Personal stories from former Evangelicals reveal the profound shift towards a faith that feels more authentic despite initial struggles.
Storytelling fosters a sense of community among those questioning their faith by highlighting shared experiences and common challenges.
Navigating the complexities of Christian nationalism exposes internal conflicts as individuals reassess the alignment of their faith with political ideologies.
Deep dives
Personal Journeys in Faith
Many individuals share their experiences of moving away from fundamentalist evangelical backgrounds, each navigating a unique path shaped by personal stories and circumstances. Some transition into agnosticism as they grapple with questions about faith, while others find new forms of spirituality that resonate more deeply with their current understanding. This diversity of experiences supports the idea that many feel isolated in their journeys, only to discover that similar struggles and questions linger within a broader community. Hearing these testimonials can offer validation and encouragement for those who believe they are alone in their challenges.
The Role of Storytelling
Storytelling serves as a vital tool in fostering connection and understanding among those who have left or are questioning their faith. Sharing experiences allows individuals to recognize commonalities in their struggles, providing a sense of belonging to a community that understands their concerns. For many, listening to others recount their journeys helps dispel the notion that their experiences are unique or abnormal. The act of storytelling can also offer insights, wisdom, and comfort as individuals navigate their own complex relationships with faith and belief.
Navigating Public and Private Faith
For some, the transition away from evangelicalism occurs under the public eye, adding layers of complexity to their journey. Those who held leadership positions or were known within their communities may experience heightened scrutiny and conflict as they shift their beliefs. The pressures of maintaining a public persona while exploring personal doubts can amplify feelings of anxiety and isolation. Thus, the journey to find faith that aligns with one's beliefs becomes a balancing act between personal authenticity and external expectations.
Challenges of Christian Nationalism
Christian nationalism can pose a significant challenge for individuals who once embraced its ideology but later begin to question its validity. The initial allure of aligning religious beliefs with political ideologies can create a sense of purpose, but inconsistencies often emerge, particularly in the behavior and rhetoric of political leaders. The journey away from such beliefs can be fraught with internal conflict, as individuals grapple with reconciling their faith with actions they once regarded as virtuous. Discovering the moral complexities behind these intersections can lead to intense self-reflection and ultimately reshape one's understanding of faith.
Embracing New Understandings of Faith
Many who transition away from traditional views of Christianity find freedom in developing new perspectives on faith that embrace questioning and exploration. This transformation often includes recognizing the Bible as a collection of diverse writings rather than a singular, infallible text. New frameworks, such as pinnacle theology, can encourage individuals to view God as inherently good and just, shaping their understanding of morality and divine love. As they create space for their evolving beliefs, individuals may openly communicate their ideas while fostering more inclusive dialogue within and outside the church community.
One of our listeners tells his story of chipping away at Christian ideas, only to find a faith that feels more Christian.
This week and next, we’re going to hear the life stories of two more people who grew up in a Fundamentalist / Evangelical world, but embarked on a journey with which our listeners are very familiar: one that is strewn with baggage, rejected ideas, and old theologies. Those who’ve walked this path will all say that when you reach the end, you feel like you’ve lost it all … only to find that you hold a faith that looks completely different from the one you started with … but which feels more Christian.
Today, our guest will be one of our listeners who walked that journey while being the pastor of a very Fundie/Evangelical church: John James Kirkwood.
We heard a bit about the kind of Evangelical faith that was handed to John in his childhood, and how he essentially ran away from that in his teen years. But the story really begins when this Prodigal Son returns home and begins pastoral work at his father’s church. For twenty years!
At first, he tried to build a persona that might be best described as a cross between Ravi Zacharias (before the scandal) and Rush Lumbaugh. He wrote a very conservative column, hosted a radio show and became very vocal about politics. His views morphed into Christian Nationalism: he was often reacting against perceived abominations (like boycotting Target because they don’t say Merry Christmas) … gun rights were sacred … the US was the new Israel.
That changed when Donald Trump first became President. The reception given by the Religious Right started some very unsettling questions for John. He started to read some books (the first tell-tale sign of that “slippery slope”) and listening to speakers on the forbidden list (like Bart Ehrmann), particularly in the areas of Creation/Evolution, and the origin of the Bible. One night, after slamming shut Francis Collins’ book the Language of God, he said to his wife “I can’t believe I’ve been wrong all this time.” And then he apologized to his two teenage sons for what he’d been teaching them.
As he continued to jettison one idea after another and replacing them with new ones, while still pastoring at the church and putting the spotlight on the ministry and teaching of Jesus, people began to complain. And then some started leaving.
Eventually it was time for John to leave too.
He now finds himself in Arizona, involving himself in a variety of ministries, targeting “the Nones and the Dones,” with a new Christian worldview that looks nothing like what he had thirty years ago.
And John couldn’t be happier.
As always, tell us your thoughts on this episode …
To find more about John, go to his podcast Sparrow’s Call.
If you enjoyed this episode, you may also want to look at our collection of similar life stores of people leaving traditional Fundamentalism/Evangelicalism to find a Christianity that looks completely different.
Episode images used by permission.
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