The Mythical Jesus Podcast

Today we sit down with Margaret Placentra Johnston, author of Faith Beyond Belief, as well as her newest book Overcoming Spiritual Myopia.   We talk about the spiritual journey hitting on concepts like leaving binary thinking and ethnocentricity, developing an inner authority, and the battle between belonging and authenticity. The post Mythical Jesus: 038: Margaret Placentra Johnston – Moving Beyond Being a Spiritual Child appeared first on Christ of Faith.

I sit down with a dear friend, Elise Brown, to discuss her deconstruction of the unhealthy spiritual system she was raised in seemingly letting go of Jesus.  As she embarks on the Human Journey and get curious about science, Buddhism, Witchcraft, as well as other spiritual and secular systems, she keeps feeling the invitation of… Read More »Mythical Jesus Podcast: 037: Elise Brown – Refinding Jesus for the First Time The post Mythical Jesus Podcast: 037: Elise Brown – Refinding Jesus for the First Time appeared first on Christ of Faith.

Today we dive into Mark 9 and discuss Jesus announcing that some who are alive will not taste death.   And we talk about how Jesus and his peers contemporary in time are always seeing demonic possessions rather than scientifically and medically explained health disorders like epilepsy and mental illness.  We end discussing how in order… Read More »Mythical Jesus Podcast: 036: Mark 9 – Be Last and Serve Others The post Mythical Jesus Podcast: 036: Mark 9 – Be Last and Serve Others appeared first on Christ of Faith.

Mark 7 Today we address Jesus Teaching that what goes into a man does not defile him but rather what comes out of a man.  That what goes in goes into his stomach but what comes out comes from his heart. The post Mythical Jesus Podcast: 035: Mark 7 What Comes Out Defiles You appeared first on Christ of Faith.

Today we are in Mark 6:45-52 and exploring the first instance in the scriptural timeline where Jesus walks on water.  The main take away is to reinforce one of the points of the previous episode , which is that the Christ narrative seems to utilize Christ as symbolic of “the way” or leaning into awaken-ness… Read More »Mythical Jesus: 034: Walking on Water The post Mythical Jesus: 034: Walking on Water appeared first on Christ of Faith.

Today we are in Mark 6:30-44 and the feeding of the 5000 with 5 loaves and 2 fishes.  We discuss the balance between self care and serving others and how even Jesus was being pushed and pulled in his navigation of such.  We then discuss the feeding of the 5000 as a symbolic of the… Read More »Mythical Jesus: 033: Five Loaves & Two Fishes The post Mythical Jesus: 033: Five Loaves & Two Fishes appeared first on Christ of Faith.

Today we are in Mark 6:14-29 dealing with the beheading of John the Baptist.  In this episode we deal with the inability to pin down Herod as a good or bad man, our flaw as humans to over-promise, and also speak briefly about the criterion of embarrassment as a scholarly tool to pin down a… Read More »Mythical Jesus: 032: Baptist Head on a Platter The post Mythical Jesus: 032: Baptist Head on a Platter appeared first on Christ of Faith.

Ego needs to create nice clean boxes for everything to fit in.  It ties itself to forms to identify you and all around you.  Today we discuss that and use Mark 6:7-13 to discuss this.  We also borrow a section from Oprah Winfrey's podcast SuperSoul Conversations where she sits with Eckhart Tolle to discuss his… Read More »Mythical Jesus: 031: Ego and the Formless The post Mythical Jesus: 031: Ego and the Formless appeared first on Christ of Faith.

Jesus teaches that a prophet in his own hometown is without honor in Mark 6:1-6.  What the Christ is really saying is that those who know us most intimately before we awakened will struggle to hear the wisdom that comes from us once we awaken.   The ego is always looking to make sense of the… Read More »Mythical Jesus: 030: Back To Our Hometowns Mark 6:1-6 The post Mythical Jesus: 030: Back To Our Hometowns Mark 6:1-6 appeared first on Christ of Faith.

Jesus in Mark 5:21-43 is faced with having to choose between rushing off to help the daughter of Jairus or stopping to interact with the woman whose issue of bleeding had just been healed by touching the garment of the Christ.  We in our minds prioritize these events but the Christ seems to recognize that… Read More »Mythical Jesus: 029: Empathy For Another's Experience Mark 5:21-43 The post Mythical Jesus: 029: Empathy For Another's Experience Mark 5:21-43 appeared first on Christ of Faith.

We sit down today with my good friend Thomas McConkie. Thomas has so much to offer us. Deeply grounded in Buddhism and meditation and an expert in explaining development and Thomas has a unique perspective on Jesus having chosen intentionally to live out his spiritual life in this moment in a fundamentalist sect of Christianity.… Read More »Mythical Jesus: 028: Thomas McConkie – Soul Changing Work The post Mythical Jesus: 028: Thomas McConkie – Soul Changing Work appeared first on Christ of Faith.

Please consider Donating today to support this work and to help this podcast sustain long into the future.  Simply go to ChristOfFaith.org and click donate today.  Please consider.  Thank You!! Today we discuss the idea of the phrase faith crisis.  What it allows your religious tribe to do and how it may not be helpful… Read More »Mythical Jesus: 027: Faith Crisis and Other Bad Words The post Mythical Jesus: 027: Faith Crisis and Other Bad Words appeared first on Christ of Faith.

Today we sit down with Geoff Fitch, one of the founders of Pacific Integral. Pacific Integral seeks to impact human development, leadership, and social change at the emergent edge of consciousness and action. Geoff and I sit down to talk about human development. What it means to leave a tribe, the fractures that make us… Read More »Mythical Jesus: 026: Geoff Fitch – Developmental Fracture The post Mythical Jesus: 026: Geoff Fitch – Developmental Fracture appeared first on Christ of Faith.

In Episode 25 we explore Jesus' use of parables and how using parables offers flexibility for the audience to learn based on their own stage of development.  We hit on the idea that Jesus interpretation is given to his apostles and closest disciples of which the author of these gospels was not present for.  That… Read More »Mythical Jesus: 025: Parables Spoken With Silence The post Mythical Jesus: 025: Parables Spoken With Silence appeared first on Christ of Faith.

In this Episode of the Mythical Jesus Podcast we explore the affect we have on the world through both time and space.  By time and space we mean this.  How the actions or ripples we initiate have influence across time meaning now and into the future and how what happened in the past brought us… Read More »Mythical Jesus: 024: Seeds Scattered Across Time And Space The post Mythical Jesus: 024: Seeds Scattered Across Time And Space appeared first on Christ of Faith.

Today We sit down with Bishop John Shelby Spong.  Jack is a retired American bishop of the Episcopal Church. From 1979 to 2000 he was Bishop of Newark (based in Newark, New Jersey). He is a liberal Christian theologian, religion commentator and author. He calls for a fundamental rethinking of Christian belief away from theism and… Read More »Christ Of Faith: 023: John Shelby Spong – Value Beyond Biblical Literalness The post Christ Of Faith: 023: John Shelby Spong – Value Beyond Biblical Literalness appeared first on Christ of Faith.

Today we are in Mark 4: 21-25.  We often think when we have Truth on our side or more importantly when we have Wisdom on our side that putting such truth or wisdom out into the world, it will readily be accepted.  Truth be told, such is almost never the case.  Most people being in… Read More »Mythical Jesus: 022: Truth Takes Centuries The post Mythical Jesus: 022: Truth Takes Centuries appeared first on Christ of Faith.

Today we are in Mark 4: 1-8 which is the famous parable of the sower and the seed.  The Seed or the word (Christ within us) is cast about on various landscapes.  The path that is already and still constantly trodden, the ground full of thorny brush, the path covered with stones and rocks, and… Read More »Mythical Jesus: 021: The Sower and The Seed The post Mythical Jesus: 021: The Sower and The Seed appeared first on Christ of Faith.

Today we are Mark chapter 3:20-34.  Jesus does something strange in these verses which is to seem to push back against his family and welcome in those who sit with him as family.   This event feels uncomfortable to us.  This feels anti-Jesus and yet there is a great lesson to be learned here.  That while… Read More »Mythical Jesus: 020: Those Who Sit With You The post Mythical Jesus: 020: Those Who Sit With You appeared first on Christ of Faith.

This Episode is Audio from outside the Mythical Jesus Podcast.  This is a sermon from another faith on “Stages of Faith”. We revisit a series where we have taken audio where those of other faiths work to explain and teach the stages of faith.  Today is the South Edmonton Alliance. Here is a sermon given… Read More »Stages of Faith: South Edmonton Alliance The post Stages of Faith: South Edmonton Alliance appeared first on Christ of Faith.

This Episode is Audio from outside the Mythical Jesus Podcast.  This is a sermon from another faith on “Stages of Faith”. We revisit a series where we have taken audio where those of other faiths work to explain and teach the stages of faith.  Today is a Sermon from Adam Ellis Here is a sermon… Read More »Stages of Faith: Adam Ellis The post Stages of Faith: Adam Ellis appeared first on Christ of Faith.

This Episode is Audio from outside the Mythical Jesus Podcast.  This is a sermon from another faith on “Stages of Faith”. We revisit a series where we have taken audio where those of other faiths work to explain and teach the stages of faith.  Today is the Rock Creek Here is a sermon given in… Read More »Stages of Faith: Rock Creek The post Stages of Faith: Rock Creek appeared first on Christ of Faith.

Today we are in Mark 3:13-19.  This is where Jesus selects the 12.  We talk about the fight between belonging and authenticity and how important friends are.  Friends that allow you to be vulnerable and authentic while still seeing you as belonging beside them.  That in a post ethnocentric paradigm we ought to be grateful… Read More »Mythical Jesus: 019: Finding Friends outside Ethnocentricity The post Mythical Jesus: 019: Finding Friends outside Ethnocentricity appeared first on Christ of Faith.

Today we are in Mark Chapter 3 vs 7-12 where Jesus strangely puts some distance between him and those who need and want him.  We use this as a launching point to describe self care and the need for it.  Once we see even Jesus himself needs his space at times we can feel encouraged… Read More »Mythical Jesus: 018: Self Care The post Mythical Jesus: 018: Self Care appeared first on Christ of Faith.

Today we take a 2 minute 45 second soundbite from Jordan Peterson and give voice to the mystery he speaks of.  We also talk about other voices in this space and why, as various religions battle ideologically over who has the truth and whose view is right, the literal rigid dogmatic dive into the scriptures… Read More »Mythical Jesus: 017: Jordan Peterson – Swimming in Mystery The post Mythical Jesus: 017: Jordan Peterson – Swimming in Mystery appeared first on Christ of Faith.

Last episode we talked about Jesus entering the synagogue and attending to the man with the deformed hand.  Today we tell the rest of the story which is to shine a light on how Jesus seems to always be painted into the corner by his religious leaders and somehow someway uses their lack of vulnerability… Read More »Mythical Jesus: 016: Mark 3:4-6 Anger, Sadness, and Defiance The post Mythical Jesus: 016: Mark 3:4-6 Anger, Sadness, and Defiance appeared first on Christ of Faith.

Today we delve into Mark chapter 3: 1-3 where Jesus enters the synagogue and come across a man with a deformed hand.  We setup episode 16 story which is the tension between Jesus who wants to heal and the Pharisees who do not want to see their rules challenged.  But stay focused here in episode… Read More »Mythical Jesus: 015: Mark 3:1-3 Look for the Helpers The post Mythical Jesus: 015: Mark 3:1-3 Look for the Helpers appeared first on Christ of Faith.

Please consider Donating today to support this work and to help this podcast sustain long into the future.  Simply go to ChristOfFaith.org and click donate today.  Please consider becoming a premium subscriber today and show your support.  Thank You!! Today we get to the end of the 2nd chapter of Mark and dissect versus 23… Read More »Mythical Jesus: 014: Mark 2:23-28 Lord of Sabbath and All Other Rules The post Mythical Jesus: 014: Mark 2:23-28 Lord of Sabbath and All Other Rules appeared first on Christ of Faith.

Would you please consider donating today.  Visit ChristOfFaith.org and click Donate  and would please consider becoming a recurring donator today to show your support and to help keep this podcast going.  Thank You! Today we tackle Mark Chapter 2:18-22 where Jesus is asked why his disciples don't fast as the Pharisees do and even as… Read More »Mythical Jesus: 013: Mark 2:18-22 Old Wine and New Wineskins The post Mythical Jesus: 013: Mark 2:18-22 Old Wine and New Wineskins appeared first on Christ of Faith.

Today we talk about attraction, namely who Jesus attracts and why he attracts them.  We focus on both sides of the coin which are that Jesus is a safe space for those who are willing to expose their shadow.  As well as the people who are ready to expose their shadow see Jesus as a… Read More »The Mythical Jesus: 012: Mark 2:13-17 Those Who Know The post The Mythical Jesus: 012: Mark 2:13-17 Those Who Know appeared first on Christ of Faith.

With 10 episodes at our back and you the listener gaining a feel for this podcast, I thought it best to take an episode and lay out developmental theory in a way that you could grasp the trajectory and the characteristics of this path of growth.  So today we explain human faith development by helping… Read More »The Mythical Jesus: 011: Human Development The post The Mythical Jesus: 011: Human Development appeared first on Christ of Faith.

The Pharisees see the forgiving of sin by Jesus as blasphemy.  Yet can we not all forgive? Visit us at ChristOfFaith.org This Podcast utilizes the New Living Translation to take advantage of its contemporary language if for no other reason.  The mission of this podcast is to help listeners explore the deep shift from Ego-Centricity… Read More »The Mythical Jesus: 010: Mark 2:6-7 Can We Not All Forgive The post The Mythical Jesus: 010: Mark 2:6-7 Can We Not All Forgive appeared first on Christ of Faith.

One of my favorite stories in the New Testament is the story of the paralyzed man being lowered through the roof by his four friends.  We discuss why we as the reader or as the spectator present we are likely to assume one purpose only to be surprised as Jesus going a wholly other direction. … Read More »The Mythical Jesus: 009: Mark 2:3-5 Perceiving Perspectives The post The Mythical Jesus: 009: Mark 2:3-5 Perceiving Perspectives appeared first on Christ of Faith.

Today we talk about compassion.  The conversation centers around how within religious institutions we often frame our effort to work with those outside the tribe as “tolerance”.  We spend time helping us see that Tolerance and compassion are opposites and come from different spaces.   How is tolerance not a Christ-like attribute and how can we… Read More »The Mythical Jesus: 008: Mark 1:41 Moved With Compassion The post The Mythical Jesus: 008: Mark 1:41 Moved With Compassion appeared first on Christ of Faith.

Today on the Podcast we delve into what prayer means through our Western Eyes and what it can mean if we take more of an Eastern lens.  Can we see prayer as involving more meditation, more contemplation, more pondering, more silence?  And if we can, what does that lead to? Visit us at ChristOfFaith.org This… Read More »The Mythical Jesus: 007: Mark 1:35 Contemplation turns to Awareness The post The Mythical Jesus: 007: Mark 1:35 Contemplation turns to Awareness appeared first on Christ of Faith.

Today we dive into Mark Chapter 1 verse 22.  We talk about why others perceived a difference between when Jesus spoke and when the religious teachers of the law were speaking.  We talk about the dynamics of “Outer Authority” vs “Inner Authority” and how that development moves as we grow.  We speak about the confidence… Read More »The Mythical Jesus: 006: Mark 1:22 As One Who Has Authority The post The Mythical Jesus: 006: Mark 1:22 As One Who Has Authority appeared first on Christ of Faith.

In Episode 5 We take a single verse found in Mark 1:12 and unpack it.  “The Spirit then compelled Jesus to go into the wilderness”.  The Wilderness represents so much and we try to help connect some of those ideas. – The wilderness as the gate in transitioning from the first half of life into… Read More »The Mythical Jesus: 005: Mark 1:12 Called Into The Wilderness The post The Mythical Jesus: 005: Mark 1:12 Called Into The Wilderness appeared first on Christ of Faith.

In Episode 4 We take a look at Mark 1:9-11 and the baptism of Jesus.  We talk about how in this earliest recounting of Jesus baptism it is an entirely individual experience to Jesus.  How only later do other authors make this story branch out as evidence of Jesus' authority and calling.  We discuss the… Read More »The Mythical Jesus: 004: Mark 1:9-11 Jesus' Baptism Was His Experience The post The Mythical Jesus: 004: Mark 1:9-11 Jesus' Baptism Was His Experience appeared first on Christ of Faith.

In Episode 3 The Author of Mark in Mark 1:7-8 seems to be taking one last chance to prepare us for Jesus.  John the Baptist makes it clear that this Jesus who is about to enter the scene in only a verse or two is going to take us places that John simply can not. … Read More »The Mythical Jesus: 003: Mark 1:7 Are We Ready to Be Pointed Elsewhere The post The Mythical Jesus: 003: Mark 1:7 Are We Ready to Be Pointed Elsewhere appeared first on Christ of Faith.

In Episode 2 of “The Mythical Jesus: Taking the Christ of Faith Seriously” we tackle the peculiarity of John the Baptist.  Specifically his garb and eating habits.  We talk about how first hearing of John's strangeness we chuckle and think how weird that must of been.  But digging a little deeper we can use this… Read More »The Mythical Jesus: 002: Mark 1:6 Peculiarity of Inside or Outside The Group The post The Mythical Jesus: 002: Mark 1:6 Peculiarity of Inside or Outside The Group appeared first on Christ of Faith.

Today we start a new podcast series called “The Mythical Jesus: Taking the Christ of Faith Seriously”.  This podcast will delve into Faith Development, Cognitive Development, and Biblical Scholarship using the Teachings and figure of Jesus from the New Testament as the framing for exploring these deep ideas.  Today we start with the Earliest Gospel,… Read More »The Mythical Jesus: 001: Mark 1:3 Prepare the Way The post The Mythical Jesus: 001: Mark 1:3 Prepare the Way appeared first on Christ of Faith.