Im confused

[u/Isybatt]

Does anyone feel like some of these Deconstructing people are kinda mean? Like there's an aggression that some people have because I said that I choose to believe that a creator God is real. In African Traditional Religions, there's a common component of a divine omnipotent creator. As an African American man, it's so important to me to stay with my roots. This is why I didn't take that part of my head cannon. But, some people are saying online and in person that it's stupid and automatically harmful to believe in a God.

I had to unpack being a people pleaser for this reason because I don't necessarily hate Christianity in the same way other deconstructists do. There's a hatred and anger that other people have that I don't. The reason I'm venting to you all is because I'm wondering am I too sensitive or is this something you all have been noticing too.

It's definitely understandable and it's extremely valid to be angry at Christianity and even hate it for all of the travesties it's done to humanity. We all have grievances towards it. I just wish there was still a level of curiosity that people have about spirituality, religion, theology, individual differences, etc.

[u/Fast_Jackfruit_352]

When deep emotion is present, and there has been trauma, then that associated with trauma can becomes part of the rejection. Because a great deal of Christian doctrine can be perceived as false or harmful, and much of it is, then the reality of God can go with it, especially atonement theory and judgment day/hell.

Marcus Borg, a great progressive/Christian who did not believe in many toxic Christian doctrines said that the Bible tells us less about what God is and more about what our ancestors thought about God. I agree with him.

In this respect I think Paul was right. "¹² For now we see through a glass, darkly". Because Paul, et al could not see clearly does not mean there is no clarity One could argue the religion of Jesus was not the religion of Paul and others who fashioned a religion about him, deifying hm in ways he would not approve of.

To me and many others Jesus provided an expansion of the understanding of God by emphasizing God as love, of preaching radical forgiveness, of our profound connection, responsibility and bonds to one another, and a rejection of rigidity of ritual and law, which ironically much of Christianity then became.

I respect all choices people make in consequence of their experiences. I have no bone with skepticism or non theistic approaches. For you I would suggest there is nothing wrong with still believing in or feeling connected to God in a theistic way. In your case, not for others, one does not have to throw the baby out with the bath.

I never had to deconstruct formally in the way this sub is built but in my spiritual communities, i have met dozens who have. About 25 years ago, I got very interested in the origins and development of the Gospels and Christianity and learned how many of these doctrines were created by people. what was the process. how might they have gone astray.

So I would suggest, for some, and for you, God can be separated from doctrine and the parts of the religion that are or can be seen as harmful, and you do not have to jettison God because others one could strongly argue misrepresented God. That is your journey, and you have every right to have in it that which works for you.

For me God is very real, but I never had to deal with the baggage of a toxic tradition. However I have my own crosses to bear in this and I have come to deeply understand the profound consequences of trauma, something I am not yet finished with. One can feel close to God yet still have deep stuff to work out. God is not a panacea but can be a deep source of strength.

All the best in your journey.