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(Un)Certain

A Collective Memoir of Deconstructing Faith

(Un)Certain

A Collective Memoir of Deconstructing Faith

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£19.99

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Publisher: SCM Press
ISBN: 9780334063636
Number of Pages: 256
Published: 28/03/2023
Width: 13.5 cm
Height: 21.6 cm

Faith deconstruction - the intentional examination of one's religious faith and beliefs, leading to a profound change in, or even loss of, that faith - has received increasing attention in the past few years, with the emergence of podcasts and online fora dedicated to discussing it, and pushback from those who see Christians who deconstruct as backslidden or 'never really saved'. So who are the people who deconstruct their faith, what causes them to do so and where does the journey take them? (Un)Certain is a collective memoir built on the stories and reflections of over 150 interviewees and nearly 400 survey respondents from all over the world, including the author's own story. These are ordinary people who reached the end of their (predominantly) evangelical road and had the courage to keep walking. It is woven around themes and shared experiences which came up time and again, and reveals a picture of deeply committed believers (including clergy) who reached a breaking point with the certainties and doctrines they spent years or even decades professing. Some tell stories of abuse, while others describe a slow unravelling in the face of exclusionary, politicised or harsh theologies. Far from simply walking away, their deconstruction stories reveal the breadth and nuance of a carefully considered expansion of faith.

Olivia Jackson

Olivia Jackson spent nearly 20 years working for mission agencies in the UK and overseas, and then as a human rights consultant with a focus on the use of violence against women, all of which fed into her own faith deconstruction. She lives on the side of a windswept hill with two dogs.

"Deconstructing any belief system can be a lonely road, but especially so when that belief system is intimately tied up in a faith community. So what a gift (Un)Certain is to anyone on this journey. While sharing her own journey with us, Olivia also gives voice to dozens of people from around the globe, all of whom know what’s at stake when you ask tough questions about the faith you inherited. I only wish Olivia had written this 10 years ago when I was starting out on this journey." - Tim Nash, Host, Nomad Podcast

 

"If you're uncertain about your faith, Uncertain will help you know that you aren't alone. When you meet your fellow seekers in these pages, you'll know you're in good company. If you're a faith leader, this book will help you understand why people are leaving. especially the younger generations you say you care about. It will help you avoid the common mistake of blaming messengers, and it will help you become less certain about the way you're doing things being the only right way. If you're a parent whose kids have left your faith, this book will help you understand them and maybe even learn something from them. Highly recommended!" - Brian D. McLaren, author of Do I Stay Christian?

"The deconstruction of faith is central to contemporary understandings of Christianity. Olivia Jackson has gathered together a wide range of voices that speak to this powerful examination of faith and Christian living around the world. The stories she has gathered are both startling and, sadly, unsurprising, speaking of abuse, manipulation, trauma, and loss. Throughout the book, the sadness of what has been lost through this deconstruction is palpable. But there is also a joy in discovering a new way of living faith, a new way of following Jesus that might carry us forward. Theologians, church leaders, and those in their own processes of working out what kind of faith they can flourish with must read this book." - Karen O'Donnell, Westcott House, Cambridge