Shaping Families

Families and Faith

Dr. Stanley Hauerwas is a well known and respected theologian who has taught at both Notre Dame University (South Bend, Indiana) and Duke Divinity School (Durham, North Carolina). He grew up in Texas the son of a bricklayer, and has written prolifically on many religious topics. Just this year his memoir, Hannah’s Child was published (Erdmans Publishing).  The book details his faith and familial upbringing as well as his sad and difficult first marriage to a woman with bipolar illness. Shaping Families focuses on both these topics in an exclusive interview.

Listen - Transcript - Study Guide

Frog Hollow Journal

Sam Heatwole

In our early days in Frog Hollow, the wide-ranging faith we saw around us began to stir some ideas. I began to see faith involving us in much more than being reconciled to the unknown God through Jesus, his human expression and evidence. I began to see that faith is our means of becoming part of the greater reality that God is still creating, what Jesus called the “kingdom of God.”

Hannah’s Child: – Stanley Hauerwas’memoir. Blunt and bold, the memoir is a very readable autobiography exploring Hauerwas’ sometimes rocky road to faith.

Frog Hollow Journal - By James G.T. Fairfield
This colorful memoir is peopled with vividly drawn neighbors, family members, and a beloved dog. Fairfield's musings along the way and the lessons learned through exploring the Beatitudes, trace his spiritual journey as well.

VIDEO

A discussion of leadership from Stanley Hauerwas’ perspective.

The Healing River DVD looks at how some Christians feel called to follow Jesus in ways that run counter to the prevailing culture. It includes interviews with Stanley Hauerwas and William H. Willimon about the book they co-authored, Resident Aliens.  

Shadow Voices – a documentary by Third Way Media on various persons and their families dealing with mental illness, including those struggling with bipolar disorder, (as did Dr. Hauerwas’ first wife).

View video trailer for Shadow Voices TV documentary (and others). 

WEBSITES 

A blog about the work of Stanley Hauerwas.

A website, Jesus Radicals, with a speech by Dr. Hauerwas on Christian nonviolence. 

Website for the Shadow Voices TV documentary on mental illness. Includes stories from individuals and families dealing with issues like bipolar illness, and experts speaking about these illnesses.

The Shadow of Mental Illness

The topic of this week’s program encompasses a whole range of difficult issues. Dr. Stanley Hauerwas spent years living at the intersection of faith and mental illness. Drawing on his experiences he tells a painful but compelling story. 

What do you do if your parent or other loved one suffers a stroke? Marcella and her mother Shirley both join Shaping Families next week to discuss how they coped. Marcella was an advocate for her mother when the doctors felt there was little hope for Shirley’s recovery.

Pecan Sandies (cookies)

"My Turn" speaker, Natalie Francisco offers this favorite holiday cookie recipe. 

• Shaping Families Update - May 12
• Shaping Families Update - May 5
• Shaping Families Update - April 28
• Shaping Families Update - April 21

The Shaping Families free offer from this week’s program is no longer available. Visit our online store at www.MennoMedia.org/store if you would like to purchase the item offered. Some items are not offered on the store.