Since I have come to affirm that theology is being constructed within a context, it is a short step to take to ask the question whether God can just be socially constructed...

I've been a believer and involved in a high school ministry for many years now, and I have come to run into some road blocks that have... literally eroded my faith in a lot of ways. Your books have given me new perspectives and answers that have made following Christ a joy again. Through reading 'post-modern' theology, anthropology, and philosophy as well as becoming dissatisfied with what the American Church is calling people to; I have come in a humble search for an answer to my problem with social construction. Since I have come to affirm that theology being constructed within a context, it is a short step to take to ask the question whether God can just be socially constructed. Some have suggested that justice can not be naturally constructed because there would be nothing larger than self-discerned justice, but that is not the only option. Why couldn't justice, or our lives, or even God be constructed by humans within communities because it simply orders our life in an acceptable manner, or is culturally appropriate to our lives? This question honestly plagues me daily, and is a harsh reality to face as I continue to do ministry or even sit in church. Please help in any way that you can. Answer: This is such an important question. Yes, of course, in one sense, any word – justice, the word “god,” anything can be deconstructed. Once it is deconstructed, though, what is left? If all that is left is nihilism, the results will be tragic. But what if – beyond the deconstruction of our mental models (or “graven ideologies”) about God – we actually rediscover God in a new way? This is where faith comes in. We have to simultaneously doubt some of our ideas about God and have faith that God is bigger and better than our ideas. I talk about this a bit in Finding Faith and in A Generous Orthodoxy. Also, can I recommend you read C. S. Lewis’ poem, “A Footnote to All Prayers” – which you can find via an online search? Also – you may find through some spiritual practices ways of connecting with God beyond “concepts” – a path in Eastern Christianity known as “the apophatic way,” or “hesychasm.” I hope that’s helpful.