Deconstructing: Leaving Church, Finding Faith

Interfaith minister and Tiktok creator Kamstra recounts her departure from “organized Christianity” in this empathetic debut guide to breaking free from “high-control” religion and finding a new spirituality. Devoted to her faith since childhood, the author spent decades “trying to contort” herself to an evangelical dogma rooted in intolerance and obedience. In adulthood, she began pointing out those hypocrisies to church leaders, and the blowback eventually propelled her to leave the church to search “for something more.” She consulted Christian authors like C.S. Lewis and John Shelby Spong, questioned the patriarchal systems that grounded her religious upbringing, reread the Bible absent the “fear-based” theology that demonized members of the LGBTQ community, and delved into such concepts as the divine feminine. Inviting readers to reevaluate their theological roots, she offers advice on finding different ways to pray and meditate, while making room for those who wish to return to some or all aspects of organized Christianity. Throughout, Kamstra is unfailingly candid about her own spiritual questions (“To this day, I still don’t know what I believe, and yet the paradox is that I have immense peace with not knowing”). She never downplays the challenges inherent in deconstructing one’s religious beliefs, making her an excellent guide for those with similar questions. This is a valuable resource. (Oct.)