Episode 91: Mysticism, Empire, and Finding Our Way Back to Love w/ Joash P Thomas

Our friend Joash P. Thomas is back on Spirit Outspoken. He's a priest, a public theologian, and the author of The Justice of Jesus, and this conversation goes deep into mysticism, empire, and the parts of church history nobody taught us in Sunday school.We start with Mother Mary. Joash opens up about his own mystical experiences with her, and how becoming open to acknowledging the saints can be such a beautiful, supplemental expansion of our faith. From there we talk guardian angels, patron saints, and the communion of saints described in Hebrews 12.Then we go deeper into history. Joash walks us through the colonial roots of empire, including the surprising, colonial era origin of the phrase "the Great Commission," and why understanding that history frees us from the pressure to convert anyone to our way of thinking. The beauty in what he reveals brings us back to the whole point of the gospels, which is simply to love.If you've ever felt like your mysticism and your Christianity were at odds, or wondered where some of these teachings actually came from, this episode is for you.Topics covered: Mother Mary and mystical experience, guardian angels and patron saints, the communion of saints, the colonial history of empire and the Great Commission, and rediscovering love as the true point of the gospel.Follow Joash P. Thomas: @joashpthomas (Instagram) / @joashpthomas (TikTok)Follow his SubstackVisit his WebsiteOrder his book, The Justice of Jesus, on AmazonIf you loved this conversation, make sure you're subscribed so you don't miss what's coming next, and here are a few more episodes we think you'll want to check out.Episode 55: Decolonizing the Church: The Justice of Jesus w/ Joash P ThomasEpisode 86: When the Church Gave Permission for ColonizationSupport the showJoin the Spirit 360! Online CommunitySpirit Outspoken Website for Events, Resources, and More Info  Follow Spirit Outspoken on Instagram  Follow Spirit Outspoken on TikTok  Watch Episodes on YouTube Subscribe to Spirit Outspoken Apple Podcast  Subscribe to Spirit Outspoken Spotify Podcast