40. God After Deconstruction (ft. Thomas Oord)
May 20, 2024 | Interview, Podcast Episode, Theology
Join us this week as we delve into one of modern Christianity's most hotly debated topics: deconstruction. What does it entail, and how should we respond when those close to us (or maybe even we ourselves) undergo this complicated process? Dr. Thomas Oord is back to unpack his latest collaboration with Tripp Fuller, God After Deconstruction.
In this must-listen episode, we explore the implications of deconstruction for Christianity's future. Whether you're grappling with questions about faith evolution or already on a deconstruction journey, Tom's insights provide much-needed validation and understanding. Don't miss out on this enlightening discussion!
Explore more of Tom's work at the Center for Open and Relational Theology and grab a copy of his latest book, God After Deconstruction (Amazon Associate link).
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Editor: Janna Connor
Referenced Resources:
Dr. Oord's website
Dr. Oord's Amazon page (Amazon Associate link: As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases a small return at no extra cost to you.)
God After Deconstruction (Amazon Associate link)
Center for Open and Relational Theology
Questions Covered:
Introduction and definition of open and relational theology [0:00-3:15]
1. What is deconstruction? [3:15-5:05]
2. Should Christians be concerned about or afraid of deconstruction? [5:05-12:35]
3. How has your own journey of deconstruction and reconstruction influenced your understanding of God, faith, and theology? [12:35-20:25]
4. What are some of the common objections you hear to deconstruction, and how would you respond to them? [20:25-24:25]
5. How do you address the reconstruction of ethical frameworks following the deconstruction of religious beliefs? [24:25-31:25]
6. How can we start to reimagine God in healthier ways after deconstruction? [31:25-39:30]
7. Open and relational theology came up a lot in the book. Seeing as many Christians may not have even heard of that system of theology, how important do you think that view is to a healthy deconstruction? What advantages does it present that other Christians might miss out on or struggle with if they still believe in God as he is more traditionally presented? [39:30-43:15]
8. What is the difference between using mystery as a label to slap onto anything in life we don't understand versus embracing the mystery aspects of faith and life that you talk about in the book? [43:15-44:30]
Listener Questions:
1. Where is the middle ground between blind, foolish faith and cold, unfeeling facts? [44:30-48:10]
2. Over 20 years ago, I became a born-again evangelical Christian and took my family with me. In that time, we experienced a lot of hurts from a highly controlling Independent Fundamental Baptist church. I have asked my family for forgiveness, but I still deal with a lot of guilt for being the one who started all that. How does the person responsible for bringing their family into the abusive church deal with the aftermath in a healthy manner? [48:10-54:00]
3. Being in a fundamentalist church for many years, I often heard very wordy and insincere prayers. I hated hearing the fake prayers and often wondered how God felt about them. It is so hard to talk to God without hearing myself falling back into old verbiage. What advice do you have for people who need to start from scratch in the area of prayer? [54:00-58:15]
Conclusion [58:15-1:01:00]