Slowing Down to Reconstruct Faith with Dr. A.J. Swoboda

In this episode of The Return, hosts Jordan Mattox and Dustin Maddox sit down with theologian and author Dr. A.J. Swoboda for a wide-ranging conversation about slow theology, deconstruction, and what faithful reconstruction actually requires.

Using vivid metaphors—from chemotherapy and butter to the Garden of Eden and Sabbath—A.J. argues that doubt, when handled carefully, can be a form of healing rather than harm. He explores why modern churches often rush belief while failing to cultivate depth, virtue, and restraint, and how this impatience contributes to rapid deconstruction on the back end.

The conversation moves through some of the biggest questions facing post-evangelical Christians today:

• How do we distinguish intentional slowness from spiritual stasis?

• Why do mystery and restraint matter more than airtight answers?

• What role should churches play in guiding people through doubt rather than shielding them from it?

• How have apologetics sometimes undermined faith by prioritizing certainty over character?

Jordan, Dustin, and A.J. also discuss Sabbath as a formative posture, the dangers of fast conversions, the limits of Enlightenment-style apologetics, and what an “anti-fragile” Christian formation might look like—especially for children and young people.

The episode closes with a reflection on grace, permission, and hospitality, and a powerful book recommendation for those tentatively considering a return to faith after walking away. This is a conversation for anyone who believes reconstruction is not about finding faster answers, but about learning how to live faithfully, patiently, and humbly in the presence of mystery.