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Deconstructing

Leaving Church, Finding Faith

Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available

This program is read by the author.
A gentle, wise guide for everyone deconstructing their beliefs and struggling with the role of faith in their life

As a "good Christian," Karla Kamstra attended church every Sunday, listened to the pastor, and committed to functions and activities. But no amount of participation could shake her growing sense of spiritual unrest. As time went on, she realized that she was doing Christianity on autopilot—going through the motions, but spiritually checked out.
She finally understood that the rules of the church were keeping God inside a too-small box, and it was time to let "Him" out. And so Karla embarked upon her sacred journey of deconstruction: healing her religious trauma and reclaiming her spirituality.
Now, Rev Karla shares her journey in this wise, gentle guide to help anyone struggling with the role of faith in their lives. Listeners are called to demolish the oppressive, patriarchal structure upon which their faith has been built, repair what experiences with dysfunctional and destructive religion may have done to them, and restore their hearts and souls. DECONSTRUCTING will lead listeners from silent obedience to sacred empowerment, from religious dogma to spiritual freedom, from toxic theology to authentic faith. For anyone chafing against the confines of church doctrine—it's time to release God from the rules.
A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin's Press Essentials.

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    • Publisher's Weekly

      September 2, 2024
      Interfaith minister and Tiktok creator Kamstra recounts her departure from “organized Christianity” in this empathetic debut guide to breaking free from “high-control” religion and finding a new spirituality. Devoted to her faith since childhood, the author spent decades “trying to contort” herself to an evangelical dogma rooted in intolerance and obedience. In adulthood, she began pointing out those hypocrisies to church leaders, and the blowback eventually propelled her to leave the church to search “for something more.” She consulted Christian authors like C.S. Lewis and John Shelby Spong, questioned the patriarchal systems that grounded her religious upbringing, reread the Bible absent the “fear-based” theology that demonized members of the LGBTQ community, and delved into such concepts as the divine feminine. Inviting readers to reevaluate their theological roots, she offers advice on finding different ways to pray and meditate, while making room for those who wish to return to some or all aspects of organized Christianity. Throughout, Kamstra is unfailingly candid about her own spiritual questions (“To this day, I still don’t know what I believe, and yet the paradox is that I have immense peace with not knowing”). She never downplays the challenges inherent in deconstructing one’s religious beliefs, making her an excellent guide for those with similar questions. This is a valuable resource.

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  • English

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