Before we jump in, we wanted to acknowledge that so many in our community and across the world have been stunned and horrified by the murder of Charlie Kirk at UVU. It feels to us like a particularly difficult moment in this country, and we find ourselves grasping both for hope, and for the message to share in a moment like this.
It’s in that spirit that we wanted to share this week’s episode — a conversation about belonging from the Faith Matters podcast Article 13.
At their best, faith and faith communities bring us together across differences and remind us of something essential: that we are inherently and irrevocably connected. When we call each other “brother” and “sister,” we’re naming something deeply true. And choosing to stay in community — even when it’s hard — might be exactly what the world needs right now.
This episode explores what it means to belong—it invites us to think about belonging not just as something to find, but something we can offer and build in our spiritual communities.
We appreciated the insight we saw shared by Senator Chris Murphy this week: that when other forms of identity become weaker, something—like political identity—will step in to fill the void.
This episode asks the question: what might society look like if we strive to intentionally create identity not just as members of religious communities, but as inherently dignified, divine beings who are all connected—in other words: as children of God? If there’s any truth that might help us find some hope for the future, it seems like we’ll find it in that direction.
As always, we really appreciate you listening, and for helping us find our own belonging, especially in hard moments.
A SPECIAL STORY AND A NEW PODCAST FROM FAITH MATTERS
More With Us
This is a story about war. And there are many wars in the Bible. And a lot of them are described very simply. The righteous versus the wicked. The people that follow God versus the people that don’t. Good guys versus bad guys. And when the good guys win, it’s because they are good and when they lose it’s because they are being bad. But not every war is actually like that. Not every war in the Bible is like that. And this is the story of a war that was not like that at all.
MORE PEACEMAKING RESOURCES FROM FAITH MATTERS
Watch the Where Peace Begins video series (8 short videos):
Read all of the essays from Wayfare Issue 5, the peacemaking issue—and share them with a friend!
Find even more podcast episodes on this topic in our Peacemaking tag:
Brian McLaren: Life After Doom
This episode is an empowering call to action and an invitation to do the kind of inner work that makes us brave in the face of real fear and uncertainty. Brian asks, "What if it doesn't turn out? How will we face the future if things get worse instead of better?" He offers gentle encouragement to reach deeper into ourselves and find a stronger, more resilient type of hope: the kind that, as Václav Havel said, “is not the certainty that things will turn out as we wish, [but] is the conviction that some things are worth doing, no matter how they turn out.” We think this episode offers real wisdom and a fresh perspective on how we can navigate these challenging times with faith, hope, and love.
STUDY “COME FOLLOW ME” WITH FAITH MATTERS
How do we become a Zion people?
How do we build Zion? How do we find meaning in our trials? What does it mean to be a steward, not an owner? How can I be a peacemaker?
What is the role of a prophet? What is the purpose of covenants?
What does partnership with God look and feel like? How does the priesthood work? What does it mean to sustain the prophet? What even is a prophet? Why councils? Why covenants?
To receive Come Follow Me resource roundups from Faith Matters in your inbox, first be sure you are subscribed to the Faith Matters Substack, then go to manage your subscription and turn on notifications for “Come Follow Me”.
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READ AN EXCERPT FROM JENNIFER FINLAYSON-FIFE’S NEW BOOK
