Deconstructing Christianity
My partner grew up in a part of Africa where Christianity is really prevalent due to colonisation and he’s connected to it but I can tell it actually makes him unhappy but he’s got a lot of confused feelings.
He’s looking into racial oppression and micro aggressions a lot more at the moment but because it’s something a bit newer to him he’s going through a lot with that. It’s something he really cares about understandably. It’s also something I care a significant amount about too.
His Christianity is in places putting a strain on an otherwise very good and healthy relationship. We are very much in love and happy but sometimes I don’t know how to feel when I know his Christianity which is giving us other issues is actually also a tool for his oppression too. I don’t want that for him I want him to be free from that.
Is there a way to help him with this without upsetting him or him thinking I’m just trying to forcibly remove his faith when really I just want him to think more critically about the whole thing but I understand when it’s his core beliefs and all he’s ever known it’s very hard and complex.
@Crispapple24
Firstly, you are handling this matter with thoughtfulness and delicateness. I understand your partner's connectedness to his faith and how it could be a breeding ground for interpersonal conflict. I think what could assist is reframing the matter at hand, which is "removing" his faith (you get the gist). Reframing in terms of exploring his faith to remould and regain freedom from what he deems/finds oppressive, like what does he find fulfilling and what does he find draining about his faith? etc. This could help in promoting healing and independence within him whilst being present and supportive towards him.