deconstruction as grief (+ a playlist)

the reconstruction of a doubter

We typically reserve the label of “grief” to a certain category of loss. When you lose someone close to you, you experience grief, but losing a church family? A car accident? A pregnancy that doesn’t go to plan? A friendship that ended? We don’t typically categorize the pain that accompanies those things as grief. That feels too big and sacred a word and we sure do like to downplay our pain.

But we do grieve those things and we have to. Looking back on my own deconstruction and reconstruction and having walked along side so many people as they unravel their faith, I’ve recognized the stages of grief in everyone’s process.

Here’s what it might look like for a person walking through a faith crisis :