No stranger to loss and trauma, feminist theologian, Karen O’Donnell helps us to reconsider some commonly held perspectives around spiritual practice. Sharing from research and lived experience, she offers insight into how we might benefit from reimagining our approach to rebuilding and remaking ourselves in the aftermath of difficult, or damaging, life experiences.
Following the interview, hosts Anna Robinson and Joy Brooks consider how their spiritual practices have changed alongside their shifting faith and experiences of harm.
Interview starts at 13m 17s
WEBSITE
BOOKS
Survival: Radical Spiritual Practices for Trauma Survivors
The Dark Womb: Re-Conceiving Theology through Reproductive Loss
BOOKS MENTIONED
Trauma and Grace – Serene Jone
Spirit and Trauma – Shelly Rambo
Embracing Hopelessness – Miguel De La Torre
QUOTES
“Our bodies are not places of sin, they are holy places. And if we want to take our post-traumatic remaking seriously, then finding ways of loving our bodies is really important.”
“When I’m talking about hopelessness, what I’m meaning is letting go of the hope that God might make any specific difference in any specific circumstance, and saying, okay, there’s no white knight on the hill, what am I going to do?..When we take hopelessness seriously, it moves us to action.”
“I think it’s really important, particularly for women, but not exclusively so, that they found ways of loving their bodies and experiencing pleasure as something that is spiritual.”
Thank you! This is such a valuable podcast covering so many issues around evolving faith/ faith deconstruction in an honest and balanced way. I will definitely be buying the books.