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Suffering, Solidarity, and Ritual (w/ Susan Bigelow Reynolds)

🕑 Added 2023-03-20 15:03:16 +0000 UTC

Comments

Alex Macmillan

Loved the episode. As someone flirting with returning to the church, these conversations make that possibility more real for me. I'm curious how you came to navigate the land mines in becoming catholic and returning to the church. My biggest hesitation on returning to the church is the very real probability that in trying to find a church home I will have to wade through all the negative, reactionary aspects. How do you carve out a space to practice your faith without exposing yourself to those negative qualities of reaction, bigotry, etc?

Char Truce

Just to give an opposite point of view, this seemed a little too throwback and promoting of liberation theology which clearly failed. Religion is used to further the agenda of the right wing. Women have lost their rights to bodily autonomy thanks to Catholics and Evangelicals and maybe it's not a big deal to some men, go figure.

Mark K

In the Philippines they take the Via Crucis somewhat more seriously: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crucifixion_in_the_Philippines I was raised Catholic but am nonpracticing. My daughter has been singing in a Catholic choir recently and when I attend mass with her I want to love it. Then the pastor gives his homily and my eyes roll. I feel if it were just ritual and community without any talk about what “we believe” it would be much easier for me. My two cents. Thanks for this episode, look forward to the next one.

Caroline Cleaves

Chiming in as yet one more former Catholic who found this deeply moving.

Vincent

As a liberal Catholic teaching at a Jesuit uni, these conversations are greatly appreciated!

Avi Schwartz

Ok but for real, can we get some religious Jewish content on the pod?

Scot Sedley

I'm someone who has identified as a Christian since my teens and have bounced back and forth between Catholic Churches (how I was raised) and Protestant denominations. Even as I identify as Christian, I've been jaded and disillusioned by the abuse scandals of the Catholic Church and the toxicity of the white evangelical community. For me this episode was like water in the desert. Thanks so much for this episode.

Adam Schwartz

If this is what Matt is doing for lent, I can’t wait to see what Sam does for Rosh Hashannah!

ABCD1234

I feel almost Catholic again. What a lovely conversation.

Nora

I was also so touched by this discussion! It made me think about the use of retelling the Book of Esther for Purim as a way for a synagogue to define contemporary heroes and enemies with humor and earnestness. And often used a call to action for the community through fundraising and/or other community action ♥️

Quinn Brunk

A beautiful conversation that really touched this Protestant’s heart. I especially loved Susan’s line that “Ritual is an excuse to perform the deepest things we believe.” I have been looking for a way to describe my feelings around the tradition and rituals of Christianity for awhile and this perfectly captures it. Excellent stuff.

Know Your Enemy

Me tearing up and having to blow my nose was edited out, thankfully. Glad it resonated with you (Matt)

Jacob Schmidt

The way of the cross discussion moved me to tears, in part because it reminded me of my old church in Spokane. Don't tell Sam, but this podcast may just make me a Christian again.

Peter Hovde

Great episode, saying this as someone who does not have this kind of tradition, and so does have to "grieve from scratch," sort of. See also Durkheim's argument that it is the ritual community of Catholicism, rather than doctrine, which explains the lower frequency of suicide among Catholics. Of course, the kind of solidarity will depend heavily on the broader context, but Prof. Bigelow Reynolds clearly has a deep understanding of that for the study parish.