Religion on the Mind Making Peace with Mortality, Or “Dying, Fast and Slow” (#371)
Jan 5, 2026
Kristen Tideman, a writer and organizer in the realm of theology, opens up about her recent complex diagnosis and its impact on her as a new mom. She delves into the concept of 'dying fast and slow,' contrasting sudden illnesses with aging. They explore the authenticity of religious art versus secular expressions, and the cultural avoidance of grief. Kristen emphasizes how limitations can be liberating, drawing on existential therapy, music, and personal anecdotes to find meaning in life amidst uncertainty.
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Diagnosis In The Early Weeks Of Motherhood
- Kristen Tideman recounts receiving a scary MS-related diagnosis shortly after becoming a new mother and being admitted for IV steroids.
- She describes the sudden, visceral confrontation with finitude while holding her three-month-old in the ER.
A Writer's Public Reckoning With Mortality
- Kristen references Tatiana Schlossberg's New Yorker essay about a terminal leukemia diagnosis discovered at childbirth as deeply affecting her.
- The essay intensified Kristen's reflection on mortality and how we avoid thinking about death.
Limits Clarify Meaningful Choices
- Receiving a diagnosis can forcefully map previously invisible limitations and bring existential clarity.
- Dan connects that clarity to existential therapy's work of helping people build meaningful lives within known limits.
