Deconstructing Evangelicalism: A Letter to a Friend and a Professor's Guide to Escaping Fundamentalist Christianity

by Jamin Andreas Hübner

“This book is electric! Hübner goes about Deconstructing Evangelicalism with the skills available only to someone formerly embedded in the apologetics-oriented, take-no-prisoners, Calvinist-Piperian-Brownian conservative evangelical subculture. Brilliant. Learned. Passionate. Creative. Angry. Hopeful? Maybe. You must read it for yourself and find out. I will be studying this book for a long time to come.” —DAVID GUSHEE Past President, American Academy of Religion and Distinguished University Professor of Ethics, Mercer University “This book is at once incendiary and charming, you are invited into the world of Christian fundamentalism, in all of its glory and complexities and traumatic realities. This world is a crazy place, filled with all of the political zealotry, casual sex(ism), and apocalyptic young-earth creationism one could desire. Hübner’s story is a dynamic, sobering testament to that reality. From the depths of his days as an Internet apologist to his interdisciplinary career as a professor, we see the impact of religious fundamentalism on heart, mind, and body. For those who have walked through the valley of the shadow of fear, may you be filled with curiosity and joy at the sight of another theologian on the journey. From one sojourner to another, I am happy to commend to you the work of my colleague and dear friend.” —NICHOLAS RUDOLPH QUIENT Associate Pastor, The First Baptist Church of Redlands Co-Host of the Sinnergists Podcast and Author of The Perfection of Our Faithful Wills “Many of Jamin's experiences mirror my own, and I am grateful we were friends while surviving as faculty at evangelical “liberal arts colleges.” Reading this book has once again encouraged me, and given me a hopeful way forward, as he always has as a friend. His theological nuance and understanding highlights why evangelicalism is, in many ways, so superficial, and it will encourage anyone that their own deconstruction can lead to a stronger, more robust, and more inclusive faith in God. I will be passing along his book to my friends who come to me for help as they struggle with asking questions of who God really is.” —KRISTY WHALEY PhD Theology (Candidate), University of GlasgowFormer Theology Faculty, Colorado Christian University

193 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2020

Reviews

[Beran Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the best book that I have read on deconstruction from a Christian perspective. It is the only one that I have found that actually dives deep into the real problem that people who are deconstructing deal with: intellectual problems with the Bible.

The author widens the tent of Christianity to allow for many different intellectual perspectives to flourish, calling out those who simply wish to kick anyone out who questions the sacred cow doctrines of fundamentalism.

The only issue I have with it is that he does miss on the biggest point about people leaving the faith. He says that former evangelicals have too much of a fundamentalist expectation of the Bible, rather than allowing it to be an organic book that speaks. My problem with this is that it fails to realize what these apostates are doing: questioning whether Christianity is true at all. As a former Christian myself, I understand that there’s room in the doctrinal tent for basically any view you are convinced of, but my expectation is that the Bible shows itself to be true in some way. In any way. Neither this book nor any other I have found written by a Christian addresses this.

Overall though, a drastic improvement from every other book I’ve read on deconstruction that was written from within the faith.

[Wynema Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

He gives a great perspective of deconstruction. When you are honest about the discrepancies in scripture and begin to explore it and dive deep as he does in this book you can’t help but deconstruct. Very intelligent read!