In this podcast, Geoff Holsclaw and Steve Cuss discuss attachment theory, philosophy, and theology, exploring how liturgical practices and physical bodies shape spiritual connections. They touch on Holsclaw's journey in the Vineyard Movement, blending the charismatic and liturgical, and his fascination with brain science. The conversation encompasses all aspects of human experience, from spiritual and emotional to mental and physical.
Understanding attachment theory is crucial for shaping how individuals connect with God and others.
The local church plays a significant role in facilitating practices of confession, forgiveness, and reconciliation.
Church leaders experience anxiety triggers related to negative feedback and performance pressures.
Recognizing false needs and behaviors arising from anxiety is essential for true self-awareness and growth.
Deep dives
Understanding Attachment Theory in Faith
Attachment theory is discussed in the podcast, highlighting the importance of attachment strategies in shaping how individuals connect with God and others. The four main attachment styles, including anxious, avoidant, disorganized, and secure, are explained in detail. The integration of attachment theory with faith emphasizes the need for balance between pursuing intimacy and exercising agency in relationships, reflecting a secure or integrated attachment with God.
The Unique Contribution of the Local Church
The significance of the local church in providing a distinct encounter with transcendence and divine love is explored in the podcast. The role of the local church in facilitating practices of confession, forgiveness, and reconciliation, promoting rupture and repair dynamics within communities, is highlighted as a unique offering not easily found elsewhere.
Navigating Anxiety in Church Leadership
The anxiety triggers faced by church leaders, particularly related to receiving negative feedback and performance-based pressures, are discussed. The internal struggles of feeling competent and insightful, yet vulnerable to self-doubt and fear of criticism, are acknowledged in the context of church leadership responsibilities.
Reflecting on Personal Needs and Reactions
The podcast delves into the dynamics of recognizing false needs and reactions driven by anxiety. Dr. Holskler reflects on the tendency to overestimate the need for excessive alone time as a perceived necessity, recognizing it as a potential area of self-indulgent behavior that may not align with true requirements.
Experiencing God's Love in Personal Moments
Dr. Holskler shares a profound moment of feeling deeply loved during a recent family gathering over Christmas. The presence of his children, with one about to get married, evoked a sense of complete love and cherishing, representing a poignant and cherished moment of feeling fully embraced and valued.
Influence of Secure Attachment on Faith Practices
The podcast underscores the impact of a securely attached relationship with God, emphasizing the value of encountering transcendence within the local church community. The concept of rupture and repair, where confession, forgiveness, and reconciliation foster a profound sense of divine love and relational healing, is depicted as a unique and indispensable aspect of faith experience.
Tapping into the Transformative Power of Secure Attachment
Dr. Holskler's narrative explores the transformative potential of secure attachment experiences within faith contexts, emphasizing the integration of intimacy and agency in relationships. The podcast highlights the need for seeking balance between pursuing connection with God and others and embracing independence, reflecting the holistic impact of securely integrated attachment dynamics on personal and communal flourishing.
"In Christ, God has come near and has walked with us. The transformation that is other than us has actually come near so that we could be changed and transformed.”
So says pastor and author Geoff Holsclaw as he joins host Steve Cuss on this episode of Being Human. Holsclaw, who cohosts the Embodied Faith podcast and runs Western Seminary’s doctor of ministry program in spiritual formation and relational neuroscience, is deeply interested in how people grow, transform, and connect to God.
On this episode, Holsclaw and Cuss talk about attachment theory, philosophy, and theology. They discuss liturgical practices that shape people and communities and consider how physical bodies relate to one another in spiritual spaces. Their conversation includes Holsclaw’s participation in the Vineyard Movement, what it looks like to combine the charismatic and liturgical, and what drew Holsclaw to brain science.
Tune in for an episode that incorporates all parts of what it means to be human, from the spiritual and emotional to the mental and physical.
