46 min
Unleashing the power of words with Jonathan Merritt Compass Podcast: Finding the spirituality in the day-to-day
-
- Christianity
The words we use matter. Words are both a reflection of what we feel inside and a means for influencing our own states of mind. Jonathan Merritt helps us understand how an inability to “speak God” might lead us to feel far from God. He also reveals how utilizing the language of faith influences our mindsets and motivations in powerful ways.
Jonathan Merritt is an award-winning contributor for The Atlantic, a contributing editor for The Week, a regular columnist for Religion News Service, and an author. His books include A Faith of Our Own, Green Like God, and Learning to Speak God From Scratch, which was released in 2018. He holds a Master of Divinity from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Master of Theology from Emory University’s Candler School of Theology. He currently lives in Brooklyn, New York.
Some of the questions covered in this discussion with Jonathan:
Can you make a case to the rest of us as to why words about God and religious language might be important?
What are your favorite words for God?
Do you have least favorite words for God?
Why is it important that we reclaim—or begin to utilize—language concerning God?
What prompted your journey of relearning religious language?
We asked some of our listeners what their uncomfortable religious words were. If we may, how might someone lean into a new definition of repentance? Of Justice?
The words we use matter. Words are both a reflection of what we feel inside and a means for influencing our own states of mind. Jonathan Merritt helps us understand how an inability to “speak God” might lead us to feel far from God. He also reveals how utilizing the language of faith influences our mindsets and motivations in powerful ways.
Jonathan Merritt is an award-winning contributor for The Atlantic, a contributing editor for The Week, a regular columnist for Religion News Service, and an author. His books include A Faith of Our Own, Green Like God, and Learning to Speak God From Scratch, which was released in 2018. He holds a Master of Divinity from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Master of Theology from Emory University’s Candler School of Theology. He currently lives in Brooklyn, New York.
Some of the questions covered in this discussion with Jonathan:
Can you make a case to the rest of us as to why words about God and religious language might be important?
What are your favorite words for God?
Do you have least favorite words for God?
Why is it important that we reclaim—or begin to utilize—language concerning God?
What prompted your journey of relearning religious language?
We asked some of our listeners what their uncomfortable religious words were. If we may, how might someone lean into a new definition of repentance? Of Justice?
46 min