Blessed are the Undone: Testimonies of the Quiet Deconstruction of Faith in Canada

Title
Blessed are the Undone: Testimonies of the Quiet Deconstruction of Faith in Canada
Date
2019

Canadian Christians frustrated with the Church have come ‘Undone’ and are leaving politely, almost apologetically, in what this book dubs a Quiet Deconstruction. Blessed are the Undone asks: what aspects of faith are being questioned, and why?

Weaving in church history, cultural analysis and their personal stories, Bick and Schuurman use canoe camping to illustrate the twists and turns of the spiritual journey. They interview 28 Canadians who have said their recent spiritual journey can be described as "deconstructing faith" and note 7 key "triggers" to deconstruction--most of which have some connection to American right-wing religion: 

  1. purity culture
  2. young earth creationism
  3. Biblical inerrancy and violence in the text
  4. Church scandals
  5. LGBTQ+ prejudice
  6. Residential schools and the lingering legacy of colonialism
  7. Trumpism and (white) Christian nationalism

How do non-deconstructing Christians respond to this? Schuurman and Bick offer a few suggestions, some of which came from the mouths of the Undone themselves.

Whether you feel like you’re up the creek without a paddle when it comes to faith, or if people you love have lost their bearings, this book is worth exploring as a window into Canadian religion today.

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