When Church is Hard - A Conversation with Tyler Johnson
Nov 2, 2024
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Tyler Johnson, an oncologist and author of "When Church is Hard," shares insights from his experience with patients facing existential crises. He discusses the intersection of suffering and faith, emphasizing that doubt can spur deeper spiritual growth. Tyler explores how personal struggles relate to faith crises, advocating for empathy and understanding within church communities. He highlights the importance of inclusivity, especially for marginalized voices, fostering a supportive environment where belonging can thrive, even amidst pain.
Tyler Johnson emphasizes that doubt and uncertainty in faith are natural, serving as catalysts for deeper growth and integrity.
The conversation highlights the importance of listening and empathy, particularly when engaging with those facing personal and spiritual crises.
Tyler advocates for creating inclusive spaces within faith communities, recognizing the emotional responsibilities of individuals towards those experiencing suffering.
Deep dives
Integration of Medicine and Faith
The experience of being an oncologist profoundly influences one's understanding of faith and suffering. Tyler Johnson explains that working with terminally ill patients often reveals life's fundamental questions about purpose and priorities. This connection fosters a recognition of the spiritual and existential dimensions of healthcare, emphasizing the need to listen, validate, and empathize with those facing personal crises. Such a perspective highlights how doubt and uncertainty can coexist with faith, serving as catalysts for deeper growth and integrity.
The Nature of Suffering and Divine Response
Tyler discusses the complex relationship between suffering and divine oversight, particularly in the context of cancer and other indiscriminate hardships. He suggests that rather than questioning why suffering occurs, individuals should focus on how God interacts with and responds to that suffering. Lehi's teachings in 2 Nephi emphasize the necessary existence of opposition in life, leading to valuable insights about the nature of choice and agency within a framework of divine love. This understanding transforms the conversation about suffering from one of blame to one of partnership and support.
Dignity in Faith Crises
The discussion emphasizes the need to approach faith crises with dignity and recognition of the inherent struggles individuals face. Instead of framing doubt as a flaw or a sickness, there is a call to acknowledge the validity of questions and struggles as part of the human experience. Tyler Johnson advocates for understanding that many people experience faith challenges as a sincere desire to seek truth and navigate their personal integrity. By encouraging empathy and understanding, the conversation sheds light on the broader issues surrounding belonging and community within faith spaces.
The Complexity of Belief and Fidelity
Tyler illustrates the distinction between certainty in belief and commitment to religious traditions, arguing that they do not always need to converge. He points out that many individuals may experience fluctuations in belief while maintaining fidelity to their faith community. This complexity fosters a deeper dialogue around the ethics of belief, emphasizing that both doubt and faith can coexist and inform one's actions. The recognition of doubt as a natural part of the faith journey encourages individuals to engage authentically, acting in accordance with values even amidst uncertainty.
Community, Love, and Pain Management
The discussion culminates in recognizing the ethical and emotional responsibilities of individuals within faith communities, particularly regarding those who feel marginalized or uncomfortable. Tyler highlights the importance of authentically engaging with the pain of others and being willing to create inclusive spaces for those struggling with their faith. He argues that experiencing and understanding pain can empower individuals to be compassionate healers and advocates within their communities. This empathetic approach fosters a collective spirituality that values inclusiveness, love, and moral integrity.
Tyler Johnson is intimately familiar with suffering. He’s an oncologist who has sat with countless people in some of the most difficult moments of their lives, and in the final moments before their deaths. He’s been there as people have received life-changing news, and as they’ve grappled with their deepest questions: “What has my life meant? What should I prioritize if my time is limited? Have I given enough attention to what truly matters?”
It’s that perspective that Tyler brings to the project we brought him on to talk about: a new book, published by Deseret Book, called When Church is Hard. In addition to his work as an oncologist, Tyler has been a bishop who has worked with many who have found their experience at church, for any of a number of reasons, deeply hard. And in a way that we feel like he is uniquely qualified to do, Tyler has approached both of these situations with the type of response they both call for: listening, validation, empathy, and humbly-offered insight.
In our conversation with him, we explored how doubt and uncertainty, rather than being a flaw or something to "fix," can be a natural part of faith that leads to deeper growth and integrity. We also explored the parallels between the existential questions his patients face and those that arise during faith crises —and how both might invite us to re-evaluate priorities in a way we couldn’t otherwise. And finally, we looked at what belonging looks like, on both sides, when someone is sitting in pain and perplexity.
For anyone who is feeling like this part of their faith journey is just hard, or has a loved one feeling this way, we really think this conversation is for you. Tyler’s a deeply thoughtful and empathetic person, and we loved talking with him.
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