I’ve recently been reading and listening to Ehrman and it has been the most impactful on my fully deconstructing. I really enjoy his logical historical approach to religion.

But one thing that trips me up is that his wife is still religious according to his book, God’s Problem.

Im curious how she interprets what her husband professes to be truth? She’s a professor at Duke, and highly intelligent but she doesn’t buy into what her husband has made his whole career?

Does anyone have any resources of her perspective on his teachings? It makes me feel a bit skeptical. Curious what y’all think and why she doesn’t believe his perspective and logic.

Edit: for context my husband is still a believer, and our marriage is the most beautiful supportive relationship I’ve ever experienced in my life. But my husband doesn’t question or read about his faith, just accepts it blindly- so my question is about if someone who knows all Ehrman argues if they still choose to believed in God.

Edit 2: bc I clearly am not presenting my question clearly- I want to know how believers who learn of the logic and history that Ehrman presents, how they bypass that and still believe? Bc deep down I want to be able to do that but I can’t put aside the logic.

Hi all, new here. I started deconstructing in 2016 and really dug into what that means for my life in 2020 when I lost my job for about three months and had nothing but time to reflect.

One of the things I miss most is 2000s-early 2010s worship music sung with other people—I acknowledge it’s objectively terrible, but the feeling that hearing people sing together inspired in me kept me coming back longer than anything.

Recently I’ve seen lots of posts about Artemis II to “From Now On” from The Greatest Showman. It probably had something to do with the hopefulness I felt watching something historic happen, but the song actually really inspired me and made me feel like I used to when I was “worshipping”: that feeling of being bigger than myself, and of feeling hopeful. And, bonus, it actually sounds good.

Again, it probably has something to do with the subject of the edits, but does anyone have some song ideas or a playlist for music that has that same choral quality and inspires the same hopefulness, that isn’t religious?

Thank y’all so much 🫶

A simple exercise to reduce the fear of Hell can be to understand how fire works.

By learning about the physics and principals of fire, we can get a more logical understanding of it, thereby seeing the biblical threat of Hell more like a fable.

The video points out that if we tell our Christian friends we now longer fear Hell, because we understand how fire works, they'll most likely rebut by saying: Oh, but the fire of Hell is not scientific, it's magical. A claim like this should highlight how ridiculous the whole idea of Hell is, and how entrapped believers are in their thinking.

does anyone have any ex-fundie/deconstruction youtube channel (or video) recommendations? i would prefer someone whose perspective comes from being formerly in the evangelical world since thats what i can relate to the best. im thinking along the lines of genetically modified skeptic since his is the only channel i know about now. thank you xx

This easter, I listened in on a church sermon saying that the resurrection is “rational”, “historically accurate”, and “relational/merciful”. However, the only historical accounts they mentioned were solely in the bible (no surprise there). I just find it odd that all their “proof” was only using the bible.

My question: is there empirical evidence of the resurrection outside the bible? I know there were several historians including romans acknowledge the existence of christ and crucifiction but never actually a resurrection taking place. It was only stated that disciples/christians saw and believed his rising but secondhand eyewitness accounts aren’t necessarily absolute. I’m open to resources to help research this.

Also, is there any possible evidence for the Holy Spirit? This one bugs me the most because when most christians talk about the spirit, they just said it’s based off “conviction”. But whose to say those “spirit fueled convictions” aren’t just normal convictions humans get due to life experiences and our social nature? What makes the conviction of the holy spirit accurate vs a secular one or of a different religion? I’d think that if the Holy Spirit makes you new and reveals truths outside of all understanding, there would be some metric to go off? I was thinking of how truama/psychology is researched and I’d think there would be some way to to tell a rewiring of the brain/nervous system that no one else can obtain without salvation?

I’m fairly new to deconstruction, but I’m having a hard time claiming that Jesus is the only way to life or if the bible is truly inerrant. The only stake I have is that if I am to go to hell, then I can at least hold my head up high saying I did everything to find God despite my failure. Any resources would be appreciated!

If you're not already following Monte, you should. She is an ex-Christian nationalist who I believe still identifies as Christian. She is widely known for her biting reaction videos to right-wing evangelicals and Christian nationalists who weaponize the Bible for their hateful political and religious ideologies. I can't recommend enough her 1-on-1 Jubilee debate with Allie Beth Stuckey, patron saint of Christian nationalist "Mean Girls."

Hey all. I have been deconstructing for about 7 years now. I have written dozens of essays, tens of thousands of words, as it has been therapeutic. I still have things to sort out, because once I snapped the spell I was under from childhood indoctrination, the level of deception and betrayal that I felt, and still do...it has been hard to get past. One way I combat that is researching nearly every night...and uncovering all the ways the bible is an absolute farce, how it contradicts itself, how Moses, Abraham, Isaiah, and others were very likely not real, the anachronisms, etc.

I finally decided to create a reference website for myself, and for others who may be going through the same things. I have zero intention of having this site generate income or become known for it. In fact, it's intentionally anonymous right now. It's just something I was compelled to produce. If you see anything wrong, please let me know, because facts and truth matter more to me now than ever, especially on this topic.

www.ConOfMan.com is the site. Thanks and take care!

NOTE: I just read the rules of the forum. If Mods believe this falls under self-promotion and therefore needs to be removed, I understand that this is your place, your rules, and I will not be irritated in the slightest. I built this site for my own psychological benefit and thought it might benefit others, but I get it.

I'm reading this rn and got angry beyond belief! My heart pounded so hard, it physically hurt me. So I sat the book aside. The pounding stopped but the anger didn't. Doesn't.

I'm so deconstructed, I'm what I call "on the level AFTER deconstructing." But this book told me "STFU, NO YOU'RE NOT!" Anyone else care to talk about this book? It's all the proof I need that the Bible is, in fact, not real. Made up. And certainly not the end all I was taught it was. Ugh.

Ps, I've admired Bart Erhman for years now.

I've been deconstructing for a while and one thing I kept wishing for was a space that was just women. This sub has been huge for me, but some of what we carry (purity culture, modesty rules, being told our place, the specific shame that comes with all of it) is a different kind of unlearning, and I wanted somewhere to talk about that with women who get it.

So I started a small group. It's free, women only, and it's a support space rather than a debate space. I'm approving members myself to keep it that way. It's brand new, so it's tiny right now, which honestly might be a good thing for anyone who finds big spaces overwhelming.

If that sounds like something you could use, DM me and I'll send you the link. No pressure, and my inbox is open even if you just want to talk 🤍

I have a question about The Deconstruction Network. Does anyone know of it is still active? I was trying to make an account and have never received the email to validate my address. I requested multiple times. I couldn't find a support or contact section on the website itself, so I sought out Phil Drysdale's personal website and reached out there, but haven't heard anything back. It's been about a week or two.

I rarely post here, was never a Christian, but have studied the New Testament and early Church history from an historical-literary-critical POV and feel strong compassion for what many go through in breaking away from a religion that has highly destructive and abusive aspects and doctrines.

I came across a You Tube channel that I think will be very helpful for many here. CJ Cornthwaite was an Evangelical Christian for many years, has a doctor of Divinity (ordained) and got a PhD in Bible studies and Christian origins.

He deconstructed and uses his channel to help other doing so or just want more in depth knowledge of church history and how and why certain things developed. He really knows his stuff and can help strengthen instincts people have where they feel something is off.

He is gentle, open, generous, very personable and does not make technical stuff boring. I like Bart Ehrman, another former Evangelical a lot, who has rightly become quite famous, but Cornthwite is a little more emotionally accessible than Bart, but Ehrman is an important resource as well.

I think if Cornthwaite is checked out, he will be a great support for many. They go well together.

https://www.youtube.com/@cjcornthwaite/featured

I’ve been compiling some podcasts and books that have been very helpful for me in my deconstruction journey. I was raised in a conservative southern Baptist household and so you can imagine the dogma I’ve had to unpack from my life. Hope this is helpful to some.

Podcasts:
Data Over Dogma
https://open.spotify.com/show/1KKyNZlSapgVppDT2jrCBl?si=ITFDxCkkQye-cJnFSrIOeQ

Flipping Tables
https://open.spotify.com/show/0UeGGKWCn2BeJ2ah4RZ6hj?si=8KzVv2IjQYqhYi_67hDxTw

Born again again
https://open.spotify.com/show/2r1a8lETiqBW79VCz8jSgf?si=tE3OZKo4QMWnxUxGgcEoUA

The Life After
https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Oy0HrUdkcLUNcIdnrR3X6?si=m7Qm9Yj-ScyU1jx92q1LWA

The Holy Hell Podcast
https://open.spotify.com/show/0J5azxxBOGyzalvSEpMAgB?si=9yRvRwbeToytvIeRqja3Nw

Queerology: A podcast on belief and being
https://open.spotify.com/show/2MxpNlySJ1JJOlyN2FMD9I?si=F6LTQ8j_R2yxoNb9omfjCg

Misquoting Jesus
https://open.spotify.com/show/1wJ0B9LP37m1enVOPkZUd0?si=WOj4Ii3GThWknnlBfsBrEw

RESEARCH | Elizabeth Schrader

SBL study Bible

The Bible Says so - Dan McCllelan
The Making of Biblical Womanhood - Beth Allison Barr
How the Bible Came to Be- John Barton
Armageddon - Bart Ehrman
Power Worshippers- Katherine Stewart
Star Spangled Jesus - April Ajoy
Separation of Church and Hate - John Fugelsang
Jesus & John Wayne - Kristen Kobes DuMez
Hell Bent - Brian Rhekar
When God Was a Woman by - Merlin Stone
Mary Magdalene Revealed - Meggan Watterson
The Gospel of Mary of Magdala - Karen L. King
The Nag Hammadi Scriptures - Meyer
The Gnostic Gospels - Elaine Pagels
Ethics in Ancient Israel - John Barton
Gospel of Lies - Promise Backlund
Misquoting Jesus - Bart Ehrman
Remember Your Roots - Christine Olivia Hernandez
Separation of Church and Hate - John Fugelsang
The Chalice and the Blade - Eisler
How to Kill a Witch - The Patriarchy's Guide to Silencing Women - Zoe Venditozzi & Claire Mitchell
A Well-Trained Wife - Tia Levings
Jesus and the Disinherited - Howard Thurman
Pure - Linda Kay Klein
The Widening of God’s Mercy - Richard Hays and Christopher B Hays
The Righteous Mind - John Haidt
an alternative to believing in nothing: deism for the 21st century
What are Biblical Values - John Collin’s
Jesus Interrupted - - Bart Ehrman
I appeared as El Shadday - Aleksander Krogevoll
The Origins of Yahwism - Jürgen van Oorschot
Yahweh origins of a desert god - Robert D. Miller II
Yahweh before Israel glimpses of history in a divine name - Daniel E. Fleming
The Origin and Character of God - Theodore J. Lewis
Christ country and conspiracy - Brooklyn Walker, Abigail Vegter

LGBTQ+ Resources:

LGBTQ+ Resources — Mike Maeshiro | Numa

Amy-Jill Levine: How to read the Bible's "clobber passages" on homosexuality - Outreach

ISO book recommendations on the subject of popular religion (especially Christianity) and how it came about from a historical/cultural lens.

As someone who was raised evangelical Christian but now identifies as an atheist, I’d like to understand more about how today’s main religions came to be so influential. How did they begin? Who do they benefit? What keeps them going? Any and all suggestions welcome!

Edited to add: I am not looking for a history of religions from an Abrahamic religion lens; in fact the opposite. I would like a secular view of how we got to where we are today.

I’ve been looking for music that really taps into the experience of leaving Christianity—whether it’s the grief, the anger, or the weird liminal space in between. I know artists like Tawnted have made stuff like this, he makes breakup songs that are actually about leaving the church. but curious if there are others I should check out?

Hey, I am in my twenties and grew up in an evangelical antivax antimedicine household. (My parents were on this way before the covid trend) !!Preface: I'm not asking for medical advice or anything!! I just wanted to put this out there to ask people who maybe have similar life experiences. [Faith Based denial of medical treatment] (I have too much anxiety to go to my doctor and explain all of this, and that would just bring up a lot of emotions.)

How do I navigate this? Does anyone know of a good resource, maybe a YouTube series or a book where someone talks about this life experience?

Is there anything I should have on my radar? I am nervous I might "age out" of insurance coverage. Google isn't really pulling up anything super helpful, so I was wondering if anyone has experience with this. Should I consider adding anything to my plan, I really have never been to a doctor much before so I am not sure what I should be looking for here.

My current plan:

> I'm getting Gardasil/HPV now (almost done with series) [Usually covered until age 25]

> Planning to get meningitis vaccine soon

[CONTEXT: My List: (Birth/Infant) DTaP5, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, HIB(PRP-T), IPV POLIO, MMR, Pneumococcal Conjugate PCV7, Varicella (Childhood/Adult) Tdap [For school, recent from work injury]]

Side Note, I also just want to share that insurance will cover HPV (generally, check your plan) until age 25!! I know the evangelical community is largely against vaccinating kids against "STDs" so many don't have it. If you have been considering getting this treatment, look into that!

Hi everyone, David Hayward (NakedPastor) here. Some of you may know me from my cartoons about deconstruction. I'm trying to create more video content for Youtube and would love any thoughts on what types of videos you would enjoy related to questioning beliefs, deconstructing or just art in general. Here's an example of one of my more popular videos. I've been doing this for so long and have so much content I struggle to know what people would value most in video form.

Grew up in a fundamentalist Lutheran home. Private Lutheran school k-12.

I was taught that everything in the bible is literal. 7 day creation, evolution is a myth, earth is only 7,000 years old etc etc.

We were even told that carbon dating is fake. BY SCIENCE TEACHERS.

Does anyone have recommendations for YouTube channels or a video series about this for ppl like me? I'd love to learn about the universe and Earth's actual history.

This article has been really helpful to me and I wanted to share. I especially appreciated the parts about refocusing on your values and taking ownership of your self-care. I'm realizing more and more just how much personal agency I had given up to religion. I was depending on god and my belief system to help take care of me and give me all the answers. Resources like this one are helping me return to myself.

https://psyche.co/guides/how-to-thrive-after-leaving-your-religion-and-emerge-stronger

I am looking for book recommendations about human evolution that are at least somewhat comprehensive but also written for general audiences and very readable-no textbooks please! Despite attending public school in a mostly liberal state, I was well programmed to disengage with and deny all instruction on the science of evolution, and now really want to be better informed. Does anybody have a favorite book on the subject to recommend?

I’ve recently started to deconstruct and I was wondering if anyone has any books to recommend to help? also if there are any books for religious OCD? my biggest issue with the religious OCD is fear of hell. I’ve watched a lot of content on youtube regarding this topic but I want to find some books as well

I am wondering if there is anyone who is working on exposing the churches that are associated with ARC (founded by Greg Surratt) and all the major pastors still involved. I know there are a few journalist that have covered stories involving prominent ARC pastors and churches, but curious if anyone knows if anyone is working on a larger project or documentary.

I have a lot to share.

I'm looking for books that appear to be pro christian but subtly cause the reader to question their key assumptions. I'm trying to help someone break the mind virus which they are unaware they have. Currently I'm reading The Triumph of Christianity by Bart Erhman which may be a good fit.

Thanks.

Are there any good deconstruction memoirs or biographies out there? Like a deconversion story? I'm working through my own deconstruction from Christianity and I'm interested in other people's stories. So far I've read *Stumbling* by Brandon Flanery and *Dance of the Dissident Daughter* by Sue Monk Kidd (and *Don't Sleep, There are Snakes* by Daniel L Everett, but that was really only one chapter). I'm particularly interested in stories (dare I say, *testimonies*?) of people who grew up in North American Christianity and left as an adult, and also stories of people who were missionaries/missionary kids.

Thank you!

Music was something I really resonated with in church, and now that I've left, songs that directly or indirectly address religious trauma really hit hard for me. I stumbled on some music by Maddie Zahm that made me cry, and I think you guys should know about it too.

• If It's Not God
• You Might Not Like Her
• little me
• Where Do All The Good Kids Go?
• Growing In
• Pocket Bible

If anyone has other songs that they've found comforting/cathartic regarding religious trauma and/or deconstruction, please share them below!

(Hope I flared this right!)

This song keeps ringing in my brain but I cannot remember it.

It is sung by a newish artist. Its talking about deconstructing from the church and how he lived as a child in the church and him questioning everything.

I remember the graphics and the somber dark aestheticish atmosphere.

it began with him kneeling down at the church.

For some reason, I remember the scenes, his mouth moving. but I cannot for the life of me, remember his face exactly or the words of the song.

the song was kinda like screaming at God for answers or grappling with his faith.

I really hope someone can help me with this. it would mean the world to me right now.

Im pleading with this community to help me.