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The Deconstructionists

The Deconstructionists

John Williamson 280 Episodes Jul 1, 2026

A podcast about building new faith. It's all about construction, but sometimes that means you have to deconstruct a little. Questions, exploration, mystery...

Episodes

Ep. 243 - Jacob & Esau: The Misunderstood Brothers
Ep. 243 - Jacob & Esau: The Misunderstood Brothers Jul 1, 2026 3756 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, revi
Ep. 242 - Shelby Forsythia "Grief, Healing, and the Stories We Carry" (Part 2)
Ep. 242 - Shelby Forsythia "Grief, Healing, and the Stories We Carry" (Part 2) Jun 10, 2026 2661 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 isolat
Ep. 241 - Shelby Forsythia "Grief, Healing, and the Stories We Carry" (Part 1)
Ep. 241 - Shelby Forsythia "Grief, Healing, and the Stories We Carry" (Part 1) Jun 3, 2026 1700 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 quick
Ep. 240 - Dualism — The Battle Between Spirit and Matter
Ep. 240 - Dualism — The Battle Between Spirit and Matter May 27, 2026 2221 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 tr
Ep. 239 - Dr. Bart Ehrman "Love Thy Stranger" pt.  2
Ep. 239 - Dr. Bart Ehrman "Love Thy Stranger" pt. 2 May 13, 2026 1475 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
Ep. 238 - Dr. Bart Ehrman "Love Thy Stranger" pt. 1
Ep. 238 - Dr. Bart Ehrman "Love Thy Stranger" pt. 1 May 6, 2026 2695 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 Christianity
Ep. 237 - Lillian Daniels "Failure, Accountability & the Future of the Church" pt. 2
Ep. 237 - Lillian Daniels "Failure, Accountability & the Future of the Church" pt. 2 Apr 16, 2026 2744 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.📚 A
Ep. 236 - Lillian Daniel "Defrocked: Good News from a Bad Pastor for a Better Church" pt. 1
Ep. 236 - Lillian Daniel "Defrocked: Good News from a Bad Pastor for a Better Church" pt. 1 Apr 9, 2026 1998 📝 Episode SummaryDrawing 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 be
Ep. 235 - Dr. Cristy Carr "Reclaiming the Forgotten Self" pt. 2
Ep. 235 - Dr. Cristy Carr "Reclaiming the Forgotten Self" pt. 2 Apr 1, 2026 2364 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 a
Ep. 234 - Dr. Cristy Carr "The Forgotten Self" pt. 1
Ep. 234 - Dr. Cristy Carr "The Forgotten Self" pt. 1 Mar 26, 2026 1873 🧭 Episode SummaryWho 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 to ex
Ep. 233 - Violence and the Bible
Ep. 233 - Violence and the Bible Mar 18, 2026 1772 Episode: Violence and the Bible – What Do We Do With It?🧭 Episode SummaryViolence 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 mean f
Ep. 232 - Dr. Michelle Keener "Comfort in the Ashes" pt. 2
Ep. 232 - Dr. Michelle Keener "Comfort in the Ashes" pt. 2 Mar 9, 2026 1949 The Deconstructionists PodcastGuest: Dr. Michelle KeenerIn 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 afte

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