Real Conversation: Deconstruction and Millennials
Deconstruction - A process where individuals examine their faith, taking apart previously held beliefs and assumptions about God, church, and religion.
Understanding Millennial Deconstruction
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Who are Millennials?
Defining Millennials & Comparing Generations
Boomers, Gen X, and Millennials have all approached questioning differently.
How do we reach millennials who have deconstructed?
1) The Rise of ‘Why?’
“Why?” forces millennials to examine whether the inherited systems—(religious, social, or political)—are in line with their values. When answers to these questions are found lacking, deconstruction begins.
Millennials grew up in a time of massive social and economic shifts (technology boom, financial crisis, cultural shifts). They began questioning:
- Education – “Must go to college”
- Government – “Health Industry, Food Drug (FDA)””
- Media – Watching the media cover a story two different ways
- Society - “Why are these systems in place? What is Justice?”
- Economics - “Businesses: Why do we prioritize profit over people?”
- Banks – Credit Score, DEBT.
- Religion – Religious Leaders falling, worship movement, conference movement, Evangelical Industrial Complex. What if walking with Jesus looks different that this?
2) The Rise of Doubt
o Doubt as a Tool for Authenticity:
o Doubt as a Way to Reconstruct
– Doubt has been integral to the millennial journey of deconstruction because it opened the door to critical questions about faith, society, and personal identity. Instead of being something to be feared, doubt is seen by millennials as a tool for discovering truth, authenticity, and meaning.
3) The Rise of Curiosity
o Curiosity Creates Space for Open Dialogue
o Curiosity invites Vulnerability
o Curiosity Models Jesus’ Approach
o Practical Ways to Cultivate Curiosity:
Curiosity has the power to rebuild relationships strained by deconstruction because it prioritizes understanding over agreement, empathy over judgment, and dialogue over defensiveness