Usurping Women’s Voices from the Patriarchy, Sherri Bothwell

Last updated on: February 22, 2024 at 2:09 pm By Karl J. Forehand

Usurping Women’s Voices from the Patriarchy Sherri Bothwell was introduced to Christianity as an 11-year-old child. As a result of the trauma she endured as a woman, she began working with abused women and children. Hearing their courageous stories, she faced her questions and shared her own story of abuse, and because of patriarchal Christian men, she eventually walked away from the faith. Her speech is Usurping Women’s Voices from the Patriarchy. I was lucky to create a Leaning Forward... Read more

Trauma and the Pastor’s Wife with Laura Forehand

Last updated on: February 15, 2024 at 12:09 pm By Karl J. Forehand

Trauma and the Pastor’s Wife Laura Forehand is a third-grade teacher and former pastor’s wife. She is an advocate for trauma-informed classrooms and an executive board member for Whole Brain Teaching. She and her partner, Karl, formed The Desert Sanctuary, which includes a blog, a podcast, and their best-selling books. I was lucky to create a Leaning Forward conference with all these women and their wisdom! Leaning Forward is the title of a book by Karl and Laura Forehand about... Read more

Something Better Than Mercy – The Value of Compassion

Last updated on: January 29, 2024 at 10:52 am By Karl J. Forehand

The Value of Compassion I still remember where I was when terrorists attacked the World Trade Centers on September 11, 2001. I was a pastor at my first church and sitting in the office. Technology was not what it is today, but it was easy to find coverage and immediately I was fielding calls and trying to make sense of what we saw repeatedly on television for the next few days. Three days later, President Bush addressed the nation and... Read more

Good Questions – Part 2 – Get Rid of Satan?

Last updated on: December 29, 2024 at 11:39 am By Karl J. Forehand

Good Questions – Part 2 – Get Rid of Satan? “A prudent question is one-half of wisdom.” Francis Bacon 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.... Read more

Reclaiming Married Sex from Purity Culture – Megan Benninger

Last updated on: February 13, 2024 at 12:04 pm By Karl J. Forehand

Reclaiming Married Sex from Purity Culture Megan Benninger has survived spiritual abuse in a variety of institutional settings, including a religious cult and a Southern Baptist church. She and her partner founded Baptist Accountability, an online database that tracks abuse within Baptist churches. Megan works tirelessly to educate others about spiritual and sexual abuse within churches and religious organizations. I was lucky to create a Leaning Forward conference with all these women and their wisdom! Leaning Forward is the title of... Read more

How to Speak Women with Susan Cottrell

Last updated on: February 9, 2024 at 10:44 am By Karl J. Forehand

How to Speak Women 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 have been featured on ABC’s 20/20, Nightline, and Good Morning America, on NBC News Out I was lucky to create a Leaning Forward conference with all these women and their wisdom! Leaning Forward... Read more

Why Worship is NOT Necessary

Last updated on: January 29, 2024 at 11:07 am By Karl J. Forehand

Why Worship is NOT Necessary Worship was important to me in fundamentalist, evangelicalism. My congregations considered the worship service primary. As you know, it included public prayer, recitation, music, and then a sermon. This was what we considered corporate worship, although we acknowledged that a person could worship anywhere. Worship was one of the big five purposes of the church. We were hoping to praise and acknowledge God for who He is. Sometimes public worship was very moving for me,... Read more

Trauma and the Black Community with NikkiG

Last updated on: February 8, 2024 at 2:36 pm By Karl J. Forehand

Trauma and the Black Community Nikki G. is a Life Coach and Advanced Certified Trauma Recovery Coach (in training) who helps survivors recover and thrive after Narcissistic Abuse, Religious Trauma, Spiritual Abuse, and cult involvement or High Demand Groups. I was lucky to create a Leaning Forward conference with all these women and their wisdom! Leaning Forward is the title of a book by Karl and Laura Forehand about moving beyond the confines of organized religion. It is also the title of an... Read more

Deconstructing the Holidays

Last updated on: January 29, 2024 at 11:15 am By Karl J. Forehand

Deconstructing the Holidays Sometime during this Christmas season, I commented on a post from one of my old friends who is a pastor when he was bragging about his Christmas production. When I first knew him, his church in a different city, produced what could only be described as a Broadway production at Christmas time. It was complete with live animals and a triumphant procession through the sanctuary to a song that had little to do with Christmas. It was... Read more

The Intersection of Patriarchy and Abuse with Ashley Easter

Last updated on: January 29, 2024 at 11:19 am By Karl J. Forehand

The Intersection of Patriarchy and Abuse Ashley Easter is a trained victim advocate, an author, a founder of an internationally attended abuse survivor conference, CEO of Courage 365, a television producer, an ordained reverend, an international speaker, an empowerment coach, and Vice-President of Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests. I was lucky to create a Leaning Forward conference with all these women and their wisdom! Leaning Forward is the title of a book by Karl and Laura Forehand about moving... Read more

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

In 1 Peter, what does Peter say Christ was chosen before but revealed in when?

Select your answer to see how you score.