Beneath the Headlines
Our culture seems more interested in the last two minutes than the last two thousand years. This is unfortunate. It’s also avoidable. Join Mike Woodruff each month as he speaks with authors and thought leaders to understand the ideas shaping our world. Beneath the Headlines is hosted by Lakelight Institute. Mike Woodruff is the senior pastor at Christ Church with campuses in the north suburbs of Chicago. Learn more at https://www.christchurchil.org
Beneath the Headlines
Gender, Faith, and Embodiment: A Conversation with Dr. Abigail Favale
🎙️ Welcome to Beneath the Headlines with Mike Woodruff – a monthly podcast hosted by Lakelight Institute, featuring deep conversations with authors and thought leaders on the ideas shaping our lives.
In this episode, Mike sits down with Dr. Abigail Favale, professor, writer, and scholar whose work bridges Catholic theology, literature, and women’s studies. Dr. Favale is the author of The Genesis of Gender: A Christian Theory (Ignatius Press) and has written for The Atlantic, First Things, and other journals. She teaches at the University of Notre Dame’s McGrath Institute for Church Life and holds degrees in philosophy, women’s writing, and English literature.
🔹 In this conversation, they explore:
- Dr. Favale's journey from progressive feminism to Catholic orthodoxy
- How motherhood and spiritual crisis reshaped her worldview
- The clash between the "gender paradigm" and a Christian vision of embodiment
- The intellectual roots of modern feminism and transgender ideology
- How to engage cultural debates with truth and love
- The gift of the body and why limits are essential to human flourishing
đź’ˇ Key Quotes:
“In the gender paradigm, reality is something we create. In the Genesis paradigm, we receive our being from a Creator.”
“Freedom isn’t about becoming who we define ourselves to be—it’s about becoming who we were made to be.”
“The body’s frailty is a gift because it teaches us dependence and invites love.”
đź“š Mentioned in this episode:
- The Genesis of Gender by Dr. Abigail Favale
- Iris Murdoch novels | Elizabeth Anscombe’s philosophy
- The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill (Christianity Today podcast)
👶 Fun fact: Dr. Favale recorded this interview while nine months pregnant with her fifth child!
đź”” Subscribe to Beneath the Headlines for more thought-provoking discussions, and leave a review if this episode resonated with you!
đź“– For more resources: Visit Lakelight.com
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