the cultural history of deconstruction

beyond belief : part 1

I think it’s important in the conversation about deconstruction to know what it is, not just as it is right now, but what’s it’s been. While I, personally, perceive that deconstruction has long preceded the timeline I’m going to share with you today, because those deconstructions used different terms, I won’t start there. Instead, I’m going to walk you through the history of it from the first instance of the word being used in reference to faith up until the present moment.

As a little caveat - as I think this is the first deconstruction timeline the internet has seen, just know that I’m as limited as what’s available to me and by my own perspective and experience. For readability, I kept this to notable contributions and events. If you believe there are other significant events or contributions that should be added, let me know in my comments and provide as many sources as you can. (however, i’m already at my character limit for substack, in which case, i may have to do a part two.)

p.s. I got fully hyper fixated on this and ignored everything else in my life for at least a week so may my neglect of responsibilities be your gain. Grab your coffee and a snack and let’s go—

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We’re going to begin with Jacques Derrida (zhahk deh-REE-dah) because he’s who’s commonly credited with beginning the conversation about faith deconstruction, but I don’t really think it’s that straightforward. Jacques introduced deconstruction as a philosophical approach and method in several different works. While he touched on faith, his focus wasn’t on faith specifically but on deconstructing language. He wrote a lot about the ambiguity of language. As people started to discuss faith deconstruction, they drew from Jacques’ ideas and methods and applied them to their own processes of dismantling and untangling their beliefs. I think you could say he’s the father of “deconstruction” in general, but not necessarily the father of faith deconstruction. His goal wasn’t to destroy, but for people to notice how complex language is and how it limits frameworks. He believed that acknowledging the complexities allows us to engage in more nuanced analysis. ¹

So Jacques introduced this philosophical method of deconstruction but for the next 20 years, no one really used that word or referenced it all in reference to the process of their faith changing or ending. But in 1983, we get our very first published book on faith deconstruction. Mark C. Taylor was one of the first theologians to apply Jacques’ principles to theology and published a book called Deconstructing Theology. In it, he argues that theological concepts like God, self, and the world aren’t as static as Christians think. 

In 1984, Dan Barker becomes the first well known Christian, an evangelical pastor in the Assemblies of God, to cause significant social impact by renouncing Christianity. He becomes an atheist and pens a letter to his friends and family, sharing it also with the editor at Christianity Today. (in the link he shares the contents of the letter and details the responses from family, friends, and colleagues)

During the 80s and 90s, Jean Luc-Marion, John D. Caputo, Sharon Welch, Stanley Hauerwas, John Dominic Grossman, John Shelby Song, and Marcus Borg are the most prominent voices in faith dismantling conversations. They are philosophers and theologians and introduce ideas that push against the traditional understanding of theology, doctrines, and Jesus. Some of their works are more progressive, challenging the inerrancy of Scripture and questioning the theology of sin and salvation. Others ideas are controversial, but not necessarily a threat to orthodoxy - like the idea that the church shouldn’t be involved in politics or that Jesus was a social critic.

In 1996, Charles Templeton, a close friend and partner of Billy Graham,  and co-founder of Youth For Christ International publishes a book called “Farewell to God : My Reasons for Rejecting the Christian Faith” documenting the reasons for his faith abandonment.²

The 2000s is when things start heating up, but only gradually. We start to see more Christian figures leaving Christianity or coming forward with their changing beliefs, but the church as a whole isn’t accepting. The responses are visceral. The word “deconstruction” is primarily being used in academic circles and isn’t widely known or discussed. At this point, deconstruction is more of a philosophical conversation happening between thinkers, theologians, and philosophers. It is incredibly nuanced, multilayered and almost pretentiously academic. Think - graduate school discussion where every word carries weight and meaning. These are conversations happening almost exclusively from academic to academic. In the 2000s, the conversations start to shift and become more mainstream, but the term is still not being used widely.

Enter - Peter Rollins and Catherine Keller. Rollins is an author, speaker, and activist and his work argues that deconstruction is necessary to understanding and transforming our faith. He sees it as an asset, not a threat because it helps us see the cracks in our beliefs systems. While his work is more focused on the deconstruction of the individual, Keller’s focuses more on the social and political implications.

We can’t talk about deconstruction without a little honorable mention to Amy Grant. In 2000, on the heels of her divorce, she marries Vince Gill, a divorced non-Christian. The evangelical church reacts with horror. It’s all anyone talks about. Christians smash and burn her cds. Radios refuse to play her music. (I remember all of this vividly, but let’s put a feather in the hat for Amy - We’re gonna come back to her later.)

The 2000s were a scary time for Christians who had any kind of shifting beliefs or frameworks, whether they were within orthodoxy or not. Michael W. Smith released some secular music and Christians burned his CDs for abandoning his Christian roots and using synthesizers.³ (I can’t tell you why burning CDs was the protest of choice at the time, but here we are.) Christian social pressure demanded that our celebrities conform to the culturally accepted evangelical beliefs. Careers and ministries were on the line so if there was any deconstruction happening, it was quiet for most of the early 2000s unless it was exposed by a controversy of some kind. The conversations related to deconstruction were more about people in local congregations who were de-converting or “back-sliding” or were centered on assumptions about someone’s personal faith based on them not adhering to evangelicalism’s strict behavior demands. (We’ll talk more about this next week)

During this time, we get A New Kind of Christian by Brian McLaren and in 2003 he introduces us to the term, “Emerging Church.” While the language of deconstruction isn’t there, the themes are retrospectively obvious.

In 2005, Pete Enns releases Inspiration and Incarnation: Evangelicals and the Problem of the Old Testament in which he poses questions about the nature of Biblical inspiration and the challenges that Biblical scholarship presents. (Enns, to this day, remains steadfast in his Christian faith and has become a prominent voice for those who are deconstructing their faith, but haven’t renounced it.) 

In 2006, David Hayward, a pastor for thirty years, starts a blog called nakedpastor in which he writes about his doubts, questions, and struggles with the faith he’s ascribed to for most of his life. He uses the word “deconstruction” and cites being influenced by Jacques Derrida’s method in the dismantling of his faith. He’ll later become one of the most well known voices in modern deconstruction.

Over the next few years, the church enters a larger conversation about the emerging church, post modernism, and the challenges these belief frameworks pose to mainstream Christianity.  These ideas were more about questioning the institutionalism the church had adopted and experimented with different forms of teaching (sitting down in a chair on stage vs. behind a pulpit) and worship (dimmer lights, softer, more introspective songs vs. hymns, choruses, and theologically hefty lyrics.) Emerging church leaders like McLaren, Rob Bell, Dan Kimball and Tony Jones encouraged curiosity over certainty and leaned heavily into understanding Scripture as narrative and story rather than inerrant.

For the next few years, the main conversations about deconstruction are about public Christian figures. We know that deconstruction is affecting churches at a local level too, but it isn’t a big enough issue to be noticed as anything other than a few rogue backsliders. At this point the word “deconstruction” is still not being used in reference to de-conversion or reframing of beliefs. 

In 2010, famous Christian singer, Jennifer Knapp comes out as gay, but maintains her Christian beliefs.

In 2011, Rob Bell releases a book called Love Wins in which he questions the existence of hell as eternal conscious torment. This announces his long suspected departure from orthodoxy and evangelicalism and causes an uproar in the evangelical church. Once again, Christians light their matches for burning parties, but many Christians find his perspective refreshing and reconsider their theologies around the existence of hell.⁴

In 2012, Bart Campolo, son of Tony Campolo, a famous evangelical preacher, denounces Christianity. His departure from faith was so shocking and upsetting to the Christian community that a full feature documentary called Leaving My Father’s Faith is made. He and his dad write a book together called Why I left, Why I stayed.

This same year, Michael Gungor, lead singer of the famous Christian band, Gungor, pens a blog post in which he states that he doesn’t believe in the literal Creation and flood narratives. Churches and event teams cancel their appearances en masse. 

2016 is a big year in public discourse about changing beliefs. Glennon Doyle, super popular Christian blogger, divorces her husband and comes out as gay.⁵ Jenn Hatmaker announces that she is affirming of homosexuality and is subsequently dropped for her conservative Christian affiliations. The term “exvangelical” is introduced by Blake Chastain for the first time. He initially defines the word in a blogpost and in an episode of his podcast. He talks about that here.

The public discourse around deconstruction starts to trickle into churches and social media conversations, but to those in mainstream Christianity, these people seem like outliers. The conversations are happening on a more local level, but the impact hasn’t been felt to a large degree yet. A few authors and teachers release books and write viral blogposts that shine a light on the process : Rachel Held Evans, Sarah Bessey, Nadia Bolz-Weber, Pete Enns, all publicly speak about the process of changing their beliefs and use the term “deconstruction” in their work. 

During the next few years, dozens of public Christian scandals hit the news in almost back to back succession. Bill Hybles, Carl Lentz, Sovereign Grace, Mars Hill, SBC, Andy Savage, Jerry Falwell Jr., Ravi Zacharias. Just to name a few. This causes anger, confusion, and uproar among Christians who respected and looked up to these leaders and ministries. More and more people come forward on social media with stories of abuse, sexual assault, NDAs, and expose a system of narcissism and power dynamics that take advantage of the vulnerable and use power, wealth, and social isolation to silence victims and their families.

In 2019, Joshua Harris, author of I Kissed Dating Goodbye and one of the most influential contributors to Christian purity culture, announces his divorce and publicly renounces Christianity. He points to deconstruction as the process that unraveled his faith. Marty Sampson, Hillsong worship leader, posts on instagram that he’s “genuinely losing my faith” and a few days later, announces that he is no longer Christian.  Popular YouTubers Rhett and Link release a few podcast episodes in which they discuss their doubts and movement away from Christianity.

source

“Deconstruction” is being used more and more and is becoming a publicly discussed phenomenon and begins affecting local churches. Pastors preach sermons about the dangers of it. Conservative Christians write scathing blogposts and speak publicly against it, calling it a “trend” and warning people to deconstruct the right way and avoid slippery slopes.

Then, we get to what is almost single handedly the biggest catalyst of both private deconstruction and public discourse about it : The Covid-19 Pandemic.

Let me give you some statistics first.

•  - According to Google Trends, the search term "faith deconstruction" saw a 125% increase in popularity in 2020. )

• - the Barna Group published a study that found that 20% of Americans who were already questioning their faith said that the pandemic had made them more likely to leave their religion.⁶

• - A survey by the Lifeway Research Center found that 1 in 3 Christians say they have had doubts about their faith during the pandemic.

The world shut down, political tension was at all time high, and churches were no longer in session. Many people who have deconstructed their faith have pointed to their church’s response to the world events as eye opening events that made them question the integrity of their beliefs. Some Christians no longer felt at home in churches that were touting polarizing political beliefs and endorsing candidates from pulpits. While people searched for community and connection, online forums and communities specifically for those who identified as “exvangelical” or “deconstructing” began to grow. People created social media accounts with the singular purpose of sharing their deconstruction. Deconstruction ministries began to develop to offer refuge for questioning Christians. Podcasts and books about deconstruction increased significantly in popularity.

From the years 2000-2018, around 80 books on faith deconstruction are published. In the years 2018-2022, over 150 have been published. 

The increase of public discourse, the speed of consumption because of social media, the public outcry against prominent celebrity pastors and influential Christian leaders who turned out to be predators, criminals, and hypocrites are all contributing catalysts to the speed in which Christians began leaving Christianity and/or questioning the basis of it. 

In the years following the start of the pandemic, deconstruction has snowballed into something that can’t be ignored, dismissed, or trivialized. As the conversation has widened, so has the spectrum of belief of those who identify with the process of deconstruction. In 2021, Amy Grant (told you we’d come back to her) made it clear that she is affirming of homosexuality. In the same year, Kevin Max from D.C. Talk and Audrey Assad both announced their departure from Christianity. Joshua Harris released a paid course on deconstruction, only to apologize and remove it later due to the backlash of the perceived predatory nature of profiting off of people in a vulnerable place.⁷

Which brings us to present-day : 2023 and it’s only this year that more conservative Christian voices have begun to engage in the topic of deconstruction honestly and with less (but not totally absent) animosity towards it. Recognizing deconstruction as a philosophy will help us to engage with it as it was intended - as a way to critically evaluate and engage with a text, framework, or belief system. At its core, deconstruction is an academic process. Academic processes require nuance and intellectual honesty, never haphazard assumptions or blind acceptance. Which means two things - 1. We can’t haphazardly say “I’m deconstructing!” if we aren’t engaging with our beliefs in a critical, intellectual way. Deconstructing, in and of itself, is a process that requires careful thought. 2. We can’t blindly say “I have never deconstructed and never will!” If you have ever thought about your doctrines and theology beyond blind acceptance of whatever someone said you should believe, you have deconstructed those beliefs in some way, simply because you opened those beliefs up to take a closer look at them.

The reason so many people who have gone through the process of deconstruction and walked away from their faith or changed the frameworks of it is because they engaged in the intellectual process, opened their beliefs up to examine them, and found that their beliefs were not what they thought they were. They found their faith framework wanting and chose a framework that more closely aligned with what they believed to be true. It’s statistically impossible for every deconstruction process to end in the same place because it’s statistically impossible for every person to have identical understandings of what truth is. But we’ll talk about that later. For now, I hope this timeline helped bring clarity and understanding to this incredibly complex conversation.

we love conversation around here.
leave your thoughts, feelings, or fact checks in the comments.

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coming up on Friday — Baby’s First Deconstruction : a retrospective look back at the first time I wrestled with my beliefs. **paid subscribers only**

on Monday - How Evangelicalism Wore a Generation Out

1. this article, written by James Walden at Mere Orthodoxy is an depth look at Derrida’s work and it’s correlation with deconstruction. definitely worth a read : Deconstruction + The Theology of the Cross

2. it’s difficult to find articles that tell Charles’ story with grace and not speculation about his damned eternity. I found this was gracious and relevant to our conversation - https://friendsofjustice.blog/2015/08/03/billy-grahams-shadow-chuck-templeton-and-the-crisis-of-american-religion/

3. articles about this were difficult to track down, but here’s one. page 11. https://books.google.com/books?id=ihdVAAAAIBAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

4. https://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/05/us/05bell.html

5. https://momastery.com/blog/2016/08/01/i-need-to-tell-you-something/

https://nationalpost.com/life/christian-writer-glennon-doyle-melton-come-out-announces-her-new-love-soccer-star-abby-wambach

6. https://www.arizonachristian.edu/2023/06/14/new-post-pandemic-research-shows-how-covid-rocked-americas-faith/

the lifeway research survey was referenced in another article and appears their 2021 study has been removed from thier website. will update with link once i find it, but those same stats are mentioned here : https://www.barna.com/research/new-sunday-morning-part-2/

7. https://www.newsweek.com/josh-harris-launches-course-deconstructing-faith-some-theologians-question-his-motives-1619263

i was not able to add any more sources due to reaching article length limit. most of this information is easily found in a quick google search.