How Beliefs Emerge from Trauma

Last updated on: September 14, 2025 at 11:19 am By Karl J. Forehand

How Beliefs Emerge from Trauma We tend to think of our beliefs as coming from an eternal being or a perfect, unchanging place in history that has somehow stayed undisturbed, pure, and holy for thousands of years. The obvious problem with this view is that since the Reformation 500 years ago, when Protestants separated from Catholics, belief systems have split into more than 180 major Protestant denominations, along with thousands of independent groups and possibly tens of thousands of variations.[1]... Read more

Shouldn’t Communication Be Better?

Last updated on: July 14, 2025 at 7:24 am By Karl J. Forehand

Excerpt from the book Campfires in the Desert: A Deconstruction Travel Guide Copyright © 2025 by Karl Forehand Shouldn’t Communication Be Better? “You can tell whether a man is clever by his answers. You can tell whether a man is wise by his questions.” – Naguib Mahfouz In the Bible, John refers to Jesus as the Word of God (logos, Gr.). Some Christians refer to the Bible, which was compiled hundreds of years later, as the Word of God. Discussing... Read more

Small Town Wisdom – Volume 2

Last updated on: September 12, 2025 at 8:25 am By Karl J. Forehand

Small Town Wisdom Volume 2 Last week, as I noticed the corn changing colors and realized fall was here, I was immediately inspired and reflected on about eight things I had either learned or needed to unlearn, all of which were loosely related to life in small-town America. (From the last episode) Our town has roughly 1,500 residents. We produce enough wind energy to power our mostly agricultural community, with some industry scattered throughout. It takes about 30 to 45... Read more

Campfires in the Desert

Last updated on: September 11, 2025 at 6:20 am By Karl J. Forehand

Please help us! Since we released the book about 4 months ago, it has sold limited copies. I think it’s as good or better than our best seller, Out Into the Desert, but I haven’t found the right words to get people to take a chance on it. I beg you to give it a try and if you read it, please submit a review. The book is about healing and getting better. Please give it a shot!! Karl... Read more

Are Patriarchal Systems Effective?

Last updated on: July 12, 2025 at 10:14 am By Karl J. Forehand

Excerpt from the book Campfires in the Desert: A Deconstruction Travel Guide Copyright © 2025 by Karl Forehand Are Patriarchal Systems Effective? “Patriarchy encourages men to accept male privilege and perpetuate women’s oppression”. – Allan G. Johnson Sometimes, we question the effectiveness of systems based on their immediate results and who is asking. For instance, corporal punishment produces quick outcomes because a stronger adult can easily dominate children. It forces them into submission and somewhat alleviates the immediate situation.... Read more

Did My Tradition Get It Right?

Last updated on: July 12, 2025 at 9:36 am By Karl J. Forehand

Excerpt from the book Campfires in the Desert: A Deconstruction Travel Guide Copyright © 2025 by Karl Forehand Did My Tradition Get It Right? “The master key of knowledge is, indeed, a persistent and frequent questioning” – Peter Abelard From what I remember, my family regularly attended Southern Baptist (SBC) and Independent Fundamentalist Baptist (IFB) churches. IFB churches gained more attention recently when reality TV stars Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar showcased their cult-like beliefs and their leader, Bill Gothard,... Read more

Small Town Wisdom – Volume 1

Last updated on: September 12, 2025 at 7:49 am By Karl J. Forehand

Small Town Wisdom Volume 1 There’s a noticeable change in the air as the beautiful, dark forest-green corn stalks begin to turn sandpaper-brown. The auto repair shop where I had my inspection was busy with activity because the farmers are preparing their vehicles for harvest. The weather is cooling off, even though it usually warms back up around this time for a few days. Fall is my favorite time of year, and this year it got me thinking about small-town... Read more

Assume the Position – Print the Legend

Last updated on: August 26, 2025 at 10:39 am By Karl J. Forehand

Assume the Position – Print the Legend A Review and an Opinion Lately, I’ve been staying up late and searching for good comedy shows, but they are surprisingly hard to find across all my streaming services. Sometimes a show ends, and the next begins automatically. Often, the next show is a letdown, but a few nights ago, I discovered a true gem in HBO’s streaming library. It is called Assume the Position, and no, it is not an adult movie... Read more

Is My Church a Cult? Part 2 of 2

Last updated on: August 23, 2025 at 1:36 pm By Karl J. Forehand

Is My Church a Cult? Part 2 Is your church, political party, or other organization a cult? This manuscript aims to provide clear definitions so that someone can take an honest inventory of their organization. This kind of self-reflection and honest assessment is essential in all parts of our lives to ensure we’re not faking ourselves out, as we used to say down South. According to the Cult Education Institute, there are specific warning signs to look out for when... Read more

Why Go to Church?

Last updated on: June 28, 2025 at 7:24 am By Karl J. Forehand

Excerpt from the book Campfires in the Desert: A Deconstruction Travel Guide Copyright © 2025 by Karl Forehand Why Go to Church? “There are no foolish questions, and no man becomes a fool until he has stopped asking questions.” – Charles Proteus Steinmetz It’s been a while since I attended a church without a leadership role. I found it challenging to sit in the audience, so I got involved, even if I wasn’t always prepared. When we discuss the... Read more

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