Kate Bowler on tragicomedy, and the errors of manifesting and prosperity gospel

**Upcoming Sacred Live on April 19** Join Elizabeth Oldfield and Oliver Burkeman on April 19 for a live recording of The Sacred with a time for Q&A. Get your tickets today using the promo code SACREDLIVE2023: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/sacred-live-feat-elizabeth-oldfield-and-oliver-burkeman-tickets-565116999157 Kate Bowler is a three-time New York Times bestselling author, and Associate Professor of American Religious History at Duke University. Kate is also the host of the Everything Happens podcast where she talks to people about what they’ve learned in difficult times. She spoke about tragicomedy, finding purpose during times of suffering and why the prosperity gospel and manifesting are so problematic. Read the full transcript here: https://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/comment/2023/03/08/kate-bowler-on-tragicomedy-and-the-errors-of-manifesting-and-prosperity-gospel CHAPTERS (00:00) Introduction (03:11) What is sacred to you? Kate Bowler’s answer (08:27) Slick preachers, televangelists and women religious celebrities (11:49) Childhood, religion as a worldview, and the lovely nosiness of theology (17:26) Entering academia: dreams, sacrifices, and the horrible truth (21:19) Gendered misdiagnosis, colon cancer and incredible support (27:48) Desperate forms of Christianity and the prosperity gospel’s ubiquity (34:49) The reason for cancer and the life raft of Love (40:40) A book for letting go and a podcast for fighting loneliness (47:42) On how to be supportive to someone who is suffering (53:35) The distortions of social media and how to bowl down the middle (57:16) The ‘faux secular’ perfect world of #blessed, and genuine blessing (61:17) Elizabeth Oldfield’s reflection on her conversation with Kate Bowler ***** The Sacred is a podcast produced by the think tank Theos. Be sure to connect with us below to stay up-to-date with all our content, research and events. CONNECT WITH THE SACRED Twitter: https://twitter.com/sacred_podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sacred_podcast/ CONNECT WITH ELIZABETH OLDFIELD Twitter: https://twitter.com/ESOldfield Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elizabethsaraholdfield/ CONNECT WITH THEOS Theos monthly newsletter: https://confirmsubscription.com/h/d/E9E17CAB71AC7464 Twitter: https://twitter.com/Theosthinktank Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theosthinktank LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theos---the-think-tank/ Website: https://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/ CHECK OUT OUR PODCASTS The Sacred: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-sacred/id1326888108 Reading Our Times: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/reading-our-times/id1530952185