Homebrewed Christianity

Tony Jones: the Dazzing Darkness & Wild Places

Apr 8, 2024

In this engaging conversation, Tony Jones, a seasoned author and educator, opens up about his transformative memoir, *The God of Wild Places*. He explores vulnerability in writing, discussing the emotional toll of personal struggles and the search for spiritual authenticity. Laughter intertwines with poignant reflections on faith, loss, and the complexities of church identity. The duo shares heartfelt anecdotes from their Minnesota community, illustrating how shared experiences can nurture connection, even in life's wildest moments.

01:32:51

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Episode guests

Tony Jones

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

The podcast highlights the deep bond between the hosts, showcasing how friendship enriches vulnerable conversations about faith and personal struggles.

Tony Jones discusses the backlash against the Emerging Church Movement, framing it as part of a larger cultural dialogue on faith and community.

His book, 'A God of Wild Places', reflects his journey through personal darkness and nature to find divine presence and meaning.

Deep dives

The Journey of Friendship

The deep bond between the speaker and Tony Jones is evident throughout the conversation, highlighting their long-standing friendship. Their relationship adds richness to the dialogue, allowing for an engaging exploration of personal and professional themes. Both individuals share a sense of humor and vulnerability, which enhances the intimacy of their discussion. The podcast captures the essence of friendship, showcasing how mutual support and shared experiences can foster understanding and connection.

Intro

4min

Nostalgia and New Beginnings: A Conversation on Life and Books

2min

Exploring Vulnerability in Writing

25min

Navigating Personal Struggles Amid Public Life

5min

Navigating Church and Identity

18min

Embracing Minnesota: Community, Memories, and Sledding Tales

3min

Struggling with the Divine

14min

Reflections on Life, Loss, and Lifting Kettlebells

2min

Reflections on Loss and Legacy

17min

I have been friends with Tony Jones for a long time. For over 12 years, he has been working on his memoir, and it was worth the wait. The God of Wild Places: Rediscovering the Divine in the Untamed Outdoors is now out in the world and we got to sit down in his living to record this conversation about it. Longtime listeners will be familiar with Tony since he has been on the podcast over 30 times in the last 16 years, but this visit is different. You will hear a vulnerable conversation between two friends, including challenging stories, laughter, and reflection on faith in life's darkest moments.

If you aren't following our new podcast, Emerged: an Oral History of the Emerging Church Movement, you won't want to miss the latest episode. In it, we are joined by Nadia Boltz-Weber, Brian McLaren, and Doug Pagitt as we dig into all the backlash the emerging church movement generated. We laughed quite a bit while creating it :)

Tony Jones is the author of The God of Wild Places and contributing writer to several outdoors periodicals. He’s written a dozen books, including Did God Kill Jesus? and The Sacred Way: Spiritual Practices for Everyday Life, hosts the Reverend Hunter Podcast, and teaches at Fuller Theological Seminary and The Loft Literary Center. He writes a weekly newsletter on Substack.

Previous Episodes with Tony Jones