Apologetics US Lecture Series

Hemorrhaging Faith

Understanding the Deconversion Crisis

Saturday, November 7, 2026 | 7:00 - 8:45 PM

Why are so many walking away from the faith?

Join us at the first Apologetics US Lecture Series event at Knott Avenue Christian Church and hear from author and professor, John Marriott, PhD. We will take an in depth look at why people lose their faith, the process of losing faith, and how to respond as Christians.

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Featured Speaker

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Dr. John Marriott

Director of Curriculum for Biola's Winsome Conviction Project and part-time teacher in the Department of Philosophy at Talbot School of Theology

A Canadian expat living in Southern California, John is a social scientist who served as a Faculty Affiliate at The Harvard University Human Flourishing Program at Harvard's Institute for Quantitative Social Science. He is the former Research and Program Coordinator for the Biola University Center for Christian Thought and adjunct faculty at Concordia University. John currently teaches part-time in the Department of Philosophy at Talbot School of Theology and as Director of Curriculum for Biola's Winsome Conviction Project. A former pastor, he holds a Ph.D. degree from The Cook School of Intercultural Studies. His dissertation focused on deconversion from Christianity to atheism.

He is the author of six books on deconversion, A Recipe For Disaster: How the Church Contributes to the Deconversion Crisis (Wipf & Stock, 2018), The Anatomy of Deconversion: Keys to a Lifelong Faith in a Culture Abandoning Christianity (ACUP, 2021), Going... Going... Gone..! Why Believers Lose Their Faith and What Can be Done to Guard Against it (Renaissance Publishers, 2020), Before You Go: Uncovering Hidden Factors in Faith Loss (Leafwood Publishers, 2022), and Set Adrift: Deconstructing What You Believe Without Sinking Your Faith (Zondervan, 2023). John is also a contributor to Apologetics in an Ever-Changing Culture (Harvest House 2025). His sixth book, Is It Really The Good Book? Restoring Your Faith in the Bible by Questioning What You Assume About it (Tyndale, 2026) addresses the challenge of misreading the Bible. His seventh book From Heartbreak to Hope: Responding to the Faith Loss of a Loved One (Zondervan) is due for release in 2027.

John is an elder at his home church in Southern California and enjoys watching hockey and speaking at youth events.

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Q&A Panel

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Dr. John Marriott

Director of Curriculum
Biola's Winsome Conviction Project
Harry-Edwards-25-Profile-Round-800

Dr. Harry Edwards

Director of Operations
Apologetics US
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Dr. Joe Slunaker

Director of Applied Theology and Associate Professor of Old Testament
California Baptist University
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Schedule

6:30 PM

Doors open

Coffee, tea, donuts available

7:00 PM

Main lecture

Hemorrhaging Faith: Understanding the Deconversion Crisis by Dr. John Marriott

8:00 PM

Panel Q&A

John Marriott, PhD
Harry Edwards, DMin
Joe Slunaker, PhD

8:45 PM

Event ends

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Tickets

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