Episode Ep 374 March 31, 2026 1 hr 24 min

Deconstructing Without Losing Jesus: Jeremy Jernigan's The Edge of the Inside

From Bookwild Kate Hergott, Bookwild Collective

In this episode, I talk with Jeremy Jernigan about his deeply personal and intellectual journey behind The Edge of the Inside, unpacking how Jeremy’s lifelong love of writing evolved into a healing-driven project that blends memoir and theology. We discuss how time and emotional distance were necessary to move from bitterness to clarity, allowing Jeremy to structure the book into reflection, belief, and application. We also discuss shared experiences as pastor’s kids, the disorienting process of deconstruction, and the realization that faith is far broader than what we were taught.

Listen to hear about:

Writing as healing, not just storytelling
Jeremy describes the book as a form of therapy, something he had to live through and process before he could write honestly and help others.
The “edge of the inside” concept
Inspired by Richard Rohr, this idea captures the experience of still belonging to a system while holding a perspective that challenges it.
Deconstruction and expanding belief systems
We both reflect on realizing that what we were taught wasn’t the full picture, leading to curiosity, questioning, and broader exploration.
How language shapes belief (and confusion)
The same words, faith, truth, provision, can mean completely different things depending on who’s using them, especially in religious and political contexts.
The “life quake” moment
Jeremy shares the pivotal realization that doing the “right” things doesn’t guarantee success—and sometimes leads to losing everything, forcing a complete redefinition of faith and identity.