Queer Theology Queer Theology / Brian G. Murphy & Shannon T.L. Kearns

In this conversation we explore the topic of prayer from our different perspectives as an atheist and an ordained Catholic priest. We discuss what prayer is and why people pray, as well as the need for alternatives to prayer. We also got 13 alternatives to prayer that you can put into your spiritual practice today (hint- you might already be doing some of them!). The important thing here is the intentionality. And sometimes experimentation in finding a prayer practice that works for each individual can be a really rewarding way to deepen your faith and prayer practice. 
 
Takeaways

Prayer is a way to connect with something bigger than ourselves and can take many forms.
There are various reasons why someone might need or want alternatives to prayer, such as feeling disconnected from a previous prayer tradition or feeling like their current prayer practice has become stale.
Experimenting with different prayer alternatives can help individuals find a practice that resonates with them and brings them a sense of connection and peace.
Intentionality and consistency are key in developing a prayer practice, and it’s important to give new practices time to develop and evolve.
Changing up prayer practices can lead to new insights and experiences, and it’s beneficial to try different approaches to prayer, even if you already have a prayer practice that works for you.

 
Chapters
(09:54) Reasons for Seeking Alternatives to Prayer
(35:38) Experimenting with Prayer Practices
 
Resources:

Rituals for Resistance & Resilience on demand workshop
Join Spiritual Study Hall to get access to all QueerTheology resources
Join the  Sanctuary Collective Community

If you want to support the Patreon and help keep the podcast up and running, you can learn more and pledge your support at patreon.com/queertheology.
EPISODE TRANSCRIPT


The post 13 Alternatives to Prayer appeared first on Queer Theology.

Y’all know we love asking questions. So in this episode we’re gonna to get into the importance of asking questions to deepen one’s faith. That might seem counterintuitive to what we’ve been taught because so much of conservative religious upbringing is to NOT ask questions. We explain how asking questions is crucial because it helps individuals clarify what is important to them and what they want to achieve. We also talk about one of our favorite practices (journaling!) and we have 7 questions you can ask yourself right now to start deepening your faith.
 
Takeaways

Asking questions is an important part of deepening one’s faith and clarifying what is important to them.
Writing down or speaking out loud one’s thoughts and beliefs can help in gaining clarity and making commitments.
Journaling is a powerful tool for self-reflection and tracking personal growth.
The seven questions discussed in the episode can be used to deepen one’s faith and explore different aspects of spirituality.Feeling close to God or the sacred is a personal and unique experience, and it’s important to reflect on specific moments, details, and emotions associated with those experiences.
Understanding what closeness means to you and what aspects of those experiences were meaningful can help guide your spiritual journey and bring depth to your faith life.
Curiosity plays a crucial role in deepening your religious tradition. Being curious about theological tenets, practices, or learning more about specific aspects can keep you engaged and open to growth.
Identifying what you want more of in your faith life requires specificity and clarity. Breaking down your desires into actionable steps and defining when and how you will engage in those practices is essential.
Recognizing and addressing barriers that have kept you from deepening your faith is crucial. This may involve external factors, such as lack of access or community, as well as internal obstacles, such as fear or uncertainty.
Taking one specific action step at a time can move you closer to your spiritual goals. Scheduling and planning these steps, even in the face of resistance or uncertainty, increases the likelihood of follow-through.
Being part of a supportive community and seeking accountability can provide encouragement and guidance in your spiritual journe

 
Chapters
(04:21) The Power of Journaling for Self-Reflection
(08:50) Question: When Have You Felt Closest to God?
(15:13) Question: Moments of Wanting to Deepen Your Faith
(20:51) Question: Continuing the Journey of Deepening Your Faith
(25:24) Reflecting on Moments of Closeness to God
(32:05) Cultivating Curiosity in Religious Traditions
(35:06) Identifying Desires for a Deeper Faith Life
(37:49) The Value of Community and Accountability in Spiritual Growth
 
Resources:

Join Spiritual Study Hall to get access to all QueerTheology resources
Join the  Sanctuary Collective Community

If you want to support the Patreon and help keep the podcast up and running, you can learn more and pledge your support at patreon.com/queertheology.
 
EPISODE TRANSCRIPT


The post 7 Questions to Deepen Your Faith appeared first on Queer Theology.

In this episode, we get into our ever evolving relationship with the Bible. We reflect on our early experiences with the Bible as children, including the simplified and often traumatizing stories we were taught. As we grew older, both of us felt pressure to read the Bible regularly and experienced a ton of guilt when we didn’t meet those expectations. Brian shares how his discovery of his queerness led him to search for inclusion in the Bible, while Shannon explores his journey of reading the Bible academically and finding new meaning through artistic interpretation. We also discuss the importance of understanding the historical and cultural context of the Bible and the importance of knowing history to help make sense of faith.
 
Takeaways

Early experiences with the Bible can be simplified and traumatizing, leading to a need for reevaluation and reinterpretation.
Feeling guilty for not reading the Bible regularly is common, but it’s important to find a personal approach that feels authentic.
Exploring the Bible academically and artistically can provide new perspectives and meaning.
Understanding the historical and cultural context of the Bible is crucial for interpretation and avoiding misinterpretation. Having a grounding library of foundational documents provides a point of reference and a source of inspiration.
Knowing our history helps us understand how people have made sense of faith and navigate big questions.
Living with tensions and making decisions can be challenging, but community support and communal discernment can provide guidance.
Engaging in discussions and learning from diverse perspectives can expand our minds and lead to personal growth.

 
Chapters
(00:27) Early relationship with the Bible  
(04:07) Searching for inclusion  
(05:32) Viewing the Bible as a creative story  
(06:02) Source material for creative works  
(06:30) Reading the Bible from a Jewish perspective  
(07:00) Different interpretations of the Bible  
(09:21) Navigating Christian and Jewish perspectives  
(10:48) Transitioning and reimagining the Bible  
(13:23) Memorizing Bible verses and devotionals  
(14:49) Engaging with the Bible academically  
(16:14) Finding new meaning through artistic interpretation  
(24:27) The power of texts and foundational documents  
(30:07) Knowing history and making sense of faith  
(34:20) Living with tensions and making decisions  
(44:10) The importance of community and communal discernment
 
Resources:

Learn more and sign up for the workshop, From Affirmation to Liberation at queertheology.com/class 
Join the  Sanctuary Collective Community

If you want to support the Patreon and help keep the podcast up and running, you can learn more and pledge your support at patreon.com/queertheology.
 
EPISODE TRANSCRIPT


The post The Good, The Bad, The Ugly of The Bible appeared first on Queer Theology.

Sometimes, it’s really empowering to look back on where we came from. With Fr. Shay’s upcoming lecture on the history of Queer theology, we wanted to dive into this a bit for this episode. It is so important for us to know our queer history, and we share our personal experiences with learning about it. How it shaped us then and how it continues to shape us now! We really want to highlight the significance of understanding the legacy and movements that queer people have been a part of throughout history. Because you are part of that, you will continue with what has been started. 
 
Takeaways

Knowing queer history helps situate individuals within a larger community and movement.
Learning about queer history provides a sense of belonging and inspiration.
Understanding the co-opting of queer stories by straight and cis individuals is important in recognizing the erasure and distortion of queer experiences.
Drawing from past activism and movements can inform current efforts for LGBTQ+ rights and inclusion.

 
Chapters
(00:31) The Importance of Knowing Queer History
(06:48) Personal Experiences with Queer History
(13:54) Learning from Queer Movements and Organizations
(23:52) Learning from Past Activism
(28:30) The Queer Theology Movement
(31:01) Upcoming Course on Queer Theology
 
Resources:

Learn more and sign up for the workshop, From Affirmation to Liberation at queertheology.com/class 
Join the  Sanctuary Collective Community

If you want to support the Patreon and help keep the podcast up and running, you can learn more and pledge your support at patreon.com/queertheology.
 
EPISODE TRANSCRIPT


The post We Come From Fighters appeared first on Queer Theology.

If there is one question we get alot it’s: where to find an LGBTQ+ Affirming translation of the Bible? Like, we get this question ALOT alot. So we’re going to get into it on this week’s episode! If you are deconstructing or seeking a more expansive view of God, it can lead you to question the Bible translation you are using. And that is actually really great! What we want to emphasize is that the problem lies not in the Bible itself, but in the lens through which it is read. We encourage readers to unlearn and RELEARN how to approach the Bible. And to do that you have to go deep. But we’ve got some great resources for you to help you do that!
 
Takeaways

The problem is not the Bible itself, but the lens through which it is read.
Readers must unlearn and relearn how to approach the Bible in order to understand its message.
Specific translations, such as the Common English Bible and the New Revised Standard Version, can be helpful in reading the Bible from a more inclusive and expansive perspective.
Books about the Bible, such as Rob Bell’s ‘What Is the Bible?’ and works by Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan, can provide valuable insights and help readers engage with the text in new ways.
Engaging with the Bible is an ongoing process that allows readers to make it their own and find resonance with their own experiences.

 
Chapters 
(01:11) The Assumptions Behind the Question
(07:40) The Responsibility of Readers
(09:08) The Work of Reading the Bible
(10:17) The Bible as a Complicated Collection of Books
(13:04) Unlearning and Relearning
(15:37) The Joy of Foundations
(19:21) The Challenge of Finding Progressive Resources
(20:50) Specific Bible Recommendations
(22:48) Books About the Bible
(26:32) Making the Bible Your Own
(29:50) Additional Resources and Courses
 
Resources:

Learn more and sign up for the workshop, From Affirmation to Liberation at queertheology.com/class 
Join the  Sanctuary Collective Community
“What is the Bible” by Rob Bell 
Any of the books Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan have written together.
Our Bible App
Bible recommendations

Common English Bible
New Revised Standard Version
Oxford Standard Bible for an academic version 



If you want to support the Patreon and help keep the podcast up and running, you can learn more and pledge your support at patreon.com/queertheology.
EPISODE TRANSCRIPT


The post What’s an LGBTQ-Affirming Bible translation? appeared first on Queer Theology.

It’s Easter Sunday and we’re discussing the concept of Easter and how it relates to the struggles and questions faced by those in progressive faith communities. We explore the role of miracles and The Resurrection story in Christianity, and the tension between belief and skepticism. We really want to highlight the power of storytelling and metaphor as a way to convey deeper truths. We also get into the distinction between history and myth, and the importance of grappling with the complexities of faith traditions. Ultimately, we feel the message of Easter is seen as an invitation to participate in creating a new world of justice and liberation.
 
Takeaways

The Easter story raises questions about miracles and the resurrection, and how they are understood in progressive faith communities.
Storytelling and metaphor are powerful tools for conveying deeper truths and connecting with our human nature.
The distinction between history and myth is a modern concept, and both can contain elements of truth and meaning.
Grappling with the complexities of faith traditions is an important part of personal growth and understanding.

 
Chapters:
(00:55) Struggling with Miracles and the Resurrection
(04:29) The Truth of Miracles
(06:07) History vs Myth
(08:24) The Call to Action
(11:45) The Resurrection as a Radical Political Message
(14:51) The Persistence of Christianity
(19:09) The Mystery of Easter
(20:06) Living in the New World
(23:41) Upcoming Class and Community
 
Resources:

Join the waitlist for the workshop From Affirmation to Liberation at queertheology.com/class 
Join the  Sanctuary Collective Community
Queering Easter past podcast episodes: 

Easter 2017
Palm Sunday and Holy Week



 
If you want to support the Patreon and help keep the podcast up and running, you can learn more and pledge your support at patreon.com/queertheology.
 
EPISODE TRANSCRIPT


The post Do You Have To Believe In Miracles? appeared first on Queer Theology.