30: Meggan Watterson on what women's erasure from religion teaches us about our power

“You can’t burn what is already on fire.”Meggan Watterson, a feminist theologian with master's degrees from Harvard Divinity School and Columbia University’s Union Theological Seminary, is a bestselling author and founder of the REDLADIES, a spiritual community focused on studying ancient Christian texts that were excluded from the New Testament. Her new book, The Girl Who Baptized Herself, explores a nearly lost first-century scripture about Saint Thecla, a young woman who survived multiple execution attempts and became a reigious teacher, using her story as a roadmap for readers to understand their spiritual worth and reclaim their power. In our conversation, Meggan and I explore how religious institutions have systematically excluded women from spiritual narratives for millennia, how connecting with the feminine divine helped her reclaim her sense of self-worth following sexual assault, and how embracing women's righteous anger can inspire us all to take action in protecting ourselves and others. Meggan invites us to align with our divine purpose, embrace vulnerability as strength, and honor our unique spiritual callings.To read more about inspiring stories about Firestarters like Meggan, grab a copy of my new book Fired Up: How to Turn Your Spark Into a Flame and Come Alive at Any Age at firedupbook.com.Join me on my book tour! Get more information and tickets at firedupbook.comFor women ready to stop living on autopilot and playing it small, Fired Up will show you how to shatter your self imposed limitations and unleash your potential so you can finally start living the life you’ve always wanted. Click to order. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe