51: Josh Patterson: Mysticism, Spiritual Evolution, Merton

Mar 6, 2024

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What happens when you get two deconstructed pastors in a zoom conversation together? A talk that spans from Thomas Merton’s mysticism, faith evolution, open and relational theology, Christian nationalism, and beer. Today’s conversation is the sharing of two deconstruction journeys and the evolution of faith that took place.

Today we talk with Josh Patterson, who runs the (Re)thinking Faith Podcast which explores Christianity and spirituality from a progressive, deconstructed perspective. Coming from an evangelical background, Patterson interviews guests from various faiths and backgrounds to have honest dialogues about questioning long-held Christian beliefs, the intersection of faith and reason, finding meaning outside rigid doctrines, and reconstructing one's spiritual worldview with integrity. Through storytelling, Bible analysis, and respectful discourse, the podcast aims to create a space for those rethinking, doubting, or evolving their faith to engage with the doubts, struggles, and spiritual evolutions many go through.

You can find the (Re)thinking Faith podcast here: rb.gy/ong4jw
Also Josh’s patreon is here: https://www.patreon.com/RethinkingFaith

Time Stamps for the episode:
03:54 Beer
09:46 Kicked out of church
14:02 Evolution of faith and practice
18:45 A mystical experience
23:11 Open and relational theology saved me
27:31 trusting our own experience
31:37 Thomas Merton saved me
37:58 How mystics saved the Church
43:19 Hope, optimism, cynicism and despair
48:53 F#!@, I’m still a Christian
52:43 Voices on the Margins
59:07 Christian nationalism

All Music for this episode is provided by Axeltree

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