Why Our World Needs ‘Crazy Christians’ with Bishop Michael Curry

Summary

In the 'Quadcast' podcast from Yale Divinity School, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry discusses his sermon on love at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding, comparing humanity's potential rediscovery of love to the historical discovery of fire. He reflects on racial progress in American Christian congregations, emphasizing the incremental nature of social change. Bishop Curry also shares his thoughts on being the first person of color to lead the Episcopal Church, the concept of 'crazy Christians' who defy cultural norms through love and compassion, and the Church of England's consideration of gender-neutral language for God.

Takeaways

• 🔥 Bishop Curry's sermon at the wedding of Prince Harry and Megan Markle emphasized the transformative power of love, likening its rediscovery to humanity's first discovery of fire.
• 🌟 He discussed the slow but incremental progress in bridging racial divides within Christian congregations in America, culminating in a 'tipping point' that leads to significant change.
• 🏛 As the first person of color to lead the Episcopal Church, Bishop Curry's election in 2015 was a historic moment, marking a shift in the church's readiness for diversity.
• 🕍 Reflecting on his time at Yale Divinity School, Bishop Curry highlighted the gradual societal and institutional changes that allowed for his election as the presiding bishop.
• 🌱 He described the concept of 'crazy Christians' as individuals who defy cultural norms by demonstrating love, compassion, and a commitment to justice, akin to historical figures like Harriet Tubman.
• 🌐 Bishop Curry advocated for a broader societal embrace of 'crazy' individuals across various faiths and philosophies to foster a more compassionate and just world.
• 📚 He touched on the evolving language used to describe God, emphasizing the limitations of human language and the need for diverse imagery to capture the essence of the divine.
• 🍕 A favorite memory from his time at Yale Divinity School involved a humorous ritual of eating pizza without pepperoni during Lent, showcasing the blend of theology and everyday life.
• 🗣️ Bishop Curry addressed the Church of England's consideration to use gender-neutral language for God, suggesting that any language about God is symbolic and that God transcends human categorizations.
• 🌿 He shared a personal anecdote about his grandmother's understanding of God's greatness, illustrating the deep spiritual insights that can come from everyday faith practices.

Q & A

What was the main theme of Bishop Curry's sermon at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle?

The main theme of Bishop Curry's sermon was the power of love, which he suggested would be the second greatest discovery in human history after fire.

How did Bishop Curry come up with the analogy of love and fire in his sermon?

Bishop Curry was inspired by the writings of Teilhard de Chardin, a paleontologist and priest, who suggested that if humanity were to rediscover love, it would be akin to discovering fire for the second time in history.

What was Bishop Curry's reaction when he was elected as the first person of color to lead the Episcopal Church?

Bishop Curry was surprised by his election and had mentally prepared himself not to be selected. He was so focused on his internal thoughts that he didn't hear the announcement of his election until Bishop Gail Harris informed him.

How does Bishop Curry view the incremental changes in racial divide within Christian congregations?

Bishop Curry sees social change as happening incrementally, with a tipping point that leads to an explosion of progress. He references the long struggle for justice and the eventual breakthroughs in civil rights as examples.

What does Bishop Curry mean by 'crazy Christians'?

Bishop Curry refers to 'crazy Christians' as those who are willing to be different by love, compassion, kindness, justice, and goodness. He believes we need such individuals to challenge the status quo and bring about a more humane world.

What is Bishop Curry's perspective on the Church of England considering to refer to God without assigning a gender?

Bishop Curry believes that language is limited and that our descriptions of God are symbolic or analogical at best. He suggests that God is beyond gender and that our language should reflect this understanding.

How does Bishop Curry describe the role of a religious leader in terms of time and season?

Bishop Curry sees religious leaders as being called for a particular season and divine purpose. He believes that each leader serves for a specific time, after which another leader with different gifts will take over.

What was Bishop Curry's favorite memory from his time as a student at Yale Divinity School?

Bishop Curry fondly remembers the tradition of going for a pizza at a place in Little Italy, New Haven, after services on Fridays during Lent, where they would have plain pizza without pepperoni as a form of sacrifice.

What does Bishop Curry think about the current state of the Episcopal Church in terms of racial diversity?

While acknowledging that the Episcopal Church is not yet fully diverse, Bishop Curry believes that there have been significant shifts in both culture and the church that have made his election possible, indicating progress.

How does Bishop Curry reflect on his own election and the timing of it?

Bishop Curry reflects on his election as being the right person for the right moment. He suggests that there is a time for every matter under heaven, and his term as the leader of the Episcopal Church was his particular time and season.