If you haven't discovered KJ Ramsey yet, she and her husband's Substacks are a must. She's a therapist battling massive, chronic medical issues and pain and has deconstructed into something that I hesitate to put into any box; she's best experienced in her own words. She wrote This Too Shall Last and The Lord Is My Courage, and her substack is called Embodied. Ryan, her husband, primarily deconstructs toxic religious teachings on Fleeing Tarshish; both of them fled church after being badly abused there.
KJ! I'm so glad I could bring you even a tiny smile! Seriously, you should know--you and Lore Wilbert basically became my pastors/spiritual directors after I left church. I've received nourishment from you when I desperately needed it and couldn't get it anywhere else. Thank you.
Hard to believe I'm on a list with these people that I've admired for so long. Your work has inspired me to be brave and share more honestly. Thank you!
The Wood Between the Worlds by Brian Zahnd; if you want to more deeply better understand Jesus and not just religion - The Wisdom Jesus by Cynthia Bourgeault.
This is a great list! I would absolutely add "When Everything's On Fire" by Brian Zahnd. The whole book is gold for those walking through deconstruction, but especially his metaphor about building our theological house. I would also recommend a podcast: The Bible For Normal People by Pete Enns and Jared Byas.
It's so so helpful to have others who have walked this journey who can act as guides!
I just added ALL these recommendations to the post (and my own TBR!), thank you so much. And yes, absolutely I can't wait to see what your post includes!
If you haven't discovered KJ Ramsey yet, she and her husband's Substacks are a must. She's a therapist battling massive, chronic medical issues and pain and has deconstructed into something that I hesitate to put into any box; she's best experienced in her own words. She wrote This Too Shall Last and The Lord Is My Courage, and her substack is called Embodied. Ryan, her husband, primarily deconstructs toxic religious teachings on Fleeing Tarshish; both of them fled church after being badly abused there.
Oooh, yes I have read and loved a few of her posts! Thank you so much!
Aww, I see you've gone and added mine. Imma gonna need to write a lot more over there to live up to the hype now! ;P <3
Haha! I hope you don't feel pressure, only admiration! You're already enough. 🧡
🙃 this made me chuckle a tiny bit. Thank you for not putting me in a box. I’m grateful my words—and Ryan’s too—have been meaningful to you!
KJ! I'm so glad I could bring you even a tiny smile! Seriously, you should know--you and Lore Wilbert basically became my pastors/spiritual directors after I left church. I've received nourishment from you when I desperately needed it and couldn't get it anywhere else. Thank you.
I love a list and I love to see some familiar names and new ones to explore in yours!
A book that I bought this year at Goodwill has stuck with me through and through: The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, by John Mark Comer ♥️
Slow down = the short way to explain a great message to our speedy selves.
I've heard SO many good things about this read. Thank you for suggesting it!
Hard to believe I'm on a list with these people that I've admired for so long. Your work has inspired me to be brave and share more honestly. Thank you!
You belong here! 🧡
I’ve needed a deconstruction as well, and have read 9 of the books you referenced. They were all seminal to my reconstruction.
If you have any other recs, I'd love to hear about them!
The Wood Between the Worlds by Brian Zahnd; if you want to more deeply better understand Jesus and not just religion - The Wisdom Jesus by Cynthia Bourgeault.
Thank you! Definitely looking these up!
Great 💎📚💎
This is a great list! I would absolutely add "When Everything's On Fire" by Brian Zahnd. The whole book is gold for those walking through deconstruction, but especially his metaphor about building our theological house. I would also recommend a podcast: The Bible For Normal People by Pete Enns and Jared Byas.
It's so so helpful to have others who have walked this journey who can act as guides!
I just love Brian Zahnd's writing but I have NOT read this one! Thank you so much for these recs, I'm excited to dive into both.
I love these recommendations, and thank you so much for including me! Ok, challenge accepted: here are a few more:
Podcasts:
Holy Heretics
New Evangicals
Heretic Happy Hour
Authors I adore:
Richard Rohr (esp The Cosmic Christ and Falling Upward)
Henry Nouwen (esp. Wounded Healer and Reaching Out)
Barbara Brown Taylor (Holy Envy and An Alter in the World)
Keith Giles (The Jesus "Un" Series)
Pete Enns (The Bible Tells me So)
Ok! I'll stop there. BUT now you've inspired me to do a similar post. Is that ok?? ♥️♥️♥️
I just added ALL these recommendations to the post (and my own TBR!), thank you so much. And yes, absolutely I can't wait to see what your post includes!
Yay! This list is getting prolific!