Understanding Deconstruction: Dr. Sean McDowell

Sean McDowell (Ph.D.) is a professor at Biola University and Talbot School of Theology. He's also a speaker, KZbinr, and author of many books including his latest one co-authored with John Marriott, called: Set Adrift: How to Deconstruct What You Believe Without Sinking Your Faith. In this podcast conversation, we talk about all things related to deconstruction: what it is, why people deconstruct, healthy vs. unhealthy forms of deconstruction, the reasons why people deconstruct, the difference between deconstruction and de-conversion.
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[@Selahsmum]

I'd like to add, with the deepest respect to these two learned and Christ-like gentleman, that the spectrum of Christianity goes even further than fundementalist to Anglican, as Dr McDowell put it. Some people deconstruct and find themselves in the Catholic church, or the Orthodox community, as part of their journey. The point is where are you going to get closer to Jesus Christ within that framework that Dr McDowell articulated so well: loving Jesus, knowing Him as Lord and God, and affirming the creeds of the church. To me, my deconstruction has been incredibly painful and lonely, with only a handful of people that have been supportive and understanding (and they were life-saving!) and I thank you brothers for encouraging these conversations.

[@Selahsmum]

Super helpful conversation from two solid dudes. Thanks, gentleman.

[@machellovelivelife658]

I was born and raised in Jamaica, migrated to the US at 16. I became a Christian at 10/11 years because of an out-of-nowhere thought that I had limited time to make that decision or else. Not sure where that came from, but I became a Christian on that following Sunday hahaha. I was given devotional type books as a "new believer", and it was easy to get through...is all I remember. I mention my birth country intentionally because the culture around religion is different. Jamaica: -> public schools are Christian, including school wide devotion in a hall before the day starts -> only private schools are non-religious affiliated USA -> public schools are non religious affiliated -> private schools can be religious affiliated So when I migrated at 16 and went to High School here in the states, it felt so weird that the school didn't start their day w/ some type of devotion, and it was at the point I realized I didn't have my own devotion habits, because I didn't really have to; I went to church on Sunday, and Mon - Fri at school there was a short sermon, one praise and worship song, prayer, reciting scripture, our country's pledge and then off to class. Needless to say, I became lukewarm, but not a content one...I wasn't unbothered by my lukewarmness, I just didn't know what to do with it. I would miss days of prayer....didn't "feel" anything when reading the Bible....nor did I know what I was to feel or walk away with after reading, but always felt like I fell short of that thing. My dad became 7th day Adventist, and I started to devour his devotional studies and "Felt on fire" and compelled to get baptized, so I did at 17. Right after that I fell into an addicting habit for the next 5 or so years, before one night I fell on my face privately crying asking God to take it the desire of it away from it....and I believe He...it wasn't that the thought came to mind and I resisted...it never came to mind. I was dumbfounded, and "felt" , this must be proof God exists. This post is already long, so I'll try to shorten it. I'm 34 now and basically feel like an agnostic. I'm not in church, and based on past experiences w/ church, I'm not really motivated to be a part of one (being an introvert has always played a role of seeing church as a thing I dont want to do, but do it because I'm supposed to). Difficult job, plus toxic roommate situation left me too exhausted to do the things Christians should do (prayer, reading, church etc). When you're exhausted, you want to do something mindless and relaxing. "Spending time" w/ an invisible, inaudible being is neither mindless, or relaxing. Then COIVD hit, and work (healthcare field) became even more draining, and eventually I resigned. I'm in a much better work environment now. But I've been watching a lot of Sean's interviews with deconstructed people and I'm starting to wonder if I was ever really a Christian. I don't recall ever going on a journey to be convinced/confident in my MIND (not heart) that God actually existed. My thinking is: if it's this hard to will myself to spend time (prayer, reading bible, church attending) w/ this Entity that is all powerful merciful person, therefore, maybe I was never really convinced in my mind that He exists. Maybe I need to start over like I am an unbeliever and read apologetic books. I've tried that, but some of these books seem geared towards the academic intellectual. Life has financially become more and more burdensome, other "trials" have been mounting...yet still I feel like I've been in too long of a rut of not praying, reading etc to even approach God....whom I'm starting to doubt that I've ever really believed in an apologetics way existed. I assume, my curiosity to keep watching interviews like these and other christian KZbinrs, might be God not giving up on me? haha

[@IvyLeather13]

Here's the tricky part. When churches break people, the friendly apologists run and hide in fear less they be accused of "woke" or attacking the faith. It's only after the person has left that the apologist comes out thundering against the people who hurt them, and by then it's too late. The public image of the church always comes first and people abused by the church see that very clearly. Then when people suddenly show up condemning the abusers after you've already left it's pretty clear it's only a big deal if it makes people leave the tribe.

[@paulacoyle5685]

I am seeing this all too often as well, I have been conservative all my life and yet somehow I’m suddenly labeled a liberal by some people because I don’t support the current candidate for president and never did because he’s a blasphemous pompous & evil man. That doesn’t mean I support the other side either. I just don’t have anybody to vote for.

[@paulacoyle5685]

46:07 I’m a little confused because there is more explicit teaching on the length of creation in scripture not just in genesis, (which Jesus also affirms and the apostle Paul affirms, )than there is for the Trinity. and yet we do say that you have to believe in the Trinity to be a Christian, not necessarily that you will believe & understand this immediately, but you really cannot reject the teaching of the Trinity and continue in the faith. So why is the creation account less important? You can’t scripturally meet halfway with evolution, the evolutionists don’t accept it you even if you try.

[@tiffanysmith7419]

Sean McDowell what I hear you saying when you use the term "deconstruction" is that you are starting with the truth in mind - "Christianity is truth, scripture is truth" but then refining dogma - "What does scripture actually say versus what one may have been taught." When you were young in college and found atheist books refuting your father's book, the path refining dogma with the "truth" in mind is not an honest and open response to the atheists arguments, as you say in your book, to have "thought guardrails" is not really being open. This is not giving space for doubt. I did this in a world religion class taught by an atheist professor. I read every religious text, BUT started with "Christianity has to be true" but I do have questions and I'm just comparing with that in mind. This was a 'deconstruction' and reconstruction that made me double down and veer more right and enter ministry (I've worked with you in the past). Years later, yes after much ministry and church hurt, seeing the cogs behind the face, I left the church. THEN because I had beliefs but questions, I finally allowed myself to look at the actual questions without deferring to what I thought the answer was, I deconverted and am no longer Christian. This was at nearly 40 yrs old, ten years ago, and it took years studying with an open mind. I do not find it to be truthful nor moral at the heart of the gospel. Yes, I still find much of Jesus's life worth emulating, BUT that is not the whole of scripture or belief. For your teaching and apologetics purposes at the least, this is something to consider. Many of the people I know who have gone from Christianity to leaving have not left from church hurt, but from serious study and looking at all apologetics and finding them all lacking. So, it's simply untrue that people leave and turn their backs on their faith primarily from hurt. People leave the church from hurt, but if they are believers, there is a deeper step to actual deconversion.

[@dulainelough2399]

Not meaning to be skeptical… Sean McDowell seems to be the least likely person to understand what is going on with evangelicals’ deconstruction. I listen to your podcasts very regularly… I’ll give it a listen, but I have never had less faith in one of your guests in terms of the topics they are speaking on.