The Deconstructionists

In this deeply moving conversation, John sits down for part two with Valentyn Syniy, a Ukrainian pastor, theologian, and author whose life and ministry have been profoundly shaped by the reality of war.

This interview was recorded under extraordinary circumstances. Scheduling had to account for the very real possibility of Russian airstrikes and power outages. Valentyn’s wife graciously joined the conversation to assist with translation at moments, helping ensure that everything Valentyn wanted to communicate was conveyed with clarity and care.

Together, we explore:
What it means to live, pastor, and hold onto faith in the midst of active war
How violence and trauma test long-held theological assumptions
The difference between discussing war and surviving it
Where hope, honesty, and spiritual resilience are found when everything familiar is under siege

Some stories shared in this episode may be difficult to hear, but they are necessary—and deeply human.

About the Book

Valentyn is the author of God Under Siege, a powerful and unflinching reflection on faith, suffering, and God’s presence amid the devastation of war. Drawing from lived experience rather than distant theology, the book challenges easy answers and invites readers into a more honest, grounded faith.

Get the book:
Amazon
Major booksellers
Wherever books are sold

The Music For this Episode: Forrest Clay "Child of War"

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In this deeply moving conversation, John sits down with Valentyn Syniy, a Ukrainian pastor, theologian, and author whose life and ministry have been profoundly shaped by the reality of war.

For many of us—especially those who have never served or lived in a war-torn region—war can feel abstract. Something debated from a distance. Should troops be sent? Should they not? But for Valentyn and millions of others, war is not theoretical. It is daily life. It is uncertainty, fear, loss—and for many, hell experienced in the here and now.

This interview was recorded under extraordinary circumstances. Scheduling had to account for the very real possibility of Russian airstrikes and power outages. Valentyn’s wife graciously joined the conversation to assist with translation at moments, helping ensure that everything Valentyn wanted to communicate was conveyed with clarity and care.

Together, we explore:
What it means to live, pastor, and hold onto faith in the midst of active war
How violence and trauma test long-held theological assumptions
The difference between discussing war and surviving it
Where hope, honesty, and spiritual resilience are found when everything familiar is under siege

Some stories shared in this episode may be difficult to hear, but they are necessary—and deeply human.

About the Book

Valentyn is the author of God Under Siege, a powerful and unflinching reflection on faith, suffering, and God’s presence amid the devastation of war. Drawing from lived experience rather than distant theology, the book challenges easy answers and invites readers into a more honest, grounded faith.

Get the book:
Amazon
Major booksellers
Wherever books are sold

Support the Show — Join Our Patreon

We’ve just launched a brand new Patreon, and it’s packed with content many of you have been asking for.

Subscribers get access to:
Brand new exclusive videos on requested topics
Study guides for deeper reflection and group use
Reference materials and sources to support further learning
Behind-the-scenes content and extended conversations

If you value thoughtful, well-researched conversations like this one—and want tools to keep exploring—Patreon is the best way to support the work and dive deeper.
Support: https://patreon.com/TheDeconstructionistsPodcast
👉 Join us on Patreon and help make conversations like this possible.

For all things Deconstructionists check out: www.thedecontructionists.org

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This episode dismantles the most persistent myths surrounding immigration and replaces them with how the system actually works.

We walk through immigration policy historically and in real time—naming the racial roots of U.S. immigration law, explaining why “just do it legally” is not a serious policy position, and breaking down the real costs, timelines, and barriers people face today.

We also look at crime data, benefits myths, economic contributions, and the very real impact current enforcement strategies are having on American farmers and food systems.

Topics covered

Why immigration law has always been shaped by race
Policies that restricted Italians, Asians, and other groups
Obama-era deportations vs. today’s enforcement tactics
Why deportation numbers vary depending on who’s counting
Real immigration pathways, timelines, and costs
Why asylum is slow—and dangerous to wait through
Crime data vs. fear narratives
Taxes, benefits, and economic contribution
Farm labor shortages and food supply impacts
Why immigration reform is urgent—not theoretical

Key historical policies referenced

Chinese Exclusion Act (1882)
Immigration Act of 1917
Emergency Quota Act (1921)
Immigration Act of 1924 (Johnson–Reed Act / National Origins Act)

Immigration system & policy resources

U.S. State Department — Visa Bulletin
https://travel.state.gov/visa-bulletin
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services — Asylum & Work Authorization
https://www.uscis.gov/asylum
https://www.uscis.gov/i-765
Migration Policy Institute
https://www.migrationpolicy.org

Crime & data resources

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine — Immigration & Crime Summary
https://nap.nationalacademies.org/resource/21746/issue_brief_crime.pdf
PNAS peer-reviewed study (Texas arrest data)
https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2014704117
Cato Institute — Incarceration Rates by Immigration Status
https://www.cato.org/policy-analysis/illegal-immigrant-incarceration-rates-2010-2023

Benefits, taxes & economy

National Immigration Law Center — Benefits Eligibility
https://www.nilc.org/resources/overview-immeligfedprograms/
Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP)
https://itep.org/undocumented-immigrants-taxes-2024/

Agriculture & labor impact

Wisconsin Public Radio — Farm labor shortages
https://www.wpr.org/news/deportations-worry-farmers-labor-shortage-harvest
Dairy Herd Management — ICE raids and dairy workforce loss
https://www.dairyherd.com/news/labor/overnight-exodus-how-ice-raid-cut-dairys-workforce-more-half

Reflection question

If the system looked then the way it looks now—who would have been allowed in at all?

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For all things Deconstructionists check out: www.thedecontructionists.org

Special music provided by: Forrest Clay from the Recover EP.

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This episode steps back and asks a harder question:

What has the church done in moments like this before—and what does faithfulness actually require now?

We begin with church history, tracing how Christians have repeatedly been asked to bless state violence in the name of order and safety. We examine how labels like “criminal,” “terrorist,” and “threat” have historically been used to short-circuit moral responsibility.

We then turn to Scripture—not as proof texts, but as story—allowing the biblical narrative to confront modern assumptions about power, violence, and the stranger.

Topics covered

Historical patterns of Christian complicity with state violence
Why labels matter more than we think
False equivalence arguments (“what about…”)
Why due process is a moral issue
Jesus, the stranger, and state power
Why faith rooted in the margins looks different

Scripture referenced

Exodus 22:21
Leviticus 19:33–34
Deuteronomy 10:18–19
Isaiah 1
Amos 5
Micah 6:8
Luke 10:25–37
Matthew 25:31–46
Matthew 26:52
John 18–19
Romans 12–13 (read together, not selectively)

Historical & analytical resources

Migration Policy Institute — Immigration & Enforcement Analysis
https://www.migrationpolicy.org/research/explainers
Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse
https://tracreports.org

Reflection question

Who are we being asked to look away from—and what does that cost our faith?

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Support: https://patreon.com/TheDeconstructionistsPodcast
👉 Join us on Patreon and help make conversations like this possible.

For all things Deconstructionists check out: www.thedecontructionists.org

Special music provided by Forrest Clay from the Recover EP.

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When Fear Becomes Policy

In this episode, we address what’s happening right now in the United States as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations escalate in visibility, intensity, and violence.

This is not a political episode.
It’s a human one.

We examine verified facts, video evidence, and legal realities surrounding recent enforcement actions, including documented cases involving American citizens, the failure to follow established protocols after lethal force, and the growing pattern of intimidation, escalation, and public spectacle.

We also talk about confirmation bias—how fear and identity shape what we’re willing to see—and why Christians and the spiritually curious alike have a responsibility to trust evidence over narratives.

Topics covered

What ICE can and cannot legally do
Why due process matters even when immigration law is involved
The danger of pre-justifying violence
Confirmation bias and moral shortcuts
Why “order” is not the same thing as justice
The role of witnesses, neighbors, and allies

Key resources & links

American Civil Liberties Union — Know Your Rights (Immigrants & Bystanders)
https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/immigrants-rights
National Lawyers Guild — Legal Observers & Recording Rights
https://www.nlg.org/legal-observers/
Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC Immigration)
Independent reporting on ICE enforcement and immigration court data
https://tracreports.org/immigration

Reflection question

When fear is loud and authority is visible, how do we decide what we’re willing to accept—and what we’re willing to question?

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Support: https://patreon.com/TheDeconstructionistsPodcast
👉 Join us on Patreon and help make conversations like this possible.

For all things Deconstructionists check out: www.thedecontructionists.org

Special music provided by Forrest Clay from his Recover EP.

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