Spirituality Matters with Rev Karla

Love Always Wins— Or Does It?

In this episode, Rev Karla discusses the story of St. Valentine, the different definitions of love mentioned in the Bible, and some emotional triggers around love which can include the phrase, "Love always wins." Prince Harry and Megan Markle received some backlash when they said it in their new podcast, but what they said holds true. Love can win. We are each responsible for how we give love and how love shows up in our life. Rev Karla leaves you with the reminder that love starts within and you must truly love yourself and heal yourself for your spiritual growth. 

To read more on this topic, read Rev Karla's blog post. 

Resources for this episode include: Love Wins by Rob Bell, Does Love Always Win?, When Love Doesn't Win, 4 Types of Love in the Bible, What Does the Bible Really Say About Love?, How the British Press Treats Meghan Markle Differently from Kate Middleton, UK Media’s Coverage of Meghan Markle Really is Racist, What it Really Means to be in Love

Healing From Radicalized Christianity & Religious Trauma

In this episode, Rev Karla has some questions for you to consider about your religious beliefs. Because of how radicalized Christianity has become, many people have decided to leave organized religion and enter the spiritual wilderness. This is a sacred space to grow spiritually and heal emotionally and psychologically. The path to healing challenging, but don't give up, Beloved. You are not alone. No one religion owns God and God is big enough to share. There is room for you at this table of spirituality. You can heal from your religious trauma. 

From more on this topic from Rev Karla, read her blog post.

Additional resources for this episode include: The Crusades, Why Christianity Must Change or Die by John Shelby Spong, Love Wins by Rob Bell, Resurrecting Jesus by Adyashanti, Leaving the Fold by Marlene Winell, E19 The Radicalization of American Christianity 

Rescuing Christianity from Radicalization

In this episode, Rev Karla continues the conversation started in her viral TikTok, "The Radicalization of American Christianity" as well as a blog post. She encourages Christians to question their church's role in the radicalization of Christianity in America and analyze their own internal biases. There is so much work to still be done. This is just the beginning. 

You can read more from Rev Karla on this topic in her blog post. 

Resources for this episode include: The full video in Rev Karla's TikTok, Data on People Leaving Church, American Christianity's White Supremacy Problem, The Theological Roots of White Supremacy, Louie Giglio Mentions "White Blessing"

Recommended Books: Religious Intolerance in America, How to Be Anti-Racist, White Fragility

Forgiveness

In this episode Rev Karla discusses forgiveness. Forgiveness is hard, it's a journey. We start learning about forgiveness as children on the playground and it's a big topic across most religions, especially Christianity. There are many mistranslations in scripture around forgiveness, many of us may not have a great understanding of what forgiveness is, or even mistake it for repentance. Forgiveness is about you and your journey of healing from the pain they caused. You can read more on this topic from Rev Karla in her blog post. 

More resources for this episode include: What is Forgiveness?, Matthew 5:39, Luke 6:29, Ho'opono Pono Ke Ala

Sacred Activism

In this episode, Rev Karla is claiming activism to be sacred and Holy. What is sacred activism? How do we find our calling? We look to Andrew Harvey as an example of how to look at sacred activism. Rev Karla looks back at some sacred activists throughout history including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the Dalai Lama, Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Rosa Parks and Desmond Tutu. We all have the power of each of these great change-makers and sacred activists to make a difference, to stand up to injustices, and to be a sacred activist. It starts with some inner work to make sure we are coming from a place of kindness and compassion. You can read from Rev Karla on sacred activism in her blog post.

Other resources for this episode include: How to Set Boundaries with Kindness, What Does it Really Mean to Be Kind?, 24 Quotes About Kindness, 7 Ways to Be Kind When You Really Don't Want To

The Radicalization of American Christianity

In this episode, Rev Karla takes us on a trip through the history of how the dangerous intersection of religion and politics has continuously harmed our fair democracy, up to the point of the events on January 6, 2021. We’ve seen these injustices since the AIDS Crisis and the Reagan Administration and Jim Crow Laws and more. What do we do now? How do we hold those in power, those around us, and ourselves accountable? The end of White Christian America is coming and as America continues to become less religious and we continue to elect people that represent our diverse population, what change can we expect, and fight for, in the coming years?

You can read more on this topic from Rev Karla in her blog post and the 6 part TikTok series on Radical Christianity. Rev Karla also recommends that you listen to the NPR Podcast White Lies, watch the Netflix series The Family, and read Religious Intolerance in America. 

What Does Chaos Teach Us?

In this episode, Rev Karla invites you to leave the chaos of 2020 behind and make room for reflection and positive energy going into 2021. There is wisdom in the chaos and the challenges that we overcame. Be grateful for your strength and the lessons you learned and use them to be better in the future. You can read more on this from Rev Karla in this week's blog post.

Resources for this episode include: Moral Majority, White Christians are now a minority of the U.S. population, We're at the end of white Christian American. What will that mean?, Party of Reagan? No, Party of Falwell, Writer Says, Religion and Right-Wing Politics: How Evangelicals Reshaped Elections

Reflection

In this episode, Rev Karla will guide you through a contemplative journal practice with questions to help you reflect on 2020 and move into the new year feeling refreshed and ready for whatever new challenges the future holds. Grab your journal and get comfortable– 2020 is a lot to reflect on. Rev Karla ends by answering the question: Do you believe in the afterlife? You can read more on this topic from Rev Karla in this week's blog post.

Turning Toward the Light

In this episode, Rev Karla discusses the sacredness in the history of the Winter Solstice. You will learn how the yule log tradition originated and the wisdom that sits here in the shortest day and longest night of the year. Rev Karla answers the question: Can I practice witchcraft and still be a Christian? You can read more on this topic from Rev Karla in her blog post.

Wisdom in World Religions

In this episode, Rev Karla discusses the difference between religious and cultural appropriation and respecting and accepting religions outside of your own. She also explores the sacredness of Hanukkah, and Divine wisdom in Buddhism, and the Holy connection of Zoroastrianism. There is Divine wisdom in all world religions that can help you on your spiritual journey. How do you connect your soul to Divine wisdom? Rev Karla wraps up the episode by answering her own question: Why all of this in December? You can read more on this topic from Rev Karla on her blog post.

More resources for this episode include: Eschatology, Prayer Beads, The Use of Trees as Symbols in World Religions, Pope Says Sorry for Sins of Church, A Brief History of Anti-Semitism, Anti-Semitism in the US, Overview of Christian Anti-Semitism, How Anti-Semitism Rises on the Left and Right, Jews Killed Jesus, Pope Finds Jews Not to Blame for Death of Jesus, Pope John Paul II Ignored Sex Abuse Allegations, Why is Jerusalem so Important to American Evangelical Christians?