In this episode of The Return, Jordan Mattox and Dustin Maddox welcome Brian Zahnd for a wide-ranging discussion on faith, doubt, and reconstruction. Brian shares his personal story—from a teenage conversion during the Jesus Movement to building a thriving ministry, and then reaching a turning point in midlife when the version of Christianity he knew no longer felt worthy of the Christ who first captivated him. That realization led him into years of reading church history, philosophy, and theology, reshaping his understanding of faith and changing the direction of his ministry.

The conversation digs into the meaning and limits of “deconstruction,” why many people leave faith entirely when their first framework collapses, and how American evangelicalism can blur the lines between Jesus, the Bible, the church, and Christianity as a cultural religion. Brian offers a vision of reconstruction rooted in historic tradition, intellectual depth, and a renewed fascination with Christ himself.

Along the way, they talk about how to read scripture after faith has been shaken, why institutions struggle to hold meaning in modern life, and where people might find a spiritual home when neither fundamentalism nor emptiness feels like a viable option. The episode closes with reflections on literature, theology, and the long, patient work of rebuilding a life of faith.

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.

In this episode of The Return, hosts Jordan Mattox and Dustin Maddox sit down with pastor, writer, and theologian Jonny Morrison for a deep conversation about deconstruction, reconstruction, and the environments that help or hinder spiritual return. Morrison reflects on his own faith journey, the pressures of evangelical performance culture, and the internal unraveling that many experience when inherited frameworks can no longer sustain real life. Together, they explore why authentic reconstruction requires hospitable communities—churches where questions, disagreement, and theological diversity are not only tolerated but welcomed. Morrison argues that environments defined by certainty, control, or conformity leave little room for the wounded or the wary to heal, and he offers an alternative vision of the church as a place of curiosity, safety, and shared humanity. For anyone navigating deconstruction or hoping to build a more spacious faith community, this conversation offers both challenge and hope.

Jonny's Website

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