72 - Why Do Aliens Hate Christianity? 

In today's episode of the Unlearning Curve podcast, we tackle a provocative question: Why do aliens seem to reject Christianity? This intriguing topic stems from an article by Joseph Jordan, who has researched over 600 abduction cases. In this blog post, we explore the intersection of faith, extraterrestrial beliefs, and cultural narratives, providing insights that challenge conventional thinking.

Understanding the Alien Perspective

The Claim of Alien Abductions

Jordan posits that abduction experiences are not physical events but rather spiritual visions aimed at diverting individuals from Christianity. The argument here is that those involved in New Age practices are more susceptible to these experiences, suggesting a connection between belief systems and extraterrestrial encounters. But what does this mean for the average believer?

The notion that aliens might "hate" Christianity is rooted in the fear that these experiences undermine faith. Jordan suggests that calling upon Jesus is the only way to repel these experiences, which raises the question: Are aliens truly targeting Christians, or is this a reflection of broader fears about belief and control?

The Control of Narratives

One reason Christianity struggles with the concept of aliens is the desire to maintain control over narratives. The church has historically sought to define reality for its followers, and the existence of extraterrestrial beings poses a significant challenge to that authority. How can believers reconcile their faith with the possibility of other intelligent life forms?

The Historical Context of Alien Narratives

Satanic Panic and Cultural Reaction

The discussion of aliens often intertwines with historical events like the Satanic Panic, where fear of the unknown led to widespread cultural hysteria. In this context, the rejection of alien narratives aligns with the church's long history of combatting perceived threats to its teachings. The fear of the unknown, whether it be aliens or occult practices, often leads to scapegoating and the preservation of traditional narratives.

The Role of Evangelicals

As our conversation unfolds, we reflect on how evangelicals respond to the idea of aliens. This community has historically been skeptical of anything that challenges the literal interpretations of scripture. By examining how evangelicals react to discussions about aliens, we can better understand the broader implications of faith and science for personal beliefs.

Implications for Believers

Navigating New Realities

For many Christians, the notion of alien life can evoke anxiety and confusion. This apprehension often stems from a misunderstanding of both scientific inquiry and faith. The narrative that aliens are hostile towards Christianity is not just a reflection of belief but also a commentary on the fear of change within religious communities.

The Importance of Open Dialogue

It's crucial for believers to engage in open discussions about faith, science, and the possibility of extraterrestrial life. By fostering a culture of inquiry rather than fear, churches can create environments where questions about aliens and faith can coexist without conflict. This dialogue is essential for spiritual growth and understanding in an increasingly complex world.

Conclusion

In summary, the question of why aliens seem to "hate" Christianity reveals deeper issues within religious communities regarding control, understanding, and the fear of the unknown. As we continue to explore these topics, it's essential to approach them with an open mind and a willingness to engage with new ideas. 

The Unlearning Curve Podcast

Copyright 2026 - Stuart Delony & Karl Forehand

[email protected]

While many of us yearn for truth and understanding, the systems we participate in often prevent us from attaining genuine freedom in our everyday lives. As we move away from organized religion, we begin to recognize patterns. We believe that addressing many of these challenges requires us to examine all aspects of our lives, including:

* Toxic Leaders

* Toxic/Dangerous Organizations

* Our Mental Well-Being

* The Things We Learn on the Journey

Regardless of your belief system, we encourage you to unlearn anything that doesn’t benefit you. This will lead to healing and uncover a new way forward!

JD Forehand is the son of a preacher and an overseas educator. Stuart Delony is a former pastor, podcaster, and blogger for the Snarky Faith community. Karl Forehand is a former pastor who runs The Desert Sanctuary, a home for spiritual nomads, with his wife, Laura.

Disclaimer: We view ourselves as practitioners on a journey of discovery rather than as experts. While we strive to share our experiences and the lessons we’re unlearning transparently, we will also refer you to professionals when necessary. Trusted guides will arrive when you need them.

Feel free to convey your thoughts, concerns, and necessary corrections to Karl ([email protected]) or Stuart ([email protected]). Additionally, visit our Facebook page, The Unlearning Curve.

The conversation starts with a critique of big systems and the way institutions often treat mature faith as a threat. Real growth asks questions. Institutions prefer slogans. Real community requires honesty. Institutions prefer scale, branding, and people who know when to sit down and clap on cue.

From there, the group talks about how churches confuse compliance with maturity, turning spiritual life into memorization, performance, and identity management. They push back on church cultures that reward sameness, punish doubt, and use fear, clichés, and culture-war markers to preserve control.

The second half shifts into politics, including the backlash against James Talarico, Southern Baptist hypocrisy, performative masculinity, women in ministry, Pride, rainbow panic, MAGA religion, and the endless parade of people who want power without accountability.

It is a mixed-bag episode, but the thread is clear: systems built on control do not reform themselves. Sometimes repentance is real. Sometimes it is branding. And sometimes the people in charge need to be removed before anything honest can grow.

Topics include:

The Unlearning Curve Podcast

Copyright 2025 - Stuart Delony & Karl Forehand

[email protected]

While many of us yearn for truth and understanding, the systems we participate in often prevent us from attaining genuine freedom in our everyday lives. As we move away from organized religion, we begin to recognize patterns. We believe that addressing many of these challenges requires us to examine all aspects of our lives, including:

* Toxic Leaders

* Toxic/Dangerous Organizations

* Our Mental Well-Being

* The Things We Learn on the Journey

Regardless of your belief system, we encourage you to unlearn anything that doesn’t benefit you. This will lead to healing and uncover a new way forward!

JD Forehand is the son of a preacher and an overseas educator. Stuart Delony is a former pastor, podcaster, and blogger for the Snarky Faith community. Karl Forehand is a former pastor who runs The Desert Sanctuary, a home for spiritual nomads, with his wife, Laura.

Disclaimer: We view ourselves as practitioners on a journey of discovery rather than as experts. While we strive to share our experiences and the lessons we’re unlearning transparently, we will also refer you to professionals when necessary. Trusted guides will arrive when you need them.

Feel free to convey your thoughts, concerns, and necessary corrections to Karl ([email protected]) or Stuart ([email protected]). Additionally, visit our Facebook page, The Unlearning Curve.

Faith was never supposed to be a copy machine.

In this episode of The Unlearning Curve, Stuart, JD, and Karl use the idea of cloning to talk about inherited beliefs, religious conformity, and what happens when people keep reproducing systems they never seriously questioned.

The conversation moves from science to church culture, examining how copies of copies can become weaker, stranger, and less connected to the original. The same can happen with faith. Traditions get repeated. Slogans get memorized. Certainty gets inherited. And eventually, people are defending beliefs that may not even belong to them.

The group digs into how churches often reward conformity over honesty, size over substance, and control over actual growth. They also talk about the people most often harmed by these systems, including women, LGBTQ+ people, and others pushed to the margins by communities more interested in preserving power than practicing love.

This episode is about moving beyond cloned belief and asking harder, better questions: What do I actually believe? What was handed to me? What needs to die? And what, if anything, is still alive?

Topics include:

The Unlearning Curve Podcast

Copyright 2025 - Stuart Delony & Karl Forehand

[email protected]

While many of us yearn for truth and understanding, the systems we participate in often prevent us from attaining genuine freedom in our everyday lives. As we move away from organized religion, we begin to recognize patterns. We believe that addressing many of these challenges requires us to examine all aspects of our lives, including:

* Toxic Leaders

* Toxic/Dangerous Organizations

* Our Mental Well-Being

* The Things We Learn on the Journey

Regardless of your belief system, we encourage you to unlearn anything that doesn’t benefit you. This will lead to healing and uncover a new way forward!

JD Forehand is the son of a preacher and an overseas educator. Stuart Delony is a former pastor, podcaster, and blogger for the Snarky Faith community. Karl Forehand is a former pastor who runs The Desert Sanctuary, a home for spiritual nomads, with his wife, Laura.

Disclaimer: We view ourselves as practitioners on a journey of discovery rather than as experts. While we strive to share our experiences and the lessons we’re unlearning transparently, we will also refer you to professionals when necessary. Trusted guides will arrive when you need them.

Feel free to convey your thoughts, concerns, and necessary corrections to Karl ([email protected]) or Stuart ([email protected]). Additionally, visit our Facebook page, The Unlearning Curve.

Many systems don’t help people grow. They train people to comply and then call it transformation.

In this episode of The Unlearning Curve, Stuart, Karl, and Jordan discuss behaviorism, Skinner boxes, operant conditioning, and how schools, churches, workplaces, families, and algorithms shape behavior through rewards, punishment, shame, and repetition.

The group looks at how “carrot and stick” methods often miss what is actually happening underneath the surface. Compliance is not the same thing as maturity. Obedience is not the same thing as healing. And getting someone to behave the way you want does not mean you have helped them become whole.

From classroom management to church discipline to social media dopamine loops, this episode asks a better question: are we trying to help people thrive, or just make them easier to manage?

Topics include:

The Unlearning Curve Podcast

Copyright 2025 - Stuart Delony & Karl Forehand

[email protected]

While many of us yearn for truth and understanding, the systems we participate in often prevent us from attaining genuine freedom in our everyday lives. As we move away from organized religion, we begin to recognize patterns. We believe that addressing many of these challenges requires us to examine all aspects of our lives, including:

* Toxic Leaders

* Toxic/Dangerous Organizations

* Our Mental Well-Being

* The Things We Learn on the Journey

Regardless of your belief system, we encourage you to unlearn anything that doesn’t benefit you. This will lead to healing and uncover a new way forward!

JD Forehand is the son of a preacher and an overseas educator. Stuart Delony is a former pastor, podcaster, and blogger for the Snarky Faith community. Karl Forehand is a former pastor who runs The Desert Sanctuary, a home for spiritual nomads, with his wife, Laura.

Disclaimer: We view ourselves as practitioners on a journey of discovery rather than as experts. While we strive to share our experiences and the lessons we’re unlearning transparently, we will also refer you to professionals when necessary. Trusted guides will arrive when you need them.

Feel free to convey your thoughts, concerns, and necessary corrections to Karl ([email protected]) or Stuart ([email protected]). Additionally, visit our Facebook page, The Unlearning Curve.

Religious certainty often presents itself as humility, but a lot of the time it functions more like control with a Bible verse taped to it.

In this episode of The Unlearning Curve, Stuart, Karl, and Jordan dig into the shaky foundations beneath loud religious confidence: biblical inerrancy, inherited assumptions, groupthink, fear, ego, and the systems that reward people for not asking too many questions.

The conversation moves through the origins of religious authority, the way scripture gets used to create false certainty, and how churches and political movements benefit when people mistake compliance for conviction. Along the way, they unpack how slogans, echo chambers, and spiritual-sounding confidence can keep people anxious, obedient, and easy to manage.

This one is for anyone who has ever wondered why the people most certain about God often seem the least curious about truth.

Topics include:

The Unlearning Curve Podcast

Copyright 2026 - Stuart Delony & Karl Forehand

[email protected]

While many of us yearn for truth and understanding, the systems we participate in often prevent us from attaining genuine freedom in our everyday lives. As we move away from organized religion, we begin to recognize patterns. We believe that addressing many of these challenges requires us to examine all aspects of our lives, including:

* Toxic Leaders

* Toxic/Dangerous Organizations

* Our Mental Well-Being

* The Things We Learn on the Journey

Regardless of your belief system, we encourage you to unlearn anything that doesn’t benefit you. This will lead to healing and uncover a new way forward!

JD Forehand is the son of a preacher and an overseas educator. Stuart Delony is a former pastor, podcaster, and blogger for the Snarky Faith community. Karl Forehand is a former pastor who runs The Desert Sanctuary, a home for spiritual nomads, with his wife, Laura.

Disclaimer: We view ourselves as practitioners on a journey of discovery rather than as experts. While we strive to share our experiences and the lessons we’re unlearning transparently, we will also refer you to professionals when necessary. Trusted guides will arrive when you need them.

Feel free to convey your thoughts, concerns, and necessary corrections to Karl ([email protected]) or Stuart ([email protected]). Additionally, visit our Facebook page, The Unlearning Curve.

67 - JD Forehand - Fahrenheit 451

The Unlearning Curve Podcast

Copyright 2025 - Stuart Delony & Karl Forehand

[email protected]

While many of us yearn for truth and understanding, the systems we participate in often prevent us from attaining genuine freedom in our everyday lives. As we move away from organized religion, we begin to recognize patterns. We believe that addressing many of these challenges requires us to examine all aspects of our lives, including:

* Toxic Leaders

* Toxic/Dangerous Organizations

* Our Mental Well-Being

* The Things We Learn on the Journey

Regardless of your belief system, we encourage you to unlearn anything that doesn’t benefit you. This will lead to healing and uncover a new way forward!

JD Forehand is the son of a preacher and an overseas educator. Stuart Delony is a former pastor, podcaster, and blogger for the Snarky Faith community. Karl Forehand is a former pastor who runs The Desert Sanctuary, a home for spiritual nomads, with his wife, Laura.

Disclaimer: We view ourselves as practitioners on a journey of discovery rather than as experts. While we strive to share our experiences and the lessons we’re unlearning transparently, we will also refer you to professionals when necessary. Trusted guides will arrive when you need them.

Feel free to convey your thoughts, concerns, and necessary corrections to Karl ([email protected]) or Stuart ([email protected]). Additionally, visit our Facebook page, The Unlearning Curve.

66 - Stuart - The Problem with God's Plan

Stuart discusses inconsistencies in the “God’s Plan” narrative

The Unlearning Curve Podcast

Copyright 2025 - Stuart Delony & Karl Forehand

[email protected]

While many of us yearn for truth and understanding, the systems we participate in often prevent us from attaining genuine freedom in our everyday lives. As we move away from organized religion, we begin to recognize patterns. We believe that addressing many of these challenges requires us to examine all aspects of our lives, including:

* Toxic Leaders

* Toxic/Dangerous Organizations

* Our Mental Well-Being

* The Things We Learn on the Journey

Regardless of your belief system, we encourage you to unlearn anything that doesn’t benefit you. This will lead to healing and uncover a new way forward!

JD Forehand is the son of a preacher and an overseas educator. Stuart Delony is a former pastor, podcaster, and blogger for the Snarky Faith community. Karl Forehand is a former pastor who runs The Desert Sanctuary, a home for spiritual nomads, with his wife, Laura.

Disclaimer: We view ourselves as practitioners on a journey of discovery rather than as experts. While we strive to share our experiences and the lessons we’re unlearning transparently, we will also refer you to professionals when necessary. Trusted guides will arrive when you need them.

Feel free to convey your thoughts, concerns, and necessary corrections to Karl ([email protected]) or Stuart ([email protected]). Additionally, visit our Facebook page, The Unlearning Curve.

65 - Karl Forehand - Spiritual Atrophy

Karl talks about having a stroke and how religion can cause spiritual atrophy

The Unlearning Curve Podcast

Copyright 2025 - Stuart Delony & Karl Forehand

[email protected]

While many of us yearn for truth and understanding, the systems we participate in often prevent us from attaining genuine freedom in our everyday lives. As we move away from organized religion, we begin to recognize patterns. We believe that addressing many of these challenges requires us to examine all aspects of our lives, including:

* Toxic Leaders

* Toxic/Dangerous Organizations

* Our Mental Well-Being

* The Things We Learn on the Journey

Regardless of your belief system, we encourage you to unlearn anything that doesn’t benefit you. This will lead to healing and uncover a new way forward!

JD Forehand is the son of a preacher and an overseas educator. Stuart Delony is a former pastor, podcaster, and blogger for the Snarky Faith community. Karl Forehand is a former pastor who runs The Desert Sanctuary, a home for spiritual nomads, with his wife, Laura.

Disclaimer: We view ourselves as practitioners on a journey of discovery rather than as experts. While we strive to share our experiences and the lessons we’re unlearning transparently, we will also refer you to professionals when necessary. Trusted guides will arrive when you need them.

Feel free to convey your thoughts, concerns, and necessary corrections to Karl ([email protected]) or Stuart ([email protected]). Additionally, visit our Facebook page, The Unlearning Curve.

64 - Bob Minor - What Makes Us Human

Bob Minor brings his expertise in world religions to the show.

The Unlearning Curve Podcast

Copyright 2025 - Stuart Delony & Karl Forehand

[email protected]

While many of us yearn for truth and understanding, the systems we participate in often prevent us from attaining genuine freedom in our everyday lives. As we move away from organized religion, we begin to recognize patterns. We believe that addressing many of these challenges requires us to examine all aspects of our lives, including:

* Toxic Leaders

* Toxic/Dangerous Organizations

* Our Mental Well-Being

* The Things We Learn on the Journey

Regardless of your belief system, we encourage you to unlearn anything that doesn’t benefit you. This will lead to healing and uncover a new way forward!

JD Forehand is the son of a preacher and an overseas educator. Stuart Delony is a former pastor, podcaster, and blogger for the Snarky Faith community. Karl Forehand is a former pastor who runs The Desert Sanctuary, a home for spiritual nomads, with his wife, Laura.

Disclaimer: We view ourselves as practitioners on a journey of discovery rather than as experts. While we strive to share our experiences and the lessons we’re unlearning transparently, we will also refer you to professionals when necessary. Trusted guides will arrive when you need them.

Feel free to convey your thoughts, concerns, and necessary corrections to Karl ([email protected]) or Stuart ([email protected]). Additionally, visit our Facebook page, The Unlearning Curve.

63 - JD Forehand - The Politics of Looking Away

JD talks about the current climate of supporting evil within our own groups.

The Unlearning Curve Podcast

Copyright 2025 - Stuart Delony & Karl Forehand

[email protected]

While many of us yearn for truth and understanding, the systems we participate in often prevent us from attaining genuine freedom in our everyday lives. As we move away from organized religion, we begin to recognize patterns. We believe that addressing many of these challenges requires us to examine all aspects of our lives, including:

* Toxic Leaders

* Toxic/Dangerous Organizations

* Our Mental Well-Being

* The Things We Learn on the Journey

Regardless of your belief system, we encourage you to unlearn anything that doesn’t benefit you. This will lead to healing and uncover a new way forward!

JD Forehand is the son of a preacher and an overseas educator. Stuart Delony is a former pastor, podcaster, and blogger for the Snarky Faith community. Karl Forehand is a former pastor who runs The Desert Sanctuary, a home for spiritual nomads, with his wife, Laura.

Disclaimer: We view ourselves as practitioners on a journey of discovery rather than as experts. While we strive to share our experiences and the lessons we’re unlearning transparently, we will also refer you to professionals when necessary. Trusted guides will arrive when you need them.

Feel free to convey your thoughts, concerns, and necessary corrections to Karl ([email protected]) or Stuart ([email protected]). Additionally, visit our Facebook page, The Unlearning Curve.