Krista Tippett, a Peabody Award-winning broadcaster and bestselling author, shares insights from her 20 years of interviewing on navigating the complexities of faith and love. She discusses embracing open questions and the importance of self-awareness in relationships. Tippett emphasizes the value of generative agency, especially in turbulent times, and the need to balance harsh realities with compassion and hope. Her reflections encourage listeners to engage with uncertainty while staying connected with their core values.
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From Diplomacy to Divinity
Krista Tippett's journey from the Foreign Service in Cold War Berlin to focusing on the human condition began with observing people's lives.
Despite political divisions, human dignity and intimacy existed on both sides of the Berlin Wall, leading her to divinity school.
insights INSIGHT
Theology's Focus
Theology focuses on the human condition and how to live a better life, rather than just on the existence of God.
Western culture often overlooks failure, but religious traditions view it as an opportunity for growth and learning.
insights INSIGHT
The Many Faces of Love
Love is not just romantic; it encompasses friendships, familial love, and agape, which involves action more than feeling.
True love is shown in navigating differences and maintaining relationships even when challenging, unlike the hatred often displayed in public discourse.
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In 'Speaking of Faith,' Krista Tippett chronicles her spiritual journey from her Oklahoma childhood to her studies at Yale Divinity School. The book reflects her experiences as a journalist, diplomat, and host of the public radio program 'Speaking of Faith' (later renamed 'On Being'). Tippett engages in deep conversations with figures like Elie Wiesel, Karen Armstrong, and Thich Nhat Hanh to explore complex subjects such as justice, science, fundamentalism, evil, love, and mystery within the context of spirituality. The book emphasizes the importance of inter-faith dialogue, the complexity of faith, and the need for a new 'language of virtue' that avoids partisan rhetoric and instead focuses on nourishing, edifying, and redemptive stories[1][3][5].
Einstein's God
Conversations About Science and the Human Spirit
Krista Tippett
This book is a compilation of interviews from Krista Tippett's public radio program, now known as *On Being*. It delves into the relationship between science and the human spirit, featuring conversations with notable figures such as Freeman Dyson, Paul Davies, Parker Palmer, and Andrew Solomon. Tippett aims to dispel the myth of a clash between science and religion, highlighting the complexities and intersections between these realms. The book explores themes of free will, the nature of reality, and the role of mathematics in understanding the universe, all while maintaining a nuanced and respectful dialogue between different perspectives.
How We Live Is How We Die
Pema Chödrön
Becoming wise
An Inquiry into the Mystery and Art of Living
Krista Tippett
Krista Tippett's "Becoming Wise" explores the art and mystery of living a meaningful life. It delves into the importance of cultivating attention and deep listening, drawing on Tippett's own experiences and conversations with diverse individuals. The book emphasizes the significance of engaging with the spiritual dimensions of life and finding wisdom amidst complexity. It challenges readers to confront their own limitations and embrace the ongoing process of learning and growth. Ultimately, "Becoming Wise" offers a path toward cultivating inner peace and a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us.
The Nature and Destiny of Man
Reinhold Niebuhr
In *The Nature and Destiny of Man*, Reinhold Niebuhr presents a comprehensive Christian interpretation of human existence, focusing on the dual aspects of human nature: finitude and freedom. The book, based on his 1939 Gifford Lectures, challenges Western civilization to understand its roots in biblical faith, particularly the Hebraic tradition. It is considered one of the most important works of twentieth-century thought, offering profound insights into human nature, history, and the end of history.
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The host of On Being shares lessons learned from 20 years of interviews, including: how to live with open questions, counterprogramming against your negativity bias, and getting over the God question.
Krista Tippett is a Peabody Award-winning broadcaster, a National Humanities Medalist, and a New York Times bestselling author. She grew up in a small town in Oklahoma, attended Brown University, and became a journalist and diplomat in Cold War Berlin. After studying theology at Yale Divinity School in the early 1990s, Tippett launched Speaking of Faith — later On Being — as a weekly national public radio show in 2003. She has published three books: Becoming Wise: An Inquiry into the Mystery and Art of Living; Einstein’s God, drawn from her interviews at the intersection of science, medicine, and spiritual inquiry; and Speaking of Faith, a memoir of religion in our time.
In this episode we talk about:
Getting over the God question when it comes to contemplating religion
Why Western culture has such a dearth of ways to talk about love
Why she thinks the core of relationships is not about agreeing but about navigating differences
Tuning into our generative agency
Her definition of a wise life as distinct from a knowledgeable or accomplished on
Why she believes it is as important to know what you love as it is to know what you hate
Learning to love big open questions instead of rushing to answers
Why the things we get paid to do may not define whether we're living a worthy life
And getting our intentions straight and then trying not to tie them too tightly to our goals
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