EVANGELICAL EXODUS: DECONSTRUCTION OF AMERICAN EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANITY

American Evangelical Christianity (AEC) is experiencing a paradox: although increasing in power, most notably seen in recent U.S. politics, AEC is simultaneously declining in affiliation. This research examines this decline through employing a Grounded Theoretical approach to study the process of deconversion via twenty-five semi-structured, in-depth interviews with former Evangelicals. In addition to revealing a complex process of deconstruction which involved physical and mental minimization, findings also uncovered deconversion is shaped by related processes of faith construction and reconstruction. Due to faith’s construction of identity and community - through reinforced social and belief systems- participants experienced struggle and loss when re-evaluating foundational values which resulted in both the need and freedom to rebuild these constructs outside of AEC. Ultimately, findings suggest that AEC’s rigidity has created a paradox in which the same structures that lend it strength in certain contexts may contribute to its loss of power in others.