
The Deconstructionists
A podcast about building new faith. Its all about construction, but sometimes that means you have to deconstruct a little. Questions, exploration, mystery...
Latest episodes

Aug 3, 2016 • 1h 24min
Ep 22 - Steve Hassan ”Cults, Brainwashing and Freedom of Mind”
If you’re digging what we’re doing here consider making a small donation. Maintaining a podcast isn’t cheap and every dollar donated helps us to keep this thing going. Money donated goes to helping to purchase research materials, maintenance of the website, storage of episodes, etc. Click the link below to donate and thank you so much: https://squareup.com/store/thedeconstructionists This week we speak with Steven Hassan. Steven is widely considered to be one of the foremost experts in mind control, controlling groups, and destructive cults. He holds a Masters degree in counseling psychology from Cambridge College, is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC). Steven Hassan speaks to national and international audiences and concerned groups about how they can be most effective in the struggle against cults and other dangerous groups. He has specific ideas for educators, mental health professionals, politicians, law enforcement personnel, parents and community groups. Steven has written three books that have received extensive praise from former cult members, families of former members, clergy, cult experts, and psychologists. His most recent is Combating Cult Mind Control: The #1 Best Selling Guide to Protection, Rescue, and Recovery from Destructive Cults (2015). In July 2012, he published the paperback and ebook, Freedom of Mind: Helping Loved Ones Leave Controlling People, Cults & Beliefs. www.freedomofmind.com Facebook: @FOMInc Twitter: @CultExpert Special guest music on this episode provided by: George Cosby Instagram: @GeorgeCosby Twitter: @georgecosby Facebook: www.facebook.com/georgecosbymusic/ Enjoy the songs? Songs featured on this episode were: Ritual Blush, Black Moon, State of Undress, Vacant Grace, & All of your Love from the Human Touch EP & Live for Burberry EP. George’s music is available on iTunes, Spotify, Pandora, YouTube, & Soundcloud https://soundcloud.com/georgecosby The Deconstructionist’s Podcast is mixed and edited by Nicholas Rowe at National Audio Preservation Society: A full service recording studio and creative habitat, located in Heath, Ohio. Find them on Facebook and Twitter or visit their website for more information. www.nationalaudiopreservationsociety.weebly.com www.facebook.com/nationalaudiopreservationsociety Twitter: @napsrecording
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Jul 26, 2016 • 1h 20min
Ep 21 - Dr. Andrew Newberg ”Neurotheology”
If you’re digging what we’re doing here consider making a small donation. Maintaining a podcast isn’t cheap and every dollar donated helps us to keep this thing going. (as well as buy us a drink) https://squareup.com/store/thedeconstructionists This week we speak with Dr. Andrew Newberg. Dr. Newberg is a neuroscientist who studies the relationship between brain function and various mental states. He is a pioneer in the neurological study of religious and spiritual experiences, a field known as “neurotheology.” His research includes taking brain scans of people in prayer, meditation, rituals, and trance states, in an attempt to better understand the nature of religious and spiritual practices and attitudes. Dr. Andrew Newberg is the director of research at the Jefferson Myrna Brind Center of Integrative Medicine and a physician at Jefferson University Hospital. He is board certified in internal medicine and nuclear medicine. Andrew has been asking questions about reality, truth, and God since he was very young, and he has long been fascinated by the human mind and its complex workings. While a medical student, he met Dr. Eugene d’Aquili, who was studying religious experiences. Combining their interests with Andrew’s background in neuroscience and brain imaging, they were able to break new theoretical and empirical ground on the relationship between the brain and religion. Andrew’s research now largely focuses on how brain function is associated with various mental states – in particular, religious and mystical experiences. His research has included brain scans of people in prayer, mediation, rituals, and trance states, as well as surveys of people’s spiritual experiences and attitudes. He has also evaluated the relationship between religious or spiritual phenomena and health, and the effect of mediation on memory. He believes that it is important to keep science rigorous and religion religious. Andrew has also used neuroimaging research projects to study aging and dementia, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, depression, and other neurological and psychiatric disorders. Guest Published Works: Dr. Newberg is the author of the books: The Mystical Mind: Probing the Biology of Religious Experience, Brain Science & The Biology of Belief: Why God Won’t Go Away, Why We Believe What We Believe, How God Changes Your Brain, Principles of Neurotheology, The Metaphysical Mind: Probing the Biology of Philosophical Thought, The New Science of Transformation: How Enlightenment Changes Your Brain, and Words Can Change Your Brain: 12 Conversation Strategies to Build Trust, Resolve Conflicts, and Increase Intimacy. Check out Dr. Newberg’s website for links to videos, journal publications, and articles he’s written for publications such as USA Today. Guest Website/Social Media: www.andrewnewberg.com Special guest music on this episode provided by: Atlas Genius www.atlasgenius.com Instagram: @atlasgenius Twitter: @atlasgenius Facebook: atlasgenius snapchat: atlasgenius Enjoy the songs? Songs featured on this episode were: The Stone Mill, Where I Belong, Balladino, Levitate, & Molecules from the album Inanimate Objects Atlas Genius music is available on iTunes, Spotify, Pandora, YouTube, & Soundcloud The Deconstructionist’s Podcast is mixed and edited by Nicholas Rowe at National Audio Preservation Society: A full service recording studio and creative habitat, located in Heath, Ohio. Find them on Facebook and Twitter or visit their website for more information. www.nationalaudiopreservationsociety.weebly.com www.facebook.com/nationalaudiopreservationsociety Twitter: @napsrecording
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Jul 20, 2016 • 1h 15min
Ep 20 - Krista Tippett ”On Being... Wise”
If you’re digging what we’re doing here consider making a small donation. Maintaining a podcast isn’t cheap and every dollar donated helps us to keep this thing going. Click the link below to donate: https://squareup.com/store/thedeconstructionists This week we speak with Krista Tippett about a range of topics and subject her to the first ever lightening round! She knocks it out of the park! Krista is an American Peabody Award winning journalist, New York Times best selling author, and entrepreneur. She is the creator and host of the public radio program and podcast On Being, as well as the podcast Becoming Wise. In 2014 she was awarded the National Humanities Medal at the White House. Krista studied history at Brown University and went to Bonn, West Germany in 1983 on a Fulbright Scholarship to study politics in Cold War Europe. In her 20s, she ended up in divided Berlin for most of the 1980s, first as The New York Times stringer and freelance correspondent for Newsweek, The International Herald Tribune, the BBC, and Die Zeit. She later became a special assistant to the U.S. Ambassador to West Germany. Krista later pursued her M.Div. from Yale before beginning to imagine radio conversations about the spiritual and intellectual content of faith that could open imaginations and enrich public life. Guest Published Works: Krista is the author of Speaking of Faith, Einstein’s God, and Becoming Wise: An Inquiry into the Mystery and Art of Living. Guest Website/Social Media: www.onbeing.org twitter: @kirstatippett & @OnBeing Instagram: OnBeing Special guest music on this episode provided by: The Brilliance www.thebrilliancemusic.com Instagram: thebrilliancemusic Twitter: @brilliancemusic Facebook: The Brilliance Music Enjoy the songs? Songs featured on this episode were: Brother, Prayers of the People, Now and At the Hour, Breathe, and See the Love. The Deconstructionist’s Podcast is mixed and edited by Nicholas Rowe at National Audio Preservation Society: A full service recording studio and creative habitat, located in Heath, Ohio. Find them on Facebook and Twitter or visit their website for more information. www.nationalaudiopreservationsociety.weebly.com www.facebook.com/nationalaudiopreservationsociety Twitter: @napsrecording
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Jul 13, 2016 • 1h 29min
Ep 19 - Dr. Alexander Shaia ”Quadratos”
If you are digging what we're doing here, maybe you'd like to make a small donation? Think of it as a tip or an "atta boy guys! Keep at it!" Doing this isn't cheap but we'll keep at it as long as we have a few pennies left in our accounts. Click the link below. We'll probably buy books, beer or techincal crap. Love you. squareup.com/store/thedeconstructionists The triumphant return of our dear friend Dr. Alexander Shaia! We dive right into more of his fascinating work on the Quadrates or Four Path Journey. Make sure to check out the first time he was on our show for an intro into his work. Alexander Shaia is an international speaker, author, and teacher. He studied cultural anthropology at Notre Dame University, and also has a PHD in Clinical Psychology. Alexander is the author of the revolutionary book Heart and Mind: The Four-Gospel Journey for Radical Transformation. Find out more at: www.quadratos.com www.alexanderjshaia.com https://www.facebook.com/alexanderjohnshaia Music on this episode is by Satellite You can find them on iTunes or below: www.wearesatellite.com www.facebook.com/satellitemusic/ https://itun.es/us/rgCjK?i=606455119
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16 snips
Jul 6, 2016 • 1h 18min
Ep 18 - John D. Caputo ”Derrida / Deconstruction / Weak Theology”
Renowned philosopher Jack Caputo discusses deconstruction, religionless Christianity, and weak theology. The concept of justice, the weakness of God, and the current political climate are explored. The speakers criticize using scriptures to enforce conformity and discuss the power of forgiveness. The chapter also touches on 'dropping the mic' as a conversation-ending technique and the hosts' appreciation for music and diverse guests.

Jun 29, 2016 • 1h 4min
Ep 17 - RECONSTRUCTION
If you are digging what we're doing here, maybe you'd like to make a small donation? Think of it as a tip or an "atta boy guys! Keep at it!" Doing this isn't at all cheap but we'll keep at it as long as we have a few pennies left in our accounts. Click the link below. We'll probably buy books, beer or techincal crap. Love you. squareup.com/store/thedeconstructionists On this episode: Is deconstruction negative? What about reconstruction? Do these two ideas cooperate or compete? John and Adam tackle the complex topic of reconstruction. Books mentioned in this episode include: Falling Upward (and every other book) - Richard Rohr Benefit of the Doubt - Greg Boyd The Sin of Certainty - Pete Enns What Would Jesus Deconstruct? - John D. Caputo Cloud of the Impossible - Catherine Keller Music on this episode provided by VESPERTEEN Vesperteen is a project born out of the necessity to express emotions, thoughts and stories that have been developing throughout a 10 year music career lived by singer and writer, Colin Rigsby. He released a 6 song EP last September and has been touring regionally since. He is currently working on new material for a Fall release and is probably drinking kombucha presently. -- Colin Rigsby colinrigsbydesigns.com vesperteenmusic.com 614.306.4509
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Jun 21, 2016 • 1h 13min
Ep 16 - Katharine Hayhoe ”A Climate for Change”
If you are digging what we're doing here, maybe you'd like to make a small donation? Think of it as a tip or an "atta boy guys! Keep at it!" Doing this isn't at all cheap but we'll keep at it as long as we have a few pennies left in our accounts. Click the link below. We'll probably buy books, beer or techincal crap. Love you. squareup.com/store/thedeconstructionists The lovely Katharine Hayhoe is an atmospheric scientist and associate professor of political science at Texas Tech University, where she is director of the Climate Science Center. She has worked at Texas Tech since 2005. She has authored more than 120 peer-reviewed publications and wrote the book A Climate for Change: Global Warming Facts for Faith-Based Decisions together with her husband, Andrew Farley. She also co-authored some reports for the US Global Change Research Program, as well as some National Academy of Sciences reports, including the 3rd National Climate Assessment, released on May 6, 2014. Shortly after the report was released, Hayhoe said, "Climate change is here and now, and not in some distant time or place," adding that "The choices we're making today will have a significant impact on our future." She has also served as an expert reviewer for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's Fourth Assessment Report. Professor John Abraham has called her "perhaps the best communicator on climate change." Time magazine listed her among the 100 most influential people in 2014. Also in 2014, the American Geophysical Union awarded her its climate communications award. The first episode of the documentary TV series Years of Living Dangerously features her work and her communication with religious audiences in Texas. She doesn't accept global warming on faith: She crunches the data, she analyzes the models, she helps engineers and city managers and ecologists quantify the impacts. The data tells us the planet is warming; the science is clear that humans are responsible; the impacts we’re seeing today are already serious; and our future is in our hands. As John Holdren once said, “We basically have three choices: mitigation, adaptation, and suffering. We’re going to do some of each. The question is what the mix is going to be. The more mitigation we do, the less adaptation will be required, and the less suffering there will be.” Find out more about Katharine and the work she does at www.katharinehayhoe.com or visit her Facebook page. Katharine mentioned Climate Caretakers. For more information visit their website climatecaretakers.org/ Music on this episode provided by the Columbus, Ohio based band, Fashion Week. https://open.spotify.com/album/3lqNLQBp7oWXCKOoIaPKj4 https://fashionweekmusic.bandcamp.com https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/murfreesboro-ep/id1101386877 social media links for Fashion Week: fashionweekmusic.com facebook.com/fashionweekmusic soundcloud.com/fashionweekmusic twitter.com/fashionweek_cmh
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Jun 14, 2016 • 55min
Depression and Deconstruction - A special conversation
Deconstruction, doubt, or any other crisis of faith can cause or exacerbate depression and/or anxiety. This is a special conversation where John shares about his personal struggle with depression. If you or someone you know is struggling with depression, anxiety or any kind of mental illness (including suicide, suicidal thoughts, or any kind of self-harm) please seek professional help immediately. This is a very common and very serious issue. for more information please go to: www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org or call: 1-800-273-8255 John and I are here if you need to talk. Please send us an email. We would be happy to talk on the phone as well. thedeconstructionists@gmail.com Music on this episode provided by Sufjan Stevens from the album Carrie and Lowell. Thanks to all of you who listen and have become our friends ,family and community. We love you.
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Jun 7, 2016 • 1h 21min
Ep 15 - Tony Jones ”Did God Kill Jesus?”
If you are digging what we're doing here, maybe you'd like to make a small donation? Think of it as a tip or an "atta boy guys! Keep at it!" Doing this isn't at all cheap but we'll keep at it as long as we have a few pennies left in our accounts. Click the link below. We'll probably buy books, beer or techincal crap. Love you. squareup.com/store/thedeconstructionists On this episode, John and Adam dig deep into some critical issues with Tony Jones. Buckle up! Tony Jones is an American theologian, author, blogger, and speaker who is a leading figure in the emerging church movement and postmodern Christianity. His most recent book, Did God Kill Jesus looks into the theories of what actually happened when Jesus died on the cross. Tony is certainly someone you will want to check out so visit his website below and check out ALL of his books, talks, podcasts and other works. www.tonyj.net The sweet tunes on this episode were provided by LOW ROAR - check them out at www.lowroarmusic.com
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May 25, 2016 • 1h 25min
Ep 14 - Sarah Bessey ”How To Be Out Of Sorts”
If this podcast is something that you dig, if it gives you life in any way, please consider donating. We are really tired of stealing money from our parents when we go home to visit. We'll get caught eventually and it will be all your fault. Click the link below. We'll probably buy books, beer or techincal crap. Love you. https://squareup.com/store/thedeconstructionists This week, we have the delightful honor of chatting with author, speaker and insanely cool canadian, Sarah freaking Bessey. She is a gorgeous soul with wisdom that goes on for days all wrapped up in wit, charm and grace. John started crushing a little (just sayin) Sarah talks with us about how deconstruction effects our most intimate relationships and much more. This episode was a dream to record. We love you Sarah. Come back anytime! Music on this episode is from the soon to be released album by Seaside Holiday. Look for it June, 2016.
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