Re-Consecrate Everything (feat. Barbara Brown Taylor)
Mar 3, 2023
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Barbara Brown Taylor returns for a conversation with Brian McLaren about reconsecrating our lives spiritually and ecologically. They discuss leaving religion, finding harmony, understanding beliefs and passions, recycling biblical stories, and the importance of reconsecrating everything as holy and spiritual.
Love is the transformative force that can turn enemies into friends.
The work of re-consecration starts within ourselves, acknowledging and learning from what needs redemption.
Deep dives
Recognizing the Myth of Throwing Things Away
Environmental activist Annie Leonard points out the fallacy of the belief that we can simply throw things away. This idea has shaped a culture of domination and exploitation, where we can disregard or discard anything we don't like. However, history and our actions cannot be erased, and we carry their consequences. Dr. King also understood that we cannot get rid of our enemies through hatred or violence. Love is the transformative force that can turn enemies into friends.
The Importance of Recycling and Redemption
The realization that nothing can truly be thrown away highlights the significance of everything. Every blade of grass, every drop of water, and every object holds value and has a purpose. Before the human impact of domination and extraction, there was no concept of waste. Every element of nature was interconnected and provided nourishment for other beings. Christianity, with all its flaws, continues to influence society and individuals whether they choose to stay part of it or not. It calls for a process of recycling and redemption, giving value and making holy what has been desecrated.
Challenging Dualities and Recreating Meaning
The false dichotomy between the sacred and the secular is debunked, as both can hold holiness or be desecrated. The goal is to restore reverence and creativity to all dimensions of life, to recognize the divine in business, politics, entertainment, education, science, and religion. The work of re-consecration starts within ourselves, acknowledging and learning from what needs redemption. Collaboration among different traditions and institutions is essential for a civilization-wide renewal, preparing us to survive and thrive in an interconnected world.
Can Christianity inspire us to focus on what kind of human we want to be—instead of trying to prove we’re right?
In this episode, Barbara Brown Taylor returns to the show for a continuing conversation about the necessary and profound work of reconsecrating our lives—spiritually and ecologically. As Brian explains, “You can leave Christianity, but Christianity won’t leave you. Christianity must be recycled, redeemed, and reconsecrated to be transformed.”
Resources:
The transcript for this episode can be found here.
Throughout this season, as questions or thoughts arise, we'd love to hear from you. You can contact us by leaving a voicemail or emailing us at podcasts@cac.org
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