Headwaters Journal

Arndt B Braaten

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Religion & Spirituality
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Headwaters Journal

1d ago

Faith, Health, and the Stories That Shape Us

What does it mean to be both a healer of bodies and a shepherd of souls? That’s the question I’ve been carrying with me for years, and it’s the question that sits at the heart of this very first episode of Headwater’s Journal. I’m Arndt Braaten—a physician trained in family medicine, an emergency doctor for the past 14 years, and also an ordained Lutheran pastor. It’s a strange combination on paper, I know. But for me, these two callings—medicine and ministry—have never been separate. They are threads of the same story. My perspective didn’t come out of nowhere. I am the son and grandson of missionaries who lived and worked in Madagascar from 1911 to 1967. I grew up in a village shaped by deep religious and cultural diversity, where my father taught, my mother nursed, and my cousins worked in the local hospital. That upbringing left me with an unshakable awareness of how faith and health are entangled, for better and sometimes for worse. This podcast is my attempt to explore those intersections—not to provide easy answers, but to invite honest conversation across traditions of healing, belief, and practice. Key Themes + Takeaways Faith and health are both bigger and more complex than we often admit. Missionary history is layered: marked by colonial entanglements, yet also by courage and sacrifice. Misunderstandings of “faith healing” can cause harm when faith is treated as a commodity to be willed into existence. True healing—whether medical or spiritual—calls us to deeper humility, curiosity, and respect across traditions. Headwater’s Journal exists to create space for dialogue, not dogma. Pull Quotes “I am the son and grandson of missionaries… this had a profound effect on me and how I perceive the world.” “Faith is not something you can gin up in yourself simply by willing it.” “That’s the purpose of this podcast journal: to explore the relationship between faith and health—not only within healing traditions, but between them as well.” “This will only be as good as the conversation we create together. Your voice matters.” Chapter Markers 00:00 Welcome to Headwater’s Journal 00:51 My path: from family medicine to emergency care 02:23 Growing up with missionary roots in Madagascar 05:08 Early lessons in medicine, ministry, and culture 06:13 Why disclaimers matter—my voice is my own 07:30 What do we mean by faith? By health? 09:31 The uneasy image of a “faith healer” 12:29 The danger of blaming illness on lack of faith 13:44 Even Jesus refused the temptation to “just believe and fly” 15:12 The purpose of this podcast: conversations that heal Your Turn As we begin this journey together, I want to leave you with a question: 👉 How has your own story—your upbringing, your culture, your faith, or your doubts—shaped the way you think about health and healing? Take time to sit with that. Write it down. Share it with me if you’d like. Because this journal will only grow richer when it includes your story alongside mine. MB01J9SDHUJA7J8

1 Episode

Headwaters Journal

Creator

Arndt B Braaten
Years Active

2026
Episodes

1
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© Arndt B Braaten
Show Website

Headwaters Journal