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Brian Zahnd / The Gospel Is Better Than You've Been Told: Union, Pilgrimage, and Unseen Existences

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Apr 14, 2026

Guest

Brian Zahnd

Brian Zahnd, theologian, pastor, and author of Unseen Existences, explores a vision of heaven as a nearby dimension and the soul’s long pilgrimage. He reflects on slow spiritual practice, Jesus weeping at Lazarus as shared suffering, a life-changing prayer, censored writing, and questions of universal hope and pastoral reckoning.

01:08:54

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INSIGHT

Recovering Heaven As A Substantial Reality

Modern Christianity often flattens transcendence into politics or pragmatism.
Brian Zahnd argues recovering 'heaven' as a substantial unseen realm restores a sacramental, non-escapist Christianity rooted in Paul and C.S. Lewis imagery.

insights

INSIGHT

Life As Pilgrimage Toward Union With God

Zahnd frames life as a pilgrimage toward union with God rather than instant spiritual shortcuts.
He opens Unseen Existences with 'We're all born a long way from home' to emphasize long-term formation and telos toward communion.

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ADVICE

Don't Short Circuit Your Spiritual Formation

Don't short-circuit necessary growth by seeking shortcuts; accept necessary mistakes as part of formation.
Zahnd says to his younger self he'd only advise 'don't be afraid' because errors are part of the pilgrimage.

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Welcome and Book Release

01:42 • 1min

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Brian's Current Life and Work

03:09 • 2min

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Writing Style and Themes

05:30 • 49sec

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Family, Grandchildren, and Rhythm

06:20 • 4min

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Recovering Transcendence

10:41 • 5min

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Heaven as a Nearest Dimension

16:01 • 3min

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Pilgrimage and Longing

18:53 • 3min

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Practice, Patience, and Pastoring

21:50 • 3min

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A Prayer That Changed Everything

24:44 • 3min

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Leading a Congregational Shift

Slowing Down on Pilgrimage

32:42 • 2min

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Christological Lens and Community

34:34 • 4min

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Under the Stars and Wonder

39:02 • 2min

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Jesus Weeps: Co-suffering Explored

41:20 • 7min

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Liberty of Co-suffering and Presence

48:11 • 4min

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Censored Fictional Conclusion

Universal Hope and Judas

58:00 • 4min

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The Reverend: Historical Reckoning

01:01:54 • 4min

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Influence and Movement

01:05:43 • 44sec

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Tacos and Closing Banter

• Mentioned in 5 episodes

Confesiones

San Agustín

Las Confesiones de San Agustín es una obra autobiográfica compuesta por 13 libros, escritos entre el 397 y el 400. La obra describe la juventud pecadora de Agustín, su conversión al cristianismo y su profunda reflexión sobre su vida y fe. Agustín relata sus experiencias personales, incluyendo su turbulenta juventud, su encuentro con el maniqueísmo y la astrología, y su eventual conversión gracias a la influencia de figuras como San Ambrosio y su madre, Mónica. La obra también explora temas filosóficos y teológicos, y es considerada una de las primeras autobiografías del Occidente y un modelo influyente para escritores cristianos durante la Edad Media.

#92009

Unseen Existences

Brian Zahnd

In Unseen Existences Brian Zahnd argues that modern Christianity has often lost sight of transcendence, producing a faith flattened by materialism and pragmatism. Drawing on scripture, theology, literature, personal experience, and story, Zahnd invites readers into a pilgrimage toward union with God and a renewed appreciation for the eternal realm that grounds the temporal. He critiques escapist, sentimental, and sensationalist images of heaven and proposes a richer, more substantial understanding of the unseen. The book blends pastoral reflection, theological argument, and imaginative writing to help recover wonder, co-suffering, and hope. Zahnd also includes (and later publishes separately) a fictional concluding piece exploring postmortem rectification and grace.

#230

• Mentioned in 109 episodes

The Chronicles of Narnia

C.S. Lewis

#105

• Mentioned in 178 episodes

Confessions

Augustine

Written in Latin between AD 397 and 400, 'Confessions' is a blend of autobiography, philosophy, theology, and critical exegesis of the Christian Bible. The first nine books are autobiographical, tracing Augustine's life from his birth to his conversion to Catholicism. He recounts his sinful youth, his involvement with Manicheism and Neoplatonism, and his eventual conversion in a Milanese garden. The last four books focus on philosophical and theological issues, including memory, time, eternity, and the interpretation of the Book of Genesis. The work is structured as a series of prayers to God, reflecting Augustine's journey of redemption and his understanding of God's grace and providence.

#215

• Mentioned in 112 episodes

The Great Divorce

C.S. Lewis

In 'The Great Divorce', C.S. Lewis presents an allegorical narrative where souls from a gray, dreary town (representing hell) are given the opportunity to visit heaven. The story follows the narrator and various ghosts as they encounter spirits in heaven, engaging in dialogues that reveal the nature of their choices and the reasons they remain in hell. The book emphasizes that hell is a self-imposed state, and individuals choose to remain there due to their inability to let go of their earthly attachments and sins. Through these encounters, Lewis explores themes of redemption, the afterlife, and the importance of spiritual choices, underscoring that true joy and salvation are available to those who seek them sincerely.

What if heaven isn't a distant destination — but a different dimension that's closer than we think?

In this conversation, Jason sits down with theologian, pastor, and author Brian Zahnd to explore his new book Unseen Existences — and what it means to recover a vision of transcendence in a world flattened by consumerism, politics, and pragmatism.

We talk about why losing sight of heaven turns Christianity into partisan politics. The pilgrimage of the soul — and why nothing real happens fast. What Jesus weeping at Lazarus's tomb tells us about God's co-suffering with us. The prayer Brian prayed on June 4th, 2000 that changed everything. The censored chapter his publisher wouldn't let him include — and where you can find it. Judas, Lazarus, universal hope, and the long arc of love

Unseen Existences, which releases May 19th — Pre-order available now at brianzahnd.com

Check out Brian's Substack: brianzahnd.substack.com

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