Posted on 08/14/2021 6:13:20 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
UPDATE: Aug. 14 at 12:35 p.m. EDT: Josh Harris announced that after receiving feedback about his course, Reframe Your Story, he's decided to “pull the course.” In a statement on his website, he explained that he’d “hoped I could use my platform to spotlight other people with more experience and expertise, point people to good resources, and offer questions to help people unpack and make sense of their own journey. But I recognize this approach is flawed. I want to explore different ways to lift up other voices.” Read Harris' full statement here.
Original:
Josh Harris, the author of the bestselling book Why I Kissed Dating Goodbye, who later renounced both Christianity and purity culture, has announced that he's overseeing an online class on deconstructing religious beliefs.
In an announcement posted on Instagram Thursday, Harris said he's teaching a five-week live online course titled, “Reframe Your Story” that costs $275 to enroll.
Harris explained that people “harmed by my past work and by purity culture in general” can take the course for free, as well as “anyone who can’t afford it.”
“It’s not specifically about purity culture but for anyone who is unpacking and rethinking religious beliefs,” wrote Harris. “I believe I’m offering something of value to others.”
“The reason I charge for the course is because I’m a big believer that creators, coaches, counselors and anyone who makes content deserves to be paid for their work.”
As part of the course, Harris has set up a website that says there is “no ‘right way’ to do this deconstruction thing.”
“You don’t have to make a public statement, leave your faith or the traditions and community that you love,” website states. “You don’t have to adopt a new label (Exvangelical? Agnostic?) or argue for and justify your change in beliefs.”
“You do deserve the freedom to question, change your thinking and choose the life you want.”
The course already has its critics, among them Jake Meador, author and editor-in-chief of Mere Orthodoxy, who took to Twitter to denounce Harris' endeavor.
“Your regular reminder that a ton of [exvangelical] types are ditching the dogma but keeping all the capitalist crap, and it's very, very dumb and bad,” Meador tweeted earlier this week.
Writer Ian Harber posted a series of sarcastic tweets critiquing Harris' course, with the opening post stating, “Megachurches profit off you by controlling you with fear! Buy my online course for just $275 to break free of their restrictive rules.”
“Capitalism exploits the vulnerable! Buy my online course for just $275 to learn how to become a revolutionary and overthrow the ruling class,” he continued.
“No one can tell you how to deconstruct your faith! There's no right way! It's YOUR journey! I can show you how to deconstruct in my new signature 5-week online course for just $275.”
Harris became a notable Christian public figure in 1997 when his book, Why I Kissed Dating Goodbye, was released. The bestselling book argued that traditional dating and courtship should be rejected and any physical intimacy before marriage was sinful.
Many years later, Harris rejected his book's message and in July 2019, announced not only that he and his wife were separating, but that he no longer considered himself a Christian.
“By all the measurements that I have for defining a Christian, I am not a Christian. Many people tell me that there is a different way to practice faith and I want to remain open to this, but I’m not there now,” said Harris at the time.
What a homo
Renounce God, declare yourself god of your own universe. The road to perdition.
1. I have, in the past, (pre-millenium), been a parishioner of a ‘megachurch’, 2000 a service, the man did make a point concerning them.
2. Could the responder who gifted us with, “what a homo”, kindly explain, since the man’s writings indicated nothing to substantiate the responders claim?
My first guess also
Sounds like a whole lot of psychobabble to me. But then, that is the culture we live in.
I have read about his journey. He does not say it, but does give the impression of being a homosexual - marching in parades etc.
This is all very sad. I’ve known Josh, worked with him, spent a night at his home. I sincerely hope his “deconstruction” leads to a deeper and more authentic faith in Jesus.
I have his book and appreciated it.
He has gone nuts.
Grifter.
A couple of years ago when he went apostate there were pictures of him marching in gay parades as he was divorcing his wife.
Could be he was just showing a heterosexual’s support for the gay lifestyle.
But the timing of his apostocy, divorce and participation in the gay parade—caused people think otherwise.
“deconstruction” is the language of the marxist frankfurt school “critical theory” and its stepchild “critical race theory”
I understand. But the process of “deconstruction” can lead one to a more authentic faith, as long as they resist the process’s natural draw toward cynicism.
Deconstruction has been destroying everything for many decades.
“The reason I charge for the course is because I’m a big believer that creators, coaches, counselors and anyone who makes content deserves to be paid for their work.”
But he apparently is okay with no longer even offering the pretense of honoring the Lord (The Creator) for His work.
Perhaps. But in the context Harris’other moves —its unlikely that he is pushing people to a more authentic faith. Rather he is pushing people toward a woke agenda—but couched in a christianese language.
This is an old ploy.
Couching apostocy in a learned christianese language is how all the mainline protestant denominations went apostate —and their memberships all collapsed. Why? Because people can get apostacy and better fellowship in the local bar.
Oh, in Joshua’s case, I totally agree with you. As you write, Josh doesn’t seem to be pushing anyone toward a more authentic faith, but toward a woke agenda.
I do think he’s having an internal struggle with sin, and in order to find peace with that sin is changing his theology. Some people really despise the thought that they are “sinners.” But we are. But there is good news ...
there is a wider discussion that I’m interested in finding more about.
While it looks like Harris is immersed in his own sin—it also looks like he picked up the language of marxist syncretism —that has enabled him to offer a kind of cheap grace.
Marxist syncretists are at the root the modern catholic problem today.
The question is how did the marxist syncretists manage to jump the fense into evangelical fold.
How did that happen.
I have seen youtubes here and there that a lot of liberal foundation money has poured into specifically conservative seminaries since 2016. That is, liberals figured that the backbone of Trump’s support is conservative evangelicals—so they decided to break the back of conservatives by targeting their seminaries with money. Liberals didn’t deal with professors. Rather they dealt with administrators. A couple hundred thousand dollars could buy off the administrators. All the liberal foundations wanted in return was that the language of the conservative institutions coincided with UN language on various issues. Further that the seminaries included a course or two on various woke subjects.
Have you heard this story? Or have you heard something else?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.