Living Our Beliefs: Exploring Faith & Religion in Daily Life
Religion and faith are important for millions of people worldwide. While ancient traditions can provide valuable beliefs and values for life, it can be hard to apply them to our lives today. And yet, weaving them into our days can bring benefits––greater meaning in life, more alignment between our beliefs and our actions, and deeper personal connection to our faiths and each other.
In Living Our Beliefs, we delve into where and how practicing Jews, Christians, and Muslims express their faith each day––at work, at home, and out in public––so that together we can see the familiar and unfamiliar in new ways. Learning from other religions and denominations invites us to notice similarities and differences––how much we have in common and how enriching the differences can be. Comparing beliefs and practices can prompt us to be more curious and open to other people, reducing the natural challenge of encountering the Other. Every person’s life and religious practice is unique. Join us on this journey of discovery and reflection.
Living Our Beliefs: Exploring Faith & Religion in Daily Life
Queering Contemplation and Finding a Home in Christianity – Cassidy Hall
Episode 79.
In this conversation, Cassidy and I talk about her evolving, contemplative spiritual expression and identity as a queer Christian. We also touch on her view of scripture and incorporating various theologies and poetry as she finds comfort in paradoxes. Thanks go to the Elevate Podcasting Summit recently hosted by BYU Radio, where we met and recorded this conversation.
Highlights:
· Cassidy Hall's Spiritual Journey and queer Christian spirituality.
· Exploration of Faith: Embracing spiritual paradox; seeking expansive belonging.
· Influence of mystics and desert elders
· Contemplative spirituality: Silence holds paradox, presence, absence.
· Engagement with Queerness in Christianity
· Cassidy's evolving faith practice
· Acceptance of uncertainty and communal prayer river.
References:
Audrey Lorde – Uses of the Erotic (essay)
Bio:
Rev. Cassidy Hall (she/her), MA, MDiv, MTS, is an author, award-winning filmmaker, podcaster, ordained in the United Church of Christ, and author of Queering Contemplation: Finding Queerness in the Roots and Future of Contemplative Spirituality. She is the cohost of the Encountering Silence podcast and the creator of the Contemplating Now and Queering Contemplation podcasts. Her films include In Pursuit of Silence and Day of a Stranger. Cassidy is widely published and currently resides in Indianapolis, where she is studying for her doctorate degree. You can learn more about her at cassidyhall.com
Social Media links for Cassidy:
Website – www.cassidyhall.com
Book – Queering Contemplation
Instagram – instagram.com/casshall
Social Media links for Méli:
Website – Talking with God Project
LinkedIn – Meli Solomon
Facebook – Meli Solomon
Transcript:
Follow the podcast!
The Living Our Beliefs podcast offers a place to learn about other religions and faith practices. When you hear about how observant Christians, Jews and Muslims live their faith, new ideas and questions arise: Is your way similar or different? Is there an idea or practice that you want to explore? Understanding how other people live opens your mind and heart to new people you meet.
Comments? Questions? Email Méli at – info@talkingwithgodproject.org
The Living Our Beliefs podcast is part of the Talking with God Project – https://www.talkingwithgodproject.org/