In this conversation, Tony shares his journey from being a pastor in the Emerging Church Network to finding solace and connection with God in the wilderness. Tony emphasizes the importance of nature in spiritual experiences and how it can be a place to interact with God. He explores the presence of death in life from composting and gardening to hunting. The conversation explores the paradox of valuing animals and of hunting and eating them, the responsibility humans have for the death of animals, and the need for honesty about animal deaths. The conversation concludes with a discussion on mortality and the focus on living the best life in the present.
Tony Jones is the author of The God of Wild Places and contributing writer to several outdoors periodicals. He’s written a dozen books, including Did God Kill Jesus? and The Sacred Way: Spiritual Practices for Everyday Life, developed the iPhone app, hosts the Reverend Hunter Podcast, and teaches at Fuller Theological Seminary and The Loft Literary Center. He writes a weekly newsletter on Substack. He holds an A.B. from Dartmouth College, an M.Div. from Fuller Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. from Princeton Theological Seminary.
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Takeaways
- Tony’s journey from being a pastor in the Emerging Church Network to finding solace and connection with God in the wilderness
- The challenges and advantages of being an Enneagram 8
- The importance of nature in spiritual experiences and connecting with God
- The metaphor of composting for the cycle of life and the interconnectedness of all creation.
- Humans are responsible for the death of animals, whether we eat meat or not, and it is important to be honest about our choices.
- Respecting and caring for creation is an important aspect of our relationship with the natural world.
- Focusing on living the best life in the present and embracing our mortality can lead to a deeper appreciation for life and the world around us.
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Contact Information for Tony Jones
Email: tj@tonyj.net
Mobile phone: 612-597-0441
Website: ReverendHunter.com
Facebook: facebook.com/jonestony
Twitter: @jonestony
Instagram: @TheReverendHunter