Ep 4: How a Steady Diet of Calamity and Fear Forms Us
On this week's episode Loren recounts the story of a deep conversation he had with a person who leans toward Christian Nationalism (without labeling their beliefs as such). Together we explore the importance of learning to deeply listen to those whose beliefs are different from our own, and the surprises we may find as we try on someone else's lens for a bit.
As we work our way through this controversial and divisive election season, on the heels of wars (and rumors of wars), as many in our country still reel from a series of natural disasters, and conspiracy theories are being heard from the highest offices in the land down to our very own humble social media feeds, this conversation is a reminder of the spiritual, emotional, and intellectual (mal)formation that happens to us when we consume a steady diet of calamity and fear. We actually become less resilient and adaptable to change, and we tend to cling to whoever or whatever promises to make our fear subside. This tendency is in all humans, regardless of circumstance, background, or political beliefs.
Today we explore how we might find God's gold in the midst of all of this.