As it turns out, “deconstruction” is more common in Christianity than many have realized.
According to Barna’s Engaging the Spiritually Open report, 42% of adults say they’ve deconstructed “the faith of their youth” — a statistic that underscores the growing prevalence of this trend.
Groups like “exvangelicals” and “nones” turned “dones” have risen in popularity in recent years, but the concept of faith deconstruction itself is not new. What is new, however, is the increased visibility of these conversations, making it a more pressing issue for many within the Church.
Notably, not all who deconstruct leave Christianity. A growing number of Christian and formerly Christian influencers are sharing their experiences of reassessing their beliefs on social media, often using the term “deconstruction” to describe the process. In fact, a little over one-third of Christians—including both practicing (36%) and nonpracticing (37%)—report having deconstructed their faith at some point, showing that many remain in the pews even after undergoing this process.
For those who do leave, the Barna report found that a similar number move toward atheism, agnosticism or identifying as having no faith at all.
“Deconstruction can be an important period for addressing backstories and preparing people for potential disillusionment in their discipleship,” Barna CEO David Kinnaman said during an episode of Barna’s Resilient Pastor podcast. “We need to tell the truest story about what it means to be part of a Christian community so that when people encounter disappointment or larger questions about God and life, they remain grounded.”
