Seeing Death Clearly Jonathan Foster on Grief, Love, and Reimagining Faith After Loss
Jonathan Foster joins the conversation to share the story behind Indigo, his book about the life and death of his daughter, Quincy. This episode explores how a parent’s grief can reshape faith, deepen compassion, and reveal new ways to heal and live consciously. It offers an honest look at love, loss, and the courage it takes to rebuild meaning after tragedy.
He explains how losing her forced him to rethink long-held beliefs about God, certainty, and what it means to love without conditions. Jonathan describes how this heartbreak challenged his theology but also opened space for a more expansive, healing understanding of love that is not limited by religious rules. He shares how nature, community, and honest conversations about death and dying helped him stay connected to his daughter’s legacy while learning to live with deep sorrow. Together, they reflect on the “sin of certainty,” the power of curiosity, and the importance of end-of-life awareness in shaping a more compassionate world.
Jonathan’s background spans decades of ministry, writing, and advocacy. He is a father of three, a former church planter, and a partner of one, with a doctorate in theology from Northwind Seminary. His work, including his leadership with lovehaiti.org and the co-founding of OpenTable.network, centers on love-driven community, inclusion, and human connection. His book Indigo: The Color of Grief has been praised by progressive Christian thinkers for its honest exploration of death, mourning, and healing. This conversation offers comfort, clarity, and a reminder that even in loss, beauty and meaning can still be found.
00:00 Introduction: Exploring Life and Death
00:16 Meet the Host: Jill McClennan
00:41 Guest Introduction: Jonathan Foster
01:34 A Mother's Grief and Appreciation
03:03 The Meaning Behind 'Indigo'
05:06 Faith, Loss, and Transformation
09:57 Navigating Grief and Relationships
17:11 The Divine and Gender Perspectives
20:33 Balancing Masculine and Feminine Energies
22:51 Questioning Good and Bad
24:17 The Absurdity of Defining Good and Bad
26:39 Leaving Religion and Asking Questions
30:48 The Sin of Certainty
34:34 Understanding Sin and Love
37:15 Unconditional Love and Compassion
41:40 The Complexity of Love and Forgiveness
43:10 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
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