schools, sparking a trauma-informed schools movement in her state and beyond. Widely recognized in Kansas and throughout the United States for her groundbreaking work in building trauma-informed schools, Rebecca is a captivating presenter. Her lived experience invites audiences into a powerful narrative of healing, hope, and restoration.

Rebecca is a master facilitator, a generous storyteller, and possesses a unique talent for distilling and conveying complex concepts around the brain, behavior, and healing. Her carefully crafted work has illuminated the path for hundreds of schools and thousands of teachers on their journey to creating trauma-informed cultures and frameworks. More importantly, she guides participants in identifying their current position, their goals, and the path forward as a system.

Currently, Rebecca is the Director of Student Services/Resilience at ESSDACK, a school board member, and an active collaborator with Youth Core Ministries in expanding poverty resolution projects in Kansas and beyond. She is a wife to her soul mate, a mother to three incredible sons, and she treasures mentoring women in her hometown.

Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His books include Out into the Desert, Leaning Forward,  Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father’s Heart, The Tea Shop and Being: A Journey Toward Presence and Authenticity.  He is the creator of The Desert Sanctuary podcast and community.  He is married to his wife Laura of 35 years and has one dog named Winston.  His three children are grown and are beginning to multiply! You can read more about the author here. 

I went to church for most of my life. Much of that was in conservative, evangelical congregations. There were some positive aspects of being in a community with loving people. But I also understand that there are deep, systemic problems with religious organizations. In addition to trauma-related issues, organizations struggle with exclusion, othering, fear, and control. The trouble with reform is that organizations prefer to stay the same.

It is impossible to change them in any significant way once they have any level of success. However, surviving spiritually and even thriving outside the organization is also possible. We meet new people each day who are surviving and thriving and have been doing so for years. They still have their spirituality even though they might have given up their religion. I think it is because they realize that much of what they were searching for is inside them.

Religious Trauma Resources 

https://thedesertsanctuary.org/treasure-trove/

The Desert Sanctuary

Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-desert-sanctuary/id1345562241

Joe Brummer is a trauma survivor. Having lived through early exposure to violence, child abuse and neglect, and two violent anti-LGBTQ hate crimes, he turned his healing journey into a career in peacebuilding, restorative justice, and consulting in trauma-informed education. He supports schools and youth justice institutions internationally using a trauma-informed restorative lens to create supportive human-centered environments. Joe is a member of the adjunct faculty at Hartford International University for Religion and Peace, teaching the Peacebuilding Skills: Dialogue, Trauma & Restorative Justice course.

Joe has appeared on dozens of podcasts and webinars and presented at national and international conferences. Joe has completed the certification course in Dr. Bruce Perry’s Neurosequential Model in Education and is a member of the Attachment and Trauma Network’s Training Collaborative. After years of working in the mental health training field, he was the associate director of a community mediation center, where he ran criminal mediation programs, community dialogue initiatives, and school-based peer mediation programs, training hundreds of people to become mediators.

He served seven years on the board of directors for the National Association for Community Mediation. His book, Building a Trauma-informed Restorative School: Skills and Approaches for Improving Culture and Behavior (2020) is used by schools across the globe. His next book, Becoming a Trauma-Informed Restorative Educator: Practical Skills to Change Culture and Behavior, co-authored with RJ pioneer Margaret Thorsborne, will be released in mid-2024.

Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His books include Out into the Desert, Leaning Forward,  Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father’s Heart, The Tea Shop and Being: A Journey Toward Presence and Authenticity.  He is the creator of The Desert Sanctuary podcast and community.  He is married to his wife Laura of 35 years and has one dog named Winston.  His three children are grown and are beginning to multiply! You can read more about the author here. 

Evolving From Religious Trauma is a book created by Karl and Laura Forehand © 2024

Images are courtesy of Filmora®

https://thedesertsanctuary.org/

Religious Trauma Resources https://thedesertsanctuary.org/treasure-trove/ The Desert Sanctuary

Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-desert-sanctuary/id1345562241

Evolving From Religious Trauma is a book created by Karl and Laura Forehand © 2024

Images are courtesy of Filmora®

https://thedesertsanctuary.org/

Religious Trauma Resources

The Desert Sanctuary Podcast

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-desert-sanctuary/id1345562241

Religious Trauma Resources

The Desert Sanctuary Podcasthttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-desert-sanctuary/id1345562241

Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His books include Out into the Desert, Leaning Forward,  Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father’s Heart, The Tea Shop and Being: A Journey Toward Presence and Authenticity.  He is the creator of The Desert Sanctuary podcast and community.  He is married to his wife Laura of 35 years and has one dog named Winston.  His three children are grown and are beginning to multiply! You can read more about the author here. 

Evolving From Religious Trauma is a book created by Karl and Laura Forehand © 2024

Images are courtesy of Filmora®

https://thedesertsanctuary.org/

Religious Trauma Resources

The Desert Sanctuary Podcasthttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-desert-sanctuary/id1345562241

Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His books include Out into the Desert, Leaning Forward,  Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father’s Heart, The Tea Shop and Being: A Journey Toward Presence and Authenticity.  He is the creator of The Desert Sanctuary podcast and community.  He is married to his wife Laura of 35 years and has one dog named Winston.  His three children are grown and are beginning to multiply! You can read more about the author here. 

Evolving From Religious Trauma is a book created by Karl and Laura Forehand © 2024

Images courtesy of Filmora

Treasure Trove of Trauma Resources

Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His books include Out into the Desert, Leaning Forward,  Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father’s Heart, The Tea Shop and Being: A Journey Toward Presence and Authenticity.  He is the creator of The Desert Sanctuary podcast and community.  He is married to his wife Laura of 35 years and has one dog named Winston.  His three children are grown and are beginning to multiply! You can read more about the author here. 

Evolving From Religious Trauma is a book created by Karl and Laura Forehand © 2024

Images courtesy of Filmora

https://www.amazon.com/Evolving-Religious-Trauma-Karl-Forehand-ebook/dp/B0CWMJWY48/

Religious Trauma Resources

Treasure Trove of Trauma Resources

Religious Trauma Resources

Treasure Trove of Trauma Resources

The Desert Sanctuary Podcast

Evolving From Religious Trauma is a book created by Karl and Laura Forehand © 2024

Images courtesy of Filmora

Religious Trauma Resources

The Desert Sanctuary Podcast

Religious Trauma Resources

The Desert Sanctuary Podcast

Evolving From Religious Trauma is a book created by Karl and Laura Forehand © 2024

Religious Trauma Resources

The Desert Sanctuary Podcast

Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His books include Out into the Desert, Leaning Forward,  Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father’s Heart, The Tea Shop and Being: A Journey Toward Presence and Authenticity.  He is the creator of The Desert Sanctuary podcast and community.  He is married to his wife Laura of 35 years and has one dog named Winston.  He has three children that are grown.  You can read more about the author here.

Check in with us as we talk about elections.

Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His books include Out into the Desert, Leaning Forward,  Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father’s Heart, The Tea Shop and Being: A Journey Toward Presence and Authenticity.  He is the creator of The Desert Sanctuary podcast and community.  He is married to his wife Laura of 35 years and has one dog named Winston.  His three children are grown and are beginning to multiply! You can read more about the author here. 

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We continue our series on Ex-Pastor’s wives and daughters with Bex.

How Religion Lowers our Expectations

The World I Want to Live In

What Kind of Father is the Christian God?

Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His books include Out into the Desert, Leaning Forward,  Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father’s Heart, The Tea Shop and Being: A Journey Toward Presence and Authenticity.  He is the creator of The Desert Sanctuary podcast and community.  He is married to his wife Laura of 35 years and has one dog named Winston.  His three children are grown and are beginning to multiply!  You can read more about the author here.

Sarah Caton grew up in a small Mormon town in Utah. Her family wasn’t Mormon, though. Her parents were there on a mission to convert Mormons into fundamentalist Baptists.

As a young child, she whole heartedly believed in the family faith and even wanted to become a missionary when she grew up. She taught Sunday School, played the piano for church, and did everything she could to save souls for the Lord. But her main problem was she dared to ask questions and point out inconsistencies whenever she saw them. And then she feared being ostracized if anyone knew she was beginning to have doubts.

In her memoir, Deconstructing- the Memoir of a Preacher’s Daughter, Sarah describes what it was like to be a preacher’s daughter who asked all wrong questions, taking readers on a journey through the struggles she faced and the decisions she made, and ultimately the deconstructing of her faith.

https://www.facebook.com/DeconstructingMemoir

Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His books include Out into the Desert, Leaning Forward,  Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father’s Heart, The Tea Shop and Being: A Journey Toward Presence and Authenticity.  He is the creator of The Desert Sanctuary podcast and community.  He is married to his wife Laura of 35 years and has one dog named Winston.  His three children are grown and are beginning to multiply! You can read more about the author here. 

Jessica is a DV survivor and advocate, as well as a recovering people pleaser (still working on that one). She is currently homeschooling her three kids and is in the beginning stages of becoming a birth doula. Jessa is passionate about advocacy for women, especially survivors of abuse within the church. In her spare time she loves to play volleyball, read, paint/craft, and work on jigsaw puzzles.

An Open Letter to Christians

In Honor of my Friend

A Prescription for Healing

Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His books include Out into the Desert, Leaning Forward,  Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father’s Heart, The Tea Shop and Being: A Journey Toward Presence and Authenticity.  He is the creator of The Desert Sanctuary podcast and community.  He is married to his wife Laura of 35 years and has one dog named Winston.  He has three children that are grown.  You can read more about the author here.  

Former Pastor’s Wife

I was in ministry from age 5- 35. I was raised in the independent fundamental baptist cult. Went to Bible college at Pensacola Christian College for a year. Was married at age 19 and have been married for 26 years.  We moved to NY state to help start a church. We were assistant pastor and wife for 9 years and head pastor for 3 years. We have four kids three are now young adults and our youngest is a junior in high school. I home schooled for 14 years. I am currently in college with the goal of becoming a therapist focusing on religious trauma. I am also currently working as a special education assistant teacher in a moderately cognitive impairment middle school classroom. 

An Open Letter to Christians

In Honor of my Friend

A Prescription for Healing

Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His books include Out into the Desert, Leaning Forward,  Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father’s Heart, The Tea Shop and Being: A Journey Toward Presence and Authenticity.  He is the creator of The Desert Sanctuary podcast and community.  He is married to his wife Laura of 35 years and has one dog named Winston.  His three children are grown and are beginning to multiply! You can read more about the author here.  

ATN has grown into the VOICE for traumatized children and their families, schools, and communities. With a membership that reaches around the world, we are proud to be the premier support, education, and advocacy system for those raising or educating traumatized and attachment-disordered children.

Remaining true to the vision of our founder, Nancy Spoolstra:

Our focus is on helping children impacted by trauma and struggling with attachment by equipping the adults — the parents, caregivers and teachers.  

Today, our Board of Directors and a growing team of staff, consultants, and volunteers reach out to families and schools who are meeting the needs of our most precious resource — our children — who struggle with the impacts of their early trauma.

Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His books include Out into the Desert, Leaning Forward,  Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father’s Heart, The Tea Shop and Being: A Journey Toward Presence and Authenticity.  He is the creator of The Desert Sanctuary podcast and community.  He is married to his wife Laura of 35 years and has one dog named Winston.  His three children are grown and are beginning to multiply!  You can read more about the author here.

Jennifer Knapp is a Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, author, speaker, and advocate, known for her musical talents and commitment to social causes. With a rich history spanning over two decades, Knapp has left an indelible mark on the music industry.

Her career includes the remarkable achievement of selling over one million albums with her first three releases: the Gold-certified “Kansas” (1998), “Lay It Down” (2000), and “The Way I Am” (2001). Alongside this commercial success, Knapp has been honored with four Dove Awards and garnered two Grammy nominations.

Hailing from Kansas, Knapp’s musical journey has taken her across the globe, sharing stages with renowned artists like Jars of Clay and gracing the prestigious Lilith Fair Tour in 1999 and 2010. Her artistry has been lauded for its poignant exploration of the human experience intertwined with themes of spirituality.

Despite reaching the pinnacle of her career, Knapp embarked on a transformative hiatus in 2002, only to return seven years later with a renewed sense of purpose and passion for music. Her comeback album, “Letting Go” (2010), debuted at No. 73 on the Billboard Hot 200 Chart, marking a triumphant return to the spotlight.

In addition to her musical endeavors, Knapp is a trailblazer in advocacy, notably becoming the first major artist in the Christian music realm to openly discuss LGBTQ+ identity. This courageous stance sparked national dialogue and led to appearances on influential platforms like Larry King Live and the TEDx stage. In 2012, she founded the non-profit organization Inside Out Faith, dedicated to advocating for LGBTQ+ rights within faith communities.

Continuing to evolve as an artist and activist, Knapp recently completed a master’s degree in theological studies at Vanderbilt Divinity School, further solidifying her commitment to advancing social justice through music and discourse.

Jennifer Knapp’s multifaceted talents and unwavering dedication to advocacy make her a true Renaissance woman, inspiring audiences worldwide with her music and message of inclusivity and acceptance.

Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His books include Out into the Desert, Leaning Forward,  Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father’s Heart, The Tea Shop and Being: A Journey Toward Presence and Authenticity.  He is the creator of The Desert Sanctuary podcast and community.  He is married to his wife Laura of 35 years and has one dog named Winston.  His three children are grown and are beginning to multiply! You can read more about the author here.  

Rick Pidcock is a writer, poet, musician and speaker who creates new worlds of awareness that foster converging love. He approaches every article, book, album, or presentation as a conversation to cultivate awareness of the complexity, depth, and union within and among us.

After twenty years of leading worship in churches, Rick embarked on a season of spiritual healing where he learned to face his wounds and discover the wonders he had long been suppressing. His journey led him off the stage and drew him home.

He began producing music under the artist name Provoke Wonder, releasing his first full album “Consider the Stars” in 2020. Prior to the album’s release, it was featured at the 2019 BioLogos National Conference, where Rick led a session to share his story and a few songs from the album.

He graduated in 2021 from Northern Seminary with a Master of Arts degree in Worship, where he received the Academic Achievement award.

His first children’s book, What If?, is scheduled to release in 2023.

Rick completed a Fellowship with Baptist News Global, where he is a weekly contributor. His writing has also been featured at the American Academy of Religion, BioLogos, the Bucks County Beacon, the Center for Christogenesis, and Real Clear Religion.

Mark Wingfield, who is the Executive Director and Publisher of Baptist News Global, said: “I hope you’ve come to love the writings of Rick Pidcock, our former Clemons Fellow who is a keen analyst of American religion. Rick’s analysis and opinion pieces are some of our most-read content. And they always produce reactions.”

Rick is a stay-at-home dad and lives in Greenville, SC with his wife and five kids.

Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His books include Out into the Desert, Leaning Forward,  Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father’s Heart, The Tea Shop and Being: A Journey Toward Presence and Authenticity.  He is the creator of The Desert Sanctuary podcast and community.  He is married to his wife Laura of 35 years and has one dog named Winston.  His three children are grown and are beginning to multiply!  You can read more about the author here.

Anonymous Andrew

Anonymous Andrew Podcast: Life and the Choices We Make! A personal journey podcast. Focusing on dating and relationships.

After leaving a three year relationship that I endured deception, infidelity, gaslighting, co-dependency and more, I find myself wandering alone in the desert of empty romance. Needing to break a pattern of dating behavior that brings me to my knees. This podcast explores all aspects of romance from online dating, organic dating, self-love, self-respect, choosing the right partner for a relationships and so much more. Learning to sustain a healthy relationship. Should one should stay in a relationship if it was a poor choice. I have been choosing poorly and making many of these

Melody

Cultimatum: The Culture of Cults & Human Trafficking

From the studio of Anonymous Andrew Podcast, we present “Cultimatum,” a new podcast show that uncovers the hidden world of cults and human trafficking. We delve deep into the tactics, brainwashing, and recruiting methods used by these groups, shedding light on their shocking practices. Our podcast is more than just an exposé; it’s a sanctuary for survivors and ex-members who have escaped these organizations. We give them a platform to share their stories, knowing that many are traumatized and that their journeys to recovery are arduous.

Hosts:

Anonymous Andrew: Our main host who guides the discussions with sensitivity and insight.

Melody: A former cult member who co-hosts the show, providing a unique and personal perspective.

Mission: Awareness: Raising awareness about the prevalence of cults and human trafficking, not just in the U.S., but worldwide. Support: Offering a beacon of hope for those still trapped in these dangerous environments, encouraging them to break free and rebuild their lives. Education:

Educating the public on the methods and dangers of these groups, helping to prevent future victims.

What to Expect: In-Depth Analysis: Detailed explorations of the tactics and brainwashing techniques used by cults and human traffickers. Survivor Stories:

Hear firsthand accounts from survivors and ex-members, sharing their harrowing experiences and paths to recovery.

Expert Insights: Interviews with experts in the field, including psychologists, law enforcement officials, and activists.

Global Perspective: Understanding the impact of these groups worldwide and the efforts being made to combat them.

Join Us: We invite you to join us as we explore the harsh realities of these groups while also providing a message of hope and resilience for anyone affected by them. If you are a survivor of a cult or human trafficking and would like to share your story, please reach out to us. Together, we can raise awareness, support survivors, and work towards a safer world for everyone.

Tune in to “Cultimatum”: The Culture of Cults & Human Trafficking” and become part of our mission to shine a light on these dark corners of society and offer hope to those in need

Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His books include Out into the Desert, Leaning Forward,  Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father’s Heart, The Tea Shop and Being: A Journey Toward Presence and Authenticity.  He is the creator of The Desert Sanctuary podcast and community.  He is married to his wife Laura of 35 years and has one dog named Winston.  His three children are grown and are beginning to multiply! You can read more about the author here.

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https://www.facebook.com/bradyhardin/

Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His books include Out into the Desert, Leaning Forward,  Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father’s Heart, The Tea Shop and Being: A Journey Toward Presence and Authenticity.  He is the creator of The Desert Sanctuary podcast and community.  He is married to his wife Laura of 35 years and has one dog named Winston.  His three children are grown and are beginning to multiply! You can read more about the author here.

JoBeth Roberts is a spiritual entrepreneur. She’s a lifelong seeker, Mom, Hairstylist, Podcaster, and Fitness Instructor who’s naturally inclined toward optimism. She started sharing her relational travels in 2023 on her Podcast JoBeth on the Journey.

She gains inspiration for forward motion by stories that are empathic fuel during these times. JoBeth knows love binds us all and she can get you to hold that reality also. She powerfully understands now is the time to spread our wings – tell our stories – and let connection be formed: For GOOD

https://www.jobethonthejourney.com/

Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His books include Out into the Desert, Leaning Forward,  Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father’s Heart, The Tea Shop and Being: A Journey Toward Presence and Authenticity.  He is the creator of The Desert Sanctuary podcast and community.  He is married to his wife Laura of 35 years and has one dog named Winston.  His three childre

From her website:

Hi, I’m Liz. I live in the Seattle area with my husband Ken, our gorgeous black cat Athena, and our many plant babies. When not writing, you can find me swimming, jogging, hiking, baking, attempting to grow vegetables, and/or drinking a lot of tea.

In another life, I was a Christian minister working with college students. I also spent a long and complicated three years in seminary, getting a Master of Divinity degree. These days, I spend a lot of time grappling with and writing about what faith might look like beyond evangelicalism.

I write because I think there are things we can reclaim about the Christian tradition, even as we reexamine everything and throw a lot out.

I write because I still find Jesus compelling, as the New Testament depicts him — and because I find the women of the biblical story (and Christian history) compelling and highly underrated.

I write because I think there’s more to the Bible, church history, and theological possibilities than we may have been taught.

I write because Christian writing has been dominated by (a certain kind of white) men for too long, and I’m not about it anymore.

I write, I hope, toward peace — the kind of peace that only comes through justice. Toward all-inclusive love. Toward liberation from theologies that oppress women, queer folks, trans folks, people of color.

I write because I want to draw on the resources of faith to heal our world — literally our world, as in, Earth in a time of climate crisis. For God so loved her.

Whether or not you resonate with any of this, you are very welcome here.

If you’d like to read more, check out my now-occasional blog, my Substack, my (former) Patheos column, and/or my book Nice Churchy Patriarchy. I’d also love to connect via Instagram: @lizcoolj and @postevangelicalprayers.

Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His books include Out into the Desert, Leaning Forward,  Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father’s Heart, The Tea Shop and Being: A Journey Toward Presence and Authenticity.  He is the creator of The Desert Sanctuary podcast and community.  He is married to his wife Laura of 35 years and has one dog named Winston.  His three children are grown and are beginning to multiply! You can read more about the author here.

Since moving to the Pacific Northwest in 2014, Becky Garrison has been covering this region’s craft culture including food, beer, wine, spirits, cider, coffee, and cannabis/CBD, as well as the regional festival scene, and the rise of secular spiritual communities. 

Her eight books include her latest release Distilled in Washington: A History (The History Press, 2024), a book that marks her shift from covering the Holy Spirit to distilled spirits. Garrison’s recent writing credits on the PNW craft culture include work for The Alcohol Professor, Beverage Master Magazine, Cidercraft, The Dirty Spoon, The Grapevine Magazine, Northwest Travel & Life, Oregon Wine Press,Paste Magazine, ROVA, and SIP Magazine. 

During her tenure as professional Christian author (1994-2010), she penned seven books including Red and Blue God, Black and Blue Church (Jossey Bass, PW starred review), as well as contributing work to nine other books. In addition, she served as the Senior Contributing Editor forThe Wittenburg Door, the nation’s oldest religious satire magazine for over a dozen years. Currently, she servs on their board of directors and contribute to the Door’ssubstack. Also, she writes articles pertaining to spiritual health and wellness forSpirituality & Health, as well as infrequent reflections on church & state separation and spiritual narcissism for outlets like Yale Divinity School’s Reflections magazine and the Women in Theology blog. 

When she is not writing on her iPad or frequenting tasting rooms and brewpubs, Garrison can be found camping, hiking, kayaking, flyfishing, and savoring the PNW festival and music scene. 

https://www.beckygarrison.com/

Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His books include Out into the Desert, Leaning Forward,  Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father’s Heart, The Tea Shop and Being: A Journey Toward Presence and Authenticity.  He is the creator of The Desert Sanctuary podcast and community.  He is married to his wife Laura of 35 years and has one dog named Winston.  His three children are grown and are beginning to multiply!  You can read more about the author here.

Marla Taviano (she/her/hers) is into: books, love, justice, globes, anti-racism, blue, gray, rainbows, poems (and a hundred other things). Reads and writes for a living (and a life). Mom to some freaking awesome kids. Wears her heart on her t-shirts. On a mission/ quest/ journey to live wholefarted (not a typo). (Big fan of parenthesis-and em dashes.)

Website

Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His books include Out into the Desert, Leaning Forward,  Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father’s Heart, The Tea Shop and Being: A Journey Toward Presence and Authenticity.  He is the creator of The Desert Sanctuary podcast and community.  He is married to his wife Laura of 35 years and has one dog named Winston.  His three children are grown and are beginning to multiply!  You can read more about the author here.

My PhD is in Comparative Religion.

I focus on dispelling the hate and exclusivity caused by religion, addressing the misinformation, and healing religious trauma.

The “Religious Right” is very wrong.

My upcoming book, “We Have Ruined God: My Journey Out of Religion and Into Unconditional Love” addresses the patriarchal deception and agenda-driven dogma that has infected religions for centuries.

Religious doctrine that is a butterfly effect of insecurities and rage, justified by “God.”

Now, Love is my religion, and peace is my intention.

Chris Morehouse holds a Master’s in Public and International Affairs from the University of Pittsburgh, where he focused on economic and social development in Africa. He has long admired the way that African proverbs encapsulate profound wisdom in vivid ways. A legacy for all, African proverbs often accord with Judeo-Christian teachings. He serves as a deacon at Shepherdstown Presbyterian Church in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, where he lives with his family.

Legacy: Wisdom of African Traditions and the Bible compares almost 300 proverbs from all over the continent with Bible verses, organized into forty-six broad themes.
Chris Morehouse was compelled to write the book after exploring the Parallel Sayings books, which juxtapose insights from the great religious traditions with their counterparts from Jewish and Christian scriptures. These books explore resonances between Christianity and Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Taoism.
The author began to wonder why there was not a similar volume exploring corresponding insights from Africa’s traditions. In this book, you’ll discover:
• African expressions of the golden rule;
• versions of loving one’s enemies and welcoming the stranger;
• insights about losing your way to find your way—and much more.
The African idea of sankofa—“go back and get it”—tells us that we can go forward by looking to the past. Find common ground and get tools to face the future with the insights in this book of African and biblical wisdom.

Are you questioning the church of your upbringing but want to maintain your faith? Do you want to cut ties with your denomination, but fear abandonment by God? Are you struggling with spiritual anxiety—fear of hell, obsessive religious ritual, or feelings of never measuring up? 
 
Tiffany Yecke Brooks first explored reconstructing faith in Gaslighted by God. In this much needed follow-up, she equips readers to understand and name tactics of spiritual abuse and manipulation. Each chapter covers a different method of control found in toxic religious communities—including legalism, indoctrination, praise, and fear—and how to identify and respond to it in a healthy way. Brooks also reframes scriptural passages commonly weaponized by those in power.  
 
Weaving together interviews with diverse Christians and her own experience, Brooks offers a voice to those feeling isolated by spiritual anxiety. Empowered by this guide, readers will learn to trust their intuition, seek truth fearlessly, and love God and neighbor without restraint or fear.

https://tiffanyyeckebrooks.com/

https://thedesertsanctuary.org/leaning-forward-2023

Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His books include Out into the Desert, Leaning Forward,  Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father’s Heart, The Tea Shop and Being: A Journey Toward Presence and Authenticity.  He is the creator of The Desert Sanctuary podcast and community.  He is married to his wife Laura of 35 years and has one dog named Winston.  His three children are grown and are beginning to multiply! You can read more about the author here.

Christa Brown has been described as “the public face” of Baptist clergy sex abuse survivors. She talks openly about the minister who molested and raped her when she was a kid. She wrote about her experience in her book, Baptistland: A Memoir of Abuse, Betrayal, and Transformation.

She was the first Baptist clergy sex abuse survivor to directly address members of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee at the “Baptist Vatican” in Nashville and continued to plead for reforms for nearly twenty years. She has been profiled and quoted by numerous national and international news outlets. She served on the Board of Directors for SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, and the Board of Advisors for the Child-Friendly Faith Project.

For twenty-five years, she practiced law in Texas and was a board-certified specialist in civil appellate law.

Currently she spends her time hiking, practicing yoga, and being a mom and a grandma, and wife to her husband of over forty years

It’s Going to be Okay

The Jezebel Scapegoat Shuffle

My Top 10 Suggestions for Theologians

Was Jesus well-known in the 1st Century?

Colosseums and Cathedrals

Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His books include Out into the Desert, Leaning Forward, Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father’s Heart, The Tea Shop, and Being: A Journey Toward Presence and Authenticity. He is the creator of The Desert Sanctuary podcast and community. He has been married to his wife Laura for 35 years and has one dog named Winston. His three children are grown and are beginning to multiply! You can read more about the author here.

Brittney Hartley is an Atheist Spiritual Director, Author of No Nonsense Spirituality, and has a Masters Degree in Theology with a focus on the Future of American Religion.

https://nononsensespirituality.com/

Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His books include Out into the Desert, Leaning Forward,  Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father’s Heart, The Tea Shop and Being: A Journey Toward Presence and Authenticity.  He is the creator of The Desert Sanctuary podcast and community.  He is married to his wife Laura of 35 years and has one dog named Winston.  His three children are grown and

Pride month finale’.

Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His books include Out into the Desert, Leaning Forward,  Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father’s Heart, The Tea Shop and Being: A Journey Toward Presence and Authenticity.  He is the creator of The Desert Sanctuary podcast and community.  He is married to his wife Laura of 35 years and has one dog named Winston.  His three children are grown and

SUSAN COTTRELL is an international speaker whose TEDx talk has 1.6 million views. OutSmart magazine called her “The Mother of All MamaBears.” The Advocate dubbed her “our favorite affirming matriarch.” She is a prominent voice for the LGBTQ community and their faith parents who has been featured on ABC’s 20/20, Nightline and Good Morning America, on NBC News Out, and as a contributor on the Our Bible app. She is a public theologian and through her nonprofit organization—FreedHearts—Susan expresses her authentic love for the LGBTQ+ community and families; and she sees love as the healing foundation of family, faith, and community. She spent 20+ years in the nonaffirming Evangelical church, has a Master of Arts in Theological Studies, and served as the Vice-President of PFLAG Austin. Her FreedHearts podcast, Blog and YouTube videos have millions of followers, and her books “Mom, I’m Gay”—Loving Your LGBTQ Child and Strengthening Your Faith; True Colors: Celebrating the Truth and Beauty of the Real You; Radically Included: The Biblical Case for Radical Love and Inclusion; and Be the Love You Want to See in the World are critically acclaimed. She and her husband Rob have been married for 37 years and have five children, two of whom identify as queer, and three grandchildren.

ROBERT COTTRELL, is an author, an acclaimed speaker, with 35+ years experience in nonprofit management, spending decades helping restore hope into the lives of children with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. He is also a singer, worship leader, and musician and has shared the stage with George Jones, the Oak Ridge Boys, Loretta Lynn and many others. Rob is the co-founder of FreedHearts and has a tender, compassionate heart, especially for Dads of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender children.

Susan’s Ted Talk Freed Hearts Website

A 30 year music industry veteran, Derek Webb has sold millions of albums while ruffling political & spiritual feathers alike as both a solo artist and a founding member of Texas-based folk/rock band Caedmon’s Call. 

https://www.derekwebb.com/

Award-winning and Billboard-charting artist Flamy Grant is a shame-slaying, hip-swaying, singing-songwriting drag queen from Asheville, North Carolina. Her 2022 debut record, Bible Belt Baby, reached the #1 spot on the iTunes Christian Charts (the first drag performer to achieve this feat), was nominated for Best Pop Album at the San Diego Music Awards, and was named one of the Top Ten Queer Country Albums of 2023 by Rainbow Rodeo Magazine. Her single “Good Day” debuted at #20 on the Billboard Christian digital sales chart, and her follow-up single “Fortune Teller” reached #2 on the iTunes Christian chart.

Flamy is a winner of the 2023 Kerrville Folk Festival New Folk Competition, a 2023 QueerX Award nominee for Best Drag Artist, and a 2024 Queerty Award nominee for Drag Royalty. She has been featured in Rolling Stone, Billboard, Entertainment Weekly, People, and more. Her music has over 750,000 streams on Spotify, Apple, and Amazon music. A powerhouse vocalist and intrepid songwriter who blends folk, gospel, and roots, Flamy drags you into a therapeutic, theatrical mix of storytelling and song.

Armed with a bold lip and a blistering voice, Flamy is brilliant, resilient proof that nothing is sacred (but everything is holy) and shame belongs in the closet.

In Search of a Grown-up

What is Trauma?

It’s Going to be Okay

Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His books include Out into the Desert, Leaning Forward,  Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father’s Heart, The Tea Shop and Being: A Journey Toward Presence and Authenticity.  He is the creator of The Desert Sanctuary podcast and community.  He is married to his wife Laura of 35 years and has one dog named Winston.  His three children are grown and are beginning to multiply!  You can read more about the author here.

Rick Gregory is a former pastor turned spiritual life coach after experiencing a spiritual awakening. Through battling years of active alcoholism and undergoing a process of religious deconstruction, Rick has arrived at a profound realization: that the essence of truth, power, and the Kingdom of God—by whatever name one chooses to call God—resides within each of us. As the visionary founder of “The Awakened Collective,” Rick’s mission is to guide others toward the understanding that they have never been separated from their creator, nor from one another. Through his work, Rick seeks to ignite the spark of awakening within each individual, fostering a deeper connection to the divine within and to the interconnectedness of all beings.

Karl Forehand Is A Former Pastor, Podcaster, And Award-Winning Author. His Books Include Out Into The Desert, Leaning Forward,  Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About The Father’s Heart, The Tea Shop And Being: A Journey Toward Presence And Authenticity.  He Is The Creator Of The Desert Sanctuary Podcast And Community.  He Is Married To His Wife Laura Of 35 Years And Has One Dog Named Winston.  His Three Children Are Grown And Are Beginning To Multiply! You Can Read More About The Author Here

This week we decided to have a vulnerable conversation about a chapter in our new book, Evolving From Religious Trauma. We are not licensed therapists, so we rely a lot on the experts. I sometimes say, “Do your research and consult a professional.” Somatic therapies are a helpful tool to help us take control of our healing and make progress on our own. But, both of us are seeking out professionals right now as we navigate further on our healing journeys.

The Jezebel Scapegoat Shuffle

My Top 10 Suggestions for Theologians

Was Jesus well-known in the 1st Century?

Colosseums and Cathedrals

Leaning Forward Conference & Treasure Trove of Trauma Resources – Sponsored by The Desert Sanctuary

Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His books include Out into the Desert, Leaning Forward,  Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father’s Heart, The Tea Shop and Being: A Journey Toward Presence and Authenticity.  He is the creator of The Desert Sanctuary podcast and community.  He is married to his wife Laura of 35 years and has one dog named Winston.  His three children are grown and are beginning to multiply!  You can read more about the author here.