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Conceptual image is AI-generated.

I recently quickly read the 2024 book by Rev Karla Kamstra: Deconstructing: Leaving Church, Finding Faith. I say quickly because the writing style is nurturing and conversational, but seems directed more toward a young, female audience who are "spiritual, but no longer religious" and have found the courage to leave their conservative, patriarchal Christian church. The book provides a helpful antidote to the scourge of white Christian (sic) nationalism that has infected some churches and our government.

Although I, too, have deconstructed, in a different way, and am drawn to spirituality beyond religion, I am not quite her audience.* I am also used to reading scholarly writers with footnotes and was looking for insights into what's next.

I was initially curious because, as a futurist, I am always looking for current signals of change, and the book touts "TikTok's Beloved Rev Karla." Indeed, RevKarla has 790.7K followers and has an impressive social media presence on SubStack, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. Karla ministers to a large "digital congregation" without walls or dogma.

"Rev Karla Kamstra is an ordained interfaith and interspiritual minister, author, and spiritual teacher helping those healing from religious trauma toward a more authentic, liberated spirituality." She was ordained in 2017 following 5 years of study with the One Spirit Interfaith Seminary** based in New York City.

"Once rooted in evangelical Christianity, "Karla now walks a non-religious, deeply sacred path—one of curiosity, compassion, and personal truth. Through her work, she helps others unlearn patriarchal conditioning, reclaim their spiritual autonomy, and rediscover the sacred in everyday life."

Find Rev Karla on:

• Her website

• Substack

• TickTok

• Instagram

• Facebook

• YouTube

• Q&A Live Streams with Rev Karla

• 2017 article on Karla in Bloom Magazine

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Deconstructing is often a painful, but necessary step in the path of creativity towards something new and better. As Ilia Delio says in her Easter Week 2026 essay: Truly Human in a Partially Human World:

"Creativity thrives on entropy; only when things break down does life find a way to break through. Evolution is a via dolorosa, suffering through the tragedies of existence into something higher and more wondrous. And we, by taking up this path, become part of that cosmic unfolding — the third incarnation of a love that will not stop until it fills all things."

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* Harm caused by churches is not restricted to patriarchy toward females, minorities, and LGBTQ+. I am an elderly, white, straight man who several years ago abandoned a progressive denomination because of a controlling female pastor. I have been reconstructing an optimistic, evolutionary worldview that is spiritual, but not religious in an institutional way, led by many guides with a new, emerging story, compatible with science.

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One week before I received Karla's book in the mail, I selected the word "Beloved" after listening to a video by Cynthia Bourgeault on centering prayer; when I received the book, the inscription was to "Beloved." Was this just a coincidence or the Mystery of the Universe calling me toward being more loving?

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** Rev. Diane Berke is the founder & teacher of the One Spirit Learning Alliance. Their Interspiritual Foundations first-year seminary program is supported by many skilled teachers and workshop facilitators. Returning luminaries include interspiritual giants such as Dr. Kurt Johnson, Rev. David Wallace, Rev. Mark Fowler, Rev. DeShannon Barnes-Bowens, Rev. Eileen Fisher, Mirabai Starr, Rev. Dr. Ed O’Malley, Deborah Egerton, Dr. Robert Holden, Rev. Barbara Becker, and more. Their second year Seminary is now the Interspiritual Seminary Ordination Pathway

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IMPORTANT NOTE: Even though many, including me, are "done" with institutional Christianity, it does not mean that we have any less love for Jesus of Nazareth and his teaching (as we now understand them). It's just that in the 21st century, we now have a broader perspective of both religion and science - the old dogmas, doctrines, rituals, and hymns no longer speak as clearly to our understanding of reality. Many of our best friends remain members of Christian churches, and I have no intention to question or change their faith.