The Deconstructionists

What if one of the Bible's most famous stories isn't really about a hero and a villain? For centuries, many of us have been taught to read the story of Jacob and Esau through a familiar lens: Jacob, despite his flaws, is God's chosen son, while Esau becomes little more than the cautionary tale of the brother who "despised his birthright." But what happens when we slow down, rev...

In Part 2 of our conversation with grief coach, author, and podcaster Shelby Forsythia, we dive deeper into her brand-new book, Of Course I'm Here Right Now. Most of us want to help when someone we love is grieving. The problem is that we've never been taught how. Instead, we fall back on clichés, platitudes, and well-meaning advice that often leaves grieving people feeling even more isola...

What happens when grief changes not just your life… but your identity? In part one of this conversation, John sits down with author, grief guide, and speaker Shelby Forsythia to discuss her new book and the complicated, deeply human realities of loss, healing, and personal transformation. Together, they explore the myths we inherit about grief, why so many people feel pressure to “move on” too qui...

What if one of the most influential ideas in modern Christianity… didn’t actually come from Jesus? In this episode of The Deconstructionists Podcast , we explore the history and impact of dualism — the ancient belief that spirit is good while matter, bodies, and the physical world are somehow lesser, corrupt, or evil. From Plato and Greek philosophy to Gnosticism and modern evangelical culture, we...

In Part 2 of our conversation, Bart Ehrman returns to discuss his latest book, Love Thy Stranger, and the lasting impact Jesus’ teachings had on moral thought in the Western world. We continue exploring how ideas surrounding compassion, forgiveness, charity, and care for outsiders emerged within early Christianity — while also wrestling with the ways institutions and political movements have often...

Dr. Bart Ehrman – Love Thy Stranger: How the Teachings of Jesus Transformed the Moral Conscience of the West (Part 1) In Part 1 of our conversation with renowned New Testament scholar and historian Dr. Bart Ehrman, we dive into his latest book, "Love Thy Stranger: How the Teachings of Jesus Transformed the Moral Conscience of the West". For centuries, people have debated whether Christiani...

In Part 2 of our conversation with Lillian Daniel , we move deeper into the tensions at the heart of her story—and the bigger questions it raises for the modern church. If Part 1 explored what happened, this episode asks what it means . We talk about accountability, institutional systems, and whether the church is actually capable of handling failure in a way that leads to healing rather than harm...

📝 Episode Summary Drawing from her new book, Defrocked: Good News from a Bad Pastor for a Better Church, Lillian shares her journey through ministry, the unexpected challenges she encountered, and the moments that forced her to rethink long-held assumptions about leadership, faith, and belonging. This episode is an honest look at what happens when certainty begins to crack—and why that might not...

What happens when the version of you that survived… isn’t the version of you that’s whole? In Part 2 of our conversation with Dr. Cristy Carr, we move deeper—beyond awareness and into the work of healing. Together, we explore what it looks like to reconnect with the parts of ourselves that were silenced, shaped, or suppressed by trauma, religious systems, and the need to belong. This episode isn’t...

🧭 Episode Summary Who were you… before you were told who to be? For many of us—especially those shaped by religious systems—identity isn’t something we discovered. It’s something we inherited. Beliefs. Roles. Expectations. All layered over time until the line between who we are and who we were told to be becomes hard to see. In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, we sit down with Cristy S. Carr...

Episode: Violence and the Bible – What Do We Do With It? 🧭 Episode Summary Violence is everywhere in the Bible—and for many, it’s one of the most difficult aspects of scripture to reconcile with the idea of a loving God. In this episode, John explores one of the most pressing and personal questions facing modern readers of the Bible: What do we do with the violence in scripture—and what does it m...

The Deconstructionists Podcast Guest: Dr. Michelle Keener In Part 2 of our conversation with Dr. Michelle Keener , we go deeper into the themes of her book, Comfort in the Ashes: Explorations in the Book of Job to Support Trauma Survivors , and what it means to engage scripture after certainty has cracked. If Part 1 explored how harmful interpretations take root, this episode focuses on what comes...

In this first part of our conversation, we’re joined by Dr. Michelle Keener , author of Comfort in the Ashes: Explorations in the Book of Job to Support Trauma Survivors . The Book of Job is often cited in conversations about suffering—but just as often, it’s been used to minimize pain, rush people toward answers, or reinforce harmful ideas about God, blame, and endurance. In Comfort in the Ashes...

In Part Two of our conversation with John Dominic Crossan and Michael Okinczyc-Cruz , we move from historical foundations to present-day consequences. Once Jesus is understood within the realities of Roman imperial power, the implications become unavoidable — especially in a moment when Christianity in the United States is increasingly entangled with political authority, violence, and domination....

In this episode of The Deconstructionists Podcast , we’re joined by John Dominic Crossan and Michael Okinczyc-Cruz for the first part of a wide-ranging conversation about Jesus, empire, and why historical context matters now more than ever. As religion, power, and nationalism continue to collide in the United States, this conversation feels remarkably timely — not because it’s reacting to current...

In this deeply moving conversation, John sits down for part two with  Valentyn Syniy , a Ukrainian pastor, theologian, and author whose life and ministry have been profoundly shaped by the reality of war. This interview was recorded under extraordinary circumstances. Scheduling had to account for the very real possibility of Russian airstrikes and power outages. Valentyn’s wife graciously joined t...

In this deeply moving conversation, John sits down with Valentyn Syniy , a Ukrainian pastor, theologian, and author whose life and ministry have been profoundly shaped by the reality of war. For many of us—especially those who have never served or lived in a war-torn region—war can feel abstract. Something debated from a distance. Should troops be sent? Should they not? But for Valentyn and millio...

This episode dismantles the most persistent myths surrounding immigration and replaces them with how the system actually works . We walk through immigration policy historically and in real time—naming the racial roots of U.S. immigration law, explaining why “just do it legally” is not a serious policy position, and breaking down the real costs, timelines, and barriers people face today. We also lo...

This episode steps back and asks a harder question: What has the church done in moments like this before—and what does faithfulness actually require now? We begin with church history, tracing how Christians have repeatedly been asked to bless state violence in the name of order and safety. We examine how labels like “criminal,” “terrorist,” and “threat” have historically been used to short-circuit...

When Fear Becomes Policy In this episode, we address what’s happening right now in the United States as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations escalate in visibility, intensity, and violence. This is not a political episode. It’s a human one. We examine verified facts, video evidence, and legal realities surrounding recent enforcement actions, including documented cases involving Ame...

Episode Description In Part Two of our conversation with Alexander Shaia , we move beyond theory and into practice—exploring what spiritual transformation actually looks like in real life. In Part One, we traced the foundations of Dr. Shaia’s work and why his approach to the Gospels resonates so deeply with people navigating faith, doubt, and deconstruction. In this episode, we go deeper—into live...

A Holiday Conversation with Dr. Alexander Shaia —  Part 1 For many people, the holiday season isn’t filled with joy and nostalgia — it’s filled with grief, loneliness, exhaustion, and complicated memories. This episode is especially for those who find this time of year difficult. In Part One of this two-part holiday conversation, we’re joined by our dear friend Alexander Shaia for a reflective, un...

Episode Summary: Part 2 of our conversation with philosopher and friend of the show Peter Rollins goes even deeper into the psychological, existential, and communal dynamics of faith and identity. If Part 1 set the stage, Part 2 pulls the curtain all the way back. This is one of those conversations that lingers. It’s dense, it’s provocative, and it’s full of the kind of insights that Pete has beco...

Episode Summary: In this long-awaited return to the podcast, philosopher, storyteller, and longtime friend of the show Peter Rollins joins us for a rich, mind-bending conversation about faith, identity, and the transformative potential of doubt. Peter was one of our earliest guests and someone who understood the heart of this podcast from day one. After far too much time away, he’s back — and this...

🎉 We’ve Launched a Brand New Patreon! After years of letting our old Patreon quietly collect dust, we’re excited to officially announce that The Deconstructionists Podcast now has a fully rebuilt Patreon — with brand new tiers, fresh content, and one beloved classic perk we kept just for you. This podcast has always been — and still is — 100% independent . We cover the costs out of pocket, not be...