The Nonviolent Jesus Podcast:

Episode #12 – "Our love doesn't stop at our own borders" with author, activist and founder of Red Letter Christians, Shane Claiborne

This 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 worsening violence, racism, war making, greed, lies, death and destruction that are overtaking our nation and the world. Shane reminds us: "The closer we are to the pain, the more urgent we respond to it."

John Dear calls Shane one of the greatest Christian peacemakers of our time. Shane has worked on the streets of Calcutta with Mother Teresa, spent time in Rwanda and Iraq, and journeyed with John to Kabul, Afghanistan during the war.

How do we follow the nonviolent Jesus in a world consumed by war, greed, and injustice? Shane Claiborne is an author, activist, and founder of Red Letter Christians—and he doesn’t just talk about it. He lives it. Shane has put radical love into action. He invites us to "proclaim a vision of a better world because our protest is a form of liturgy" and "we can bring joy in the midst of public lament".

If you’re ready to challenge injustice, reclaim Christianity from empire, and take action for peace, this episode is for you.

Listen now and join the movement for a nonviolent revolution!

Learn more at www.redletterchristians.org and beatitudescenter.org

#JesusForJustice #RedLetterChristians #Nonviolence #TheNonViolentJesus #Resist #FaithInAction

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 to have to keep our eyes and ears open for the right time to do the right thing".

This week, Fr. John Dear sits down with a provocative Brian McLaren - best-selling author, theologian, and activist - to explore how Jesus challenged the violent rulers of his day and how we can respond with bold, creative nonviolent action today: "Jesus was an agent of dissent" and "He is the absolute inverse of an authoritarian!"

Brian McLaren is Dean of Faculty for the Center for Action and Contemplation, founded by Fr. Richard Rohr, and a podcaster with Learning How to See, a leading voice in progressive Christianity. He brings deep wisdom from his books Faith After Doubt, Do I Stay Christian?, and Life After Doom. If you're questioning, resisting, or seeking a faith rooted in justice and peace, this episode is for you.

Listen now and join the movement for a fearless, nonviolent faith!

More at www.brianmclaren.net and beatitudescenter.org

#Nonviolence #ResistAuthoritarianism #FaithAfterDoubt #GospelRevolution #TheNonViolentJesus

🙏 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 war theory, and reclaiming the heart of the Gospel—active, world-changing nonviolence.

She states: "We can no longer view war as a solution...now we want to see nonviolence move to the center of the Catholic Church teaching."

Marie has spent her life pushing the Church toward justice, especially in recent years working behind the scenes at the Vatican and on the frontlines of global peacemaking. She calls nonviolence not just an ethic, but a way of life—a force capable of transforming entire societies. She tells us "Jesus teaches us to be more imaginative in how we deal with moments of crisis".

If you care about justice, social change, and living out the revolutionary message of Jesus, this is an episode you can’t miss! Marie Dennis reminds us that "Jesus on the cross is the ultimate witness to nonviolence!" and challenges us to a new way of thinking, a new way of living, and to carry on his witness of total nonviolence in our world of violence."

🎧 Listen in and join the movement for a Church that leads with peace, not war.

👉🏽 Learn more at www.paxchristi.net and beatitudescenter.org

#Nonviolence #Christianity #SocialJustice #GospelRevolution #PaxChristi #TheNonViolentJesus

#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 Jesus calls us:

💠 Blessed are the peacemakers – How do we become fearless, nonviolent warriors for peace in a world addicted to war?

💠 Blessed are those persecuted for justice – What does it mean to stand for truth, even when it costs us everything, as Joan says to "get in trouble for justice or peace" ?

Sr. Joan challenges us to go beyond words and build a real movement—a “Beatitudes Movement” that brings people together in small communities of action, resistance, and deep faith. What if we reimagined the Church as a “new Church of the Beatitudes”—a community of justice-seekers, healers, and changemakers?

The Beatitudes aren’t just lessons—they tell us "how to be a human being". Joan shares that "to me, the Beatitudes are a hunk of pasta mix and my next loaf of bread". Are you hungry yet?

Tune in, be inspired, and take action. Joan encourages us to "find and build your own happiness group".

Sr. Joan Chittister is an internationally known lecturer and teacher, a columnist for The National Catholic Reporter, and the author of 60 books including The Time Is Now; Becoming Fully Human; Radical Spirit; Aspects of the Heart; The Gift of Years; and The Rule of Benedict. She has served as Benedictine prioress and Benedictine federation president, president of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, and co-chair of the Global Peace Initiative of Women.

👉 Learn more about Sr. Joan Chittister: www.joanchittister.org

👉 Sign up for our newsletter and join the movement for nonviolence: www.beatitudescenter.org

#BeatitudesMovement #Peacemakers #GoodTrouble #NonviolentResistance #JesusTheRebel #SpiritualActivism #JusticeForAll

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, unshakable justice, and undivided hearts: "Americans have a hard time with humility, and what goes around, comes around".

💠 Blessed are the merciful – How do we practice radical forgiveness in a world filled with violence and division?

💠 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice – What does it mean to crave justice so deeply that it drives every part of our lives?

💠 Blessed are the single-hearted – How do we stay focused on love and truth when the world pulls us in every direction?

Sr. Joan doesn’t just talk about faith—she lives it. "They will see God...it is so easy! God is manifest in everything of everything!" She’s a Benedictine sister, a fierce advocate for peace, human dignity, and justice, and the author of 60+ books. In this episode, she reminds us that the Beatitudes aren’t just spiritual ideals—they’re the key to finding God, serving others, and living a life of deep joy.

Want to build a world rooted in mercy, justice, and love? This episode will inspire you to take action.

🎧Listen now.

🔥 Get fired up.

🌍 Change the world.

Sr. Joan Chittister is an internationally known lecturer and teacher, a columnist for The National Catholic Reporter, and the author of 60 books including The Time Is Now; Becoming Fully Human; Radical Spirit; Aspects of the Heart; The Gift of Years; and The Rule of Benedict. She has served as Benedictine prioress and Benedictine federation president, president of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, and co-chair of the Global Peace Initiative of Women.

Learn more about Sr. Joan Chittister: www.joanchittister.org

Sign up for our newsletter and join the movement for nonviolence: www.beatitudescenter.org

#Beatitudes #FaithInAction #HungerForJustice #MercyMatters #JesusTheRevolutionary #Peacemaking #SpiritualActivism

🎙 Episode #7: Fr. John Dear & Sr. Joan Chittister on “Jesus and the Beatitudes” (Part 1 of 3)

📆 Drops Feb. 17, 2025

What if the Beatitudes weren’t just comforting words, but a blueprint for a way of life? What if Jesus wasn’t just offering hope, but a call to action in a world of injustice, violence, and oppression?

In this powerful first episode of a three-part series, Fr. John Dear sits down with the legendary Sr. Joan Chittister to unpack the Beatitudes—not as prayers, but as bold, countercultural ways of living that challenge systems of power. "The 8 Beatitudes of life are actually the 8 attitudes for life!" Sr. Joan says. Together, they dive deep into:

💠 Blessed are the poor in spirit– What does it mean to let go of ego and privilege in a world obsessed with power?

💠 Blessed are those who mourn– How do we turn grief into action in the face of war, climate collapse, and social injustice?

💠 Blessed are the meek, humble, and gentle– Why is humility a revolutionary force for peace?

Sr. Joan doesn’t hold back—"The Beatitudes are not prayers of supplication: they are the reality of everything we could get out of life right now". She speaks truth to power as a fierce advocate for justice, peace, and human dignity. A Benedictine sister, activist, and author of 60+ books, she’s spent her life challenging the Church, political systems, and all of us to live out our faith with courage.

🔥 This is a conversation you don’t want to miss.

🎧 Listen now. Get inspired. Change the world.

Sr. Joan Chittister is an internationally known lecturer and teacher, a columnist for The National Catholic Reporter, and the author of 60 books including The Time Is Now; Becoming Fully Human; Radical Spirit; Aspects of the Heart; The Gift of Years; and The Rule of Benedict. She has served as Benedictine prioress and Benedictine federation president, president of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, and co-chair of the Global Peace Initiative of Women.

👉 Learn more about Sr. Joan Chittister:joanchittister.org

👉 Join the movement for nonviolence:beatitudescenter.org

#Beatitudes #RadicalFaith #NonviolentResistance #JesusTheRevolutionary #Peacemaking

The Nonviolent Jesus Podcast

🎙️ Episode #6: Fr. John Dear on “The Nonviolence of Jesus: 10 Essentials”

📅 Drops Feb. 10, 2025

What if Jesus wasn’t just a teacher of love, but a radical, nonviolent activist challenging empire, oppression, and injustice? What if his message wasn’t about passive faith but fearless resistance rooted in love?

In this episode, Fr. John Dear breaks down 10 essential lessons on the nonviolence of Jesus—a message more urgent than ever in our world of war, division, and systemic injustice. From the Sermon on the Mount to his bold civil disobedience in the Temple, from "Put down the sword!" in Gethsemane to the radical new covenant at the Last Supper (“My blood shed for you, do this!” — a total rejection of violence), we’ll explore how Jesus wasn’t just preaching peace—he embodied it in action.

This is more than theology—it’s a call to action. If you’re serious about peacemaking, activism, and following Jesus in a way that actually challenges power and transforms the world, this episode is for you.

Fr. John Dear is a renegade priest, activist, and author of 40+ books, including The Beatitudes of Peace and The Gospel of Peace. He’s been arrested for standing up against war and nuclear weapons, and he’s here to invite you into a new way of living the Gospel—one of courage, justice, and relentless nonviolence.

🔥 Are you ready to follow Jesus in a way that shakes the world? Tune in now.

👉 More from John Dear: www.johndear.org 👉 Join the movement: www.beatitudescenter.org

#Nonviolence #JesusTheActivist #RadicalChristianity #Peacemaking #SocialJustice #GospelAction

🔥 Spiritual seekers, this is an episode you won’t want to miss! 🔥

This week on The Nonviolent Jesus, we welcome Fr. Richard Rohr, one of the most influential spiritual voices of our time. A beloved Franciscan priest, best-selling author, and prophetic teacher, Fr. Richard has guided millions—including Oprah, Bono, and even Pope Francis—toward a deeper, more transformative faith.

As the founder of the Center for Action and Contemplation, his teachings on mysticism, contemplation, and social justice have shaped the way we see faith in the modern world. His books, including The Universal Christ, Falling Upward, and The Divine Dance, have become essential reading for spiritual seekers worldwide. His daily reflections reach over half a million subscribers hungry for wisdom in a divided world.

Now, Fr. Richard returns with his most urgent book yet: "The Tears of Things: Prophetic Wisdom for an Age of Outrage." In a time of chaos and division, what can the prophets teach us about courage, hope, and speaking truth to power?

Join Fr. John as he sits down with Fr. Richard for a powerful conversation on faith, justice, and the prophetic voices we need now more than ever.

🎧 Listen in, be inspired, and discover why Richard Rohr remains one of the most beloved spiritual teachers of our time.

Our guest this week is Sister Helen Prejean, a spiritual powerhouse and one of the world's leading voices against the death penalty. Sister Helen’s journey into activism began in the shadows of death row, and her relentless pursuit of justice has captured hearts around the globe. Sister Helen is a Sister of St. Joseph of Medaille, and is one of the most well-known Catholic leaders in the modern era.

You may know her as the author of the best-selling book Dead Man Walking, which not only became an Oscar-winning movie starring Susan Sarandon (as Sr Prejean) and Sean Penn but also inspired a powerful opera recently performed at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York.

Her courageous and compassionate work has been shared through other critically acclaimed books, including the best-sellers The Death of Innocents and River of Fire: A Spiritual Memoir.

Through her incredible life and ministry, Sister Helen has accompanied eight men to their executions, bearing witness to the dignity of every human being—even in the darkest moments.

Today, she joins us from her home in New Orleans to share her wisdom, her faith, and her enduring hope for a world without the death penalty.

So, sit back, take a deep breath, and prepare to be inspired by one of the world’s most compassionate and courageous voices for justice.

This week’s guest is Dr. Bernard Lafayette, one of the great heroes and leaders of the Civil Rights Movement who was also Dr. Martin Luther King’s assistant.

He is an activist and organizer who was part of the Nashville student movement with Rev. Jim Lawson, John Lewis and Diane Nash; one of the Freedom Riders; played a leading role in the Selma voting rights movement; and then served as Dr. King’s assistant until his death.

He worked closely with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. An ordained Baptist minister, Bernard Lafayette later founded the Center for Peace and Nonviolence studies at the Univ. of Rhode Island which has offered thousands of workshops and talks on Kingian nonviolence and continues to offer a wonderful summer institute each year.

Listen as John and Dr. Bernard Lafayette discuss Dr. King’s 100th birthday and the basics of Kingian nonviolence, and Dr. Bernard recalls his experiences and impressions during his ground breaking work with Dr. King and his own personal hopes for us today.

This week’s guest is actor and activist Martin Sheen, one of our most celebrated, award-winning actors from movies such as “Apocalypse Now,” “Gandhi,” “Selma,” “The American President,” “Gettysburg,” “The Way,” “Badlands,” and many more, and the star of the TV series, “The West Wing,” where he played President Bartlett.

Martin is perhaps the most committed activist celebrity, who has been speaking out against war, injustice, homelessness, and nuclear weapons and advocating for justice, disarmament, and peace for over 4 decades.

Fr. John will ask Martin about his activism, his understanding of Gospel nonviolence, and how his movies and activism have shaped his life and his peacemaking faith journey.

What does it mean to practice ‘Blessed are the peacemakers’ in a world often ruled by violence?

The Beatitudes aren’t just ancient sayings—they’re a bold, countercultural call to action. In this episode, we’ll explore how nonviolence isn’t just the absence of conflict—it’s the presence of love in action and creative activism.

We can create real change, stand up to injustice, and find the courage to choose peace every single day. Together, let’s uncover how these timeless words can guide us to heal wounds, build bridges, and create a more peaceful world.

John reads from the Beatitudes at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount (from Matthew 5:1-11), and reflects on them not as an impossible ideal, but rather as a practical way to transform societal systems of power, justice, and relationships through Jesus’ vision of living a nonviolent life and working for a more just, more peaceful, more nonviolent world.

He will invite us to live out the Beatitudes and become people of Gospel nonviolence, peacemakers, the beloved sons and daughters of the God of peace.

Fr. John Dear is a priest, activist, and author of 40 books including The Beatitudes of Peace and The Gospel of Peace: Reading Matthew, Mark, and Luke from the Perspective of Nonviolence, and the founder and director of www.beatitudescenter.org

See www.johndear.org

What if the key to a more peaceful world is following the path of the nonviolent Jesus?

Join Fr. John Dear—priest, author, activist, and Nobel Peace Prize nominee—for The Nonviolent Jesus, a weekly 30-minute podcast. Each episode reflects on the radical teachings of Jesus through the lens of active nonviolence, inspired by the traditions of Gandhi and Dr. King.

Featuring compelling conversations with spiritual teachers, authors, and activists like Martin Sheen, Joan Baez, Rev. Richard Rohr, Sister Helen Prejean, Dolores Huerta, Shane Claiborne, and many others, John dives deep into the practice of nonviolence to address critical issues. Together, they explore the practice of nonviolence and its power to end war, racism, poverty, nuclear weapons, and environmental destruction—all while embracing Jesus’ call to universal love, compassion, and peace.

Be inspired to reclaim the radical nonviolence of Jesus and work toward a more just and peaceful world and discover how universal love and compassion can transform our lives and the world.

Subscribe now and join us as we follow The Nonviolent Jesus!