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Karl Forehand
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Out Into the Desert: Thriving Outside Organized Religion Kindle Edition

by Karl Forehand (Author), Laura Forehand (Author), Keith Giles (Foreword) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 50 ratings
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Sometimes, when we begin to question our faith or have doubts about our tradition it can feel like we are wandering out into the desert. When we take a step back and honestly evaluate organized religion in the 21st century, many times it doesn't make any sense. The more we cling to it and try to save it, the worse it becomes. In addition, widespread abuse, cover ups and victim-shaming causes some of us to question whether it will ever be right again.

Out Into the Desert is an honest survey of Western Christianity, along with Karl and Laura's personal story as they journeyed through 20-plus years of ministry. Let the Forehands be your guide as they examine these questions and more ... 

  • Is it okay to take some time off from religion and do this assessment?
  • Are there things we can't see because we're too close?
  • Where else can we find community?
  • Is it possible to thrive outside of organized religion?
  • If Jesus were physically here, would he go to church? 
Previous page
  1. Print length
    213 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Quoir
  5. Publication date
    August 15, 2022
  6. File size
    725 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0B7KM22HR
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Quoir; 1st edition (August 15, 2022)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 15, 2022
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 725 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 213 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 50 ratings

About the author

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Karl Forehand

Karl Forehand

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Karl J. Forehand was a bi-vocational pastor for 20 years and has training in spiritual leadership coaching, plant-based nutrition, and spiritual direction. He lives in Missouri with his wife Laura and dog Winston. He has three grown children and two grandchildren.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
50 global ratings
Reconstructing yourself after deconstructing your faith? Read this gem and see you’re not alone!
5 Stars
Reconstructing yourself after deconstructing your faith? Read this gem and see you’re not alone!
Out of hundreds of books I’ve read and critiqued on deconstructing Christianity or finding a new place to fit in to society thereafter; this one has grabbed hold of my very soul. I can relate to so much Karl and Laura experienced in their 25 years of pastoring, all while I walk through my own healing process helping me to let go of decades of “church” teaching…of which “in my experience and even my family’s” the negative outweighed the positive…..anxiety, self righteousness, self doubt, phoniness, bitterness, fear, loneliness (yes, lots of loneliness) confusion, and not knowing my authentic self…and so I must say; this book is a gem, it has shown me that I am not alone on this journey (the desert)…Karl and Laura wrap their experiences neatly, intelligently, and compassionately to help others to be brave, to think beyond how they’ve simply been taught or programmed, and even help escape the clutches of what society believes “church” should look like…Perhaps, like it did for me; it may help free you up; to get out there, break free from the religious chains that hold you back and learn to accept yourself more, while embracing those who are hurting/in need (ALL people) from a heart of unconditional love….meanwhile, learning to be authentic, to be free. Reconstructing yourself to be the hands and feet. ~ Peace
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Top reviews from the United States

James Inglis
5.0 out of 5 stars Covers important ground for those "rethinking church"
Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2023
Verified Purchase
I was fortunate enough to read the original release of this in 2020, and I could see the importance of a book like this. The 2022 edition is even better, if only for the fact that it covers another two years of Karl and Laura’s lives over the pandemic.

Firstly, if you come from a more conservative Christian tradition and/or have a deep affiliation for the institution of the church, please allow your defenses to drop a little and approach this with an open mind. I, like Karl and Laura, have spent many years of blood, sweat and tears furthering the mission of the church. And even though life and faith shift may have changed some things for us, we’re still looking for glimpses of what the church (and the people that make it up) are trying to be. If you’re still feeling defensive but determined to power through this book, first go and read Pagan Christianity written by George Barna and Frank Viola first (published by Zondervan - bona fide Evangelical publication) and then come back to this.

Disclaimers aside, I appreciate this book. It isn’t always easy to read but it covers important ground for anyone who for one reason or another is “rethinking church”. I’ve enjoyed Karl’s other books, but the secret weapon of this one is Laura - you realize pretty quickly that both voices are necessary to get a fuller picture. It’s not a scholarly work and there are a couple of areas that they could have unpacked a little bit more, but I have no hesitation in giving this 5 stars.
2 people found this helpful
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RFP
5.0 out of 5 stars I wish there were more than five stars
Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2023
Verified Purchase
This is a twenty dollar book. This is a soft-cover book. This is an EXCELLENT book! I first "met" Karl Forehand (figuratively, of course) in his 2020 book, "The Tea Shop." Karl's authentic, and down-to-earth writing speaks to me with unexpected clarity and honesty. In this new book, Karl is joined by his wife, Laura, herself an accomplished writer, supremely able to convey thoughts and feelings with uncommon thoroughness and sensitivity. Reading this book was, to me, very much like having a quiet, personal conversation with these two inspiring people.

Having formerly been a church music director for a couple of decades, I was going through the motions of organized religion, unsatisfied and disillusioned by "The Show" until I beame aware that there is more - so much more - to God and spirituality than the habitual (addicted?) participation in the weekly business-as-usual services. As Evangelical "Christianity" coopted it's foundation and purpose with a need for political power, the desert seemed to be a good place to retreat. It is! I highly recommend "Out Into the Desert" as required reading for any person who is truly seeking authentic and meaningful spirituality.
4 people found this helpful
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Kevin S
5.0 out of 5 stars We are not alone!
Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2022
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This book is just what I needed in this season of my life. The vulnerability of Karl and Laura throughout this book was like a healing balm to my deconstructing heart. It's easy to read and so very easy to relate to. I found myself shaking my head in agreement so many times... thinking "been there done that." I'm so grateful to have this book on my desk as a great reminder that I am not alone on this journey.
2 people found this helpful
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John Bullock
4.0 out of 5 stars Leaving the Show
Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2023
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This a thought-provoking book questioning not only whether a centuries-old worship style is still needed in the 21st century, but also whether the obligation Christians feel to hold to that style leads to a lack of love, mercy, and acceptance, that puts the pastor and congregation in bondage to a form that prevents authenticity and real connection. I think the contents go beyond the title of "thriving outside organized religion" to a point where I am unsure of the author's view of the relevance of God. I wish there had been more fleshing out of how He/She/They (all terms used in the book) fit into the desert and what role or relevance was played in the authors' coming out of past rigidity into self discovery and acceptance. Is Jesus still relevant beyond an example? Certainly previous conceptions of God had to be rethought and seen with new perspective, but where does He/She/They fit into the new paradigm (other than not dependent at all on the typical church/denomination)?
I applaud the authors' transparency and persistence in encouraging ongoing questioning. An unchallenged belief system isn't faith; it's only an inheritance passed down to you.
One person found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars A Guide for the Deconstructing
Reviewed in the United States on August 16, 2022
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Karl and Laura Forehand share their stories about their deconstruction that resonates in me. We have questions in our spiritual journey, yet it's good to know there are those who went on before.

The desert can be a great place to be.
3 people found this helpful
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Sabrina Gingrich
1.0 out of 5 stars Awful
Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2023
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This book makes some really good points about the state of the American church and has the courage to ask some much-needed questions. As someone who has also left the church, I relate to and empathize with their wounds. I've seen the issues that they're speaking of first hand, and it needs to be discussed in a healthy way.

The unfortunate tone of this book is to reject the Bible as irrelevant (yet use it to teach lessons from "their truth"), call God profane names, insist that God is "she," and they go off on political rants. They have unfortunately decided to craft God into their own image.

This book is the spewing of angry and hurt people. While I fully agree that the church needs an overhaul, I can't promote creating your own religion out of the sting of wounds. Steer clear of this nonsense.
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Joe Machuta
5.0 out of 5 stars This is a must read for anyone deconstructing their faith!
Reviewed in the United States on August 16, 2022
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Karl and Laura take you on a journey from the certainty of ministry to the beautiful uncertainty of freedom from the organization and during that journey find the peace of exploring possibility and find real community in the process.
2 people found this helpful
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amazon kid
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read
Reviewed in the United States on September 18, 2022
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Good insight on modern day religion. It is refreshing to here from those on the inside that it is ok to challenge modern religious beliefs and to discover for yourself who God Is to you.
2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

guy
5.0 out of 5 stars If we really care about we claim to care about we should question it.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 8, 2023
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A beautiful, well written book. Karl and his wife Laura share of their life together, in church and out of church. A highly recommended book for those who have reached the edge of the religious box and are seeking a deeper walk into the fullness of the Divine.

A place in the desert where you learn to dig your own wells, and find the wells dug by others who have also walked the road in to the unknown.

If you are a pastors wife or a woman in church struggling with the fall out of religiosity, this is a must read.

For any pastors out there wrestling with the role, the fatigue, the questions, the hurts, the dullness of business as usual. This book will provide a welcome relief.

And for anyone else, this book will empower you to question what others may have demanded, you to keep to yourself.

Find your voice.

Find the still voice within.

An invitation to join many others on the Silk Road to a new way of community, authenticity, humility and a security beyond the certainty of the right information and church programmes.

Karl pulls from many sources and has a refreshing way of relating this to his own personal experience and walk, in a honest and down to earth manner. Laura likewise speaks of her own journey in each part and its beautiful how different their voices are but they in harmony all the same.

For the academic scholar and the cooking show fan.
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