Reproductive Loss with Karen O'Donnell

Recovering God: The Conversations

Dr Karen O’Donnell has published a new book: The Dark Womb: Re-Conceiving Theology through Reproductive Loss. Amazingly, the book is the first academic theological investigation into the impact the experience of reproductive loss has on the way that we think about God and faith. She wrote the book in response to her own personal losses as a young woman and the growing awareness that there were no deep explorations of the issues that she was addressing.

In this episode, we reflect on the language used and the way that reproductive loss affects our relationship with others and with God.

Trigger Warning

Whilst this episode does not talk graphically about the subject, it does analyse the way in which it affects people and so if you are someone who has been affected by reproductive loss and are having a down day, you might want to save this episode for another time.

Other Mentions in the Episode
Books

• The Body by Paula Gooder
• The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women Became the Gospel Truth by Beth Allison Barr (you can listen to Beth talking about this book and the issues that it raises on the previous episode of the podcast)

Website

• http://saltwaterandhoney.org - Saltwater and Honey is a collection of voices sharing their stories about infertility, miscarriage, childlessness and faith.

Follow Karen:

· Email: [e-mail]

· Twitter: @kmrodonnell

Follow the Recovering God Podcast:

· Twitter: @RecoveringGod

· Instagram: Recovering_God

If you have any comments, please let us know at: [e-mail]

Please remember to rate, subscribe and tell others who you think will be interested.

Music written and performed by Dan Lawrence and produced by Lawrence Dinh

RGP History
Alison & Grace were having a conversation in the summer of 2019 about podcasts and they weren't aware of any at the time that spoke to their context, so they decided to set one up. You can hear more about their thinking about the podcast on the Introductions episode.

Grace & Alison worked on the podcast together for the first year but Grace had other commitments that meant she had to give the podcast up, so from February - August 2021 Alison carried on without her.

In August 2021, Alex & Amy joined Alison and they became the three AAAs.

Support the show

Follow the Recovering God Podcast:
Twitter: @RecoveringGod
Instagram: RecoveringGod

If you have any comments, please let us know at: [e-mail]

Please remember to rate, subscribe and tell others who you think will be interested.
The Recovering God Podcast has been in existence since the summer of 2019. The team has changed over those years but we're delighted to still be offering relevant discussions covering the broad topics of feminism and the Christian faith!