The Weight

A reality that the Church has to continue to grapple with is the way that it has inflicted damage upon individual lives in manners that are unfaithful to its calling. Such essential practices of Christianity, such as prayer and the Eucharist, are subject to being tainted by toxic intentions of participants. Responding to this reality can produce two extremes; ignorance and rejection of the Church’s issues out of refusal to accept imperfection or an outright rejection of an institution that is perceived to be irredeemable. How can the Church come to terms with harm inflicted while also recognizing the beauty that remains within God’s gifts of Christian practice?In this episode, Chris and Eddie are joined by Lauren F. Winner, an Episcopal priest, historian, and scholar of religion who teaches at Duke Divinity School. Lauren is the author of the book “The Dangers of Christian Practice: On Wayward Gifts, Characteristic Damage, and Sin.” In her work and in this conversation, Winner challenges the assumption that the church possesses a set of immaculate practices that will definitionally train Christians in virtue. She reflects on examples of history where practice failed to produce virtue and what should be learned as the Church pursues a more faithful future.Resources:Get to know Rev. Dr. Lauren Winner:https://divinity.duke.edu/faculty/lauren-winnerCheck out Rev. Dr. Winner’s books on Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/Lauren-F.-Winner/e/B001K892MS%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share

God is not afraid of our exhaustion, grief, and pain. Honest prayers of lament draw us into deeper connection with God and help us cultivate a greater awareness of our needs. As a culture, however, we have withdrawn into numbing habits of distraction. Even the Church often serves as a place of escape rather than a comfortable place to bring our burdens. Where does God meet us in the empty space of deep sorrow and pain? How can we give ourselves more permission to grieve in our personal prayers?In this episode, Chris and Eddie are joined by Tish Harrison Warren, author of Prayer in the Night. When Warren found herself at a place filled with too many questions to bear, she began to write about the empty space of night and how we can present the weariness of our souls to God. Warren discusses prayer as communion with the presence of God, a practice that shapes who we are, how we believe, and our vision of the world. We hope this episode moves you toward peace and comfort as Warren illustrates ways to draw near to God in the midst of uncertainty and fear. Follow Tish Warren on the web:https://tishharrisonwarren.com Check out Tish Warren’s book “Prayer in the Night” here:https://tishharrisonwarren.com/prayer-in-the-night Follow Tish Warren on social media:https://www.facebook.com/TishHarrisonWarrenAuthor https://www.instagram.com/tishharrisonwarren/ https://twitter.com/Tish_H_Warren 

The language surrounding mental health often limits the fullness of each complex human experience. Stigma, stereotypes, and media representations perpetuate one-dimensional portraits of what it means to live with a mental illness. Additionally, Christians tend to view sadness and joy in a narrow manner, when the Bible speaks to a vast array of human emotions we all experience. With all of this in mind, how can we speak about mental health in a more liberating and comprehensive way?In this episode, Chris and Eddie speak to John Swinton, author of “Finding Jesus in the Storm: The Spiritual Lives of Christians with Mental Health Challenges.” A registered mental health nurse, Swinton has listened to the multi-layered experiences of Christians who deal mainly with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression. Swinton maps out what it looks like to redefine health and healing in the context of connection, he speaks to the unique resources and community that the church can offer, and he addresses the sense of abandonment that Christians feel, especially when dealing with depression. We hope that this episode gives you permission to move through your story with freedom and greater imagination.Check out John Swinton’s book “Finding Jesus in the Storm” hereFollow John Swinton on Twitter:https://twitter.com/johnswintonabdn 

At some point, we will all face some sort of challenge with our mental health. Just as changes in our bodies require deep examination, changes in our thought patterns, mood, and behaviors deserve adequate attention and care. However, many within religious communities and communities of color suffer in silence, believing that their mental health struggles indicate weakness or defective faith. How can the Church foster an open dialogue that welcomes pain, trauma, and suffering instead of pushing these raw human experiences away?In this episode, Chris and Eddie talk to Dr. Monica Coleman, professor of African Studies at the University of Delaware and ordained elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Monica’s memoir “Bipolar Faith: A Black Woman’s Journey with Depression and Faith” addresses the intersections of mental illness, faith, race, and family trauma. She speaks to her rejection of and return to God, how losing her faith was a critical step to experiencing God in a brand new way, and the impact of loving friendships throughout her highs and lows. Throughout this conversation, we pray you find hope in the loyalty of God and find grace for your own story.Resources:Follow Monica Coleman on the web:https://monicaacoleman.com Check out Monica Coleman’s book “Bipolar Faith” hereFollow Monica Coleman on social media:https://www.facebook.com/revdrmonica https://www.instagram.com/revdrmonica/ https://twitter.com/revdrmonica 

According to a Gallup poll released in March of 2021, less than half of Americans belong to a church, mosque, or synagogue. The politicization of evangelical Christianity has resulted in utter disillusionment, specifically among young Christians who were once eagerly committed to the ideals of the faith. Christians and non-Christians alike are longing for truth and openness in conversation within the church, as well as a sense of connection rooted in hope, grace, and love.In this episode, Chris and Eddie are joined by Dr. Russell Moore, the President of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention. Moore’s recent article “Losing Our Religion” addresses the ways many churches do not seem to believe what they teach and the reasons many have chosen to disaffiliate from the church. Moore speaks of the ways in which he was disillusioned as a fifteen year old by Bible Belt Christianity, his journey back through fear to a genuine faith, and his courage to stand for mercy and justice in the public square. Throughout this conversation and in his work, Moore poses a hopeful vision for the future of the church rooted in the promises of Jesus rather than cultural agendas.ResourcesFollow Russell Moore on the web:https://www.russellmoore.com Read Russell Moore’s article “Losing Our Religion” hereCheck out Russell Moore’s books here:https://www.russellmoore.com/books/ Follow Russell Moore on social media:https://www.facebook.com/russellmoore https://twitter.com/drmoore https://www.instagram.com/russellmoore/ 

There comes a time in each child’s life when their role begins to shift in relation to their parents. Many daughters expand their definition of mothering when caring for their own mothers, as they learn to navigate the tension of reincorporating a loved one into a new familial environment. When forced to confront the realities of motherhood in a different light, these daughters and mothers need time for introspection to engage with the expansiveness of motherhood’s demands and joys.Beth Ann Fennelly, Poet Laureate of Mississippi, has paid careful attention to the ways the pandemic has affected her independent mother, beyond the virus itself. She joins Eddie and Chris to talk about the hard inner work we have to do to understand our relationships with our families, the ways that generations of parents relate to one another, the disciplines that help us engage with our deep questions and doubts, and what parenting teaches us about being human.ResourcesFollow Beth Ann Fennelly on the web:https://www.bethannfennelly.com Check out Beth Ann’s books here:https://www.bethannfennelly.com/books Read Beth Ann’s article in the Washington Post here:https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/pandemic-isolation-and-the-elderly/2020/12/11/91669cea-33e7-11eb-a997-1f4c53d2a747_story.html Read A Quiet Incarnation, a piece Beth Ann wrote about her mother-in-law, here:https://magazine.nd.edu/stories/a-quiet-incarnation/ 

Most of our culture’s conversations about birth revolve around safety and legality. The cultural expectations surrounding birth negate a wide range of experiences that lead up to the birthing process and the virtues that birth requires of women. Though the nuances of pregnancy and birth are more commonly discussed in the medical field than in Church circles, all of a woman’s experiences over the course of her life contribute to the way she delivers her baby. With this in mind, how can we have better conversations that connect birth and the virtues?In this episode, Chris and Eddie talk to Julie Dotterweich Gunby, a certified nurse midwife who has delivered over 1,000 babies. Julie describes the vocation of midwifery as a way of positioning oneself to help women articulate what it means for them to birth well. She speaks to the constraints that women face when sharing their needs and desires in the midst of preparing for mothering, and she shares the importance of creating space for women to reflect upon generations of mothers who came before them. Julie encourages mothers and future mothers that they can birth with greatness of soul no matter the circumstances.ResourcesTo see how birth ethics are often framed in terms of autonomy and individualism rather than virtue, click here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2667293/ Facing the uncertainty of birth requires both personal and societal virtue. For a summary of some of the complex race, class, and socioeconomic issues plaguing America’s birth outcomes, click here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2667293/ Check out Birthing From Within, a classic book that does better than most to help women and families prepare for the demands of giving birth wellFollow Julie Gunby on social media:https://twitter.com/JulieGunby 

The Church needs to be a place where it is safe to share vulnerable stories, and this includes engaging the struggle of infertility. Unfortunately, many people who face this struggle have found shallow remedies or offensive expectations within communities of faith. How can we cultivate a more caring, helpful engagement with topics of motherhood that is inclusive of everyone’s experience, including those who struggle with infertility?Elizabeth Hagan speaks to these issues from the perspective of a pastor, but also as one who struggled with infertility, miscarriage, and adoption loss for eight years. Along with 15 years of pastoral service as ordained minister, Hagan is the author of “Birthed,” a memoir that tells the story of her struggle. She also wrote the upcoming book “Brave Church: Tackling Tough Topics Together,” a guide on how to foster conversations about challenging topics. Hagan shares her story with us and gives us a clearer understanding of the layers of grief that come with infertility that most do not recognize. Specifically, she speaks about ways that communities of faith can become some of the least safe places for people to deal with the struggle. Even so, Hagan also shines a light on how God’s grace can guide people through the struggle and how the desires we have to create families are God-given and should not be given up on. This conversation is purposed to inspire us all toward a more loving way of coming alongside those who struggle with this weighty topic of birth and motherhood.Resources:Follow Elizabeth on the web: https://elizabethhagan.com/Read articles authored by Elizabeth on weighty topics: https://elizabethhagan.com/best-of/Read her article in The Christian Century about her journey with infertility: https://www.christiancentury.org/blogs/archive/2016-09/waiting-eight-years-be-motherFollow Elizabeth on social media: https://www.facebook.com/revelizabethhagan/https://www.instagram.com/elizabethhagan/https://twitter.com/elizabethagan 

In this Holy Week episode, Chris and Eddie are joined by Kavin Rowe, author of Christianity’s Surprise: A Sure and Certain Hope. After 20 years of scriptural immersion as the George Washington Ivey Distinguished Professor of New Testament at Duke Divinity School, Rowe began to discern the growing significance of Christianity’s groundbreaking impact when it first entered the world. His book evokes the lost sense of the explosive power at the heart of Christian story, detailing the new hope and fresh vision that brushes up against the familiarity of scripture. Christianity’s Surprise draws readers closer to an understanding of Christianity as a gift from God, a never-ending mystery filled with a robust, joyful sense of surprise.Rowe discusses the missing sense of imagination in American Christianity, how God’s promises for the future reach into the present, the interconnectedness of humanity, and how Christian institutions have evolved over time. Rowe’s insight in this conversation offers encouragement to all who need hope and who are longing to rediscover the heart of Christianity. It ushers in a refreshing perspective on the life-giving power of hope.Check out Kavin Rowe’s book Christianity’s Surprise here:https://www.abingdonpress.com/product/9781791008208/ Learn more about Kavin Rowe here:https://divinity.duke.edu/faculty/c-kavin-rowe 

Chris is joined by contemporary artist Makoto Fujimura, author of Art + Faith: A Theology of Making. His book explores the role of creativity in the spiritual life, and it draws upon quiet disciplines such as awareness and waiting. The meditative space that Fujimura creates for prayer and praise breaks open new avenues to seek the never-ending depths of God’s beauty and grace. Sophisticated and intellectual, Fujimura’s art has been praised as a vehicle for hope, healing, redemption, and refuge.Fujimura explains how the power, mystery, and depth of art drive us to ask deeper questions.He introduces his spiritual discipline of “slow art,” speaks to the nuances of tradition, and ponders the ways art can liberate us in our cultural context. Fujimura gives us space to identify where we meet Jesus in both making and consuming. This conversation speaks to the healing gift of art as culture care, rather than a commodity.Follow Makoto Fujimura on the web:https://makotofujimura.com Check out Makoto Fujimura’s book Art and Faith: A Theology of Making here:https://culturecarecreative.com Learn more about Makoto Fujimura’s art here:https://www.waterfall-gallery.com/makoto-fujimura Read Makoto Fujimura’s biography here:https://imagejournal.org/artist/makoto-fujimura/ Follow Mako on social media:https://www.facebook.com/makotofujimuraart www.instagram.com/iamfujimura https://twitter.com/iamfujimura