#5 - Matthew Arguin and Michael Sersch

Send us Fan MailWelcome to the Mad and Crip Theology Podcast, hosted by Miriam Spies and Amy Panton, which comes out of the Canadian Journal of Theology, Mental Health and Disability. We both live and work lands that have been homes and remain homes to the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Haudenosaunee, the Huron Wendat, the Neutral and the Ojibway/Chippewa peoples and other peoples who have cared for the land. We are grateful for the opportunity to live and work on this land and are mindful of the need to repair broken covenants.On today’s episode of the Mad and Crip Theology podcast we talk to Rev Matthew Arguin and psychotherapist Michael Serch who both wrote creative pieces for our first issue of the journal. Matthew's poem "A Prayer in Time of Pandemic" was written in October of 2020, reflecting on Exodus 33:15, as Moses pleads with YHWH to go before the people of Israel as they make their way to the promised land.  The COVID-19 pandemic means that many of us are in the midst of a new and unknown reality.  What does that mean for our mental health? In particular, what does it mean for those who find themselves leading faith communities?Michael's reflective piece "Mad to Be Normal: Thoughts on Psychiatrist R.D Laing and Connections to Liberation Theology" uses the film Mad to be Normal, about R.D. Laing, as an opening into the liberation psychology approaches of Martin-Baro. Examples from Michael's clinical practice as well as personal experiences from life in a Catholic Worker community are  included.This podcast is an opportunity to model how faith communities can engage in theological and spiritual conversations around madness and cripness. If you need a full transcript you can find videos on our Youtube channel and here is the link:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRUW9z5hoqP_WK74hg3N8bQ We want to say that topics and conversations we are raising throughout our time together are often hard!  They are hard for mad and crip people ourselves and hard for our families and loved ones. So, do what you need to do to take care of yourselves, your bodies, minds, and hearts.Follow us on Facebook and/or InstagramRead the Journal