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 millions of others, war is not theoretical. It is daily life. It is uncertainty, fear, loss—and for many, hell experienced in the here and now.

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 the conversation to assist with translation at moments, helping ensure that everything Valentyn wanted to communicate was conveyed with clarity and care.

Together, we explore:

• What it means to live, pastor, and hold onto faith in the midst of active war
• How violence and trauma test long-held theological assumptions
• The difference between discussing war and surviving it
• Where hope, honesty, and spiritual resilience are found when everything familiar is under siege

Some stories shared in this episode may be difficult to hear, but they are necessary—and deeply human.

About the Book

Valentyn is the author of God Under Siege, a powerful and unflinching reflection on faith, suffering, and God’s presence amid the devastation of war. Drawing from lived experience rather than distant theology, the book challenges easy answers and invites readers into a more honest, grounded faith.

Get the book:

• Amazon
• Major booksellers
• Wherever books are sold

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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 look at crime data, benefits myths, economic contributions, and the very real impact current enforcement strategies are having on American farmers and food systems.

Topics covered

• Why immigration law has always been shaped by race
• Policies that restricted Italians, Asians, and other groups
• Obama-era deportations vs. today’s enforcement tactics
• Why deportation numbers vary depending on who’s counting
• Real immigration pathways, timelines, and costs
• Why asylum is slow—and dangerous to wait through
• Crime data vs. fear narratives
• Taxes, benefits, and economic contribution
• Farm labor shortages and food supply impacts
• Why immigration reform is urgent—not theoretical

Key historical policies referenced

• Chinese Exclusion Act (1882)
• Immigration Act of 1917
• Emergency Quota Act (1921)
• Immigration Act of 1924 (Johnson–Reed Act / National Origins Act)

Immigration system & policy resources

• U.S. State Department — Visa Bulletin
• https://travel.state.gov/visa-bulletin
• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services — Asylum & Work Authorization
• https://www.uscis.gov/asylum
• https://www.uscis.gov/i-765
• Migration Policy Institute
• https://www.migrationpolicy.org

Crime & data resources

• National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine — Immigration & Crime Summary
• https://nap.nationalacademies.org/resource/21746/issue_brief_crime.pdf
• PNAS peer-reviewed study (Texas arrest data)
• https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2014704117
• Cato Institute — Incarceration Rates by Immigration Status
• https://www.cato.org/policy-analysis/illegal-immigrant-incarceration-rates-2010-2023

Benefits, taxes & economy

• National Immigration Law Center — Benefits Eligibility
• https://www.nilc.org/resources/overview-immeligfedprograms/
• Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP)
• https://itep.org/undocumented-immigrants-taxes-2024/

Agriculture & labor impact

• Wisconsin Public Radio — Farm labor shortages
• https://www.wpr.org/news/deportations-worry-farmers-labor-shortage-harvest
• Dairy Herd Management — ICE raids and dairy workforce loss
• https://www.dairyherd.com/news/labor/overnight-exodus-how-ice-raid-cut-dairys-workforce-more-half

Reflection question

If the system looked then the way it looks now—who would have been allowed in at all?

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Special music provided by: Forrest Clay from the Recover EP.

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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 moral responsibility.

We then turn to Scripture—not as proof texts, but as story—allowing the biblical narrative to confront modern assumptions about power, violence, and the stranger.

Topics covered

• Historical patterns of Christian complicity with state violence
• Why labels matter more than we think
• False equivalence arguments (“what about…”)
• Why due process is a moral issue
• Jesus, the stranger, and state power
• Why faith rooted in the margins looks different

Scripture referenced

• Exodus 22:21
• Leviticus 19:33–34
• Deuteronomy 10:18–19
• Isaiah 1
• Amos 5
• Micah 6:8
• Luke 10:25–37
• Matthew 25:31–46
• Matthew 26:52
• John 18–19
• Romans 12–13 (read together, not selectively)

Historical & analytical resources

• Migration Policy Institute — Immigration & Enforcement Analysis
• https://www.migrationpolicy.org/research/explainers
• Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse
• https://tracreports.org

Reflection question

Who are we being asked to look away from—and what does that cost our faith?

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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 American citizens, the failure to follow established protocols after lethal force, and the growing pattern of intimidation, escalation, and public spectacle.

We also talk about confirmation bias—how fear and identity shape what we’re willing to see—and why Christians and the spiritually curious alike have a responsibility to trust evidence over narratives.

Topics covered

• What ICE can and cannot legally do
• Why due process matters even when immigration law is involved
• The danger of pre-justifying violence
• Confirmation bias and moral shortcuts
• Why “order” is not the same thing as justice
• The role of witnesses, neighbors, and allies

Key resources & links

• American Civil Liberties Union — Know Your Rights (Immigrants & Bystanders)
• https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/immigrants-rights
• National Lawyers Guild — Legal Observers & Recording Rights
• https://www.nlg.org/legal-observers/
• Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC Immigration)
• Independent reporting on ICE enforcement and immigration court data
• https://tracreports.org/immigration

Reflection question

When fear is loud and authority is visible, how do we decide what we’re willing to accept—and what we’re willing to question?

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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 lived experience, inner change, and the courage it takes to move forward when certainty falls away.

Dr. Shaia shares how spiritual frameworks are meant to form us, not control us, and why the Christian tradition—at its best—has always been about movement, growth, and becoming. This conversation speaks especially to those who feel stuck between belief and disbelief, longing for a faith that can hold both honesty and hope.

About Our Guest

Alexander Shaia is a theologian, speaker, and author best known for his work on the transformational structure of the Gospels. His book, Heart and Mind, explores the fourfold journey found within the Christian tradition and presents a compelling alternative to rigid, belief-based models of faith.

Dr. Shaia’s work has become especially meaningful for those who are deconstructing inherited belief systems while still seeking depth, wisdom, and spiritual grounding.

Education:

Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco, CA, 1991

Graduate Certificate, Pastoral Psychotherapy, University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, WA, 1982

Master of Religious Education, Seattle University, Seattle, WA, 1981

M.A., Counseling Education, University of Alabama in Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 1976

B.A., Cultural Anthropology, University of Notre Dame du lac, Notre Dame, IN, 1974

Jungian and Sandplay Studies, 1973 - Current; month intensive with Dora M. Kalff – Jungian analyst & originator of Sandplay, Zollikon, Switzerland, July/August 1989

Psychosynthesis Certificate, Psychosynthesis Training Institute, San Francisco, CA, Two year training, 1986-1988 

Website: www.quadratos.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quadratos/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Quadratos1/featured

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlexanderJohnShaia/

Support the Show

If you’d like to help support The Deconstructionists Podcast and go deeper with the kinds of conversations we’re having here, check out our brand-new Patreon.

Support: https://patreon.com/TheDeconstructionistsPodcast

• 🎧 Book of the Month Club is back
• 📚 Educational resources & study guides available for anyone supporting the show at $5/month or more—less than the price of most Starbucks drinks
• 💛 Your support helps keep the show independent and sustainable

Listen & Connect

• Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts
• Follow us on social media for clips and updates
• Share this episode with someone navigating faith, doubt, or transition

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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, unhurried dialogue about meaning, presence, and the wisdom found in honoring seasons rather than fighting them.

Rather than offering platitudes or quick fixes, Dr. Shaia invites us to slow down — to consider what it looks like to live faithfully and humanely when certainty feels thin and the world feels overwhelming. Drawing from ancient Christian wisdom, lived experience, and deep compassion, this conversation offers space to breathe, reflect, and feel less alone.

This is not a teaching session or a debate. It’s a pastoral, contemplative conversation — meant to be received gently, especially by those who are carrying more than they can name this season.

Part Two will continue the conversation, moving deeper into themes of hope, transformation, and what it means to move forward without rushing resolution.

🕯️ About Dr. Alexander Shaia

Dr. Alexander Shaia is a theologian, speaker, author, and Quadratos-trained scholar best known for his work on the ancient Christian fourfold Gospel model, a framework that predates modern linear approaches to Scripture and spiritual formation.

His work focuses on helping individuals and communities rediscover cyclical wisdom, spiritual maturity, and transformative faith — especially for those who feel disillusioned, wounded, or worn down by rigid or overly simplistic expressions of Christianity.

Dr. Shaia is widely respected for his ability to bridge scholarship, spirituality, and real human experience, offering language for faith that is honest, compassionate, and deeply grounded in history.

📚 Learn More & Connect with Dr. Shaia

• Official Website:
• https://www.alexandershaia.com & https://www.quadratos.org/
• Books by Dr. Shaia:
• Heart and Mind: The Four-Gospel Journey for Radical Transformation
• Returning From Camino
• Speaking & Teaching:
• Information about events, workshops, and courses can be found on his website.

Education:

Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco, CA, 1991

Graduate Certificate, Pastoral Psychotherapy, University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, WA, 1982

Master of Religious Education, Seattle University, Seattle, WA, 1981

M.A., Counseling Education, University of Alabama in Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 1976

B.A., Cultural Anthropology, University of Notre Dame du lac, Notre Dame, IN, 1974

Jungian and Sandplay Studies, 1973 - Current; month intensive with Dora M. Kalff – Jungian analyst & originator of Sandplay, Zollikon, Switzerland, July/August 1989

Psychosynthesis Certificate, Psychosynthesis Training Institute, San Francisco, CA, Two year training, 1986-1988 

🎧 Coming Up Next

➡️ Part Two of this holiday conversation continues with deeper reflection on wisdom, hope, and what it means to live faithfully in uncertain times.

If this episode resonates with you, consider sharing it with someone who might need a quieter, gentler voice this season.

Follow us:

www.thedeconstructionists.org

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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 become known for all around the world.

Resources & References:

• Peter Rollins’ official website: https://peterrollins.com
• Pyrotheology gatherings, seminars, and resources
• Peter’s books and lectures on belief, identity, and desire

Connect With Us:

• Website: www.thedeconstructionists.org
• Instagram: @deconstructionistspodcast
• Email: [email protected]
• If you enjoyed this two-part conversation, share it with a friend and tag us on social media.

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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 conversation does not disappoint.

In Part 1, we dig into some of the themes Peter has become known for: embracing uncertainty, challenging religious narratives that promise certainty or comfort, and exploring how belief functions psychologically and communally. One of the biggest takeaways in this episode is Peter’s insight into Communion vs. community — a deeply fascinating reframing of what spiritual connection actually is and what it isn’t.

Whether you’ve been following Pete’s work for years or you’re encountering him for the first time, this episode is packed with ideas that will challenge, encourage, and maybe even unsettle you (in the best way).

Resources & References:

• Peter Rollins’ official website: https://peterrollins.com
• Books by Peter Rollins, including The Idolatry of God, The Divine Magician, and How (Not) to Speak of God
• Pyrotheology community and events

Connect With Us:

• Website: www.thedeconstructionists.org
• Instagram: @deconstructionistspodcast
• Email: [email protected]
• Stay tuned for updated Patreon tiers launching soon!

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🎉 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 because it’s easy, but because we believe in the conversations we’re having and in the community that’s grown around this work. Your emails, messages, and stories are what keep us going.

✨ What’s New on Patreon?

• Brand new Patreon hub
• Updated support tiers
• Long-form educational video content
• Extended versions of topics you may have seen on TikTok
• Resources and references to go deeper
• And more exclusive content on the way

The short-form clips you see on social media are just the beginning — on Patreon, we take the time to slow down, provide full context, and really explore the questions beneath the surface.

❤️ Thank You

Whether you’re a brand new supporter or someone who’s been with us for years, we cannot thank you enough. As we approach our 10-year anniversary, we have some special surprises planned to celebrate with you.

🔗 How to Join

You can support the show and join our Patreon:

• Through the link here: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheDeconstructionistsPodcast
• Or on our website at thedeconstructionists.org

More interviews, deeper dives, and exciting new content are already in the works for the year ahead.

Thank you for being part of this journey with us.

— The Deconstructionists Podcast

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Episode Summary

In this deep-dive episode, we explore one of the most influential — and controversial — doctrines in the history of Christianity: Original Sin.

For many of us, Original Sin was presented as a foundational truth. We were told it explained everything wrong with humanity: our impulses, our desires, our bodies, our failures. But where did this idea actually come from? How did early Christian communities understand human nature? And how did one interpretation, shaped by the life and worldview of Augustine, grow into a theological framework that still impacts psychology, sexuality, gender, and modern Christian identity?

This episode unpacks the text, the history, the cultural influences, and the lasting consequences of the doctrine — and invites listeners to reconsider what it means to be human, good, flawed, and beloved.

In This Episode, We Explore:

📜 1. What Is Original Sin?

• The doctrine as many of us inherited it
• Why it came to dominate Western Christianity
• How it differs from concepts of sin in early Jewish and early Christian thought

👤 2. Augustine’s Influence

• Augustine’s life, trauma, and worldview — and how each shaped his theology
• How his readings of Paul became the backbone of Original Sin
• Where he diverges from earlier Christian writers and the Greek Fathers

📖 3. The Biblical Passages Used to Support Original Sin

• Romans 5 and its contested interpretations
• Genesis 3 as story versus doctrine
• How translation choices influenced meaning
• Why Jewish interpretations of the same texts are radically different

🔍 4. The Theology Behind the Theology

• How ideas about sex, bodies, and desire shaped the doctrine
• Shame vs. guilt — and how Western Christianity confused the two
• The psychological cost of believing we are “born broken”

⛪ 5. What Early Christians Actually Believed

• A look at diversity in early Christian thought
• Eastern Christian views on sin, growth, and human potential
• How the doctrine evolved over centuries, not overnight

💔 6. The Modern Impact

• How Original Sin shaped purity culture
• How it influenced sermons, parenting, and “Christian counseling”
• Its role in reinforcing fundamentalism’s fear-based frameworks
• Why many of us internalized shame as spirituality

🌱 7. Reclaiming a Healthier View of Humanity

• Alternatives rooted in scripture and tradition
• Why many theologians argue the doctrine is not essential
• What happens when we start from belovedness rather than brokenness

Why This Episode Matters

So many deconstruction journeys begin with questions like:

• “Am I really this messed up, or did I just inherit a harmful framework?”
• “Is the human story fundamentally about failure?”
• “Why does the church talk about sin more than love?”

Understanding where the doctrine of Original Sin came from — and how historically recent and culturally shaped it actually is — can be freeing. It opens the door to new ways of understanding ourselves, our bodies, our past, and our future.

It also challenges the narrative that progressive or post-evangelical Christians are the ones “not taking the Bible seriously.” In reality, reassessing the doctrine through context, language, and scholarship is exactly what taking scripture seriously looks like.

Resources Mentioned / Recommended Reading

• The Birth of Satan – Pagels & B. McGinn
• The Sin of Certainty – Peter Enns
• The Evolution of Adam – Peter Enns
• The Story of Original Sin – John E. Toews
• Sin: A History – Gary A. Anderson
• Writings of Augustine, especially Confessions and On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins

Connect & Share Your Thoughts

Have a topic you’d love to hear explored in 2026?

Reach out anytime:

Website: www.thedeconstructionists.org

Email: [email protected]

Instagram/TikTok: @deconstructionistspodcast

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The Patreon relaunch is coming early next year with new tiers and some returning favorites. Thank you to everyone already supporting — it truly makes the work possible.

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