A.J. Swoboda on Not Demonizing Doubt, Why Deconstruction Happens, and Who Your Church’s Future Missionaries Will Be

Have you or someone you know ever started having doubts about the faith you grew up with? Or left a church over changing theological views? Or gone through a season of challenging beliefs held by the faith community you joined? Doubt and Deconstruction seem to be synonymous with most young adult faith journeys in Canada, but we have to ask if this is beneficial or harmful?

This week’s guest, A.J. Swoboda, has tackled those questions for over a decade as he pastored and taught at seminary in Portland Oregon. He has his own story, along with the experience of watching hundreds of twenty-something wrestle with the faith they were handed as kids or chose to join in their later teens. In his new book, “After Doubt”, he looks at how doubt and deconstruction are natural parts of life and belief systems, and how they can actually strengthen and purify our christian discipleship. He also acknowledges however, the dark and dangerous sides of the journey that cause many to leave their churches and faith communities.

Jason unpacks with him what this all looks like and what it means for pastoring and leading people in the way of Jesus. They talk about the reasons so many young adults get hit with a wave of questions, concerns and doubts and how their prior church experience and discipleship can perpetuate that problem.

Dr. A.J. Swoboda (PhD, Birmingham) is assistant professor of Bible, theology, and World Christianity at Bushnell University. As well, he leads a Doctor of Ministry program around the Holy Spirit and Leadership at Fuller Seminary. He is the author of a number of books, including the award-winning Subversive Sabbath (Brazos) and the forthcoming After Doubt. He is the co-host of the In Faith and Doubt podcast. He is married to Quinn and is the proud father of Elliot. They live and work in Eugene, Oregon.

Blog | www.ccln.ca/season2/episode55

Website | www.ccln.ca