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I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I use the word deconstruction A LOT. I assume everyone understands it, which is a bit presumptuous (sorry). So I decided to write an in-depth blog post on the subject, with links to various other articles relating to deconstruction. I hope it helps someone (actually loads of people) out there make sense of their spiritual journey.
That’s a good question. You know me, I love questions. Although questions are not encouraged in most religious circles, I believe that questions are the answer (so much so that I actually wrote a book about it.
Deconstruction of Christian faith refers to the process of critically examining and dismantling previously held beliefs, doctrines, and practices associated with one's religious upbringing. It involves questioning and reevaluating the tenets of faith, often leading to a reformation or even abandonment of certain beliefs. This process is deeply personal and can be driven by a desire for a more authentic and individualized spirituality.
Back in 2009 I participated in a hermeneutics workshop (hermeneutics is the branch of knowledge that deals with interpretation, especially of the Bible or literary texts). We were to prepare by reading books supporting conservative hermeneutical approaches to scripture while dismissing liberal ones.
I read them with fascination.
The workshop echoed the books’ defense of traditional hermeneutical approaches. But I loved the ideas of the philosophers (such as Derrida, the father of deconstruction) who were dismissed. The workshop had the opposite intended effect. I was converted! I coopted the word “deconstruction” because it related so well to what I was experiencing in my own spiritual journey. I started using the word to describe the questioning of our beliefs, the faith, and our relationship to religious authority and the church.
People started calling me a deconstructionist.
My deconstruction of faith began decades ago by questioning the inspiration of scripture. Then, decades later after wrestling with this, a spiritual kind of epiphany resolved my long struggle with the Bible. I experienced a powerful flash of insight that there is one reality and only language seems to divide us. It liberated me into a new lease on my spiritual life.
Religious deconstruction is not all epiphanies, proverbial rays of light and “ahaaaaaa” moments. Deconstruction is often a terrifying process. Why? Well, it’s the questioning of certainty and accepted truth. It’s the erosion of the beliefs we inherited and adopted. It’s the crumbling of the foundation and structure of our spiritual lives. As you can imagine, it rocks our core and our perception of reality.
Here’s some of the good, bad and ugly things you can expect on your journey of Christian deconstruction.
Religious deconstruction is nothing to be ashamed of. Instead, it’s something to be proud of, embraced, and enjoyed. Because deconstruction is growth!
That said, it takes patience and a ton of work. It took me years to deconstruct. Like…DECADES. And in that process, I learned a lot. I believe that everyone deserves to deconstruct safely, without judgment, and with as much support as possible, which is why I've decided to share my deconstruction course for free on Youtube.
You can watch all the videos now starting with this one.
I wish you all the best in your spiritual independence and travels!