S02 E04. Do I call myself Christian - when, where, and why? Exploring Deconstruction and Social Identity Complexity Theory.

The question that sparked this episode from a couple of listeners was: "My faith has evolved. So do I still call myself a Christian -  even when others might not?" Well, this isn't just a faith or religious question, this is an identity question.  One that leads to other connected questions like:In what ways can deconstruction reshape our understanding of meaning? Are there practical steps to integrate multiple identities harmoniously?How do environmental influences impact identity development across different stages of life? In this walk-and-talk we take a look at our how our faith evolves over time and explore reasons why some people manage identities that are complex and open, while others remain low, and often guarded. You'll have plenty of 'ahaa' moments! I deep dive into the real origins of deconstruction using Derrida's work (1950s) and use Brewer's Social Identity Complexity theory (2000s) to consider how and why you don't always have to 'be' a Christian - that it depends. As always, I love and value your feedback. Email me ⁠[email protected]⁠, leave a comment or find me on socials. Find more of my writings and resources at www.davidtensen.com/quicklinks