The Mad and Crip Theology Podcast

Amy Panton and Miriam Spies

This podcast is hosted by Amy Panton and Miriam Spies. We are Mad and Crip theologians who want to contribute to change. Join us as we talk with theologians, artists, activists, writers and members of the mad/disabled and crip communities who are doing important work in Canada and around the world. This podcast is an opportunity to model how faith communities can engage in theological and spiritual conversations around madness and cripness. For accessibility, transcripts are included beside the podcast description.Watch the podcast with captions on our YouTube page here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRUW9z5hoqP_WK74hg3N8bQ

read less
EducationEducation

Episodes

Season 3, Episode 7: Allen Jorgenson and Laura MacGregor
Dec 8 2023
Season 3, Episode 7: Allen Jorgenson and Laura MacGregor
Join Amy and Miriam as they talk with Allen Jorgenson and Laura MacGregor about their recent book: "Beyond Saints and Superheroes: Supporting Parents Raising Children with Disabilities - A Practical Guide for Faith Communities." Proudly published by The Mad and Crip Theology Press (Amy Panton, Founder/Publisher).Available with captions on YouTube:  https://youtu.be/4-uwXfrG7wUThe authors are available to speak with your faith community about this project. Get in touch with author Laura MacGregor by emailing Amy at the Press at amy@madandcriptheologypress.ca. Contact author Allen Jorgenson at his email at Martin Luther University College at ajorgenson@wlu.caNew! Purchase the e-book version here. In Beyond Saints and Superheroes: Supporting Parents Raising Children with Disabilities A Practical Guide for Faith Communities Laura MacGregor and Allen G. Jorgenson tell the stories of parents who have brought their children with disabilities to church. Some parents have felt supported by their faith communities, while many have felt unwelcome, silenced, and have even left their churches altogether. This eight-week guide is written for personal self-reflection and small-group learning. The guide highlights practical ways that faith communities can support families impacted by disability. Beautiful illustrations by Wendy Newbery and poetry by Allen G. Jorgenson, along with spiritual practices, provide points of reflection as you journey through the eight-week guide. ​The Beyond Saints and Superheroes Research Project was made possible by a Project Research Grant from the Louisville Institute.Follow us on Facebook Read the Journal Check out Mad and Crip Theology Press
Season 2, Episode 15: Elena Goldak on A Critical Disability Reading of Queer Conversion Violence
Apr 21 2023
Season 2, Episode 15: Elena Goldak on A Critical Disability Reading of Queer Conversion Violence
On this episode, Amy and Miriam speak with Elena Goldak on her article: They Shall Surely Be Put to Death: A Critical Disability Reading of Queer Conversion Violence.  Elena writes,"This essay is an inquiry into the relationship between queer conversion violence (QCV) and forms of suicidal violence. I am particularly interested in the ways that queer people come to participate in projects of debility which target queer people. I term this violence community suicide. Drawing from Jasbir Puar’s notion of debility, I critique the Christian fundamentalist “ex-gay” movement depicted in the Netflix documentary Pray Away to articulate the concept of community suicide. Following this, I use Alexandre Baril’s theory of suicidism to understand the ways that Christian fundamentalist discourses on queerness and suicide are related — a relation which creates conditions for community suicide. I argue that contemporary Christian QCV relies on a specific religious queerphobia that likens queer life to suicidal death, and by design, further reproduces suicide as part of a project in debility."Read the full article here: https://jps.library.utoronto.ca/index.php/cjtmhd/article/view/39545Watch with captions on YouTube: https://youtu.be/u_DVXSmsU94 As well, here are some queer-affirming Christian spaces/communitiesAffirm United (affiliated with The United Church of Canada) https://affirmunited.ause.caStudent Christian Movement Canada https://scmcanada.orgThe Presbyterian Church of Canada https://presbyterian.ca/justice/social-action/gender-sexuality-inclusion/The Anglican Church of Canada https://www.anglican.ca/faith/focus/hs/Follow us on Facebook Read the Journal Check out Mad and Crip Theology Press
Season 2, Episode 14: Daryna Skybina on Karma and Trauma Informed Care
Mar 17 2023
Season 2, Episode 14: Daryna Skybina on Karma and Trauma Informed Care
On this episode, Amy and Miriam speak with Daryna Skybina about her paper published in the Fall 2022 issue of The Canadian Journal of Theology, Mental Health, and Disability: A Trauma-Informed Approach to Discussing Karma in Buddhism. You can find more about Daryna's psychotherapy practice at www.darynaskybina.com or via Instagram @darynaskybinapsychotherapy Read the full paper here: https://jps.library.utoronto.ca/index.php/cjtmhd/article/view/39547For closed captions, watch the episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/dp3lLsFWQTQHere's an abstract: In recent years there has been a rise of individuals from Western cultures turning to Eastern spiritual traditions, including Buddhism, for mental health support. Given the prevalence of trauma, it would be helpful for these communities to discuss spiritual teachings in a trauma-informed manner. Some teachings, including the teaching of karma, have at times been taught through a lens that stigmatizes trauma survivors. Karma is a complex topic, yet a crucial element of Buddhist ethics and morality. This paper is a preliminary theoretical exploration of how the teaching of karma in Buddhism can be examined in a manner that considers the complexity of trauma. It also discusses how a care provider can turn to the Buddhist teaching of skillful compassion to help them better practice trauma-informed care.Some resources Daryna recommends:Love and Rage: The Path of Liberation Through Anger by Lama Rod Owens https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/608716/love-and-rage-by-lama-rod-owens/When Bad Things Happen to Good People by Harold Kushner https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/96404/when-bad-things-happen-to-good-people-by-harold-s-kushner/9781400034727Follow us on Facebook Read the Journal Check out Mad and Crip Theology Press