After Doubt: How to Question Your Faith without Losing It

by A.J. Swoboda, John Comer (Foreword)

Is there a way to walk faithfully through doubt and come out the other side with a deeper love for Jesus, the church, and its tradition? Can we question our faith without losing it?
Award-winning author, pastor, and professor A. J. Swoboda has witnessed many young people wrestle with their core Christian beliefs. Too often, what begins as a set of critical and important questions turns to resentment and faith abandonment. Unfortunately, the church has largely ignored its task of serving people along their journey of questioning. The local church must walk alongside those who are deconstructing their faith and show them how to reconstruct it.

Drawing on his own experience of deconstruction, Swoboda offers tools to help emerging adults navigate their faith in a hostile landscape. Doubt is a part of our natural spiritual journey, says Swoboda, and deconstruction is a legitimate space to encounter the living God.

After Doubt offers a hopeful, practical vision of spiritual formation for those in the process of faith deconstruction and those who serve them. Foreword by pastor and author John Mark Comer.

Genres: Christian, Theology, Faith, Christianity, Christian Living, Nonfiction, Religion

219 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 2, 2021

About the author

A. J. Swoboda (PhD, University of Birmingham) pastors Theophilus Church in urban Portland, Oregon. He is executive director of the Seminary Stewardship Alliance, a consortium of Christian higher education institutions dedicated to reconnecting Christians with the biblical call to care for God's creation. Swoboda also teaches biblical studies, theology, and church history at Portland Seminary and Fuller Theological Seminary, among others. He is an award-winning author or editor of nine books and speaks regularly at conferences, retreats, churches, and seminars. Visit his website and blog at www.ajswoboda.com.

Reviews

[Chad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once in a blue moon, I will turn the last page of a book, sigh, and say, “Dear God, I wish I’d read this years ago.” The breathtaking prose of the author may invoke that response. Or the simple beauty of the narrative. More often than not, however, the book speaks with brilliant clarity and honest wisdom to an unhealthy life condition in which I once felt trapped.

Yesterday, when I finished reading A. J. Swoboda’s newly released book, After Doubt, I wish he’d been sitting across the room from me. I’d have said, “A. J., where the hell were you ten years ago? And why didn’t you write this book then?” He might well have laughed and responded, “Well, Chad, ten years ago I was gaining the knowledge and experience that enabled me to write this book.” And he wouldn’t be wrong.

After Doubt is written for people struggling with deconstruction. Specifically, they’re doubting their faith, questioning once unquestioned doctrines, wrestling with God and his ways. Maybe they grew up in a religious home, but later, having probed more deeply into the church’s teachings, began to wonder if they are true or not. For many, this happens at the university, when they’re told to “question everything.” For others, it’s during or after a major life transition. For still others, like me ten or fifteen years ago, it happens when our lives or relationships crumble, we feel the church has turned her back on us, and the very word “religion” feels disgusting in our mouths.

For all such people—and for those who minister to them—get this book. You will not be disappointed. Quite the opposite.

I think what I appreciated most about After Doubt is that A. J. does not offer easy answers or childish solutions. He has walked with countless people through their personal versions of deconstruction and reconstruction. He knows none of this is easy. It’s confusing. It hurts. It’s emotionally exhausting. Welcome to life. Welcome to the Christian life.

Rather than easy answers, A. J. charts a path forward--a path that always ends with Christ. He helps us to think through our doubts without emotions leading us astray. He helps us to ask the right questions, to listen to the wise and ancient voices, and to avoid the cacophony of foolish voices that sell nihilistic solutions. He even—and I am very grateful for this—offers a robust argument for the centrality of the church in the life of a Christian. In a day when so many want to get on the “Let’s kick that corrupt church in the face” bandwagon, this was a welcome and much-needed chapter.

I have read many of A. J.’s books. Every time, without exception, I thank God for this man’s words. He is a gift to the church. He is a gift to those who are struggling. I pray the Lord will use After Doubt to be that helping hand that so many desperately need.

[Joe James · Rating 1 out of 5]

I stopped reading half way through because toward the end of the first section the author demonstrates he fundamentally misunderstands why young people deconstruct. He does so in a manner that is actually *quite* condescending, implying the only reason people deconstruct is because they want freedom to express their sexuality (cannot relate!), and to not obey rules (calling people privileged at the same time). The sexuality thing is not explicit but within the text enough to where one can read between the lines (a lot of his anecdotes involve sexuality and promiscuity!). This probably makes sense if you live on the west coast where the culture is very progressive, but from the southeast everyone I have these conversations with are much different. Quite frankly, people deconstruct because they see Christians justifying objectively horrible political behavior and push out dissenting voices on a number of social issues that even substantial biblical and theological scholarship support the progressive position. People deconstruct because Orthodox Christianity (think the creeds) leans heavily on Aristotlean metaphysics and, with the advent of modern science and a few hundred years of secular pushback, there's good, intellectually sound reason to deconstruct or doubt and not come out the direction the author says one should. It needn't have anything to do with rejecting obligations and embracing freedom. One particular line that really sticks out to me is that he says at one point, you don't have to like Jesus, you just have to follow him to be a Christian. Okay. Well what if I like Jesus, the head of the faith of my family for countless generations, but I don't believe him? What if I relate to the anguish at pointless suffering found in the book of Job, strive to embody the love preached in parables like the Good Samaritan or the prodigal son, and find beautiful poetry of the psalms, yet don't believe in a literal resurrection, the actual existence of Adam and Eve, or that some form of existence draws on after I draw my last breathe? Many people who deconstruct or deconvert share my feelings. Many such as myself don't know if we are actually Christian because those like the author of this book will either not acknowledge our existence, just say we aren't Christians, or pretend that our intentions and beliefs are libertine or not an intellectually honest pursuit of the truth. The author isn't saying anything new that former Christians with doubt haven't heard within a conservative church or culture yet tries to "both sides" his position. This book is not worth your time or money simply because it's not what it says it is. I usually feel bad about reviewing books I didn't finish, but because the second half depends on the first and the author's conclusions were so catastrophically cliche while not even acknowledging a significant portion of the reasons why people struggle with Christianity (it's not just sex!) I feel the need to warn future readers. So long as those such as the author persist as "reasonable" Christians, when they're just cliche conservatives, Christians will hemorrhage people from the pews as our culture grows increasingly secular.

[Dalton Currin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dang. I really wanted to love this book. The first time I heard the author speak I was blown away by his cleverness and thoroughness of how he applied standards. Even in this book he lays out a multitude of fresh, wise, and helpful statements and ideas. What I loved most was how he questioned what “deconstruction” actually is. This curiosity towards a commonly used term stems from his ability to question if other definitions of general terms as helpful or even correct. For example, he shows us how “deconstruction” can not be limited to individuals questioning “evangelical” Christianity and then walking away from finding it invalid or worthless, to name a few. He shows us that to deconstruct you actually have to have a platform to deconstruct from; that “exvangelicals” have not and should not colonize “deconstruction”; and that most importantly, if you question or deconstruct, you actually are utilizing one of the most sure signs of faith. The most provocative quote was something like “to question your faith is one of the most sure ways to know you have a faith.”

Oh, actually I think I misspoke above. The most important theme in the book is that the two common options, reject all of Christianity and Jesus on one side and never ask questions and don’t bring up those “questions” on the other, are wrong. There is a third way, more or less, which is being fully devoted to Jesus and following him through the questioning and allowing yourself to have an entire lifetime, not two years, like that’s enough, to ask questions that have been asked for over two thousand years.

These amazing points are great and I loved them and agree with them 100%. However, and that’s a big however, I felt like I was reading an aspiring student’s failed expository essay. Almost every paragraph was so poorly transitioned that I got confused as to how any writer can jump so fast from one point to the next . Also, the writing within each paragraph often made poor use and introduction of quotes from the GOATS like Lewis, O’Connor, and Chesterton. Also, the book isn’t about HOW to deconstruct as much, if at all, as it is about WHAT to do deconstruct and WHAT TO DO when you deconstruct. That may not make sense but i it sure does to me. I was thinking I was going to LA but ended up in NY kinda thing. I was misled by the subtitle. For me the bad far outweighed the good which is super unfortunate because I love the way this guy looks at the issues he mentioned in the book.

[Lori Eby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the kind of book I want to give away, and I already have. Swoboda makes an argument for questioning but simultaneously critiques the push for expressive individualism and deconstruction without reconstruction. It’s an insightful, thoughtful look at what it might look like to deconstruct AND remain faithful— I wish I’d have had it when I was doubting all I thought I knew.

[Caity Gill · Rating 2 out of 5]

Man, idk how to rate this one. I read like 40% of it and then skimmed the rest. There were definitely helpful things in it, but overall this felt like a pastor frustrated with/saddened by people leaving the church/faith who has forgotten what it’s actually like to be in the midst of deconstruction.

I thought some of the reasons he so confidently stated for people leaving were just dumb and not helpful. Like young people not going to church because they want to go to brunch? 🙄 sure, maybe. But how about a longer look at the deep hypocrisy and evil being revealed in the church, at least in my little corner of Christianity that is what is driving us away. But maybe I’m not his target audience?

[Robert D. Cornwall · Rating 2 out of 5]

For many people who grow up in church, they experience a time of deconstruction and doubt. That is, they begin to question the received tradition. It often happens during college. The question is, will there be reconstruction. What the author seeks to do is offer a path beyond deconstruction to reconstruction.

So, why my rather low rating? While the author wants to offer a path between conservative evangelicalism and mainline/progressive Protestantism. What he offers might not be Trumpified Christian nationalism, but it's still conservative evangelicalism without the nationalism. it's biblical inerrancy, traditional sexuality (though more open on women), Jesus the only way to salvation.

Now, on a personal level, the author was recently hired to teach at my alma mater, which presents some concerns to me -- especially since traditionally the college/university has tried to walk a fine line between mainline and non-mainline Protestants within the larger Stone-Campbell Movement. The author is not from our tradition, which is fine, but I'm not sure he understands the ethos of the school at least as it was understood in the past. So, I wasn't thrilled with the disparaging message about mainline Protestantism.

[Porter Sprigg · Rating 4 out of 5]

An incredibly helpful read for a lot of deconstructing Christians but perhaps not as incisive or directly applicable as it could have been. I wish there were more chapters exploring more forms of doubt and deconstruction in a gracious and understanding manner.

I loved it but I wonder if people a couple steps farther into deconstruction will find it too distant from their current experience.

[Logan Carrigan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has actually been helpful in helping me understand something that I am seeing around me. AJ Swoboda masterfully handles this topic in a scholarly, and accessible way. I am thankful to have gotten the opportunity to read it because I have been going through a season of some doubt and even some deconstruction of some doctrinal stances I have held (nothing super crazy), but much of what he wrote was helpful in articulating things I have been thinking but didn't quite have the words to spell out. Doubt and questions are a normal part of faith, believe it or not, and Swaboda walks through what that looks like and gives practical examples to help the reconstruction process. I highly recommend this book.
*Also I was given a copy for free by the publisher and was not required to write a positive review.

[Travis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel ambivalent about this book. On the one hand, the author made some excellent points about deconstruction and reconstruction in the Christian faith, especially in the first three chapters. However, on the other hand, many of the later chapters felt like rants and I didn't find them very helpful. I appreciate the author's focus on naming the need for a third option between conservative and progressive as well, but again, I found that much of his arguments fell into the conservative camp and pinned the two groups against each other all the more. I still think it was worth the read, but I'm not sure I'd recommend it to a friend looking for their next read.

[Jonathan Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first I struggled with this book. At times it leaned more progressive than I would have liked then at times more conservative. But I think that is the brilliance of a book like this. The author brings out the tension well but continually points us back to the Lord. This book had so many good points in it so it is hard to summarize how many great points there are in this book. But suffice it to say say I will use this book going forward it talking to students about their faith. Recommended

[Devin Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

For those deconstructing their, those walking with others deconstructing theirs, or those who just want a better understanding of that world - this is a great book to start you off. Swoboda does an excellent job of guiding and nudging while remaining respectful of the difficult questions people are asking. We’re in an age of deconstructing where few know how or see the importance of “reconstructing.” His later chapters nicely pick at several areas the church needs to wake up to if it hopes to respond faithfully to those who are seeking answers.

[Sherrill Woodard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book for several reasons, one being that the last four years, culminating in the chaos of 2020, genuinely shook my faith…not in God…but in his people. My Christian community. I found myself in what I could only describe as a season of doubt and deconstruction. This book was SO incredibly helpful. It challenged me in ways I needed challenged so as to not veer off into bitterness, arrogance and resentment, and encouraged me to keep persevering in community with the Church despite her many flaws. Many if us growing up in the church are raised with ideas and attitudes about God (and others) that are too black and white, not allowing for nuance or gray areas...and I’ve seen the division and prideful judgement that births. AJ suggests that through persevering through doubt and earnestly seeking the heart of God with humility, true genuine faith is found on the other side of deconstructing those harmful attitudes and beliefs. “Is it possible to question our faith without losing it? One might say that’s the very goal.” AJ Swoboda

Highly recommend.

[Kim Shay · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this excellent book, A.J. Swaboda talks about deconstructing faith. He does not talk about destroying it. He points out that everyone's faith goes in three stages: construction, deconstruction, and reconstruction. His goal is to show the reader that deconstruction does not have to end in abandoning one's faith. His assertion that this process is actually normal (and needed!) can go a long way to encourage someone who is not comfortable with her doubts.

When we first enter into a faith relationship, there is what Swaboda calls an "unconditional naiveté." We accept everything in the light of new found faith. But as we get older in our faith, and we begin to understand more and have our presuppositions challenged, we may be required to deconstruct some of what we have believed. Swaboda goes through a number of encouragements to the reader, encouraging her to first know herself. He touches on aspects of the faith such as discernment, the kingdom of God, and our relationship with the Church. He really gets back to basics and is able to cut through a lot of the trappings that we get consumed with. As I read this book, I realized how much of what I have thought was a "theology" of evangelicalism was merely a set of cultural markers. I was encouraged by his reminder to seek the simple faith.

I was also encouraged by his exhortation that reconstruction is not necessarily finding a "new Christianity" so much as it is rebuilding the foundation with more wisdom and understanding than when we first believed. I loved his quotation from T.S. Eliot "We shall not cease from exploration/ and the end of all our exploring/will be to arrived where we started/And know the place for the first time."

This book would be a great encouragement to anyone with doubts, but especially to younger people who grow up in the church and are afraid to ask questions.

[Chastidy Parks · Rating 3 out of 5]

As I began this book I thought I was going to love it. I appreciated the depiction of deconstruction, questioning and doubting. However as the book progressed there seem to be a frustration and assumption at times about those that doubt. That seemed to be the opposite of the books overall position. Throughout the book I felt I was tossed between great compassion and understanding for those that evaluate and deconstruct their faith, even to say it is good and right. But then at times I was tossed the other direction to say that deconstruction is wanting your own way as to make excuses for wanting to “sin” in some way. I almost put the book down half way through as it seemed to keep contradicting itself. I’m glad I finished as there were parts that seemed thoughtful and at the end I appreciated.
If I were to have friends or family deconstructing I would not recommend this though as they would too easily hear judgement and condemnation. They would also hear affirmation and encouragement. The confusion between the two would however keep me from recommending it.

[Brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh. I wanted this to be a great book, and some parts were helpful/informative. Unfortunately, the author’s overall attitude towards deconstruction and the reasons someone might question their faith was condescending and lacked understanding of the nuances of this process. There was also little about the practical HOW of deconstruction/reconstruction, which was disappointing due to the tagline of the book.

[conor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading the other reviews here is fascinating! Many of the criticisms feel like they read a different book than the one I just finished, though perhaps this is because of my position, as a Mormon, outside the standard Christian framework that Swoboda operates within. I really loved Swoboda's take on faith and doubt, particularly the way that this book, unlike most others in this space I've read, spends the majority of the book actually talking about what faith may look like once doubt/deconstruction has entered the picture.

I found the general principles in the chapters throughout the second half quite moving, and often filled with reminders about how I may be misguided in my own engagement Mormonism and my faith community. Swoboda engages occasionally a bit in some sort of 'both sides-ism' which is a bit irritating, but easy enough to look past (and also sometimes helpful!).

I don't share all (maybe very few) of Swoboda's theological convictions, but the praxis offered here rings true to me. I hope more folks can find and receive comfort and wisdom from Swoboda's words, wrestling with what he has to offer.

[Hannah Vickery · Rating 2 out of 5]

This has the feel of a primer regarding deconstruction from someone who is scared of people deconstructing. I did appreciate some of his thoughts and there was a lot of kindness, even if I disagreed with a lot of his ideas of the premise of why someone might be rethinking faith and some of his conclusions.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who might be grappling with doubt/questions, but are scared of the possibility of leaving the faith, but probably not recommend it be read in isolation to some other authors with different viewpoints on the subject.

[Jill B · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Reconstruction is not about building a new faith for ourselves. More often it's about losing ourselves once again in the ancient faith with a whole new set of eyes."

I think this book gives helpful parameters to set healthy "guardrails" if you are in the process of "deconstruction" that will help lead you towards an end goal of reconstruction (keeping or returning to faith in the person of Jesus).

[Allie Slocum · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was sooo good - a great answer to what to do AFTER deconstructing your religion - reconstruct it using faith in Jesus discovered in the Bible

[claire r]

Book rec credit: John

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was such a breath of fresh air to me! The pandemic brought about a time of deconstruction that has been long, hard and painful for me.. This book has helped me to reframe my thinking and to renew hope in me of the possibility of restoring my faith in a new and beautiful way without leaving behind core truths that are so very important to me.

I have highlighted so much of this book. This is one that will be staying on my bookshelf indefinitely.

[Zach Worden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably a 3.5. Not the biggest fan of the way it was written - felt like it should've been a lecture series (though perhaps it was edited from one). Also thought each chapter could've been condensed a bit.
Nonetheless, really grateful for the book overall and would have no problem recommending it, especially to someone who is walking through deconstruction or heavy doubt. I appreciate how A.J. doesn't give super formulaic solutions.

The book serves as more of a guide than answers to questions, hence the title. It's packed with lots of wisdom, and you can tell A.J. has pastored many through the storm of deconstruction.

I'm grateful that A.J. rejects post-Enlightenment suggestions to be your own arbiter of truth and to question all authority. Lastly, I appreciate the Christ-centeredness of the book, and how A.J. points people towards the church rather than away from it.

[Joel Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

In After Doubt, A.J. Swoboda tackles the "deconstruction" phenomenon that has swept through Western Christianity, especially in the last decade. Swoboda himself has gone through phases of spiritual deconstruction and doubt, and his experiences led him through deconstruction into "reconstruction", where he believes he has re-discovered the essence of what it means to follow Jesus. This work is largely reactionary - as a pastor in Portland, Oregon, Swoboda regularly meets with congregants who are raised in conservative (or fundamentalist) Christian homes and experience faith crises when exposed to the big, bad world. Additionally, he sees the response of his secular city toward the headlines regarding Evangelicalism and anticipates his readers' discomfort with the Western Church.

Swoboda's work is decisively pastoral - he doesn't spend enough time delineating the reasons behind spiritual deconstruction, and instead focuses on trite lists of controversial issues without really engaging them. The work may have been stronger if Swoboda had dedicated a chapter to specific theological issues that may cause doubt, exploring the motivations behind those controversies, and pointing his readers to resources for further study.

By moving too quickly toward reconstruction, Swoboda runs the risk of alienating readers who are in the midst of deconstruction. Additionally, Swoboda tends to repeat similar themes across chapters by listing binary conservative and progressive reactions to what he sees at orthodox Christianity.

Swoboda's work was helpful in looking at the topic of deconstruction from a bird's eye view and challenging the narrative of post-modern skepticism. The book is simple and inspiring, but not necessarily transformative.
---
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

[Persis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deconstruction is the buzzword of the hour. Some embrace it. Some vilify it. But if we're honest, no one becomes a fully formed, doctrinally pure Christian from the get-go. Our beliefs are refined over time, often with struggle. Some would call it being a Berean.

After Doubt addresses this struggle in a healthy way. The author categorizes the process of believing in three stages - construction, deconstruction, and reconstruction. Construction is when we first come to faith, often taking what is presented at face value, no questions asked. Deconstruction occurs when questions and doubt arise, and faith is tested. This does not automatically mean discarding faith. Reconstruction then follows where what has stood the test has been made stronger because of that trial. This process also doesn't happen in a vacuum but involves the Word and community under the hand of the Holy Spirit.

If you are doubting or know someone who is, I highly recommend this book.

[Tucker Dobson · Rating 4 out of 5]

With this book, Swoboda joins the voices that have convinced me that America's Pacific Northwest is becoming a new stronghold for orthodoxy, unmoored from poisonous allegiances to social ideologies and political parties. He rises up beside Joshua S. Porter in crafting a compelling volume that does more than simply swatting down deconstruction. Instead, much like in Porter's punk-ish work of orthodoxy, "Death to Deconstruction", Swoboda holds a mirror up to the reader, forcing us to interrogate our own reservations, inclinations, and false constructions which may lead toward any excuse that allows us to walk away from the historic faith.

Now, if you have read "Death" and found it abrasive and/or too anecdotal...well, I'm not sure you'll find any relief from the former thing. Swoboda speaks with a pastor's voice, but a firm one at that (to be clear, this is something I appreciate; I happen to think those more willing to offend are more often trustworthy). On the other hand, you should be buoyed by his careful and varied academic support for this volume. In a stroke of bibliographic wisdom he has "opted to draw from a diverse range of the body of Christ so that [he] might be found a little guilty in everyone's eyes" (p. xv).

This work is pleasing in its systemic nature as well. Despite it's density, it's a breeze and hard to put down thanks to his focus in each chapter.

Particular highlights include the challenging idea that we were never meant to like Jesus, but to follow Him. The Way is not an emotionalistic one. We are not trying to achieve happiness by following Jesus. We are grasping at life. I also enjoyed and was encouraged by his treatments on the Church and the Kingdom. I have become increasingly settled in my conviction that there are *very* few scenarios in which leaving my local church for another one is righteous (and I do not include *many* scenarios in which the church wounds me in that short list). We live in a world that prioritizes self over community, and Swoboda helps reorient his readers to a love for Christ's Bride and a desire for the whole Kingdom of God. In fact, much of this book rebuts our rampant selfishness and he warns pointedly against trusting God *for* things that He never promised in the final chapter.

If I have any gripe, it's one that I have with many works that I nevertheless applaud and agree with: I really don't think we should be employing the term "deconstruction". Swoboda relies on it mostly for convenience, using it interchangeably with "doubt". He places it on a continuum common to the Way amid the terms "construction" and "reconstruction". I understand the motivation there, but it does baffle me somewhat how rarely these discussions are couched in and pointed toward the idea that has sufficiently contained this process of belief formation and change for millennia: discipleship. Discipleship is merely a learning process, and like any education, we come up against the unfortunate reality that what we initially received is not sufficient for reality, and we must adjust. I don't see the need to gloss over and rebrand an idea at the core of orthodoxy with a hip, philosophical name.

I am also willing to admit that Swoboda possibly highlighted this very issue and I have just forgotten. I have been reading this book for a while and I neglected to take notes.

In any case, I know that Swoboda made the decision to use this particular language for very pastoral and empathetic reasons, and for that I can't *really* fault him. And I do absolutely think this book is worth your time and useful to your discipleship should you choose to engage with it.

[Levi Van Hoecke · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok.

AJ Swoboda, professor of Bible at Bushnell Seminary and director of a Doctor of Ministry program at Fuller Theological Seminary, explores the now popular trend of “deconstruction”. At the outset he takes three chapters to describe this phenomenon, in which it appears that faith “deconstruction” is when one dissects, critiques, and arrives at disbelief from their formerly held worldview. He describes also a hope for “reconstruction”, which becomes the focus of the book in the next eight chapters. In reconstruction, one reestablishes a stronger and more authentic faith through seeking God and honestly evaluating their critical questions.

The premise is well and good, and I was intrigued in what Swoboda might tell us about a deconstruction journey that results in a stronger and more honest faith in God. However, I found the body of the book to be at best supplementary information for one predisposed to rebuild their faith, pastoral advice more than anything. Swoboda focuses on the importance of knowing oneself, discerning the truth, attending church consistently, among other ways of seeking God. However, he doesn’t appear to bridge the gap between a sincere questioner with a damaged or deconstructed faith, and the faith recovery process as part of a pursuit of truth. Instead, he begins to make subtle and derivative implications that the one who deconstructs is often emotionally led, insincere, or reacting to trauma experienced in their church. But what does this say about the validity of their questions? In my estimation, not much. There are some hints at solutions for contextualizing one’s doubts and a great deal of helpful advice for healing from church hurts or emotional numbness, and a chock full of intriguing sources to explore in his anecdotes, but in my opinion Swoboda misses the mark in robustly and accurately treating the nature of deconstruction. Yes, motivations are important to contextualize doubt and to understand why certain deconstructors make the life decisions they do. But it does not necessarily account for all cases, and it doesn’t have much to do with the content of the questions themselves.

Swoboda shares some insightful personal stories, and the overall tone of the book is amicable towards deconstruction, viewing it as potentially very healthy as long as one comes “full circle”. But, in this reader’s opinion, the author unknowingly calls into question the integrity of the audience at moments and it comes across as deflective.

Still worth reading, especially the first three chapters. Lots of random knowledge about church history sprinkled throughout.

[Randy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book. I am frankly surprised at some of the poorer reviews on it, but perhaps they are looking for more or don't understand that Jesus really is the answer. Although, as I read them further, it becomes more clear. People who read the book from a theological position in conflict of that with the author will have problems with what he writes. So, we should address my perspective. 1) The Bible is inerrant. Period. That isn't a point of discussion. 2) Jesus is the way to salvation. 3) I am a member of a "mainline" Protestant denomination (Lutheran), and am not in agreement with some of the authors theological leanings. He identifies that there have been clearly sins committed in the name of "the church" (which has led people to the point of deconstruction) and many times the church has turned a blind eye to them. He points this out clearly and as an area that needs correction.
I appreciated this book and the well researched and reasoned arguments that the author put together. I also appreciated that the book did not come from a particular political (church political that is) bent and was equally hard on the progressive and conservative sides of that aisle, each has tended to make an idol of their position. I would strongly recommend this book to congregational leaders who need to understand better those going through this process, as well as learning in order to be able to offer help (and hope) to those who are struggling through this process. Highly recommended, in my opinion.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very worthwhile read. I got a bit stuck in it as I am not a big consumer of non-fiction so I’m proud of myself for finishing it! The author had some really wonderful perspective and illustrations regarding deconstruction that I have benefited mulling over. Some of these were:

1. Some things are really worth deconstructing as they don’t belong amongst the core Christian beliefs. Beliefs change, and we do well to be humble about our own and generous about how we see others.
2. The analogy of iatrogenic illnesses as the good and bad of faith communities resonated a lot with me.
3. Adjust expectations regarding the timeline and end product of processing doubt. “The separation of church and doubt has harmed too many.”
4. Lots of discussion on both how doubt and deconstruction are nothing new in the history of the Christian faith, but also how modern cultural values such as individualism fuel it today.

I did find the organization of it really choppy, such as a significant amount of brief quotes without a ton of context or elaboration. It meandered more than followed a map, yet I found so much value in it this did not detract.

[Elinor Loredan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this book. Swoboda offers many valuable insights into the Bible, church, and faith. I appreciate his emphasis on the importance of attending church and of honoring tradition even while we question it. But his credibility is damaged by his inclusion of politics. Although he appears to try to be neutral, multiple times he presents conservatives and liberals in polarizing, stereotypical ways (and makes conservatives look far worse). He does not allow for variation within political parties. Not all liberals promote abortion and not all conservatives are against it, for instance. Moreover, to claim that conservative Christians only preach gospel while progressive ones carry it out is extremely insulting and untrue. Leaving politics out of the book would have been better, or at least not portraying them in such a narrow manner. He gives the impression that he is above the hypocrisies and shortcoming of popular culture, yet with some of his statement he shows that he, too, is subject to it. This is shown most clearly in his claim that non white, underprivileged people have a stronger faith than white prosperous ones. That is a toxic idea.

The ideology behind deconstructing and reconstructing our faith was explored, but I do not feel that Swoboda actually go into the process itself. Many sections also feature unnecessary repetition. I would need to read the whole thing again to absorb all of the concepts. Altogether, I think it was worth reading. While I detest Swoboda's handling of politics, I do find him to be insightful with an accessible writing style.

[Annalise Kraines · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been reading this one for a long time. Overall, it's a very good explanation of deconstruction for people who don't understand it or criticize it. The first half of the book is really good, very clear, interesting and solid biblical interpretation that makes obvious that God is not afraid of our questions. The second half of the book feels more rambly and confusing. Swoboda seems to be wrestling with his own thoughts, and the nuance that was present in the first half of the book is not there. But reading this book gave me new perspective on my own deconstruction and empathy for others who are deconstructing. I think it will be especially accessible to those who lean more conservatively and are having trouble understanding deconstruction.