The Nonviolent Jesus
The Nonviolent Jesus is a weekly podcast hosted by Fr. John Dear, a Catholic priest, author, activist and Nobel Peace Prize nominee who has been arrested more than 80 times in nonviolent protests against war and nuclear weapons. Each roughly 30-minute episode explores how the radical, active nonviolence of Jesus can be reclaimed and lived today, drawing on the examples of Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Fr. Dear is joined by visionary guests from the worlds of peacemaking, spirituality and social justice, including Martin Sheen, Bryan Stevenson, Cornel West, Sister Helen Prejean, Joan Chittister, Richard Rohr and Shane Claiborne. The show blends conversation and reflection with a call to personal transformation and creative, nonviolent activism.
Episodes
#90: With Fr. Greg Boyle, founder and director of Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles: "If you hate ICE agents, I think your God's too puny."
This week I speak with my friend Fr. Greg Boyle, one of the most well known and beloved religious leaders in the world. A Jesuit priest, he has spent decades accompanying and working with young people and gang members in Los Angeles, and creating new alternatives with them. Fr. Greg is the founder and director of Homeboy Industries and Homeboy Global Network with 300 organizations in the US and 50
#88. Part 1 of 2 special episodes on 9/11: This week with Colleen Kelly of Peaceful Tomorrows, an organization founded by family members of those killed on September 11th who united to turn grief into action for peace.
This week The Nonviolent Jesus podcast brings 2 special episodes:Today (part 1 of 2), I speak with my friend Colleen Kelly, who lost her brother in the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center. A few years earlier, I had baptized Colleen’s daughter at a very happy family event.On Thursday’s episode, (part 2 of 2), I’ll share my own stories as the Red Cross coordinator of chaplains at Groun
#87 John Dear with Professor Todd Walatka of Notre Dame on Saint Oscar Romero: "The true church is the one that stands with the poor".
One of the key prophets, saints, teachers and models for me is Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador who was assassinated while saying Mass in San Salvador on March 24, 1980.I lived and worked in a refugee camp in 1985, and traveled back nearly twenty times, including his beatification Mass in San Salvador. To me, he is the epitome of the modern day prophet who denounces war, poverty, and killing
#86. John Dear with Tim Shriver, chairman of the Special Olympics:"The Special Olympics is a peacemaking movement.”
On this episode of “The Nonviolent Jesus Podcast,” I speak with Tim Shriver, chairman of the Special Olympics, a global movement to end discrimination against people with intellectual disabilities. Tim expanded the organization from one million athletes to over six million athletes in more than 170 countries around the world.After passing on the CEO torch, he wondered how the spirit of the athlete
#85. John Dear with economist, author, pastor and former president of Bread for the World David Beckmann: "We won't end poverty if we can't talk to each other."
This week I speak with David Beckmann, former president of Bread for the World, one of the best groups fighting poverty in the world (www.bread.org). His many books include: Eden Revival; The Overseas List; Grace at the Table; Exodus from Hunger, and his latest book, “Poverty Abolitionists: Faith, activism, and Hope for Difficult Times. www.davidbeckmann.org “In recent decades, the world has mad
#84 John Dear on meeting Franziska Jagerstatter in Austria and reflecting on the life and courage of her husband Franz Jagerstatter, one of the few men who refused to fight for Nazi Germany.
On this week's episode of The Nonviolent Jesus Podcast, I reflect on Franz Jagerstatter, one of the most important saints in history. In the late 1970s, while a student at Duke University, wondering what to do with my life, my grandmother gave me a pamphlet about Franz. I was amazed by the story of a young Austrian farmer, born on May 20, 1907, who in 1936 married Franziska, the local sacristan at
#83 With nuclear activist, public educator and publisher Jack Cohen Joppa: " We have to support the activist who ends up in jail if we are to succeed."
This week marks the 81st anniversary of the US atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. I plan to take part in several demonstrations in California as part of my ongoing penance, prayer and witness against nuclear weapons and God’s call for peace on earth.I speak with my friend Jack Cohen-Joppa, who along with his wife, Felice, has published The Nuclear Resister newspaper since 1980.With over 20
#82 John Dear on the Raising of Lazarus: "We need to to call humanity forth out of the culture of death, war and empire."
On this week's episode I reflect on the Gospel of John, chapter 11, the story of the raising of Lazarus, based on my book, Lazarus Come Forth!I propose that John rewrote the Gospel story to portray Jesus as the God of life who calls humanity in the person of Lazarus out of the tombs of death, out of empire, violence and war, and command us to unbind humanity from the trappings of death and let hum
#81. John Dear with scholar, author and international leader in racial healing Dr. Catherine Meeks: "The culture in the US reinforces the notion that people of color are inferior to white people."
On today’s new episode of “The Nonviolent Jesus Podcast,” I speak with my friend Dr. Catherine Meeks, a nationally recognized leader in racial healing and founder of the Turquoise & Lavender Institute for Transformation and Healing.Her latest book is .Bridging the Rivers of Difference: A Proclamation of Unity in ResistanceHer other books include The Night Is Long but Light Comes in the Morning
#80. John Dear in conversation with author and theologian Fr. Ron Rolheiser: " In my lifetime I've never lived through darker days."
“My mantra now is, ‘Let it go, let it go, let it go,’” theologian Ron Rolheiser tells John DearOn today’s episode I speak with my friend writer and theologian, Fr. Ron Rolheiser, one of the most popular Catholic writers in the world, about his new book, Insane for the Light: A Spirituality for Our Wisdom Years, the conclusion of his trilogy of modern spiritual classics, following The Holy Longing
#79. John Dear in conversation with scripture scholar and author Wes Howard-Brook: "We're faced with the choice between the religion of empire or the religion of creation."
On today’s new episode of “The Nonviolent Jesus Podcast,” I speak with my friend scripture scholar Wes Howard-Brook, author of several great books, including his commentary on the Gospel of John, Becoming Children of God. He also has a free YouTube channel “The Radical Bible,” his study of the Bible as a whole called, Come Out My People!: God’s Call out of Empire in the Bible and Beyond. He also j
#78. John Dear with theologian/author/activist Lisa Sharon Harper: "We were three floors below ground, it was hot and the walls and floor were covered with roaches."
Today I speak with my friend Lisa Sharon Harper. Lisa is a theologian, speaker, author, activist and trainer who has worked in Ferguson and Charlottesville, as well as South Africa, Brazil, Australia, Ireland and across the U.S. Her 2022 book, Fortune: How Race Broke My Family And The World--And How To Repair It All, was named “Book of the Year” by Word and Way. Her 2016 book, The Very Good Gosp
#77 John Dear in conversation with Zoughbi Zoughbi of Bethlehem, Palestine: "The West Bank is a prison, Gaza is a concentration camp."
Today I speak with one of the great peacemakers of our time, my friend Zoughbi Zoughbi of Bethlehem, Palestine.Zoughbi is a lifelong Catholic Palestinian activist, organizer and teacher of Gospel nonviolence. Long ago he founded the Wi’am Center, the Palestinian Conflict Transformation Center in the center of Bethlehem. Wi'am is widely recognized as a place of nonviolent conflict resolution that
#76 John Dear with Mel Duncan, co-founder of Nonviolent Peaceforce about his work all over the world, more recently in Palestine and St. Paul, MN: "Organized nonviolence led to ICE leaving Minneapolis."
Dear friends, This week I speak with one of the great peacemakers of our times, my friend Mel Duncan about unarmed civilian protectors and the Nonviolent Peaceforce that has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2016.Mel has been a leader in developing the practice of unarmed civilian protection for over two decades:He started providing nonviolent protective presence along Nicaragua’s northe
#75 John Dear in conversation with bestseller writer Joyce Rupp on her award winning book "The Years of Ripening": "The Serenity Prayer is the prayer of elderhood, not just for AA!"
This week I speak with the beloved spiritual writer Joyce Rupp.An international retreat leader and conference speaker, Joyce is the author of three dozen bestselling books on compassion, grief, aging in midlife and in the later years, prayers and poems for every occasion, reflections on nature, and a memoir.Among her bestsellers are Boundless Compassion; Return to the Root; Jesus Guide of My Life;
#74 Part 2 of 2: John Dear with authors John Dominic Crossan and Michael Okinczyc-Cruz on their new book "Jesus and Justice" and organizing work on the streets of Chicago: "We have a savage culture".
Today is Part 2 of my conversation with scripture scholar John Dominic Crossan along with Michael Okinczyc-Cruz, about their new book, Jesus and Justice: Organizing for God’s Reign on Earth Then and Now.Co-author Michael Okinczyc-Cruz is the Executive Director and co-founder of the Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership in Chicago where he is a community organizer. He is also a professor at
#73 Part 1 of 2: John Dear with scripture scholar John Dominic Crossan:"Has God given us the freedom to destroy ourselves and the world?"
On today’s new episode of “The Nonviolent Jesus Podcast,” I speak with my friend author and theologian John Dominic Crossan, perhaps the most widely read scripture scholar in the world. This is the first of two episodes with Dom.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
#72 John Dear with Bishop Michael Curry, prophetic leader and best-selling author on the way of God and the way of life: "It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!"
On today’s new episode of “The Nonviolent Jesus Podcast,” I speak 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
#71 John Dear with professor and theologian Kate Common on the two of the Great Heresies, the nonviolent origins of the Hebrew community and her book "Undoing Conquest".
On today’s new episode of “The Nonviolent Jesus Podcast,” I speak with Kate Common on the nonviolent origins of the Hebrew community as she describes in her new book, Undoing Conquest: Ancient Israel, the Bible, and the Future of Christianity (Orbis).Dr. Kate Common is the Assistant Professor of Public and Practical Theology at Methodist Theological School in Ohio, and the Theologian-in-Residence
#70 With Bishop Mariann Budde of the National Cathedral on returning to Minneapolis this January: “There was a sense of resolve, horror, exhaustion, fear and defiance. I've never been part of anything like it.”
This week I speak with my friend Bishop Mariann Budde of the National Cathedral. She received global attention last year during the interfaith prayer service at the National Cathedral when she called upon Trump to show “mercy” to people.Here is that excerpt of her sermon:"Let me make one final plea, Mr. President. Millions have put their trust in you and, as you told the nation yesterday, you have
#69: On the 10th anniversary of the death of my friend and mentor Daniel Berrigan: May 9, 1921-April 30, 2016: "War has become the ultimate antiChrist."
In this episode I offer reflections on the life, witness and teachings of my friend and mentor, the legendary peacemaker and war resister Rev. Daniel Berrigan who died ten years ago this week on April 30, 2016, just before his 95th birthday. www.danielberrigan.orgThis special episode begins and ends with my friend Dar Williams singing her great song “I Had No Right” about Dan, and features recordi
#67 With David Cortright, leading scholar on war, peace, and nonviolent resistance: "we have brought about historic change".
Today I speak with my friend Prof. David Cortright, author and a leading scholar on war, peace and nonviolent resistance. He is the former executive director of SANE, the Committee for a Sane Nuclear Policy which under his leadership in the 1980s grew from 4,000 to 150,000 members and became the largest disarmament organization in the U.S. He also co-founded Win Without War in 2002. He is a visi
#66 With Kerry Kennedy, author, lawyer, and human rights activist on her family, her faith, and her work with the Kennedy Human Rights Center: "We all have ways of making our country better."
On today’s new episode of “The Nonviolent Jesus Podcast,” I speak with my friend Kerry Kennedy, President of the Robert and Ethel Kennedy Center for Human Rights kennedyhumanrights.org. A lifelong human rights activist and lawyer, she authored Being Catholic Now, as well as Speak Truth to Power, Robert F. Kennedy: Ripples of Hope, and the forthcoming Ethel Kennedy: The Extraordinary Life and Bold
#65 John Dear with Jim Finley, author, clinical psychologist, former Trappist monk, and host on Richard Rohr's CAC podcast "Turning to the Mystics": "Jesus is God's complete surrender to us."
This week I speak with my friend Jim Finley, the beloved teacher of contemplation and mysticism.When he was a teenager, Jim entered the Abbey of Gethsemani and was a novice and later a friend of Thomas Merton. Eventually, he left the monastery, became a clinical psychologist, and opened his practice in Los Angeles, where he still lives.He wrote the first serious book about Merton’s spirituality, M
#64 With writer and scholar Daniel Hunter, founder of Choose Democracy and widely read on wagingnonviolence.org: "The goal is for us to be intimidated and walk away".
On today’s new episode of “The Nonviolent Jesus Podcast,” I speak with writer and scholar of nonviolent resistance, Daniel Hunter. He coaches and trains movements across the globe; is a founder of ChooseDemocracy.us which organizes against authoritarianism; and is currently the director of Freedom Trainers. freedomtrainers.net His books include "What Will You Do If Trump Wins,” "Climate Resistance
#63 With Jonathan Kuttab of Palestine, co-founder of Palestinian human rights group Al-Haq and co-founder of Nonviolence International: “Most Christian Palestinians are nonviolent peacemakers, and have been since the 1st century,”
Today I speak with Jonathan Kuttab on Palestine. He is the executive director of FOSNA, Friends of Sabeel North America, the best Christian solidarity group working with Palestinians for peace. Jonathan is also co-founder of the Palestinian human rights group Al-Haq and co-founder of Nonviolence International. A well-known international human rights attorney, Jonathan practices in the US, Palesti
#62 Amy Brooks Paradise, minister and Greenfaith organizer: " We are made for times like this, this is exactly what people in faith are for!"
On today’s new episode of “The Nonviolent Jesus Podcast,” I speak with Rev. Amy Brooks Paradise of Greenfaith.org, a global, multifaith, grassroots network working to protect creation and resist environmental destruction around the world. She previously served as the Education Director for the Regional AIDS Interfaith Network in Charlotte, NC and also as the Pastor for the UU Fellowship of Lake N
#61 Part 2 of 2: John Dear on "Universal Love, Surrendering to the God of Peace": "You want me to get rid of my guns?"
On today’s new episode of “The Nonviolent Jesus Podcast,” I offer part 2 of my reflection on my new book, Universal Love: Surrendering to the God of Peace.If you haven't listened to Part 1 yet, it will be helpful to listen to last week's podcast first. There I tell how the book came about, and why I wrote it.I conclude the first episode with the story of my visit with Archbishop Tutu in Cape Town,
#60 Part 1 of 2: John Dear on his newest book "Universal Love, Surrendering to the God of Peace": "We have more power as ordinary people than we realize".
This week I reflect on my new book, Universal Love: Surrendering to the God of Peace. This is Part 1 of 2 episodes.In this first episode, I tell how the book came about. When the pandemic began, I joined the local gym and the young person who taught the class, whom I call Will, asked me to be his guru, so I started teaching him meditation. He called God, “Universal Love” and one day, Universal Lov
#59 With retired US Army Colonel and peace activist Ann Wright: "Make sure you write your Congress before breakfast every day!"
This week my guest is my friend peace activist Ann Wright. She is a retired US Army Colonel who worked in the military for 29 years, 13 on active duty and 16 in the Army Reserves, as well as a retired US state department official. In March 2003, when the US started massively bombing Iraq, she was one of three state department officials to publicly resign in protest of the US war on Iraq. Since the
#58 With activist, theologian and scripture scholar Ched Myers on "Sabbath Economics" and "Resisting Plutocracy": "Concentrated wealth underlies every form of violence."
This week I speak with Ched Myers, one of the world’s greatest scripture scholars, about his new book on the Gospel of Luke, called Healing Affluenza and Resisting Plutocracy: Luke’s Jesus and Sabbath Economics.Many of us consider Ched’s great commentary on Mark, Binding the Strong Man: A Political Reading of Mark’s Story of Jesus (Orbis Books, 1988), the greatest book on scripture ever written. A
#56 With Mike Farrell from M*A*S*H, actor, producer, writer, and political and social activist: "I don't understand how anybody who believes in Christ could support the death penalty".
This week I speak with Mike Farrell, best known as "Captain B.J. Hunnicutt", one of the stars of the hit TV show "M*A*S*H" in the 1970's, and later "Providence". He is also a writer, director and producer of TV films and has also appeared in several movies, and many, many other television roles. For three years he served as first vice president of the Screen Actors Guild, and as a member of the Gu
#55 MLK DAY With Rev. Andrew Young, activist, author, politician, diplomat, and Dr Martin Luther King's right-hand man: "I was asked to come to Alabama in case MLK didn't show up, but we both showed up".
This week I speak with legendary Civil Rights activist, author, pastor, politician, and diplomat Rev. Andrew Young to mark Dr. King's holiday.Born in 1932, Andrew Young was Dr. King’s right-hand man, his number one lieutenant, who was later elected to Congress, named Ambassador to the United Nations by President Carter, and then elected Mayor of Atlanta for 2 terms, when he brought the Olympics to
#54 Charlene Howard, Executive Director of Pax Christi USA: "Don't be fooled into thinking that we are not gaining ground for the good and for peace, because we are.”
In this episode I speak with Charlene Howard, the executive director of the national Catholic peace movement Pax Christi USA, and I ask her about Pax Christi’s ongoing work for justice, disarmament and peace:Charlene describes herself as a "5th generation African American Catholic":She is also a catechist, and a longtime teacher in the Archdiocese of Washington Catholic Schools. She holds a master
#53 With Robert Ellsberg, one of our best spiritual writers in the country, publisher and editor of Orbis Books and author of Volume 2, Blessed Among Us
Hi friends, I invited Robert Ellsberg, one of our best spiritual writers in the country, the publisher and editor of Orbis Books, and a legendary champion of Dorothy Day and many others saints, to speak about his latest book, Volume 2, Blessed Among Us, a massive collection of writings, two for each day of the year about a legendary saint, recently published by Liturgical Press.Robert Ellsberg is
#52 A Special Year End One Hour Episode of Highlights of the Nonviolent Jesus Podcast from 2025 featuring Joan Baez, Cornel West, Joan Chittister, John Fugelsang, Martin Sheen, Richard Rohr and many more!
This week we have created a special one hour year end episode of highlights of just some of our guests that have contributed to The Nonviolent Jesus podcast this year.Our first year of weekly podcasts has been a whirlwind: so many great stories, personal experiences, deep spiritual (and theological) insights and most of all, words of hope and inspiration which we hope you have and will enjoy, many
#51 With John Dear: "Epiphanies come at night. They are political. The story of the Magi is our story!"
Dear friends, Next week we will be publishing highlights of our 52 episodes here on the first year of The Nonviolent Jesus podcast. Next year we will continue to explore and expand our dedication to nonviolence with conversations with inspirational thought leaders and icons of peacemakers and nonviolent activists. Thank you to everyone who listens and subscribes and shares the nonviolent Jesus in
#50 With John Dear: Did a Holy Jewish mother teach Jesus to be nonviolent? Mary's story of her Advent journey.
This week I reflect on what I call “Mary’s Advent Journey of Nonviolence,” from the Anunciation to the Visitation to the Magnificat.Luke tells her story as the three movements of the spiritual life--from contemplative nonviolence to active nonviolence to the Magnificat as prophetic nonviolence.How did Jesus learn his spectacular nonviolence? Luke tells us it is from his Holy Jewish mother, Mary an
#49 with former Mennonite pastor, blacksmith, author, activist and founder of RAWtools.org Mike Martin: "We're using raw tools, not war tools to transform the world".
This week I speak with my friend Mike Martin, a blacksmith and founder of RAWtools.org, one of the most creative Christian peacemaking projects in the country.To me, this is what the Advent work of "beating guns into garden tools" is all about: getting ready for the coming of peace on earth.Mike Martin is a former Mennonite youth pastor and licensed for this specialized ministry by the Mennonite C
#48 With Congressman Jamie Raskin: ""We're in the fight of our lives and have been since the beginning of this nightmare.”
This week I speak with Congressman Jamie Raskin, one of the strongest voices and advocates for democracy and truth, about movements, democracy, and nonviolence. He represents Maryland’s 8th Con. District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Raskin was previously a state senator in Maryland where he helped abolish the death penalty and gain marriage equality. Before that, he was a professor of con
#47 With network producer, filmmaker and author Gerry Straub: "In this horrible place of screaming kids and gun shots, something beautiful was created.”
This week I speak with my friend, filmmaker and author Gerry Straub about his life making films about extreme poverty around the world, and then his move to Haiti where he founded the Santa Chiara Children’s Center, an orphanage for children in war-torn Port au Prince.Last year, he had to flee Haiti because of the total violence and anarchy that has swept through the country. Since then, he’s been
#46 With Wes Granberg-Michaelson, global ecumenical leader, speaker and author of "The Soulwork of Justice": "Here are my 8 guideposts for activists"!
This week on “The Nonviolent Jesus Podcast,” I speak with long time social justice activist and church leader, Wes Granberg-Michaelson on his inspiring new book, The Soulwork of Justice: Four Movements for Contemplative Action. Wes Granberg-Michaelson is a writer, speaker, and global ecumenical leader who worked in the 1970s and 1980s as the assistant to progressive US Senator Mark Hatfield, then
#45 With Dr. Ivana Hughes, President of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation: "We’ve been really lucky that nuclear war has not happened. There have been many, many close calls.”
Today I welcome Dr. Ivana Hughes, president of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, and one of the leading advocates for nuclear disarmament. She is a Senior Lecturer in Chemistry at Columbia University and serves as a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for the United Nations to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, a committee consisting of 15 experts from around the world who advi
#44 With legendary folk singer/songwriter, activist, and artist Joan Baez: “Carry your light into the shit storm!"
This week on “The Nonviolent Jesus Podcast,” I speak with my friend of 35 years, legendary folk singer Joan Baez. She’s a lifelong activist for peace, justice, civil and human rights, and an equally passionate believer in nonviolence. She has released over 30 albums, traveled the world singing for peace for over 60 years, published a great autobiography called “And a Voice to Sing With,” and recen
#43 With Sr. Simone Campbell, author, activist, attorney and 2022 recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom on her new book "Hunger for Hope": "I love being on fire!" Part 2 of 2
“To be hopeful Is to touch the pain of the world” This week we hear part 2 of my conversation with Sr. Simone Campbell, one of the strongest voices, organizers, and leaders for social and economic justice in the United States. Sister of Social Service, Sr. Simone is a religious leader, attorney, author and recipient of the 2022 Presidential Medal of Freedom. For 17 years she was executive direct
#42 With Sr. Simone Campbell, author, attorney, leader of "Nuns on the Bus" and recipient of 2022 Presidential Medal of Freedom: "Liar, liar, pants on fire" Part 1 of 2
“Everyone has a piece of the work of justice to do, so what’s yours?” Sr. Simone Campbell asks.This week I speak with Sr. Simone Campbell, one of the strongest voices, organizers, and leaders for social and economic justice in the U.S.A Sister of Social Service, Sr. Simone is a religious leader, attorney, author, and recipient of the 2022 Presidential Medal of Freedom.For 17 years, she was executi
#41 John Dear With author, educator and former military Captain Paul Chappell: “The idea that peace is inevitable is dangerous.”
“What if we taught peace as a skill set, as a life-saving literacy, with as much rigor as we teach reading and writing?” asks Paul Chappell This week on “The Nonviolent Jesus Podcast,” I speak with Paul Chappell, an international peace educator and founder of Peace Literacy. A former military captain, he realized that we all need to as well-trained in waging peace as soldiers are in waging war, so
#40 With John Dear on the nonviolent Jesus and the Things that Make for Peace: "America, America, if this day you only knew the things that make for peace!"
I can imagine Jesus lamenting today: "America, America, you who bomb children, execute people, and prepare nuclear warfare, how many times I yearned to gather your children together…but you were unwilling. If this day you only knew the things that make for peace!" This week on “The Nonviolent Jesus Podcast,” I reflect on Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem (Luke 19) where he breaks down sobbing saying
#39 With John Fugelsang, actor, podcast and radio host, comedian and bestselling author of "Separation of Church and Hate": “Why should I listen to Trump and Stephen Miller and reject the words of Jesus?”
This week on “The Nonviolent Jesus Podcast,” I speak with John Fugelsang, actor, comedian, talk show host, and author of the new book, Separation of Church & Hate: A Sane Person's Guide to Taking Back the Bible from Fundamentalists, Fascists, and Flock-Fleecing Frauds (Simon and Schuster).The son of a former Franciscan brother and a nun, John Fugelsang acted on CSI, has appeared on MSNBC and C
#38 With Archbishop John Wester: "Who's really naive? Those who think we can live with nuclear weapons or those who think we can live without them?"
This week I speak with Archbishop John Wester of New Mexico about his pilgrimage of peace last month to Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, for the 80th anniversary of the US atomic bombing, and his ground-breaking work of reconciliation with the bishops and church in Japan. Archbishop John Wester became Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, New Mexico in 2015 after serving as bishop of Salt Lake
#37 with John Dear on Gandhi, and why he was one of the greatest Christians who ever lived...
On this week’s episode of “The Nonviolent Jesus Podcast,” I share the life and lessons of Mahatma Gandhi, India’s great independence leader and the world’s foremost teacher of active nonviolence on a national, global scale.I’ve been a student of Gandhi for 45 years, and studied his collected works for my own anthology, Mohandas Gandhi: Essential Writings (Orbis, 2002).I consider Gandhi one of the
Episode #36 with Stanley Hauerwas, "America's Greatest Theologian": ‘You can kill us, but you cannot determine the meaning of our death.’
This week I speak with world renown theologian and ethicist Professor Stanley Hauerwas. In 2001, TIME magazine named him “America’s greatest theologian.” He taught for years at the University of Notre Dame, before moving to Duke University where he was the Gilbert T. Rowe Professor of Theological ethics at Duke Divinity School. He also served at Duke Law School, and the University of Aberdeen. He
#35 with Rivera Sun, activist and author of "The Dandelion Insurrection": "Find what you want to work on and do that, because we need you in the movement!”
This week I'm speaking with author, activist, and movement scholar Rivera Sun. Her novels include The Dandelion Insurrection and the award-winning, Ari Ara Series. She is the editor of “Nonviolence News” and program coordinator of “Campaign Nonviolence,” an annual national week of action that with over 5000 events across the US around International Peace Day, Sept. 21st. Her articles are syndicate
#34 with Ken Butigan, author, organizer, activist and nonviolence trainer: “We have been preparing for this moment; we have more power than we think!”
Today I'm speaking with Dr. Ken Butigan, author, organizer, activist, speaker, nonviolence trainer, and leader of Pace e Bene, a Franciscan-based peace organization. Ken is Professor of Practice in the Peace, Justice, and Conflict Studies Program at DePaul. He has worked in a series of movements for social change, including campaigns addressing homelessness, nuclear weapons, freedom for East Timor
#33 with activist Brad Wolf on "The Ministry of Risk": "Philip Berrigan was the first priest ever to get arrested in the US!"
Philip Berrigan’s “Ministry of Risk” with Brad WolfBy John DearOn this week’s episode of “The Nonviolent Jesus Podcast,” I welcome former prosecutor, professor, community college dean, and now full-time activist Brad Wolf from Lancaster, Pennsylvania.Brad is executive director of Peace Action Network of Lancaster; co-coordinator of “The Merchant of Death War Crimes Tribunal;” and current chair of
#32 Former priest, author, organizer Terry Rynne: "It all started with Gandhi's salt march and I found two heroes in one day".
*Note: Terry can sometimes be difficult to understand due to a medical condition: a written transcript of this episode is available for reading. This week I welcome teacher, organizer and author, Terry Rynne, author of two important books, Jesus Christ Peacemaker, and Gandhi and Jesus” (Orbis Books).Terry is a former priest from Chicago, who became a hospital administrator. Then from 1983-2003, he
#31 John Dear: "This verse contains the most radical, political, revolutionary words in the Bible!"
This week I share with you a Bible text that contains what I believe are the most profound spiritual teachings ever taught in human history.They are the most radical, political, revolutionary words in the entire Bible, and we know historically that no one ever wrote these words. For the last 1,700 years, we Christians have done our best to pretend Jesus never said them.If we want to follow the non
#30 Michele Dunne, director of the Franciscan Action Network: "I was a diplomat but I was also much part of the empire that approves of force, violence, oppression, and unjust policies "
Episode #30 with Michele Dunne, on Monday, July 28thThis week I speak with Michele Dunne, director of the Franciscan Action Network. Michele is a professed Secular Franciscan (there are over 200,000 in the world) who has had a long career as a diplomat in the Middle East and then a scholarly researcher focused on the Middle East and U.S. foreign policy.From 2006 until 2021, she headed programs foc
#29 with Rev. Charles McCarthy: "Action not motivated by love is ineffective in countering evil and death, my enemy is not God's enemy."
This week I speak with Rev. Charles McCarthy, one of the world’s great teachers of Christian nonviolence.Rev. McCarthy is a priest of one of the Eastern Catholic Churches, Byzantine-Melkite, in communion with the Bishop of Rome, ordained in Damascus, Syria. He is a co-founder of Pax Christi-USA, a Nobel Peace Prize nominee, and author of "The Nonviolent Eucharist", "Christian Just War Theory: The
#28 Art Laffin, peaceactivist, author and Catholic Worker: "Miracles have occured during our protest actions".
This week I speak with Art Laffin, long-time peace activist, author, and Catholic Worker.Art was a member of the Covenant Peace community in Connecticut in the 1970s, then joined the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker in Washington, D.C. in the late 1970s, where he still lives with his wife and son. He has been active in the faith-based nonviolent movements for peace, social justice, disarmament, and hum
#27 Author of the national bestseller "Race Matters", Dr. Cornel West: “We are witnessing the collapse and implosion of the American empire in real time.”
Author, actor, poet, musician, producer, philosopher, theologist and iconic thought leader Dr. Cornel West joins me on this episode; among the many things we discuss, he tells me:“We are witnessing the collapse and implosion of the American empire in real time,.Why does Dr. West think "the country is in deep trouble"?Like millions of others, I consider Cornel West the leading public intellectual o
#26 with Kathy Kelly, Nobel Peace Prize nominee and peace activist: "Don't be afraid, seek ways to embrace the so-called enemy."
As we recorded this episode, Kathy is participating in and coordinating a 40 day fast for an end to the US backed Israeli genocide in Israel, which began on May 22nd. When we spoke, she was placed on a 250 calories a day intake to keep her heart rate up."We need to stand up against US military funding for Israel's ongoing genocide in Gaza.” That’s what Kathy Kelly told me, what she insists upon. U
#25 : Professor Michael Nagler on teaching nonviolence through meditation and spirituality and the destiny of the human race
“Nonviolence is both the deepest core of our being and also the destiny of the human race,” Michael Nagler says on this week’s episode of “The Nonviolent Jesus Podcast.” “All human progress has been a progress toward nonviolence.”Is he right?Michael Nagler is Professor Emeritus of Classics and Comparative Literature at UC Berkeley, and co-founder of the Peace and Conflict Studies Program and UC Be
24 "We are 89 seconds to nuclear midnight": Activist and author Frida Berrigan shares her experiences growing up in a household of full time resistance
24: My guest today is Frida Berrigan, the daughter of legendary activists Philip Berrigan and Elizabeth McAlister, and niece of Daniel Berrigan. She offers us an intimate look into her childhood as a daughter of full time protesters at Jonah House, a community in Baltimore, and her life today.The community at Jonah House protested full-time for decades. Her housemates were regularly arrested and
23: "We're in the middle of a coup": with theologian, Episcopal priest and activist Matthew Fox.
“We’re living through a dark night of our species, our society, and our souls,” my friend Matthew Fox tells me. A world-renowned theologian, Episcopal priest, and long-time activist, Matthew has written over 37 books, including Original Blessing, The Coming of the Cosmic Christ, and The Hidden Spirituality of Men.This episode is for all seekers of peace, spiritual warriors, contemplative artists,
Episode #22. John Dear on the Most Revolutionary--and Most Disobeyed--Teaching in the Gospels: Mt. 5:39
“Offer no violent resistance to one who does evil” (Mt. 5:39)--the most revolutionary—and most disobeyed—teaching in the Gospels, says John DearThis week, I take a deep dive into Jesus’ specific commandment on nonviolent resistance in the Sermon on the Mount, Mt. 5:39-43. I tell how Leo Tolstoy learned the power of this verse from the Abolitionists, and then wrote his classic text, “The Kingdom of
#21 "The nonviolent Jesus hasn't been preached enough in our churches:" Bishop John Stowe of Lexington, Kentucky and head of Pax Christi, on how we can transform a world shaken by violence, terrorism, deepening inequalities, and global insecurity.
Episode #21. "The nonviolent Jesus hasn't been preached enough in our churches:" This week I speak with Bishop John Stowe,Bishop John Stowe of Lexington, Kentucky and head of Pax Christi, on how we can transform a world shaken by violence, terrorism, deepening inequalities, and global insecurity.“We have to sustain each other in hope!”.“It's so essential to root out the violent tendencies within
#20 John Dear speaks with political scientist, author, teacher, advocate and organizer Maria Stephan on how ordinary people can bring about extraordinary change: “The resistance is alive and well across the United States today."
#20 John Dear speaks with political scientist, author, teacher, advocate and organizer Maria Stephan on how ordinary people can bring about extraordinary change: “The resistance is alive and well across the United States today."This week, I speak with Maria Stephan, a political scientist, teacher, advocate, and organizer, who has dedicated her life to the proposition that ordinary people, when org
#19: “The Two Great Inventions of the 20th Century” Legendary Environmental Activist Bill McKibben talks to John Dear about this, his new book, Sun Day and more!
#19 Fr. John Dear Talks with Legendary Environmental Activist Bill McKibbenThis week, Fr. John Dear speaks with best-selling author and environmental activist and organizer Bill McKibben about catastrophic climate change and how to respond by joining movements, taking to the streets, and building political will. It will be jam packed with inspiration for anyone who supports environmental activism
🎙#18: "I see Trump as a deeply traumatized person": Fr. John Dear in conversation with author Kazu Haga on his new book "Fierce Vulnerability: Healing from Trauma, Emerging through Collapse"
🔥This week, John Dear speaks with Kazu Haga, a brilliant young author and teacher of Kingian nonviolence about his new book, Fierce Vulnerability: Healing from Trauma, Emerging through Collapse. Kazu Haga shares with us the six principles of Kingian nonviolence, how to build the Beloved Community and that "we are in a polycrisis and we are not crazy for thinking the world is burning all around us.
#17, “Start a revolution! Shake things up! The world is deaf. You have to open its ears.” Fr. John Dear on Pope Francis—The Most Radical Pope in History.
#17, “Start a revolution! Shake things up! The world is deaf. You have to open its ears.” Fr. John Dear on Pope Francis—The Most Radical Pope in History. Fr. John shares his own outreach to Pope Francis and the Vatican on nonviolence; reflects on the great themes of Pope Francis; and in particular, reviews Francis’ extraordinary efforts at peacemaking and how he started to turn the church back to
#16 "We are experiencing the thrashing of empire and the death throes of capitalism": with Martha Hennessy, worker, activist, and granddaughter of Dorothy Day,
#16 "We are experiencing the thrashing of empire and death throes of capitalism", says Dorothy Day's granddaughter Martha Hennessy in this week's conversation with Fr. John Dear. Dorothy Day was an activist, author, anarchist, and co-founder of the Catholic Worker movement. Martha Hennessy, also a longtime peace activist, lives on her family farm in Vermont and volunteers part time for the last fi
#15: "Contrary to what a lot of people see or think, there is more protest and resistance to Trump than you see in the mainstream media" with Eric Stoner, co-founder and editor of WagingNonviolence.org
#15: "Contrary to what a lot of people see or think, there is more protest and resistance to Trump than you see or read in the mainstream media" with Eric Stoner, co-founder and editor of WagingNonviolence.orgOn Feb 28 up to 4oM people participated in the economic blackout boycott, making it one of the most successful acts of non-compliance in U.S. history. John Dear speaks with Eric Stoner, foun
🎙Episode #14 with Bryan Stevenson: legendary lawyer, author of best-selling book "Just Mercy" and executive director of Equal Justice Initiative
🎙Bryan Stevenson: "If I am successful at all, it is because I got close to a condemned man and heard his song."This week on “The Nonviolent Jesus Podcast,” John Dear speaks with the legendary lawyer, founder and executive director of Equal Justice Initiative, professor of law at New York University law school, and author of the best-selling book, JUST MERCY, which was made into a great movie of t
#13 – The Nonviolent Jesus: "Jesus is a nonviolent general leading a peace revolution:" How to Build a Nonviolent Movement Today with Fr. John Dear
Episode #13 – "Jesus is a nonviolent general leading a peace revolution:" How to Build a Nonviolent Movement Today with Fr. John DearJesus wasn’t just a teacher—he was a movement builder, a grassroots organizer, and a radical leader of nonviolent resistance. This week on The Non-Violent Jesus, John Dear unpacks Luke 10, where Jesus sends out 72 disciples in pairs—not to conquer, but to disarm, di
#12 –The Nonviolent Jesus: "Our love doesn't stop at our own borders" with author, activist, and founder of Red Letter Christians, Shane Claiborne
Episode #12 – "Our love doesn't stop at our own borders" with author, activist and founder of Red Letter Christians, Shane ClaiborneThis week, Fr. John Dear has a dynamic conversation with Shane Claiborne in about public organizing, bold resistance, and living out the Gospel where it matters most—on the streets, in communities, and on the frontlines of change; how we need to respond to the worseni
#11 –The Nonviolent Jesus: "Decide how you want to show up: this is your one and only life!" with best-selling author, theologian and activist Brian McLaren
Episode #11 – "Decide how you want to show up: this is your one and only life!" with best-selling author, theologian and activist Brian McLaren In a time of rising Christian nationalism, oligarchy, and fascism, here at home under the Trump administration, the Republican party and FOX news, as well as around the world, what does it mean to follow the nonviolent Jesus? Brian warns us: "we are going
#10 – The Nonviolent Jesus: "Nonviolence is the only way forward" with Marie Dennis
🙏 Episode #10 – "Nonviolence is the only way forward" with Marie Dennis ❓What if the Church fully embraced the radical nonviolence of Jesus? Can the Church lead a nonviolent revolution? This week on The Nonviolent Jesus, Fr. John Dear sits down with longtime peace activist and Catholic Nonviolence Initiative leader Marie Dennis to talk about shaking up the Vatican, challenging the outdated just wa
#9 The Nonviolent Jesus: "How to be a human being" with Sr. Joan Chittister & Fr. John Dear on “Jesus and the Beatitudes” (Part 3 of 3)
#9: ✨"How to be a human being" ✨: Sr. Joan Chittister with Fr. John Dear on “Jesus and the Beatitudes” (Part 3 of 3)❓What does it really mean to be a peacemaker? To fight for justice? To get into “good trouble” for the sake of love? "How do we form a happy, holy world"? In this powerful final conversation, Fr. John Dear and the unstoppable Sr. Joan Chittister explore the last Beatitudes—where Jes
#8: The Nonviolent Jesus: "It's so easy!" Fr. John Dear with Sr. Joan Chittister on “Jesus and the Beatitudes” (Part 2 of 3)
Episode #8: "It's so easy!" Fr. John Dear with Sr. Joan Chittister on “Jesus and the Beatitudes” (Part 2 of 3)📆 Drops Monday, Feb. 24, 2025❓What if living the Beatitudes wasn’t just about faith—but about transforming the world?In this second powerful conversation, Fr. John Dear and the fearless Sr. Joan Chittister dive into the next three Beatitudes, showing how they call us to radical compassion,
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