If You Pray For Your Enemies, Are You A Sucker? Part Two of Our Conversation with Kathleen McTigue

If you pray for your enemies and seek to regard your enemies in their humanity, aren’t you going to get steamrolled? More broadly: how should spiritual practice inform political engagement?

 

Our show pushes back against the unexamined, often unconscious ways that we frame public questions using political or economic modes of thinking. We aim to be part of a growing association of people who are critical of the narrowness of political and economic categories, and who want to revive a vision of human flourishing that is grounded in the wisdoms of theological and moral philosophical tradition. We see these habits and ways of thinking as being pre-political, and foundational to a healthy and civil shared life in families, communities, economies, and polities.

 

In short, we want to create a community that is grounded in curiosity, going deep, and shining light.

 

Let us know your thoughts and reflections on our Facebook Page: @whatingods.

 

Our email: whatingods@ribeye-media.com.

 

Learn more. Our website: www.whatingods.com.

 

Here are timecodes to help you navigate through today’s show:

 

02:30     What In God’s Name: what it is, and what it is not. Do you agree with the premise of our show?

 

05:46     Shayna sets up Part Two of our interview with Kathleen McTigue.

 

07:05     Kathleen shares some of her life story. Her exposure to people whose engagement of the world is informed by faith was something of a revelation. What did Kathleen see in them that was eye-opening? What is the intersection between spiritual hunger and our commitments to the common good, and the flourishing of society?  

 

13:49     How did Kathleen’s experience of herself as a political activist change, as she became more grounded in a religious outlook and practice? How is humility helpful? 

 

21:03     If you pray for your enemy, are you a sucker?

 

24:37     Why is being tethered to a higher power important? “It’s time for those who are tethered to lead,” says Shayna. Why?