Lecture Notes: Season 7 of the Being Known Podcast

Introduction

• Hosts: Dr. Kirk Thompson and Pepper Sweeney
• Theme: Exploring what it means to be truly known
• Podcast has reached Season 7 with over 1.8 million downloads

Key Themes of Season 7

• Focus: Confessional Communities
  • Series Title: "Confessional Communities: Practicing for Heaven"
  • Exploring the concept of living the subject being taught
  • Episodes will be shorter and fewer

Episode Highlight: Confessional Communities - Forming Outposts of Beauty and Goodness

• Purpose: Provide a deep dive into the process and importance of confessional communities
• Not a Substitute: Listening is not the same as participating in a confessional community
• Resources:
  • Center for Being Known: Offers conferences and training in confessional communities
  • New Story Behavioral Health: Provides immersive training focusing on clinicians

Concept and Importance of Confessional Communities

• Based on the biblical narrative and personal relationships
• A practice of forming new "Edens" or communities of beauty and goodness
• Examples include:
  • Biblical references to Mount Ararat, Mount Sinai, Mount of Olives, etc.
  • These are symbolic of God's continued creation of beauty and goodness
• Transformation in Communities: We need others to experience transformation

Biblical Context and Stories

• Luke 24: Journey to Emmaus, realization happens upon breaking of bread
• John 20: Thomas needs to see Jesus' wounds to believe
• Lesson: Transformation requires material interaction and community involvement

Core Components of Confessional Communities

• Biblical Narrative: The foundation of the practice
• Interpersonal Neurobiology: Understanding how we are formed
• Group Psychotherapy Dynamics: Real-time transformation and awareness
• Complex Systems: Simple energy sources based on longing, grief, joy, fear, and shame

The Learning Process

• Multilingual Approach:
  • Incorporating biblical text, neuroscience, psychotherapy
  • Creating a culture of beauty and goodness
• Observations:
  • Encourage self-awareness of sensory, emotional, and behavioral patterns
  • Recognize parts of life kept private and open them to transformation

Artistic and Practical Application

• Caravaggio’s Painting of Thomas: Encourages reflection on the necessity of community
• Weekly Application:
  • Practice observing personal sensory and emotional behaviors
  • Identify thoughts and feelings kept private and consider sharing them

Closing Remarks

• Acknowledgment: Importance of community in transformation
• Curiosity and Vulnerability: Key to engaging in productive, life-giving work
• Invitation: Continued exploration of confessional communities in upcoming episodes

These notes encapsulate the key points from the episode, providing a comprehensive overview of the discussion around confessional communities, their biblical foundations, and the transformative power they hold when practiced intentionally.