Episode 116: Q & A with Cathy Loerzel and Shara Photias

The Honest Pod

Today's episode is a fun one! We decided to join forces with Cathy and Shara to have a fun Question and Answer time! Together they explore the idea that religion can be used to avoid dealing with personal issues and instead focus on external behaviors and approval. They also discuss the dangers of using religion as a way to earn God's love and belonging, rather than experiencing true healing and connection with God. Karrie, Cathy and Shara emphasize the importance of authenticity and self-awareness in one's faith journey and caution against using religion as a substitute for facing personal struggles. Their time together explores the topics of certainty and safety in the church, the impact of trauma on our attachment to God, and the use of alcohol to regulate emotions. It emphasizes the importance of doing our own internal work to understand our attachments and how they shape our relationship with God. It also highlights the need for healing and repair in our relationships, even if our families or spouses don't support our journey. The conversation encourages taking responsibility for our own healing and not expecting others to fix us.

Takeaways

• Religion can be used as a form of self-medication and escape from reality, allowing individuals to avoid dealing with personal issues.
• Using religion to earn approval and belonging can lead to a cycle of behavior modification and a lack of true healing and connection with God.
• Authenticity and self-awareness are essential in one's faith journey, as they allow for genuine growth and transformation.
• It is important to recognize the limitations of religious structures and seek a deeper, personal relationship with God. Certainty in the church can provide a false sense of security and lead to damage.
• Our attachment styles and past traumas shape our relationship with God.
• Doing our own internal work is essential for healing and repairing our relationships.
• We can't expect others to fix us or change for us; we can only change ourselves.
• It's important to create safe spaces in the church for processing and healing.

Feel free to DM Karrie or Cathy any new questions or fill out this form here.

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