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Faith Put to the Test

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Faith is rarely absolute. Almost everyone goes through challenging life events that put faith to the test, from losing a loved one to being diagnosed with a chronic illness. Tragedy often calls us to re-evaluate our relationship with faith. Some come to feel that there is no choice but to walk away from religion when prayers go unanswered and inexplicable hardship defines the tone and tenor of everyday life. For others, faith can be a source of solace and meaning in the course of difficult events, providing the impetus needed to move forward and to envision less trying times. Faith put to the test can transform how we understand the world. In this collection of conversations, people share how challenging life events have tested their faith. 

The interviews below were recorded by StoryCorps, a national nonprofit whose mission is to preserve and share humanity’s stories in order to build connections between people and create a more just and compassionate world.

Talia Aygun and Matau Setshase

November 14, 2023

More stories about: Indigenous

Colleagues and friends Talia Aygun and Matau Setshase discuss building spiritual connections with others, whether via negotiation with one's ancestors that generates an attitude of surrender, or via the ecstatic experience of truly understanding another person.

This story was produced by David Dault at Sandburg Media, LLC.

Pedro Silva and Kelly FitzSilva

November 13, 2023

More stories about: Christianity

Married couple Kelly FitzSilva and Pedro Silva interweave the beautiful and difficult aspects of the ways they've dealt with change across the decades, pointing to their relationship as an expression of faith that embodies their distinct approaches to spirituality.

This story was produced by David Dault at Sandburg Media, LLC.

Alex Zecevic and Ahmed Amer

November 2, 2022

More stories about: Education Islam

Friends and colleagues Alex Zecevic and Ahmed Amer reflect on the questions that science can't answer and the role of creativity in scientific discovery.

This story was produced by David Dault at Sandburg Media, LLC.

Mary McLane and Honorable Greg Saldivar

November 1, 2022

More stories about: Catholicism Healing & Recovery

Colleagues Mary McLane and the Hon. Greg Saldivar discuss Greg's journey to sobriety and the power of family relationships to influence change.

This story was produced by David Dault at Sandburg Media, LLC.

Julius Michael and Nguyet Pham

November 1, 2019

More stories about: Immigration

Julius Michael and Nguyet Pham—refugees from Sudan and Vietnam, respectively—have settled in the United States after being driven from their homelands by war. In this conversation, the co-workers discuss how they have kept their faith during their personal journeys and consider how religion shapes their outlooks on life.

This story was produced by David Dault at Sandburg Media, LLC.

Mark L. Biermann and Jonah Koetke

May 3, 2019

More stories about: Christianity

Jonah Koetke interviews his provost, Mark Biermann, about how faith has shaped his identity and served as an anchor throughout his college years, as well as the advice he would offer to future educators.

This story was produced by David Dault with Kristen Balzer at Sandburg Media, LLC.

Byron R. Martin and Thais Carter

May 3, 2019

More stories about: Christianity Race

Thais Carter speaks with Byron Martin about the evolution of his faith and the role it can play in the ongoing struggle for justice for Black Americans.

This story was produced by David Dault with Kristen Balzer at Sandburg Media, LLC.

Jane L. and Erica Gibson-Even

May 2, 2019

More stories about: Healing & Recovery Christianity

Jane L. provided spiritual guidance to the families of death row inmates during her nearly two decades working as a prison chaplain. In this conversation, Jane discusses with colleague Erica Gibson-Even how she experienced and processed the trauma of the executions, which initially left her feeling the absence of God.

This story was produced by StoryCorps.

Joel Barrett and David Seymour

August 20, 2018

More stories about: Gender Christianity

Joel Barrett and David Seymour are a married couple who have significantly different religious upbringings: Barrett grew up in a conservative Baptist world that presented significant challenges to his life as a gay man, whereas Seymour was raised in a family that did not attend church regularly. In this conversation, Barrett and Seymour reflect on their faith journeys as queer people in the Midwest.

This story was produced by David Dault at Sandburg Media, LLC.

Gloria Jackson and Daniel Sitts

December 1, 2016

More stories about: Christianity Healing & Recovery

StoryCorps Facilitator Daniel Sitts interviews Gloria Jackson about how her faith in God helped her divorce an abusive husband and transform that experience into support for other victims of domestic violence.

This story was produced by David Dault at Sandburg Media, LLC.

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