Liz Charlotte Grant: Seeking God after Losing Faith in the Bible
Feb 11, 2025
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Award-winning essayist Liz Charlotte Grant, author of "Knock at the Sky," discusses her journey of faith after losing trust in biblical inerrancy. She delves into the complexities of interpreting Genesis, advocating for a fresh, imaginative approach to scripture. Liz emphasizes the importance of understanding cultural contexts and the emotional depth within biblical narratives. She also addresses moral dilemmas in biblical stories, particularly Abraham's, and highlights the necessity of spiritual autonomy and community in navigating faith.
Liz Charlotte Grant encourages reading the Bible with an open mind, inspired by Jewish Midrash, to uncover deeper meanings.
The discussion emphasizes the personal journey of faith, highlighting the struggles of reconciling beliefs shaped by strict evangelical backgrounds.
Deep dives
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Personal Experiences with Cultural Milestones
The conversation highlights the significance of cultural milestones, such as quinceañeras, in the journey into adulthood. One participant shares their excitement in planning a memorable celebration for their daughter, incorporating her biological heritage and traditions into the event. This attention to cultural significance emphasizes the importance of being intentional in recognizing and honoring such milestones. The participants reflect on how these experiences can foster deeper connections and understanding within families and communities.
A Journey of Faith and Doubt
The discussion explores the complexities of faith and the journey of reconciling one's beliefs, particularly within a Christian context. The featured guest recounts her upbringing in a strict evangelical environment and how her educational experiences prompted her to question the foundational elements of her faith. This journey includes grappling with concepts like biblical inerrancy and the challenge of maintaining belief amid changing perspectives. Ultimately, the guest's experiences illustrate the nuanced and deeply personal nature of faith exploration.
Engaging with Scripture Through New Lenses
The podcast emphasizes the importance of reading scripture with an open and imaginative approach, drawing upon Jewish Midrash as a model for interpretation. This method encourages readers to explore the context and underlying themes within biblical narratives without feeling restricted by traditional interpretations. The conversation suggests that wrestling with challenging texts is an essential part of spiritual growth and allows for a deeper understanding of God. This process of engagement can lead to personal healing and reshape one's relationship with scripture.
Essayist Liz Charlotte seeks to “read life” into the Bible, a text long limited by rigid evangelical notions of biblical inerrancy. In her book Knock at the Sky: Seeking God in Genesis after Losing Faith in the Bible, rshe draws on a broad range of sources to unpack the first 32 chapters of Genesis in a remarkably fresh way.
Liz Charlotte Grantis an award-winning writer whose work has been published in The Revealer, Sojourners, Brevity, Christian Century, Christianity Today, Hippocampus, Religion News Service, US Catholic, Huffington Post, and elsewhere. Her essays have twice won a Jacques Maritain Nonfiction Prize. She also writes The Empathy List, a popular newsletter that has been nominated for a Webby two years running and garnered an honorable mention from the Associated Church Press Awards in 2023. Knock at the Sky: Seeking God in Genesis after Losing Faith in the Bible is her first book.