...I just lack faith.: Dialogue on crises and mental health
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Faith, mental health, and the search for support
When crises shake life, they touch fundamental questions about trust, meaning, and spirituality. The live podcast ...I just lack faith. invites open reflection on mental health and religion in times of crisis.
A conversation between theology and psychiatry
On October 14, 2026, Philipp Katzmann, Theological Director at the Evangelical Hospital Bethel, and Dr. Jan Brüning gen. Brinkmann, psychiatrist and psychotherapist, will engage in a public dialogue. The focus will be on what it means to not lose faith in challenging times – and what this faith is actually directed towards.
Spiritual experience in open dialogue
The event connects religious perspectives with medical and psychotherapeutic experience. Pastor and atheist meet in conversation and ask whether something spiritual can connect them despite different worldviews. This creates space for contemplation, personal thoughts, and joint reflection on crises, hope, and mental health.
Live podcast with room for participation
The conversation will take place publicly in the large group room of the Clinic for Psychotherapeutic and Psychosomatic Medicine at Johannesstift. Visitors are invited to contribute their own discussion points. The event will be recorded and subsequently published in the podcast series Patient Psychiatry.
An evening in the spirit of Mental Health Week
The live podcast is part of Mental Health Week in Bielefeld. The religious and societal dimension of mental crises will not be viewed separately but made visible in their connection. The conversation is aimed at believers, non-denominational individuals, relatives, professionals, and anyone interested in theology, psychiatry, and human crisis experiences.
A faith experience does not have to consist of ready-made answers. Sometimes, religious experience begins where questions are voiced and people listen to each other attentively. The live podcast opens just this space for dialogue, community, and new perspectives.
Conclusion
At Johannesstift, visitors can expect a personal and interdisciplinary conversation about religion, mental health, and the search for support. Those seeking to understand crises from a theological, psychiatric, or personal perspective will experience an inspiring afternoon with room for exchange and personal questions.
