Honest to God: From the spotlight, to the pulpit, to the wilderness
JUL 30, 202452 MIN
Honest to God: From the spotlight, to the pulpit, to the wilderness
JUL 30, 202452 MIN
Description
<p>John Hamilton is a non-theist pastor whose lifelong search for transcendence has taken him from altar boy to rock-and-roll musician, from preaching with certainty into embracing the unknowable nature of God. In this episode, John and I discuss his upcoming memoir, <em>Honest to God, </em>which comes out September 15. Get book info at <a href="https://wildhousepublishing.com/honest-to-god/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Wildhouse Publishing here</a>.</p>
<p><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Z1CbPbn97ZQg8eSf0qEhmiDDwjvUNqMSB1EF-p72_Jk/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Click here for an episode transcript</a>.</p>
<p>Content warning: alcohol & addiction (from 19:00-24:35).</p>
<p>Talking Points:</p>
<ul>
<li>(0:00) Introducing John Hamilton’s memoir <em>Honest to God</em></li>
<li>(5:00) The inspiration and publication process </li>
<li>(11:00) Reaching ego death through transcendence; transcendence in Catholic worship</li>
<li>(16:13) Finding transcendence as a rock-and-roll musician</li>
<li>(19:00) Years of keeping a panic disorder secret; getting in and out of alcohol dependence </li>
<li>(24:35) Becoming a pastor, coming to understand that God is unknowable</li>
<li>(36:10) Looking to humanity's future — more divisions, dying churches; what do we hold onto?</li>
<li>(44:00) Finding "hard hope" while pastoring dying churches</li>
<li>(47:30) Hoping for deeper and more honest conversations; wrapping up</li>
</ul>
<p>Where to find John:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://therealjohnhamilton.com/" target="_blank">therealjohnhamilton.com</a></li>
<li><a href="https://johnhamilton.substack.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">John's substack</a></li>
<li><a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/3GYGuQWj9rbVRy6x0Qtpsi" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">John's music on Spotify</a></li>
<li><a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4dR9sIBKr4aDpvOQGOzECX" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">John's playlist for Honest to God</a></li>
</ul>
<p>____</p>
<p>This show's theme song is "Aetherium" by Leah Horn. This episode also made use of "At Home," "Sunrise, St. Chapelle," and "Closing Time" by John Hamilton, with permission.</p>
