The Unintentional Heretic Thu, 16 Jul 2026 00:00:11 -0400 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2617303 en-us © 2026 The Unintentional Heretic yes 641d8975-f2ae-5d16-89df-9c5494b7f427 gregoryfarrand@gmail.com Greg Farrand episodic false The Unintentional Heretic is a podcast for spiritual explorers, questioners, and ever-expanders who believe faith should be deep enough to survive honest inquiry. Together we’ll explore theology, spirituality, doubt, and the evolving search for truth—trusting that God is not threatened by our questions, and that sometimes heresy is just tomorrow’s orthodoxy.

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) Greg Farrand gregoryfarrand@gmail.com https://storage.buzzsprout.com/pjas91kr1sfcsopzgttyz60pqwup?.jpg The Unintentional Heretic https://www.buzzsprout.com/2617303 Greg Farrand Interview with Josh Patterson - The God Who Loves Without Control: Open and Relational Theology, Suffering, and the End of Omnipotence Interview with Josh Patterson - The God Who Loves Without Control: Open and Relational Theology, Suffering, and the End of Omnipotence In this episode of The Unintentional Heretic, I sit down with Josh Patterson, host of of the popular podcast Rethinking Faith and Director for Creative Content for Ilia Delio’s World Institute for Science, Religion and Culture, to explore the open and relational theology claim that God is not all powerful in the controlling sense many of us inherited. Together we ask whether letting go of omnipotence might help us speak more honestly about suffering, freedom, love, and the God revealed in Jesus.

Would love to hear your thoughts!

]]> In this episode of The Unintentional Heretic, I sit down with Josh Patterson, host of of the popular podcast Rethinking Faith and Director for Creative Content for Ilia Delio’s World Institute for Science, Religion and Culture, to explore the open and relational theology claim that God is not all powerful in the controlling sense many of us inherited. Together we ask whether letting go of omnipotence might help us speak more honestly about suffering, freedom, love, and the God revealed in Jesus.

Would love to hear your thoughts!

]]> Greg Farrand Buzzsprout-19397334 Thu, 16 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400 2973 1 28 full false The Gospel of Thomas: Heresy or Hidden Wisdom? The Gospel of Thomas: Heresy or Hidden Wisdom? In this episode of The Unintentional Heretic, we explore the Gospel of Thomas, an ancient collection of sayings attributed to Jesus that did not make it into the Bible but still asks deeply Christian questions about wisdom, awakening, and the kingdom within. Rather than romanticizing it as the “real” Gospel or rejecting it as dangerous heresy, we consider how Thomas can be read with discernment as a strange and compelling invitation to seek, wake up, and discover the life of God nearer than we think.

Would love to hear your thoughts!

]]> In this episode of The Unintentional Heretic, we explore the Gospel of Thomas, an ancient collection of sayings attributed to Jesus that did not make it into the Bible but still asks deeply Christian questions about wisdom, awakening, and the kingdom within. Rather than romanticizing it as the “real” Gospel or rejecting it as dangerous heresy, we consider how Thomas can be read with discernment as a strange and compelling invitation to seek, wake up, and discover the life of God nearer than we think.

Would love to hear your thoughts!

]]> Greg Farrand Buzzsprout-19386874 Mon, 13 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400 1206 1 27 full false Left Behind: The Modern Myth That Terrified a Generation Left Behind: The Modern Myth That Terrified a Generation In this episode of The Unintentional Heretic, we explore how the rapture, often assumed to be ancient Christian teaching, is actually a modern theological invention that reshaped the imagination of generations of evangelicals through fear, prophecy charts, and the anxiety of being “left behind.” Instead of a Gospel of escape, we return to the deeper Christian hope of incarnation, resurrection, and new creation, where God is not abandoning the world but making all things new.

Would love to hear your thoughts!

]]> In this episode of The Unintentional Heretic, we explore how the rapture, often assumed to be ancient Christian teaching, is actually a modern theological invention that reshaped the imagination of generations of evangelicals through fear, prophecy charts, and the anxiety of being “left behind.” Instead of a Gospel of escape, we return to the deeper Christian hope of incarnation, resurrection, and new creation, where God is not abandoning the world but making all things new.

Would love to hear your thoughts!

]]> Greg Farrand Buzzsprout-19389702 Thu, 09 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400 831 1 26 full false Interview with Bishop Sam Rodman: The Problem with Certainty - Truth, Faith, and the Lenses We Live By Interview with Bishop Sam Rodman: The Problem with Certainty - Truth, Faith, and the Lenses We Live By In this episode of The Unintentional Heretic, I sit down with Bishop Sam Rodman, the 12th Bishop of the Diocese of North Carolina, to explore epistemology, the deeply human question of how we know what we know. Together we talk about the lenses that shape how we see reality, how Scripture, tradition, reason, experience, community, and the Holy Spirit help us discern truth, and why humility may be one of the most faithful postures in a world addicted to certainty.

Would love to hear your thoughts!

]]> In this episode of The Unintentional Heretic, I sit down with Bishop Sam Rodman, the 12th Bishop of the Diocese of North Carolina, to explore epistemology, the deeply human question of how we know what we know. Together we talk about the lenses that shape how we see reality, how Scripture, tradition, reason, experience, community, and the Holy Spirit help us discern truth, and why humility may be one of the most faithful postures in a world addicted to certainty.

Would love to hear your thoughts!

]]> Greg Farrand Buzzsprout-19426239 Mon, 06 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400 2849 full false America at 250: Gratitude, Truth, and Hope America at 250: Gratitude, Truth, and Hope In this brief Fourth of July reflection, The Unintentional Heretic explores how Christians can love their country with both gratitude and honesty, celebrating America’s ideals while telling the truth about its contradictions. True patriotism is not silence or triumphalism, but a faithful commitment to justice, mercy, and the dignity of every human being.

Would love to hear your thoughts!

]]> In this brief Fourth of July reflection, The Unintentional Heretic explores how Christians can love their country with both gratitude and honesty, celebrating America’s ideals while telling the truth about its contradictions. True patriotism is not silence or triumphalism, but a faithful commitment to justice, mercy, and the dignity of every human being.

Would love to hear your thoughts!

]]> Greg Farrand Buzzsprout-19441993 Fri, 03 Jul 2026 13:00:00 -0400 189 full false God Is Not in Control, and That Might Be Good News: Omnipotence, Suffering, and the Power of Uncontrolling Love God Is Not in Control, and That Might Be Good News: Omnipotence, Suffering, and the Power of Uncontrolling Love In this episode of The Unintentional Heretic, we explore whether God must be understood as all powerful in the traditional sense, especially in light of suffering, tragedy, and the painful claim that even the death of a child is somehow “God’s will.” Moving through Scripture, the problem of evil, process theology, and Thomas Jay Oord’s idea of amipotence, we consider whether a more faithful vision of God may be not all controlling, but all loving.

Would love to hear your thoughts!

]]> In this episode of The Unintentional Heretic, we explore whether God must be understood as all powerful in the traditional sense, especially in light of suffering, tragedy, and the painful claim that even the death of a child is somehow “God’s will.” Moving through Scripture, the problem of evil, process theology, and Thomas Jay Oord’s idea of amipotence, we consider whether a more faithful vision of God may be not all controlling, but all loving.

Would love to hear your thoughts!

]]> Greg Farrand Buzzsprout-19390785 Thu, 02 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400 1131 1 25 full false When the Flag Replaces the Cross: Christian Nationalism and the Gospel According to Empire When the Flag Replaces the Cross: Christian Nationalism and the Gospel According to Empire In this episode of The Unintentional Heretic, we explore Christian nationalism as a distortion of the Gospel that confuses love of country with worship of country and replaces the way of Jesus with the logic of empire. From Pharaoh to Rome to Constantine to America’s own myths of divine destiny, we look at how sacred language has been used to justify power, violence, and exclusion, and why the kingdom of God calls us to something far more humble, truthful, and Christlike.

Would love to hear your thoughts!

]]> In this episode of The Unintentional Heretic, we explore Christian nationalism as a distortion of the Gospel that confuses love of country with worship of country and replaces the way of Jesus with the logic of empire. From Pharaoh to Rome to Constantine to America’s own myths of divine destiny, we look at how sacred language has been used to justify power, violence, and exclusion, and why the kingdom of God calls us to something far more humble, truthful, and Christlike.

Would love to hear your thoughts!

]]> Greg Farrand Buzzsprout-19362051 Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400 1501 1 24 full false Mary Magdalene: Apostle, Sinner, or Threat? Mary Magdalene: Apostle, Sinner, or Threat? In this episode of The Unintentional Heretic, we explore how Mary Magdalene was transformed by centuries of church tradition from the first witness to the resurrection into a symbol of sexual sin and repentance. Her story reveals how easily the church has distorted women’s authority, and how the risen Christ entrusted the first Easter proclamation not to Peter, not to Paul, but to Mary.

Would love to hear your thoughts!

]]> In this episode of The Unintentional Heretic, we explore how Mary Magdalene was transformed by centuries of church tradition from the first witness to the resurrection into a symbol of sexual sin and repentance. Her story reveals how easily the church has distorted women’s authority, and how the risen Christ entrusted the first Easter proclamation not to Peter, not to Paul, but to Mary.

Would love to hear your thoughts!

]]> Greg Farrand Buzzsprout-19362682 Thu, 25 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400 1112 1 23 full false When the Church Split in Two: The Great Schism and the Fracturing of Christian Orthodoxy When the Church Split in Two: The Great Schism and the Fracturing of Christian Orthodoxy In this episode of The Unintentional Heretic, we explore the Great Schism of 1054, when the Eastern and Western churches formally split after centuries of theological, political, cultural, and linguistic tension. It is a reminder that what we often call “orthodoxy” has always been shaped by history, power, personality, and disagreement, and that the divisions we inherit are not always as inevitable as they seem.

Would love to hear your thoughts!

]]> In this episode of The Unintentional Heretic, we explore the Great Schism of 1054, when the Eastern and Western churches formally split after centuries of theological, political, cultural, and linguistic tension. It is a reminder that what we often call “orthodoxy” has always been shaped by history, power, personality, and disagreement, and that the divisions we inherit are not always as inevitable as they seem.

Would love to hear your thoughts!

]]> Greg Farrand Buzzsprout-19357091 Mon, 22 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400 574 1 22 full false Interview with Bishop Anne Hodges-Copple: The Truth Was There All Along: Women, Authority, and the Church’s Slow Awakening Interview with Bishop Anne Hodges-Copple: The Truth Was There All Along: Women, Authority, and the Church’s Slow Awakening In this episode of The Unintentional Heretic, I sit down with Bishop Anne Hodges Copple, a bishop in the Episcopal Church, to explore authority and the role of women in the church. Bishop Anne reminds us that the full dignity, calling, and leadership of women have been present from the beginning, woven through Scripture from Genesis 1 onward, and that the church is still slowly awakening to a truth God has been revealing all along.

Would love to hear your thoughts!

]]> In this episode of The Unintentional Heretic, I sit down with Bishop Anne Hodges Copple, a bishop in the Episcopal Church, to explore authority and the role of women in the church. Bishop Anne reminds us that the full dignity, calling, and leadership of women have been present from the beginning, woven through Scripture from Genesis 1 onward, and that the church is still slowly awakening to a truth God has been revealing all along.

Would love to hear your thoughts!

]]> Greg Farrand Buzzsprout-19331034 Thu, 18 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400 2825 1 21 full false St. Benedict and the Rule That Quietly Changed the World St. Benedict and the Rule That Quietly Changed the World This episode of The Unintentional Heretic explores St. Benedict and the Rule of St. Benedict as one of Christianity’s quiet revolutions, a way of life rooted in listening, prayer, work, humility, stability, hospitality, and shared community. In a culture shaped by speed, noise, anxiety, self expression, and constant distraction, Benedict invites us into a different rhythm, one that forms us slowly into people of deeper presence, peace, and love.

Would love to hear your thoughts!

]]> This episode of The Unintentional Heretic explores St. Benedict and the Rule of St. Benedict as one of Christianity’s quiet revolutions, a way of life rooted in listening, prayer, work, humility, stability, hospitality, and shared community. In a culture shaped by speed, noise, anxiety, self expression, and constant distraction, Benedict invites us into a different rhythm, one that forms us slowly into people of deeper presence, peace, and love.

Would love to hear your thoughts!

]]> Greg Farrand Buzzsprout-19326964 Tue, 16 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400 927 1 20 full false The Inquisition: When Faith Became Fear The Inquisition: When Faith Became Fear This episode of The Unintentional Heretic explores the Inquisition as one of the most sobering examples in Christian history of what happens when faith becomes entangled with fear, certainty, institutional power, and coercion. We look at the medieval, Spanish, and Roman Inquisitions and ask how a tradition centered on the mercy and compassion of Jesus could come to justify forced conversions, torture, and even death in the name of protecting truth — and what that history still warns us about today.

Would love to hear your thoughts!

]]> This episode of The Unintentional Heretic explores the Inquisition as one of the most sobering examples in Christian history of what happens when faith becomes entangled with fear, certainty, institutional power, and coercion. We look at the medieval, Spanish, and Roman Inquisitions and ask how a tradition centered on the mercy and compassion of Jesus could come to justify forced conversions, torture, and even death in the name of protecting truth — and what that history still warns us about today.

Would love to hear your thoughts!

]]> Greg Farrand Buzzsprout-19320758 Mon, 15 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400 621 1 19 full false Theosis: Do We Become Divine? Theosis: Do We Become Divine? This episode of The Unintentional Heretic explores the ancient Christian idea of theosis — the startling belief that salvation is not merely about being forgiven or going somewhere after we die, but about humanity becoming divine by grace, participation, and communion with God. Drawing from the Eastern Church, Athanasius, Irenaeus, icons, the Transfiguration, and Gregory Palamas, the episode asks what Christianity might look like if we understood salvation less as a transaction and more as healing, transformation, and becoming fully alive in the life and love of God.

Would love to hear your thoughts!

]]> This episode of The Unintentional Heretic explores the ancient Christian idea of theosis — the startling belief that salvation is not merely about being forgiven or going somewhere after we die, but about humanity becoming divine by grace, participation, and communion with God. Drawing from the Eastern Church, Athanasius, Irenaeus, icons, the Transfiguration, and Gregory Palamas, the episode asks what Christianity might look like if we understood salvation less as a transaction and more as healing, transformation, and becoming fully alive in the life and love of God.

Would love to hear your thoughts!

]]> Greg Farrand Buzzsprout-19321749 Thu, 11 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400 862 1 18 full false The Crusades: When The Church Went To War The Crusades: When The Church Went To War This episode of The Unintentional Heretic explores the Crusades as one of Christianity’s most sobering examples of what happens when faith becomes entangled with empire, violence, certainty, and political ambition. It traces the Crusades through their most consequential and tragic moments — the First Crusade’s conquest of Jerusalem, the rise of Saladin, the heartbreaking Children’s Crusade, and the catastrophic Fourth Crusade — while asking how a faith centered on the way of Jesus became capable of blessing holy war, and what that history still warns us about today.

Would love to hear your thoughts!

]]> This episode of The Unintentional Heretic explores the Crusades as one of Christianity’s most sobering examples of what happens when faith becomes entangled with empire, violence, certainty, and political ambition. It traces the Crusades through their most consequential and tragic moments — the First Crusade’s conquest of Jerusalem, the rise of Saladin, the heartbreaking Children’s Crusade, and the catastrophic Fourth Crusade — while asking how a faith centered on the way of Jesus became capable of blessing holy war, and what that history still warns us about today.

Would love to hear your thoughts!

]]> Greg Farrand Buzzsprout-19320495 Wed, 10 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400 595 1 17 full false Gnosticism: Christianity's First Great Heresy? Gnosticism: Christianity's First Great Heresy? In this episode of The Unintentional Heretic, we explore Gnosticism—the ancient Christian movement that taught salvation comes through awakening to the divine spark within—and the profound influence of Platonic philosophy, the Demiurge, Valentinus, Marcion, and the battle for the soul of early Christianity. Along the way, we ask a question that remains surprisingly relevant today: is the goal of spirituality to escape the world, or to discover the sacredness of creation, embodiment, and ordinary human life?

Would love to hear your thoughts!

]]> In this episode of The Unintentional Heretic, we explore Gnosticism—the ancient Christian movement that taught salvation comes through awakening to the divine spark within—and the profound influence of Platonic philosophy, the Demiurge, Valentinus, Marcion, and the battle for the soul of early Christianity. Along the way, we ask a question that remains surprisingly relevant today: is the goal of spirituality to escape the world, or to discover the sacredness of creation, embodiment, and ordinary human life?

Would love to hear your thoughts!

]]> Greg Farrand Buzzsprout-19312962 Mon, 08 Jun 2026 11:00:00 -0400 645 1 16 full false Why Did Christianity Become Obsessed with Sex? Desire, Embodiment, and the Sacredness of Creation Why Did Christianity Become Obsessed with Sex? Desire, Embodiment, and the Sacredness of Creation For centuries, Christianity wrestled with a profound question: are our bodies, desires, and passions obstacles to God or places where God is revealed? In this episode of The Unintentional Heretic, we explore how Greek dualism, Augustine, monasticism, and purity culture shaped Christian attitudes toward sex—and why many Christians today are rediscovering the sacredness of creation, embodiment, and desire itself.

Would love to hear your thoughts!

]]> For centuries, Christianity wrestled with a profound question: are our bodies, desires, and passions obstacles to God or places where God is revealed? In this episode of The Unintentional Heretic, we explore how Greek dualism, Augustine, monasticism, and purity culture shaped Christian attitudes toward sex—and why many Christians today are rediscovering the sacredness of creation, embodiment, and desire itself.

Would love to hear your thoughts!

]]> Greg Farrand Buzzsprout-19282366 Thu, 04 Jun 2026 05:00:00 -0400 735 1 15 full false Jesus Said “Follow Me,” Not “Worship Me”: When Christianity Became a Religion About Christ Instead of the Way of Christ Jesus Said “Follow Me,” Not “Worship Me”: When Christianity Became a Religion About Christ Instead of the Way of Christ In this episode of The Unintentional Heretic, we explore how Christianity gradually shifted from being a movement centered on following the way of Jesus to a religion increasingly focused on worshiping Jesus and defining correct belief about him. While creeds, doctrine, and institutions have great value, their purpose is ultimately to lead us into lives shaped by mercy, compassion, justice, and love—the very things Jesus emphasized when he said, “Follow me.”

Would love to hear your thoughts!

]]> In this episode of The Unintentional Heretic, we explore how Christianity gradually shifted from being a movement centered on following the way of Jesus to a religion increasingly focused on worshiping Jesus and defining correct belief about him. While creeds, doctrine, and institutions have great value, their purpose is ultimately to lead us into lives shaped by mercy, compassion, justice, and love—the very things Jesus emphasized when he said, “Follow me.”

Would love to hear your thoughts!

]]> Greg Farrand Buzzsprout-19281914 Wed, 03 Jun 2026 05:00:00 -0400 717 1 14 full false Is the Bible Inerrant? Scripture, Authority, and the Evolution of Truth Is the Bible Inerrant? Scripture, Authority, and the Evolution of Truth In this episode of The Unintentional Heretic, Greg explores the history and evolution of biblical inerrancy, distinguishing it carefully from literalism while examining how modern Christianity came to equate certainty with faithfulness. Drawing on church history, biblical scholarship, theology, and personal experience, the episode argues that Scripture can remain deeply inspired, authoritative, and spiritually transformative without requiring every passage to function as a historically or factually flawless account.

Would love to hear your thoughts!

]]> In this episode of The Unintentional Heretic, Greg explores the history and evolution of biblical inerrancy, distinguishing it carefully from literalism while examining how modern Christianity came to equate certainty with faithfulness. Drawing on church history, biblical scholarship, theology, and personal experience, the episode argues that Scripture can remain deeply inspired, authoritative, and spiritually transformative without requiring every passage to function as a historically or factually flawless account.

Would love to hear your thoughts!

]]> Greg Farrand Buzzsprout-19249543 Fri, 29 May 2026 05:00:00 -0400 873 1 13 full false Satan, the Devil, and the Evolution of Evil: From the Divine Council to the Cosmic Devil of Modern Christianity Satan, the Devil, and the Evolution of Evil: From the Divine Council to the Cosmic Devil of Modern Christianity This episode explores the fascinating evolution of Satan from “the accuser” within the divine council of ancient Israel to the cosmic devil of modern Christianity, revealing how ideas about evil, suffering, and spiritual conflict developed across centuries of Jewish and Christian history. Along the way, the episode examines the serpent in Eden, Persian dualism, apocalyptic literature, Revelation, Dante, Milton, psychology, and scapegoating — ultimately arguing that theology evolves as humanity wrestles with the mystery of evil and the deeper call toward love over fear. 

Would love to hear your thoughts!

]]> This episode explores the fascinating evolution of Satan from “the accuser” within the divine council of ancient Israel to the cosmic devil of modern Christianity, revealing how ideas about evil, suffering, and spiritual conflict developed across centuries of Jewish and Christian history. Along the way, the episode examines the serpent in Eden, Persian dualism, apocalyptic literature, Revelation, Dante, Milton, psychology, and scapegoating — ultimately arguing that theology evolves as humanity wrestles with the mystery of evil and the deeper call toward love over fear. 

Would love to hear your thoughts!

]]> Greg Farrand Buzzsprout-19245715 Thu, 28 May 2026 05:00:00 -0400 992 1 12 full false When Orthodoxy Changed: The Crises That Forced Christianity to Evolve When Orthodoxy Changed: The Crises That Forced Christianity to Evolve This episode explores the moments in Christian history when long-held “orthodox” paradigms were forced to evolve through crisis, discovery, and changing human understanding — from the fall of Rome and the Copernican Revolution to Darwin, democracy, and modern science. Rather than portraying faith as static certainty, the episode argues that Christianity has always been a living tradition wrestling to reinterpret itself in light of new realities, often resisting change at first before slowly moving toward deeper truth and greater humility. 

Would love to hear your thoughts!

]]> This episode explores the moments in Christian history when long-held “orthodox” paradigms were forced to evolve through crisis, discovery, and changing human understanding — from the fall of Rome and the Copernican Revolution to Darwin, democracy, and modern science. Rather than portraying faith as static certainty, the episode argues that Christianity has always been a living tradition wrestling to reinterpret itself in light of new realities, often resisting change at first before slowly moving toward deeper truth and greater humility. 

Would love to hear your thoughts!

]]> Greg Farrand Buzzsprout-19245057 Tue, 26 May 2026 17:00:00 -0400 798 1 11 full false Who is my neighbor? Immigration and the way of Jesus Who is my neighbor? Immigration and the way of Jesus In this episode of The Unintentional Heretic, Greg explores immigration through the lens of Scripture, history, and the teachings of Jesus, tracing the Bible’s evolving relationship with outsiders, strangers, and the vulnerable. Challenging the rise of Christian nationalism and the dehumanization of immigrants, the episode asks whether Christians will choose fear and exclusion—or recognize Christ already present in the stranger at the border. 

Would love to hear your thoughts!

]]> In this episode of The Unintentional Heretic, Greg explores immigration through the lens of Scripture, history, and the teachings of Jesus, tracing the Bible’s evolving relationship with outsiders, strangers, and the vulnerable. Challenging the rise of Christian nationalism and the dehumanization of immigrants, the episode asks whether Christians will choose fear and exclusion—or recognize Christ already present in the stranger at the border. 

Would love to hear your thoughts!

]]> Greg Farrand Buzzsprout-19212927 Fri, 22 May 2026 05:00:00 -0400 547 1 10 full false The Evolution of LGBTQ Doctrine: Jesus, Scripture, and the Expanding Circle of Grace The Evolution of LGBTQ Doctrine: Jesus, Scripture, and the Expanding Circle of Grace In this episode of The Unintentional Heretic, Greg explores the long and complex evolution of Christian doctrine surrounding LGBTQ inclusion, tracing the conversation from ancient purity codes and Greco-Roman assumptions to modern understandings of sexuality, human dignity, and the radically expansive love of Jesus. Drawing on Scripture, church history, theology, and lived human experience, the episode asks whether Christianity is ultimately about protecting boundaries of exclusion—or participating in the ever-widening circle of grace revealed in Christ.

Would love to hear your thoughts!

]]> In this episode of The Unintentional Heretic, Greg explores the long and complex evolution of Christian doctrine surrounding LGBTQ inclusion, tracing the conversation from ancient purity codes and Greco-Roman assumptions to modern understandings of sexuality, human dignity, and the radically expansive love of Jesus. Drawing on Scripture, church history, theology, and lived human experience, the episode asks whether Christianity is ultimately about protecting boundaries of exclusion—or participating in the ever-widening circle of grace revealed in Christ.

Would love to hear your thoughts!

]]> Greg Farrand Buzzsprout-19209426 Thu, 21 May 2026 06:00:00 -0400 677 1 9 full false Evolution and Christianity: Darwin, Teilhard de Chardin, Ilia Delio, and the God of Becoming Evolution and Christianity: Darwin, Teilhard de Chardin, Ilia Delio, and the God of Becoming In this episode of The Unintentional Heretic, Greg explores the often-contentious relationship between Christianity and evolution, tracing the journey from Darwin and the Scopes Trial to the visionary theology of Teilhard de Chardin, Ilia Delio, and process theology. Rather than seeing evolution as a threat to faith, the episode reframes creation as an ongoing sacred unfolding in which God is not preserving a static universe, but continually drawing all things toward deeper consciousness, compassion, communion, and love.

Would love to hear your thoughts!

]]> In this episode of The Unintentional Heretic, Greg explores the often-contentious relationship between Christianity and evolution, tracing the journey from Darwin and the Scopes Trial to the visionary theology of Teilhard de Chardin, Ilia Delio, and process theology. Rather than seeing evolution as a threat to faith, the episode reframes creation as an ongoing sacred unfolding in which God is not preserving a static universe, but continually drawing all things toward deeper consciousness, compassion, communion, and love.

Would love to hear your thoughts!

]]> Greg Farrand Buzzsprout-19204849 Wed, 20 May 2026 06:00:00 -0400 705 1 8 full false What Does it Mean to Trust God? The Illusion of Control and the Promise of Presence. What Does it Mean to Trust God? The Illusion of Control and the Promise of Presence. In this episode of The Unintentional Heretic, Greg explores the illusion of control, humanity’s deep evolutionary longing for certainty, and why Jesus consistently offers presence instead of predictable answers or guaranteed outcomes. Drawing from Scripture, philosophy, mysticism, and personal experiences of crisis and transformation, the episode reflects on how suffering, uncertainty, and even our wounds can become the very places where grace reshapes us into deeper compassion, courage, and Christlikeness.

Would love to hear your thoughts!

]]> In this episode of The Unintentional Heretic, Greg explores the illusion of control, humanity’s deep evolutionary longing for certainty, and why Jesus consistently offers presence instead of predictable answers or guaranteed outcomes. Drawing from Scripture, philosophy, mysticism, and personal experiences of crisis and transformation, the episode reflects on how suffering, uncertainty, and even our wounds can become the very places where grace reshapes us into deeper compassion, courage, and Christlikeness.

Would love to hear your thoughts!

]]> Greg Farrand Buzzsprout-19198013 Tue, 19 May 2026 08:00:00 -0400 741 1 7 full false Heaven: Escaping Earth or Healing Creation? Heaven: Escaping Earth or Healing Creation? In this episode of The Unintentional Heretic, Greg explores the evolution of heaven through Scripture, theology, Greek philosophy, mysticism, and church history—challenging the common assumption that Christianity is primarily about escaping earth for a distant afterlife. Drawing on the Bible, other faith traditions, contemplative spirituality, and modern near-death research, the episode reframes eternal life not as somewhere we eventually go, but as a deeper participation in divine reality already breaking into the present moment.

Would love to hear your thoughts!

]]> In this episode of The Unintentional Heretic, Greg explores the evolution of heaven through Scripture, theology, Greek philosophy, mysticism, and church history—challenging the common assumption that Christianity is primarily about escaping earth for a distant afterlife. Drawing on the Bible, other faith traditions, contemplative spirituality, and modern near-death research, the episode reframes eternal life not as somewhere we eventually go, but as a deeper participation in divine reality already breaking into the present moment.

Would love to hear your thoughts!

]]> Greg Farrand Buzzsprout-19191471 Sun, 17 May 2026 15:00:00 -0400 818 1 6 full false What are We Saved From? Plato, The Devil and the Evolution of Salvation What are We Saved From? Plato, The Devil and the Evolution of Salvation In this episode of The Unintentional Heretic, Greg explores the fascinating evolution of Christian salvation theology—from the mystical and diverse world of the early church, through Plato’s influence on Western Christianity, to the rise of the Ransom Theory, Anselm’s satisfaction theory, and modern penal substitution. Along the way, the episode asks how culture, philosophy, and history shaped the Gospel itself—and whether salvation is ultimately less about divine bookkeeping and more about healing, liberation, and awakening into union with God.

Would love to hear your thoughts!

]]> In this episode of The Unintentional Heretic, Greg explores the fascinating evolution of Christian salvation theology—from the mystical and diverse world of the early church, through Plato’s influence on Western Christianity, to the rise of the Ransom Theory, Anselm’s satisfaction theory, and modern penal substitution. Along the way, the episode asks how culture, philosophy, and history shaped the Gospel itself—and whether salvation is ultimately less about divine bookkeeping and more about healing, liberation, and awakening into union with God.

Would love to hear your thoughts!

]]> Greg Farrand Buzzsprout-19173200 Wed, 13 May 2026 16:00:00 -0400 674 1 5 full false Is Christianity Exclusive? Is Jesus the only way to heaven? Is Christianity Exclusive? Is Jesus the only way to heaven? In this episode of The Unintentional Heretic, Greg explores whether Christianity was ever meant to be an exclusive system focused on who is “in” and who is “out,” or whether Jesus was inviting humanity into a deeper way of love, union, and abundant life. Drawing on voices like Matthew Fox, John Duns Scotus, Ilia Delio and Richard Rohr, the episode reimagines salvation not as escaping punishment, but as awakening to the Universal Christ already present within and among us.

Would love to hear your thoughts!

]]> In this episode of The Unintentional Heretic, Greg explores whether Christianity was ever meant to be an exclusive system focused on who is “in” and who is “out,” or whether Jesus was inviting humanity into a deeper way of love, union, and abundant life. Drawing on voices like Matthew Fox, John Duns Scotus, Ilia Delio and Richard Rohr, the episode reimagines salvation not as escaping punishment, but as awakening to the Universal Christ already present within and among us.

Would love to hear your thoughts!

]]> Greg Farrand Buzzsprout-19172640 Wed, 13 May 2026 14:00:00 -0400 548 1 4 full false The Evolution of God: From Canaanite Pantheon to Cosmic Christ The Evolution of God: From Canaanite Pantheon to Cosmic Christ In this episode of The Unintentional Heretic, Greg explores the fascinating evolution of YHWH—from a regional storm-warrior deity within the ancient Near Eastern world to the universal, cosmic vision of God revealed in Christ. Drawing on biblical scholarship, archaeology, and voices like Dr. Justin Sledge, the episode traces how theology develops over time and what that might mean for faith today.

Would love to hear your thoughts!

]]> In this episode of The Unintentional Heretic, Greg explores the fascinating evolution of YHWH—from a regional storm-warrior deity within the ancient Near Eastern world to the universal, cosmic vision of God revealed in Christ. Drawing on biblical scholarship, archaeology, and voices like Dr. Justin Sledge, the episode traces how theology develops over time and what that might mean for faith today.

Would love to hear your thoughts!

]]> Greg Farrand Buzzsprout-19171485 Wed, 13 May 2026 11:00:00 -0400 595 1 3 full false The Problem with Hell: Fear, Judgement and the Love of God The Problem with Hell: Fear, Judgement and the Love of God In this episode of The Unintentional Heretic, Greg explores how modern ideas about Hell were shaped much more by Dante, medieval art, and fear-based theology than by the Bible itself. Journeying through Sheol, Hades, Tartarus, and Gehenna, the episode reexamines what Jesus actually taught about judgment, fear, and the path toward abundant life.

Would love to hear your thoughts!

]]> In this episode of The Unintentional Heretic, Greg explores how modern ideas about Hell were shaped much more by Dante, medieval art, and fear-based theology than by the Bible itself. Journeying through Sheol, Hades, Tartarus, and Gehenna, the episode reexamines what Jesus actually taught about judgment, fear, and the path toward abundant life.

Would love to hear your thoughts!

]]> Greg Farrand Buzzsprout-19171323 Wed, 13 May 2026 11:00:00 -0400 576 1 2 full false The Unintentional Heretic The Unintentional Heretic In the first episode of The Unintentional Heretic, Greg Farrand shares his spiritual journey—from growing up as a third culture kid in Japan and Taiwan, to finding certainty in Evangelicalism and becoming a Presbyterian pastor, to eventually questioning the theological systems he once trusted. Through wrestling with issues like women in ministry, LGBTQ inclusion, and the deeper question of how we know what is true, Greg reflects on faith, deconstruction, and the ongoing journey of becoming an “ever-expander” who believes the spiritual life is less about certainty and more about awakening.

Would love to hear your thoughts!

]]> In the first episode of The Unintentional Heretic, Greg Farrand shares his spiritual journey—from growing up as a third culture kid in Japan and Taiwan, to finding certainty in Evangelicalism and becoming a Presbyterian pastor, to eventually questioning the theological systems he once trusted. Through wrestling with issues like women in ministry, LGBTQ inclusion, and the deeper question of how we know what is true, Greg reflects on faith, deconstruction, and the ongoing journey of becoming an “ever-expander” who believes the spiritual life is less about certainty and more about awakening.

Would love to hear your thoughts!

]]> Greg Farrand Buzzsprout-19165230 Tue, 12 May 2026 12:00:00 -0400 454 1 1 full false