What does it look like to integrate our emotional and mental health with our faith? We’ve likely all experienced, or ourselves said some things in this area that are unhelpful and even hurtful. On this episode we talk to theologian John Swinton and psychologist Peace Amadi to hear their thoughts on fruitful ways to consider our mental health in relationship to our minds, bodies, God, and others. Tune in to find out what we can learn about being human by paying attention to our emotions and the lives of those with mental health challenges.
John Swinton is Professor in Practical Theology and Pastoral Care and Chair in Divinity and Religious Studies at the University of Aberdeen. He is an ordained minister of the Church of Scotland who for more than a decade worked as a registered nurse specializing in psychiatry and learning disabilities. John is the author of many books including Finding Jesus in the Storm: The Spiritual Lives of Christians with Mental Health Challenges.
Peace Amadi is Associate Professor of Psychology and Counseling at Hope International University. She is the founder of The Pink Couch to empower women and The Ruby Project for survivors of trauma and abuse. Peace is the author of Why Do I Feel Like This?: Understand Your Difficult Emotions and Find Grace to Move Through.
Missio Alliance Comment Policy
The Missio Alliance Writing Collectives exist as a ministry of writing to resource theological practitioners for mission. From our Leading Voices to our regular Writing Team and those invited to publish with us as Community Voices, we are creating a space for thoughtful engagement of critical issues and questions facing the North American Church in God’s mission. This sort of thoughtful engagement is something that we seek to engender not only in our publishing, but in conversations that unfold as a result in the comment section of our articles.
Unfortunately, because of the relational distance introduced by online communication, “thoughtful engagement” and “comment sections” seldom go hand in hand. At the same time, censorship of comments by those who disagree with points made by authors, whose anger or limited perspective taints their words, or who simply feel the need to express their own opinion on a topic without any meaningful engagement with the article or comment in question can mask an important window into the true state of Christian discourse. As such, Missio Alliance sets forth the following suggestions for those who wish to engage in conversation around our writing:
1. Seek to understand the author’s intent.
If you disagree with something the an author said, consider framing your response as, “I hear you as saying _________. Am I understanding you correctly? If so, here’s why I disagree. _____________.
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One of our favorite tenants is that “an enemy is someone whose story we haven’t heard.” Very often disagreements and rants are the result of people talking past rather than to one another. Everyone’s perspective is intimately bound up with their own stories – their contexts and experiences. We encourage you to couch your comments in whatever aspect of your own story might help others understand where you are coming from.
In view of those suggestions for shaping conversation on our site and in an effort to curate a hospitable space of open conversation, Missio Alliance may delete comments and/or ban users who show no regard for constructive engagement, especially those whose comments are easily construed as trolling, threatening, or abusive.