I've just published an article on deconversion from Christianity, i.e., why some Christians leave the faith. In it, three coauthors and I examined 50 on-line accounts in which people who have left Christianity explain why they did so. Their accounts coalesce into several themes, including:
* Theological concerns
* God failing them
* Interactions with Christians
* and interactions with non-Christians.
It's in the Journal of Religion & Society, an interesting on-line journal.
Here's the abstract:
"This article examines the written narratives from fifty former Christians. In these narratives, drawn from an online community of deconverts, the writers described their experiences with and explanations for leaving the Christian faith. Several themes emerged as to why they left, including: intellectual and theological concerns, a feeling that God had failed them, and various frustrations with Christians. The writers gave little mention to non-Christians as pulling them out of the faith. These narratives emphasized external, rather than internal, attributions for the deconversion. They also identified primarily “push” rather than “pull” factors as the cause of deconversion. While some narratives outlined the costs and benefits of deconversion, others told of seeking moral rightness regardless of the cost."
Let me know what you think...
11 comments:
I think this is the ticket to your next appearance on Research on Religion. Had meant to get back to you, but been really busy.
Super...
Really interesting. I was shocked by how poignant the narratives seemed despite the academic approach and limited quoting.
My big take-away was the predominance of "push" reasons away from Christianity, and how the community did damage to those with doubt or questions.
I would love to hear your thoughts on what christians can do to actually help those in the process of deconversion, and what can be done to reverse the progression.
I read much of the paper. 29&30 bothered me the most. There's just no need for it at all. I'm not sure about the other denominations, but in the Catholic Church, we embrace logic and science. Sadder still is the fact that logic points in the direction of Christianity, not away from it as Brad's first book attests - social patholigies are reduced through Christianity.
KT, you may embrace logic and science (more than most fundamentalists at any rate) but you don't apply it to your religious beliefs.
Jayde, actually, I do apply logic to my religious beliefs. My education was as a theoretical mathematician. Applying logic is what we do. I just finished reading G. K. Chesterton's Everlasting Man. In it, he suggests that Christianity is unique because it marries logical philosophy with spiritual mysticism. I'm not sure about the uniqueness, but I'm sure about the marriage. I believe because to not believe would be illogical.
Example: In modern terms, if you thought Christianity to be a hoax, you'd be suggesting that 12 auto mechanics from Puerto Rico could spread a religion that would become global and after 2000 years would have over a billion adherents. Not only that, these 12 auto mechanics would never get rich, never become powerful and would almost all die a horrible death for preaching their faith, something they would not renounce even under torture. That's simply not a logical position.
Jayden, one more thing. Not only do I apply logic to my faith, I firmly contend that modern scientific atheists do not. They simply do not believe what they claim. That's why Brad's article, sections 29 and 30 were so sad to me. Logic, or at least consistency of behavior, is on the side of Christianity, not atheism.
I hate to say it, but I don't think that I have any particular insight into what to do. This type of research is best suited for diagnosing problems, more so than identifying solutions. As such, I would defer to people like KT Cat and others who have put thought into the matter.
Dave, that was my big ah-ah... that people in the church may do more harm in terms of responding to doubt than in causing it in the first place.
Interesting thoughts, KT. I didn't know you had a background in theoretical mathematics... wow.
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