A Christian Perspective on the Journeys of Bart Ehrman, Joshua Harris, and Jinger Duggar
Introduction
Faith is often likened to a house—some structures withstand storms, while others crumble when their foundations are shaken (Matthew 7:24–27). The stories of Bart Ehrman, Joshua Harris, and Jinger Duggar illustrate the consequences of rigid fundamentalism when confronted with intellectual and theological challenges. Ehrman and Harris, once staunch believers, ultimately abandoned Christianity when their fundamentalist frameworks proved insufficient. In contrast, Duggar navigated her doubts by disentangling false teachings from biblical truth, preserving her faith while shedding harmful ideologies.
This article explores their journeys, emphasizing the importance of humility in theological understanding, the necessity of refining one’s beliefs, and the dangers of brittle fundamentalism. As believers, our faith should not be an all-or-nothing system—rather, it must be resilient enough to withstand questions and challenges.
Bart Ehrman: The Scholar Who Walked Away
Bart Ehrman, a renowned biblical scholar, once identified as an evangelical Christian. However, his faith unraveled as he encountered textual discrepancies in Scripture and wrestled with the problem of suffering. Ehrman stated, “The search for truth takes you where the evidence leads you, even if, at first, you don’t want to go there.” (1) His fundamentalist upbringing had instilled a rigid view of biblical inerrancy, and when he found contradictions in the text, he felt compelled to reject Christianity altogether. Instead of adjusting his theological framework, Ehrman abandoned his faith, illustrating the peril of an inflexible belief system.
His reasoning reflects the risk of binary thinking: either Scripture is absolutely perfect in the way he initially believed, or it is entirely flawed and unreliable. This rigid framework contrasts with how early Christians wrestled with Scripture. The Bereans, for example, were commended for their diligence in examining the Scriptures daily (Acts 17:11), showing that faith need not collapse under questioning—it can be strengthened through study. Had Ehrman viewed textual criticism as an invitation to refine his understanding rather than a contradiction invalidating his belief, his faith might have evolved rather than dissolved.
Joshua Harris: From Evangelical Leader to Ex-Christian
Joshua Harris, once a prominent evangelical figure, shocked the Christian community when he announced his deconversion. Best known for I Kissed Dating Goodbye, Harris later renounced his teachings and, eventually, his faith. In his public statement, he declared, “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.” (2)
Harris’s story is particularly relevant to discussions on legalism and performance-based Christianity. His evangelical career was largely built on rigid moral teachings, particularly regarding relationships. However, when Harris began dismantling these earlier beliefs, he didn’t just distance himself from his previous teachings—he walked away from Christianity entirely. His experience highlights the danger of tying one’s entire faith to a particular doctrinal position rather than the core of Christianity: a relationship with Christ.
(Proverbs 16:18) warns, “Pride comes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall.” When believers assume their understanding of faith is infallible, they risk abandoning the entire foundation when one part is challenged. Harris’s deconversion exemplifies what happens when faith is viewed through a brittle lens, unable to withstand doctrinal refinement. A mature faith recognizes that questioning one's beliefs does not mean abandoning them altogether.
Jinger Duggar Voulo: Disentangling, Not Deconstructing
Unlike Ehrman and Harris, Jinger Duggar faced theological challenges without abandoning her faith. Raised in the strict teachings of Bill Gothard’s Institute in Basic Life Principles, Jingeventually recognized the flaws in her upbringing. However, rather than rejecting Christianity, she sought to separate biblical truth from man-made legalism. She explained, “My faith is as strong as it’s ever been—not because Christianity tells me the right way to live or unlocks some ‘key to success’ but because I can find no one more compelling, more lovely, more hopeful than Jesus.” (3)
Disentanglement requires discernment. As Paul instructs, “Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2). Duggar embodies this principle by remaining rooted in Scripture while discarding flawed interpretations. Her story serves as an example for believers struggling with doubts or harmful religious experiences. Instead of concluding that Christianity itself is the problem, she examined teachings through the lens of Scripture, reinforcing that faith is not a rigid system but a growing, evolving relationship with Christ.
The Fragility of Brittle Fundamentalism
Both Ehrman and Harris illustrate a common problem in fundamentalist faith structures: an inability to adapt without breaking. Their faith was built on rigid theological systems, and when cracks formed in those systems, they saw no alternative but to abandon belief altogether.
As (Job 11:7) asks, “Can you fathom the depths of God or discover the limits of the Almighty?” The answer, of course, is no. A faith that allows for intellectual humility and continual learning is far more resilient than one that demands absolute certainty in every doctrinal stance.
Conclusion: The Choice Between Deconversion and Growth
Ultimately, the difference between Ehrman and Harris’s deconversions and Duggar’s disentanglement comes down to their approach to doubt. Scripture encourages believers to wrestle with difficult questions rather than flee from them. Faith should not be brittle—it should be tested and refined, as gold is purified through fire (1 Peter 1:7).
A crisis of faith does not have to lead to abandoning belief. Instead, it can be an opportunity to develop a deeper, more resilient relationship with God. In a world where many experience faith struggles, the lesson from these figures is clear: doubt should lead to growth, not rejection. As Jesus says, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32).
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