Latest Blog Entries

I want to bring you up to date on the charges and pending trial I face for advocating for my LGBTQ+ friends and their allies. CLICK THE IMAGE TO WATCH THE VIDEO ABOUT ME First, a bit about me for those who may not know me. I am Thomas Jay Oord, professor of theology at […]

In our book God After Deconstruction, Tripp Fuller and I explore the good reasons people deconstruct and offer an open and relational theological response. We think this theology makes better sense than traditional theologies, and we believe it’s better than atheism. To conclude God After Deconstruction, we offer an overview of this theological perspective to […]

In God After Deconstruction, Tripp Fuller and I explore the problems scripture presents. We show that the Bible has errors, discrepancies, mistakes, and internal inconsistencies. It is not the sure and certain foundation so many people expect, and deconstructors are right to rethink scripture. But if the Bible can’t always be trusted, then what should […]

In our book God After Deconstruction, Tripp Fuller and I explore the problems of both certainty and absolute mystery. The loss of certainty is common among most deconstruction stories. But the alternative — absolute mystery — makes almost as little sense. Our experience and the experiences of others—in multifarious forms—provide reasons to believe in God. […]

The book Tripp Fuller and I have written, God After Deconstruction, will be available to purchase in early April. The class of the same name will also begin in April, so sign up here to be part of the conversation. Below are the opening paragraphs to the book. In the chapters that follow, we look […]

In our forthcoming book, God After Deconstruction, Tripp Fuller and I address nine reasons many are deconstructing. One reason is Christian Nationalism. We then offer an open and relational theology alternative. The sections below come from the book’s chapter on Christian Nationalism. We start by pointing to the election of Donald Trump as the tipping […]

In our forthcoming book, God After Deconstruction, Tripp Fuller and I address nine reasons many are deconstructing. One reason is Christian Nationalism. We then offer an open and relational alternative. The sections below come from the book’s chapter on Christian Nationalism. We start by pointing to the election of Donald Trump as the tipping point […]

Tripp Fuller and I have written a book called God After Deconstruction. It will be available in April 2024. Among the issues we discuss is how to think about purpose after the traditional God is deconstructed. Here’s an excerpt from the book, which builds on the Barbie movie. What Was I Made For? In the […]

In their book The Deconstruction of Christianity, Alisa Childers and Tim Barnett help readers “stand your ground and respond with clarity and confidence” in the face of deconstruction. In what follows, I review the book. Overall, I find it unhelpful. But there are a few aspects I like. Apostasy The book starts on a sour […]

Tripp Fuller and I have spent much of the last ten days recording discussions for a class called God After Deconstruction. It’s a “pay what you can” class, and we encourage you to sign up. Tripp and I are also organizing in-person God After Deconstruction conferences, the first of which is February 9-10 at Drew […]