Focusing on Somatic Healing

Last updated on: March 24, 2024 at 9:29 am By Karl J. Forehand

Focusing on Somatic Healing Amanda Baker, director of the Center for Anxiety and Traumatic Stress Disorders and a clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital, says, “It’s a treatment focusing on the body and how emotions appear within the body. Somatic therapies posit that our body holds and expresses experiences and emotions, and traumatic events or unresolved emotional issues can become ‘trapped’ inside.” [1] Talk therapies engage only the mind, which helps with an awareness that hopefully... Read more

Evolving From Religious Trauma

Last updated on: March 26, 2024 at 2:39 pm By Karl J. Forehand

Whether you are a broken-hearted ex-pastor who feels some guilt and shame about the past or a single mother who lost relationships and support when you shared your changing beliefs, this book can be a roadmap to addressing the trauma you carry in your body. Whether you consider yourself an atheist, agnostic, struggling Christian, or a spiritual nomad, you are all welcome to explore here and find your own way. Get the free PDF You don’t need to organize anything,... Read more

Religion and the Hypnotic Trance

Last updated on: March 24, 2024 at 9:13 am By Karl J. Forehand

Religion and the Hypnotic Trance According to The Clevland Clinic, hypnotherapy is “a heightened state of concentration and focused attention. Guided by a trained, certified hypnotist or hypnotherapist, hypnosis allows you to be more open to suggestions to making healthful changes in your perceptions, sensations, emotions, memories, thoughts, or behaviors.” [1] Hypnotherapy is moderately effective for me. I occasionally enlist my friend’s help, a trained therapist. One of my revelations as a pastor was that most Christian services are at least... Read more

Top 10 Reasons NOT to Join a Church

Last updated on: March 24, 2024 at 8:56 am By Karl J. Forehand

Top 10 Reasons NOT to Join a Church Before I even begin, and before you say, “You are generalizing.” You are right. I am speaking in a general sense because I believe all these systemic issues are generally accurate. In my opinion, every church does better or worse on each issue, but all are culpable. Progressive, mainline churches do better at inclusivity but haven’t addressed the systemic problems. What good does it do to include someone in a broken system?... Read more

New Music Release – Adaline “Hymnal”

Last updated on: February 2, 2024 at 10:34 am By Karl J. Forehand

New Music Release – Adaline Canadian alt-pop artist Adaline fuses powerfully evocative music with an emotionally unbound lyrical honesty. This authenticity appeals to her growing fanbase and is why she is considered “one of the best young songwriters in the country” (CBC Q) and “a rising Canadian talent that takes listeners to angelic heights” (Billboard Magazine). She has released four critically acclaimed studio albums garnering millions of streams, dozens of editorial playlist adds, and a nomination for “Pop Album of... Read more

Healing from Trauma 3 – Darkness & Shadow

Last updated on: March 19, 2024 at 8:48 am By Karl J. Forehand

Healing from Trauma – Darkness & Shadow (an excerpt from our book, Leaning Forward) In 2021, I was scheduled to work on the assembly line. To get Saturday off, I had to take ½ of Friday off to ensure I would not be scheduled for Saturday. It is a clever way to have an extended weekend without using more Personal Time Off (PTO). I was often excited to start a long weekend, but I did not feel much like working... Read more

Healing from Trauma 2 – Going Inside & Trusting Ourselves

Last updated on: March 12, 2024 at 9:38 am By Karl J. Forehand

Healing From Trauma – Going Inside & Trusting Ourselves (An excerpt from our book, Leaning Forward) For most of my life, I was told by religion that I should not trust myself. This was especially true of my feelings. We were taught what to believe based on the accepted belief systems and encouraged that even when it did not feel right, we should trust that it was correct. The reason for this was a base reasoning that the body and... Read more

Healing from Trauma – Part 1 of 3 – Being and Becoming

Last updated on: March 11, 2024 at 4:24 pm By Karl J. Forehand

Healing from Trauma – Being and Becoming (an excerpt from our book, Leaning Forward) I started recycling about 3 years ago. It always seemed like a promising idea. One company I worked for recycles about 95% of the material they use. They obviously have done it for years and have become very proficient at it. Various containers are strategically placed up and down our assembly line. They are emptied routinely and adherence to the program is expected and normal. We... Read more

316 – Rachael Peach – IFB Abuse Survivor

Last updated on: February 2, 2024 at 10:36 am By Karl J. Forehand

Rachael Peach – IFB Abuse Survivor Rachel is an abuse survivor who suffered abuse in the IFB church and eventually witnessed her abuser be incarcerated. She gave testimony / told her story in the Documentary, Let Us Prey. She did the hard work and now proclaims, “You can still be happy,” even after all that. Barbie Gets Revenge on Greg Locke Cultivated Ignorance – Evolving from Racism and Homophobia https://thedesertsanctuary.org/leaning-forward-2023/ Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His... Read more

God Treats Me Like a Christian

Last updated on: February 28, 2024 at 11:30 am By Karl J. Forehand

God Treats Me Like a Christian I had a rough day yesterday, and several people encouraged me to take care of myself, take some time off, and rest—So I did. As with most things, it got me thinking. In the back of my mind is always that thought that was implanted by Christianity that God must be punishing me, or blessing me, or trying to tell me something. On most days, I feel, that if God exists, he is ignoring... Read more

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What language was the New Testament originally written in?

Select your answer to see how you score.