Murkiness to Transparency

This episode explores the second spiritual movement: Murkiness to Transparency, focused on how we see God and the world. We discuss the misconceptions and false teachings that have shaped the spiritual experiences of queer people, emphasizing the importance of recognizing God's incomprehensibility and the need for spiritual practices that foster surrender and connection. FootnotesChapter 1 | Introduction (00:00)00:00 | Sergii Pavkin, “A Long Way,” Pixabay, 2023.00:20 | Rachel Dowda, reading of Mary Oliver’s “The Journey”, 2024, Audio.01:37 | Case Study 1, interview by Josh Proctor, October 2023. 02:18 | Lin Melone, interview by Josh Proctor, July 29, 2024.Chapter 2 | Defining Murkiness (03:33)06:13 | Eve Tushnet, Tenderness: A Gay Christian’s Guide to Unlearning Rejection and Experiencing God's Extravagant Love (Notre Dame, IN: Ave Maria Press, 2021).Chapter 3 | False Ideas LGBT Christians Received (08:22)09:08 | Zakhar Valaha, “Perfect Beauty,” Pixabay.09:18 | The audio clip comes from the following podcast episode: “Heavy Burdens: Interview with Bridget Eileen Rivera (Part 1).” A Pastor and a Philosopher Walk into a Bar. Hosted by Randy Knie and Kyle Whitaker. February 24, 2022. Podcast, 51:07. https://open.spotify.com/episode/54DfBoYeDgoX2p5n5caXD9. A national study analyzing data from the 2016–2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that while religious attendance is associated with lower suicide risk among heterosexual individuals, it correlates with higher suicide risk among gay, lesbian, and bisexual individuals.09:55 | Bridget Eileen Rivera. Heavy Burdens: Seven Ways LGBTQ Christians Experience Harm in the Church. Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos Press, 2021.​11:13 | Lin Melone, interview by Josh Proctor, July 29, 2024.Chapter 4 | The Fear of God’s Will (12:40)14:52 | Bekah Mason. "Non-Traditional Families Are Biblical Families." Workshop presented at Revoice18 Conference, St. Louis, MO, July 26-28, 2018.Chapter 5 | Our Image of God Impacts Our Formation (16:55)17:16 | A.W. Tozer. The Knowledge of the Holy. New York: HarperCollins, 1978.​19:08 | Isaiah 622:17 | Jenkins, Dallas, creator. The Chosen. VidAngel Studios, 2019–present. Streaming video. https://watch.angelstudios.com/thechosen.Chapter 6 | Embracing Mystery (23:11)24:30 | Lin Melone, interview by Josh Proctor, July 29, 2024.27:41 | M. Robert Mulholland Jr., Invitation to a Journey: A Road Map for Spiritual Formation (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Books, 1993).Chapter 7 | Defining Transparency (28:32)29:46 | 1 Corinthians 3:18Chapter 8 | Spiritual Practices for Transparency (31:56)33:41 | James Empereur, Spiritual Direction and the Gay Person (London: Bloomsbury Academic, 1998).​39: 56 | C.S. Lewis. The Last Battle. New York: HarperCollins, 2001. (Note: First published in 1956.)Chapter 9 | The Gift of Things Falling Apart (41:25)44:40 | Paradise Hymns, “Arrow,” written by Daniel Brunjes, 2020, Spotify.45:18 | Rachel Dowda, reader. Against a Closed Sky. By Walter Brueggemann. Audio recording. November 8, 2024.Chapter 10 | Credits (47:04)Read the full Research Document here.Special thanks to Zac Wagner for sound engineering support.