Can we still find beauty during horrible times? Does everything really happen for a reason?
My name is Kate and I’m a historian at Duke Divinity School. My book, Blessed: A History of the American Prosperity Gospel (Oxford University Press, 2013), received widespread media attention as the first history of the movement based on divine promises of health, wealth, and happiness.
My memoir, Everything Happens for a Reason (and other lies I’ve loved) (Random House, 2018), tells the story of my struggle to understand the personal and intellectual dimensions of the American belief that all tragedies are tests of character.
For even more content, check out "Everything Happens" anywhere you listen to podcasts: bit.ly/theehpodcast
I love Alan Alda and everything he stands for. Kate, your sound is a little uneven. You have a lovely laugh, and when your guest is particularly soft spoken it's a bit painful to hear because the volume is so loud. Keep up the great work, though! 🎉
What she's talking about is happening on every level of society. Step out of the system and speak truth with love. You'll attract other people who need that kind of healing positivity.
Thanks Kate, Right now my wife and I are caring for my mother as she rehabs from a broken femur. This has been very difficult. My father in-law is in the late stages of Alzheimer's and we are raising two teenage foster children. You are right on time with this blessing.
When I tell people how I really am doing physically, they’re shocked because I am doing things and smiling. They just don’t see the struggle. So, they think I’m ok. What makes things ok is having that hope and trying to see the good that’s out there!
Hi Kate, I just watched you speak yesterday at the Artcraft in Franklin. Caregiver was my highest rated spiritual temperment when I took the exam in Seminary. I look forward to reading your book and enjoyed the show yesterday. Subscribed! Shalom, Eric
Disagreed, as someone with a chronic degenerating disorder, there very well is losing and winning, for you to have the courage to carry on and everyday even as your disorder gets worse means you are still fighting, it's about the battle of attrition, it's about acknowledging the effort you have put in to continue each day, do what's needed to be done to have some semblance of normality even if takes everything out of you to do it. There is nothing cruel about it.
Look to the core of why people are hurting and doing without in our culture, then look at the way the well to do and up got their money. All the answers are there.
Just search it: "A tractor beam is a device that can attract one object to another from a distance." It's the thing that you see in sci-fi, especially in the whole alien abduction stuff.
In science fiction, it's a ray of light that grabs onto an object and pulls it in. Usually, you'd see this in movies like star trek or involving aliens pulling someone into their space ship.
Thank you for each and all of these (Summer of) blessings that you lovingly, thoughtfully compose. I sense you channeling & sharing your spirit, thru The Spirit. So lovely & helpful. Thank you, especially for this one, Kate. Caregivers navigate a holy & terribly meaningful & often lonely, often profoundly rich space and time. I appreciate you, Kate Bowler. I listen to your podcast regularly--during long walks &/or long-ish drives. I savor your words, books, prayers, questions, conversations and your humor. The world is a better place because of you--the honesty, care & love you speak & think into the air, and write on paper / digital spaces. "Dear Lord, I thank you and praise you for Kate Bowler, her team, her family, her ministry; keep it going, Lord, keep Kate in your lovingcare, bc she is helping us all live a little better each day. Amen."
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Tears welling. I am a year out from the end of caring for my Father and your words are salve to my soul that still feels all the emotions from the journey. Thank you.
Intresting point imagine how embitterment disorder is developed by a lot of bad things...and maybe the kindness is the pathway to change that trajectory...specially for those affected by narccisist
Doctors are often too afraid to say out loud, you are dying and to talk about quality of life. It's scary but they need to be honest and brave so families can prepare.
She is full of shit! Kids need to be taught discipline! They are children, not adults, it’s the parents that don’t teach discipline as to why kids act stupid!
