jonathan_foster

As of this posting, it is Holy Saturday, that strange and awkward day in between the Crucifixion and the Resurrection. In some ways, I think we are all "Holy Saturday People." We're all living in the in-between time. During this time, it's important to grieve what we've lost. Not to make us feel bad, but to help us see our limits, name pain, and define the reality in our lives. To that e...

In this episode we talk about racism, scapegoating, reparations, our imitative desires, Rene Girard and more. Yes, it’s a full one. I’m thankful you get to hear Peter Rollins, James Alison, and Julia Robinson Moore weigh in on these subjects. Their input here and in their writings are helping me decide what it is I’m believing. Make sure you find out more about them at their respective websites, a...

The title of this episode borrows yet another line from Karl Marx. We’ll go further into “the texture” that is, the life and anti-life that I imagine is woven into the fabric of everything. We'll also talk about what the serpent might have been and where it came from in Genesis 3 and how defining sin is a very difficult endeavor. The highlight, of course, is hearing from Peter Rollins. He’ll talk...

1A is a continuation of the episode 1 that begins to lay out ideas about why we feel the need to pretend but why pretending is pointless! It's the greatest news. That's right, grace wrecks the illusion we have to be better than we are. And grace wrecks those who perpetuate the condition that requires illusions. And who might they be? Sigh, mostly, the church. I know, it's wild. Thanks to my guests...

This is the first of a two part episode (1 and 1A) that begins to lay out ideas about why we feel the need to pretend but why pretending is pointless! It's the greatest news. That's right, grace wrecks the illusion we have to be better than we are. And grace wrecks those who perpetuate the condition that requires illusions. And who might they be? Sigh, mostly, the church. I know, it's wild. Thanks...

Welcome back to another season of the podcast! We’re obviously in a very difficult time in the life of our world right now. I hope that some of the stuff I offer up here will help you shift or re-think your role or God’s role in the middle of all that is going on. These episodes weren’t created with Corona Virus in mind, but I do think there’s thinking here that might help the Christian faith be m...

A timely conversation with best selling author, Dr Thomas Jay Oord about praying, dealing with Covid-19, miracles and partnering with God. Find more about Tom at http://thomasjayoord.com and @thomasjayoord. Meanwhile, Season 2 of the podcast is in production. I've got some great interviews, and ideas, and most important... music! jonathan_foster substack jonathan_foster instagram lovehaiti.org the...

In between season one and two I give you Interlude. It's an attempt to offer some prayers, some ancient, some brand new to help us all enter into the pain of this world. There is no hope around the pain, there's only hope through the pain. The anxiety we feel over the current virus is debilitating to many. May these prayers help you calm yourself, listen to yourself, and allow love to be embodied...

Wow, season uno is concluding. 10 weeks went by fast! Thanks for playing a part. This episode attempts to give some quick responses to some of the more common questions I get about the Bible and the whole topic of homosexuality. But honestly, you need to be reading/listening to Pete Enns, Will Gafney, Barbara Brown Taylor, John Walton, James Alison, Denny Weaver, Walter Brueggemann and lots of oth...

It’s great to be with Dr. Oord this week. Find out more at www.thomasjayoord.com, including his most recent book, “God Can’t.” Dr. Oord has been super helpful for me, both with my general theological thinking and also personally with endorsing my latest book. I hope you are aware of LQVE.org. It’s our relationship with Haitians. Haiti is going through extremely challenging times right now, but we...

Hey, the new book is live! Find it on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iBooks. In this episode I talk about the three reasons I decided to write, “Questions About Sexuality that Got Me Uninvited from My Denomination.” And when you purchase the book you can find a handy discussion guide, plus a handful of really strong resources in the bibliography section. (and IDK why the cover isn't showing up righ...

Well, I’ve talked a lot about love in the last couple years of my life, but the more I talk about love the more the religious people want to talk to me about hell. It’s strange to me, but this podcast helps me understand better what’s going on. I hope it will help you as well. (Spoiler alert: If hell is the deepest thing in your life you will be forced to send people there. I just happen to think...

I take a slight side trail this episode trying to give some support to lots of us who are dealing with friends, family members, collogues, mentors, or just religious people in general who are struggling with the choices we are making. It’s interesting… what we need from them is the very thing they need from us. Feel free to track me down with questions and comments at the sites listed in my profil...

On this episode I get to talk to Lindsey Paris-Lopez. Find out more about her (and Rene Girard) at www.ravenfoundation.org. There is a growing number of resources out there either about the life of or revolving around the ideas of Rene Girard. Some of my favorites include books like, “Reading the Bible with Rene Girard” (Michael Hardin), “Evolution of Desire” (Cynthia Haven) and “Stricken by God?...

I’m not sure I would have ever been able to arrive at new ideas about God (which I desperately needed) without wrestling with Rene Girard’s mimetic theory and scapegoating. There are a growing number of resources out there revolving around the ideas of Rene Girard. Some of my favorites include books like, “I See Satan Fall Like Lightning,” (Rene Girard/William James) “Reading the Bible with Rene G...

This is the second of a two-part conversation with Dr. Johan Tredoux. We unpack theology in a way that reveals maybe the truest reason why I’m in favor of viewing everyone as worthy of God’s unconditional love and how my former ecclesial hierarchy couldn’t quite embrace that idea. I’m thankful you get to listen in on what we talk about here, and I hope it makes you think. Johan has his Ph. D. from...

This is the first of a two-part conversation with Johan Tredoux. He has his Ph. D. from the University of Manchester. He’s the author of Mildred Bangs Wynkoop: Her Life and Thought. Find it on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Mildred-Bangs-Wynkoop-Life-Thought/dp/0834136511(and hey, you might as well purchase through smile.amazon and designate LQVE as the benefactor.) Johan has been a strong theologi...

1-The One About How Non-Sacrificial Love is our Only Hope Let’s see how dramatic I can make this. OK, maybe the most important discovery of my lifetime is the idea that Jesus died neither to gain God’s attention nor to get him to forgive us. I try and introduce that idea in this episode while letting you know you the personal reason why I was desperate to locate God’s proximity on Good Friday. The...