After Doubt: How to Question Your Faith without Losing It
Written by A. J. Swoboda
Narrated by Lance Smith
4/5
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About this audiobook
Award-winning author, pastor, and professor A.J. Swoboda has witnessed many young people wrestle with their core Christian beliefs. Too often, what begins as a set of critical and important questions turns to resentment and faith abandonment. Unfortunately, the church has largely ignored its task of serving people along their journey of questioning. The local church must walk alongside those who are deconstructing their faith and show them how to reconstruct it.
Drawing on his own experience of deconstruction, Swoboda offers tools to help emerging adults navigate their faith in a hostile landscape. Doubt is a part of our natural spiritual journey, says Swoboda, and deconstruction is a legitimate space to encounter the living God.
After Doubt offers a hopeful, practical vision of spiritual formation for those in the process of faith deconstruction and those who serve them. Foreword by pastor and author John Mark Comer.
A. J. Swoboda
A.J. Swoboda (Ph.D., Birmingham) is an associate professor of Bible and Theology at Bushnell University and lead mentor for the Doctor of Ministry Program on Spiritual Formation and Soul Care at Friends University. He is the author of many books, including The Gift of Thorns, After Doubt, and the award-winning Subversive Sabbath. He hosts the Slow Theology podcast with Dr. Nijay Gupta and writes the widely read “Low-Level Theologian” Substack. A.J. lives and works on an urban farm with his wife and son in Eugene, Oregon.
More audiobooks from A. J. Swoboda
The Gift of Thorns: Jesus, the Flesh, and the War for Our Wants Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Subversive Sabbath: The Surprising Power of Rest in a Nonstop World Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
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Reviews for After Doubt
27 ratings4 reviews
What our readers think
Readers find this title insightful, genuine, and compelling. It offers an excellent approach to a timely topic and is highly recommended for anyone considering or walking through deconstruction. The book has helped many readers to remain at the foot of Jesus and provides valuable insights for born again individuals who are questioning things. Overall, it is definitely worth the read/listen.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Insightful, genuine, and compelling. I resonated with so much of what the author had to say. Highly recommend it for anyone considering, or walking through deconstruction.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Too many good things said by the author. Of course there are a few points I shared differed opinion, but as the author said the truth will not change because of our emotional capabilities, I like this book a lot. It has helped me, a born again who has started to question a lot of things, to remain at the foot of Jesus.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5An excellent approach to a timely topic. Definitely worth the read/listen.
- Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5The author discusses his personal faith trials and would provide a pastoral word to those undergoing doubt and "deconstruction." The author explores deconstruction and doubt, tells his personal story of exhaustion and burnout, makes reference to those with whom he has worked through deconstruction experiences, and challenges a lot of the sources of doubts.Yet I found the work highly disappointing and even distressing. I have appreciated previous works by the author and had high hopes for his consideration of doubt and deconstruction. I am in no position to judge the author or the situations he has spoken; all I can say is that those whom I have encountered who have gone through an experience of "deconstruction" would more likely be further repelled from Christianity than brought back in based on what is presented in this book.The way he approaches and views "deconstruction" is defensive throughout with a strong desire to defend and protect the institution of the church. Therefore, it never seems as if he has really grappled with the profound brokenness and suffering that has led many to deconstruct. I fear this is what The Gospel Coalition, for instance, would love "deconstruction" to be, and the author's advice and posturing is exactly what I would expect TGC to advocate for in such circumstances. Thus, the last person I would give this book to is someone who has gone through very real church hurt and trauma. It does not truly honor what they have endured. It is not nearly perspicacious enough to deal with the real sinfulness present in church members and institutions. Sadly, it's what one would expect to hear about deconstruction from a rather uncritical white Evangelical who will admit there's some difficulties but doesn't want to explore those difficulties too deeply. There's no call for lament and repentance in churches or institutions. One hears little of how God's judgment begins in His household. This is designed to be a spiritual slap in the face to tell doubters to get over it. Maybe that will work for some. But not for all, or even most. Not recommended.**-galley received as part of early review program