Michael Hawkins: Why Your Questions Belong in Your Faith Journey

🎙️ Infinite Contingencies with Dr. Michael HawkinsVerses & Visions: Creative Conversations — Hosted by Cassidy BeckWelcome to Verses & Visions: Creative Conversations, where creativity and purpose meet to inspire and uplift.In today’s episode, Cassidy sits down with historian, professor, and author Dr. Michael Hawkins for a thoughtful and deeply enriching conversation about faith, agency, history, and the courage to ask meaningful questions.Michael shares how a childhood filled with lively gospel debates around the family table grew into a lifelong love of scholarship and spiritual exploration. Now, after years in academia, he’s turned his focus toward writing and speaking in ways that make complex doctrine accessible, personal, and hopeful.Together, Cassidy and Michael explore what it looks like to hold faith while engaging honestly with doubt, how historical context can actually strengthen testimony, and why God’s omniscience doesn’t erase our agency—but expands our possibilities.At the heart of their conversation is Michael’s latest book, Infinite Contingencies, which offers a refreshing framework for understanding choice, divine guidance, and the many paths God can work with in our lives.If you’ve ever wrestled with big questions or wondered whether uncertainty has a place in discipleship, this episode will feel like a breath of fresh air.✨ In This EpisodeCassidy and Michael talk about:Growing up in a home where gospel questions were welcomed and debatedThe intersection of ethics, philosophy, and Latter-day Saint doctrineReconciling God’s omniscience with human agencyWhy questions can deepen faith instead of weaken itViewing scripture and church history through cultural and historical contextEmbracing doubts rather than avoiding themRevelation as a quiet process of remembering and understandingLetting go of perfectionism and focusing on “weightier matters” of discipleshipTrusting that God can work with our imperfect, unfolding lives🌿 Key TakeawayFaith doesn’t require having every answer.Sometimes it simply means saying, “I know God loves His children… and I’m still learning the rest.”There is strength in curiosity. There is peace in humility. And there is room in discipleship for both study and trust.Connect with Dr. Michael HawkinsBook: Infinite ContingenciesFacebook: Infinite ContingenciesWebsite: drmichaelhawkins.comSocial media: Michael Hawkins🤍 Sponsor ShoutoutsSodaBeers Cassidy’s family-crafted premium soda company, made for gathering and celebrating life’s simple joys. Featuring ginger beer, butter scotch beer, root beer, Apple Beer, and Apple Beer Five. Available on Amazon.Sheep Chronicles: Baptism — by Cassidy Beck A heartfelt children’s picture book about Joshua, a curious boy learning about baptism through the story of a lost sheep. A meaningful, faith-filled read for families. Available on Amazon.✨ Connect with CassidyFollow along for more conversations that inspire creativity, faith, and purpose: Verses & Visions: Creative Conversations Sage Verse Coaching Instagram and socials: @cassidybeck