Blessed are the Undone: Testimonies of the Quiet Deconstruction of Faith in Canada

by Angela Reitsma Bick, Peter Schuurman, Neal Deroo (foreword)

Canadian Christians frustrated with the Church have come ‘Undone’ and are leaving politely, almost apologetically, in what this book dubs a Quiet Deconstruction. Blessed are the Undone what aspects of faith are being questioned, and why?

Weaving in church history, cultural analysis and their personal stories, Bick and Schuurman use canoe camping to illustrate the twists and turns of the spiritual journey. Whether you feel like you’re up the creek without a paddle when it comes to faith, or if people you love have lost their bearings, this book is for you.

WONDERING WHAT ALL THE ‘DECONSTRUCTION’ TALK IS ALL ABOUT?

This book neither condemns nor condones the trend of those deconstructing their faith. It seeks to describe and document the Canadian “deconstructing faith” scene while also providing a theological and sociological frame through which to understand it. Provocative, critical, fair, and focused on Canadian concerns, this book opens a window of well-researched appraisal.

“If the Sermon on the Mount were written today, it might We are blessed when we have more questions than answers. We are even blessed when the Church has let us down, when life tips our canoe, when we’re just treading water, when we have no one to talk to, when we run out of hope, when our faith is Undone.”

Blessed are the Undone, Introduction, Reitsma Bick & Schuurman“Since ancient Hebrew kings wrote poems questioning God, faithfulness has included voicing doubt, wondering aloud about a God who seems absent and aloof. In this lovely, creative book, Bick and Schuurman bring a sociologist’s eye and a journalist’s ear to understand contemporary experiences of faith undergoing deconstruction. Their assessment is charitable without being uncritical. Their deep sympathy does not prevent them from voicing their own questions about deconstruction. I particularly appreciated how deeply Canadian this book is, taking place and context seriously. The result is a book that both informs and inspires.”

James K.A. Smith, professor of philosophy, Calvin University, author of Who’s Afraid of Postmodernism? and How (Not) to Be Secular "Blessed are the Undone brings the reader close to perspectives and experiences rarely heard in churches, from those deconstructing their Christian faith. For the reader who is open to listening and learning, Schuurman and Reitsma Bick offer a systematic, thoughtful, gracious, and nuanced presentation and analysis of these stories – they are ‘for’ meaningful Christian community, restoration, and witness in the world. Importantly, they gift the reader with hope-filled possibilities for individuals and Christian communities moving forward."

Joel Thiessen, Ph.D.Professor of Sociology, Department Chair, Social Sciences (Behavioural Science, Psychology), Ambrose University
Director, Flourishing Congregations Institute

"As an 'Undone', I felt seen, heard, and fairly represented after reading this book. Dr. Peter Schuurman and Angela Reitsma Bick tell the story of the Undone with profound empathy and balance. Whether you are deconstructed, deconverted, or have never doubted your faith, this book is a must-read if you believe there is hope for the Church to become an agent of healing in Canada.

Genres: Church

403 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 17, 2024

Reviews

[Jane Coleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Especially appreciated Canadian perspective and the tone of the authors. Anyone who hopes for a future of an effective church in Canada would benefit from this research.

[Michael Werkman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must read for any Christian today.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is packed with information, and I will never do it complete justice in just a quick review.

Bick and Schuurman split the book into four sections with the theme of portaging weaving it’s way throughout the book. They discuss everything from the current history of the Church including residential schools, to the ancient history of the church, where those who have deconstructed “the conservative congregation - the starting point for every deconstruction we encountered.” They talk about the implications of Christian Nationalism, a phenomenon finding its way up from the US, as well as the impact of purity culture, “pulpit crimes,” young earth, and colonization. It’s really a very interesting look at the church through the eyes of the authors, and those they spoke with.

Just who did they speak with? Over the course of three years the authors spoke directly to 28 individuals who were willing to share their story. In addition to that, they analyzed 42 testimonies from the podcast Slow Train to Heck. The book centers around the 28 stories that were shared with them, with sprinklings of their learnings from research.

The footnotes in this book are amazing! There is a wealth of information from those alone. Their Appendix includes the whole process they undertook to make this project a reality. They share pictures, metaphors, cartoons, suggestions, and anecdotes. It’s really quite remarkable.

What I truly appreciated about this book was their ability to present information in a both/and fashion, understanding that not every liberal Christian will agree, and that conservative Christians would certainly disagree. Did I agree with everything they shared? No, but I could recognize the heart behind it. They are prophetically calling out to the church. I only hope it will have ears to hear.

If you’re a church leader in Canada - this is a must read.

If you’re a Christian in Canada - this is a highly recommend.

If you’re someone who has deconstructed or is deconstructing - this may help you feel less alone no matter where you are your journey.

If you’ve completely left the church - this may give you some satisfaction that someone is sharing loudly that the Church harms, and it must change.

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book reviews the failures of the Church in Canada, and by association in North America, that have turned many people away from their childhood religion. It does not find fault with those who are questioning their religion or even with those who are leaving, but neither does it relegate the Church to the scrapheap. With great understanding, and with a comprehensive overview of the historical contexts for each of the failures, the authors encourage us to listen. To quote, "this book is a challenge to the Church to generate a theology and praxis that connects with the foibles and failures that come with being alive on this planet."
Anyone in a leadership position, formal or informal, should read this book to help them start discussions with other leaders about which teachings and practices of the Church are merely human baggage that needs to be jettisoned before the Church drowns under its weight, and which are truly inspired by the Spirit of God and verified by the Scriptures.

[Gayle Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book sang to my soul. I grew up in a patriarchal, conservative CRC and as I became an adult, I belonged to two CRC churches that did not tell me what to think but rather how to live out a life that honours God. Now, the conservative arm of the binational CRC has wrested power within the denomination and annexed their own definition of what it means to be a Christian. In addition, knowing that evangelical Christians in the USA backed a president whose actions are causing economic and social chaos throughout the world, have left me questioning my Christian faith. This book is a balm to these wounds, using metaphors of navigating the Canadian wilderness. This is God's world-it is beautiful and awesome; He remains in charge and he loves us despite our profound sinfulness.

[Hank · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was something that really resonated with me.

Like they say in the book, churches don't really change that quickly, and they maybe shouldn't. But the testimonies in the book illustrate how and why church members become disconnected and ultimately start deconstructing their faith, and re-evaluating what they believe it, and because of this, the need for churches to corporately re-evaluate roles and responsibilities, rituals and rites, particularly with church leadership.

The metaphor of portaging from camp to camp was fine, but I'm not outdoorsy and made it feel like a book for a certain type of person who's really into hiking, but I'll continue using this metaphor cause it works perfectly fine.

[Jazzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really appreciate the specificity of the Canadian deconstruction experience in this. A stronger emphasis on reckoning with Canada’s history of colonialism remains unaddressed in many deconstruction spaces. Bringing it to light as one of the pivotal reasons for deconstruction in Canada was validating and insightful. I would recommend this to anyone who is trying to understand a loved one who is deconstructing their faith.

[Maddy Kennedy-Perl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this is a well-written book that might help a lot of people name and put words to things they are experiencing and seeing in those around them. However, if you have already named and put words to things you are seeing in yourself or others, this book isn't particularly helpful.

[Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not alone. Many are going through the same thing. So, strangely comforting!