Listen on Apple, Spotify, all major platforms,
and the National Catholic Reporter

May 25th, 2026

Episode #73, John Dear in conversation with John Dominic Crossan, Part 1 of 2

On today’s new episode of “The Nonviolent Jesus Podcast,” John Dear speaks with author and theologian John Dominic Crossan, perhaps the most widely read scripture scholar in the world. This is the first of two episodes.

John Dominic Crossan is an Irish-born biblical scholar with post-doctoral diplomas in exegesis from Rome’s Pontifical Biblical Institute and in archeology from Jerusalem’s École Biblique. He has been a Catholic priest, a Co-Chair of the Jesus Seminar, and a President of the Society of Biblical Literature, and is professor emeritus of religious studies at DePaul university in Chicago. His many books include: God and Empire: Jesus Against Rome; How to read the Bible and Still Be a Christian; Resurrecting Easter; Excavating Jesus; The Birth of Christianity; Who Killed Jesus?; The Historical Jesus; The Essential Jesus; Jesus: A Revolutionary Biography; and his memoir, A Long Way from Tipperary.

In their conversation, Crossan tells his fascinating journey to “the historical Jesus,” and how this became a global movement. “I can’t not think of Jesus while living in this country and what’s happening today,” he says. “What is hopeful now for the first time is that we are asking the right question: the historical Jesus is not just for Christians. The story isn’t just Jesus against Rome; it’s about God’s creation against our civilization which is based entirely on violence.”

At 92, after a lifetime of writing about the historical Jesus, he wonders about the fate of humanity. “Are we a sustainable species?” he asks. “That’s the question. Or has God given us the freedom to destroy ourselves and our world?” Part Two will discuss his next book with Michael Okinczyc-Cruz, Jesus and Justice: Organizing for God’s Reign on Earth Then and Now. Listen in and be inspired! God bless you.

Next week…

The Nonviolent Jesus Podcast welcomes back John Dominic Crossan! For more information, visit here.

Listen on Apple, Spotify, all major platforms,
and the National Catholic Reporter

May 18th, 2026

Episode #72, John Dear in conversation with Bishop Michael Curry

On today’s new episode of “The Nonviolent Jesus Podcast,” John Dear speaks with legendary Bishop Michael Curry who served as the 27th presiding bishop and primate of the Episcopal Church. Elected in 2015, he retired in 2024. Throughout his forty years of ordained ministry, Bishop Curry has been a prophetic leader, particularly in the areas of racial reconciliation, climate change, evangelism, immigration policy, and marriage equality. Bishop Curry is the author of five books, including the best-seller, Love Is the Way, as well as, The Power of Love; Crazy Christians; and Following the Way of Jesus. He captured the world’s attention when he preached at Harry and Megan’s wedding at Westminster Abbey and called the whole world to love.

“A Christianity that doesn’t take the way of Jesus, his way of radical unconditional love, his way of nonviolent living,” he says, “always goes wrong. Sacrificial love is the way of God and the way of life! As Duke Ellington said, ‘It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing!’”

“Jesus organized a movement,” he continues. “Jesus organizes us to join the movement of God, which is bigger than all religions put together. That’s where love and life are found, where the good and the loving and the compassionate rule.” He invites us to become part of God’s movement in the world.

“If we do what is necessary to establish peace and enable justice, we are aligning ourselves with the goodness of God,” he concludes. This is “a long distance walk, so we need each other, we need community.” Then he sang the old spiritual: “Walk together children, and don’t you get weary; there’s a great camp meeting in the Promised Land!” Listen in and be inspired! God bless you.

Next week…

The Nonviolent Jesus Podcast welcomes John Dominic Crossan! For more information, visit here.

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