Jezebel Goes To Seminary

Meredith Thomason
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  • RELIGION & SPIRITUALITY
Jezebel Goes To Seminary Podcast

Ever found yourself reading the Bible and thought, "WTF am I reading..." or looked up at the sky and asked, "is there such a thing as God...." or maybe you needed to break away from organized religion, & now find yourself with more questions than you can count. Lucky for you- this is the mission of the Jezebel Goes to Seminary™ podcast. Each week you tune in, you'll hear the experience of first year, Master of Divinity student Meredith Thomason as she wrestles with understanding God, the Universe and all things Spirituality. If you've wandered, and are ready for something more this is it.

Episodes

  1. 07/12/2020

    EP 6: Centering Prayer Practice

    Today's episode focuses on the practice of centering prayer as a method of witness to the presence of God, as we understand Him. This presence derives from within us. It is connected to our essence, and being as individuals who often navigate secular worlds. Whether you consent to the presence of God, or rather, consent to the presence of yourself, the art of centering prayer takes you on a journey inside of yourself and leaves you with an external response amounting to several health benefits.  "Wherever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in Secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” Matthew 6:6 In the 1970s, a group of Trappist monks- Thomas Keating, William Menninger, and Basil Pennington- got together to recover contemplative practices from the Christian tradition. These practices were first practiced and taught by the Desert Fathers and Mothers of Egypt, Palestine, and Syria. We attribute St. Bernard of Clairvaux and the Rhineland mystics to contemplative practices during the middle ages. Followed by, the Carmelites of St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross after the reformation. Those mentioned, all cultivated practices in their lives that they believed led to the spiritual gift of contemplation. Prayer is powerful and individual. We pray for different reasons- guidance, thanksgiving, protection. When we can enter prayer with an approach to God as a partner or collaborator, we are more likely to have better physical and mental health outcomes. In 2005, the Journal of  Behavioral Medicine released a study that found those who participated in a spiritual form of meditation showed a greater decrease in anxiety and an elevated mood. One study found that prayer had similar benefits to meditation, it can calm your nervous system, reduce your heart rate, boost your immune response, reduce stress and anxiety, and enhance one’s self-esteem.

    26 min

  2. 25/11/2020

    EP 5: Healing Through Grief, A Divine Dance With Death

    Grief is unique. It doesn't look the same on any two people, even if those two people lost the same loved one. It is an individual's response, internally, as they process the death or sudden loss of something particularly meaningful to the person involved. To mourn and to lose something we once believed was certain can be a shock to our nervous system. Grief is a marathon, not a sprint. May you find comfort in the stories shared in today's episode. Connect with Jezebel: Want to get emails that don't tell you what to do, but instead invite you to learn how to listen to your interior-self sign up here Instagram: @jezebelgoestoseminary

    20 min

  3. 22/11/2020

    EP 4: Lectio Divina, "On Time" by Kahlil Gibran

    Think of a time when you couldn't read. Instead, someone may have read to you. Can you recall them asking you to listen closely? And if anything stood out while they read aloud, to note it in your mind? In the early days of church history, it was no different. Mass printing didn't exist, and not everyone shared the same common tongue. Monks would gather together during their time of prayer and listen as another member of the order would read scripture. Lectio Divina is a method of prayer found in this early monastic tradition.  During the exercise, monks were encouraged to listen with their hearts. By doing so, they would consent to the presence of the Word of God. In the secular world, this can look like reading and sitting with a piece of poetry, or a passage in your favorite book. The clear mission behind this method of prayer or method of being present is listening. By tuning in and tuning out distractions, you allow yourself to enter into a state of contemplation. A time to be present and open to new streams of consciousness. We cannot separate the sacred and profane. Instead, we can learn to recognize how the sacred influenced the profane, and begin moving towards a path of wholeness. What do you need to sit with? What do you need to act on? As the moments after this meditation fill with silence and as you internalize a deeper meaning of your most interior part of self, I encourage you to allow the call of acting on those words or phrases to present itself. The poem used in today's practice of Lectio Divina was, "On Time" by Kahlil Gibran.  The poem can be found here Connect with Jezebel: Want to get emails that don't tell you what to do, but instead invite you to learn how to listen to your interior-self sign up here Instagram: @jezebelgoestoseminary

    11 min

  4. 29/10/2020

    EP 3: Who's On Your Team? (Part 2)

    Today's episode concludes the first series of intentional conversations for this season on Jezebel Goes To Seminary. My guest, Rodell Jefferson III, is a fellow M.Div candidate at the Candler School of Theology. Together, we create space for an intentional conversation on faith, spirituality and our understanding of God. Rodell shares his story of working in L.A. and lessons from his mother, all which helped in forming his faith today. We reflect on what we're learning, and the myriad parts we bring to the table when engaging with scripture, faith and the unknown. If you want to keep up with what's going down in funky town sign up for our newsletter here! Catch us on Instagram: @jezebelgoestoseminary

    29 min

  5. 21/10/2020

    EP 3: Who's On Your Team? (Part 1)

    Today kicks off a series of intentional conversations for this season on Jezebel Goes To Seminary. Today's guest, Rodell Jefferson III, is a fellow M.Div candidate at the Candler School of Theology. Together, we create space for an intentional conversation on faith, spirituality and our understanding of God. Rodell shares his story of working in L.A. and lessons from his mother, all which helped in forming his faith today. We reflect on what we're learning, and the myriad parts we bring to the table when engaging with scripture, faith and the unknown. If you want to keep up with what's going down in funky town sign up for our newsletter here! Catch us on Instagram: @jezebelgoestoseminary

    19 min

  6. 14/10/2020

    EP 2: What's in a name?

    What’s in a name? You’ve probably heard that line before, but if not, it was made famous in Shakespeare’s play, Romeo and Juliet. Over time, the phrase, “what’s in a name?”, morphed into an everyday idiom. When used in its idiomatic form it tells us that the name, what word we use to identify, or label a thing, is arbitrary, that in fact, what matters is the quality behind the name. Names, our names, the pronunciation of our names, having people know, respect and use our names plays a significant role in our lives. Why? For one, as Ralph Ellison, American novelist who wrote, Invisible Man, said, “it is through our names that we first places ourselves in the world…” Where have you placed yourself? Where have you been placed by others? When in those places of ourselves, what did you learn?  Follow, like and share today's episode to make sure you don't miss out on what's in store this season on, Jezebel Goes To Seminary. For more information about the voice behind Jezebel Goes To Seminary click here Be sure to follow us on Instagram and sign up for our weekly newsletter! Instagram: @jezebelgoestoseminary Email: info@merediththomason.com

    19 min

  7. 08/10/2020

    EP 1: Why theology? Why now?

    In today's episode, Meredith touches on parts of her story that led her to seminary. She uses personal #storysharing to engage with listeners and encourage them to reflect on their own lives, especially the dark parts left untouched. As we begin to see ourselves, as our True selves, the more we can engage with others and their own questions about the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness. Until we question who we are and who we will become, we may find ourselves in a constant state of wandering. When we can settle into who we are, knowing that all parts of ourselves are fully and wholly loved, then we can begin to see the world with new eyes of belonging.  Follow, like and share today's episode to make sure you don't miss out on what's in store this season on, Jezebel Goes To Seminary.  For more information about the voice behind Jezebel Goes To Seminary click here Be sure to follow us on Instagram and sign up for our weekly newsletter!  Instagram: @jezebelgoestoseminary

    20 min

  8. 04/10/2020

    Trailer: Welcome to Jezebel Goes To Seminary!

    Hi friends! Welcome to JEZEBEL GOES TO SEMINARY! In this short trailer, Meredith talks a little bit about her background, what brought her to seminary and how important it is to lean into the mystery. So, if you are wandering, weary and confused about the Bible or what it means to live in and with the Spirit, this podcast is for you. If you have questions- this podcast is for you. We are all on a journey of seeing and seeking the unknown. Inquiries about today's trailer or general podcast questions can done here!

    7 min

  9. 30/09/2020

    BONUS: Liminal Spaces Part 2

    In today's episode, Meredith discusses the concept of fear. She uses the story of Simon Peter and Jesus, as he teaches from  the boat on the lake of Gennesaret. In this story, we see the character, Simon Peter, who has grown weary after a full night of fishing. We see how in the story Jesus asks Simon Peter to change his perspective, to enter the liminal space of his own being. How can we take the lesson of what Simon Peter learned that day in the boat and apply it to our own lives? Questions, Comments and Concerns for today's episode can be sent here!

    23 min

  10. 29/09/2020

    BONUS: Liminal Spaces Part 1

    How do we enter liminal spaces? What does liminal space mean? In this episode, Meredith talks about what it means to reclaim our personal pain and suffering, so that we may enter liminal spaces of unknown territory.  Questions, comments and concerns about today's episode can be sent here! Be sure to leave a review or throw some stars on the episode. Feedback is a critical link for the formation of Jezebel Goes To Seminary episodes.  Catch me on the 'gram, Instagram that is.

    30 min

Trailer

About

Ever found yourself reading the Bible and thought, "WTF am I reading..." or looked up at the sky and asked, "is there such a thing as God...." or maybe you needed to break away from organized religion, & now find yourself with more questions than you can count. Lucky for you- this is the mission of the Jezebel Goes to Seminary™ podcast. Each week you tune in, you'll hear the experience of first year, Master of Divinity student Meredith Thomason as she wrestles with understanding God, the Universe and all things Spirituality. If you've wandered, and are ready for something more this is it.

Information

  • Creator
    Meredith Thomason
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    10
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Meredith Thomason
  • Show Website
    Jezebel Goes To Seminary

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