Advertise on podcast: Masala Chai Theology with Fr. Joash P. Thomas

A few weeks ago, I posted something on Substack Notes + Threads saying the following: "I’ve become convinced that ancient Celtic Christian Theology is white liberation theology. And by “white liberation theology”, I mean this: White folks need to be liberated from Empire too." The post went viral and I had a number of inspiring conversations come from this - including with Fr. John Francis O Mara - an Episcopalian Priest and renowned musician working on his Doctoral studies at Howard University; giving shape to an Irish Liberation Theology. You can check out his work and website here. I knew I had to invite our Masala Chai Theology community into the richness of the zoom conversation we had so I asked Fr. John Francis (a member of our Paid Subscriber community) if he’d be up to have this conversation here. I hope this conversation blesses you as much as it blessed me (all over again)! And if you haven’t yet, do check out my Augustine vs. Celtic Christianity series where we unpack all of this further. PS: This was a free post but if this conversation blessed you and you’d like to partner with me by helping me make more space for long form research, thinking and writing like this, I’d be incredibly grateful for your support as a Paid Subscriber! Paid Subscribers are my inner circle of chai conversation partners who generously support my ministry. Thank you for your support in making it possible for me to do work like this as a public theologian and missional priest! Get full access to Masala Chai Theology with Father Joash at joashpthomas.substack.com/subscribe

I first heard Rev. Dr. Randy Woodley speak at Evolving Faith conference in Minneapolis, MN - the night before my main stage talk there. I had just written the proposal for The Justice of Jesus which we were just about to start sending out to publishing houses. My first reaction a few minutes into Randy’s talk was, “Holy smokes! He is saying exactly what I want to say about the western church, colonization, and Empire in my book - but from a Turtle Island Indigenous perspective. While I was still gathering my thoughts, my literary agent, Morgan Strehlow (who was in the room) texted me with the exact same thoughts! Three years later today, I get to now teach alongside Randy Woodley as fellow faculty at St. Stephen’s University. I know students who have been deeply transformed by their classes with him. Randy Woodley is an activist, scholar, author, teacher, and wisdom keeper of mixed white and Native American heritage who speaks on justice, faith, the earth, and Indigenous realities. He is the author of numerous books, including Becoming Rooted, Journey to Eloheh, and How Western Christianity Got It Wrong. He and his wife, Edith, co-sustain Eloheh Indigenous Center for Earth Justice and Eloheh Farm & Seeds outside Portland, Oregon. In this conversation, we talk about his brand new book - How Western Christianity Got It Wrong: Replacing The God of Fear with a Spirituality of Healing. It’s a challenging read but as a Priest and ordained church leader myself, I trust us to be able to handle the discomfort that comes with the truth that Randy invites us to wrestle with: On balance, Western Christianity has historically caused way more damage than healing - and arguably continues to do so even today. And if that perspective makes you deeply uncomfortable, it’s probably because you don’t have enough relationships with people from communities who have only ever known the oppressive shadow side of Western Christianity. It’s probably even because like me, you probably benefit from the Empire-shaped status quo we live in. You don’t have to agree with everything that Randy shares as an Indigenous scholar and theologian; but I invite you to at least courageously wrestle with his different perspective, one shaped by his very different lived experiences. This is a book I’ll be recommending for years to come. Get your copy here or wherever you buy your books! And like you probably have for The Justice of Jesus, maybe even recommend this book to that one friend at church who is convinced that Western Christianity has only ever done good things. Because as Jesus teaches us - the truth will always sets us free. Web: www.randywoodley.com/new-books Instagram: @eloheheagleswings Facebook: /randywoodleyauthor Substack: Randy Woodley / https://substack.com/@rwoodley7 Join me for my next live video in the app. Get full access to Masala Chai Theology with Father Joash at joashpthomas.substack.com/subscribe

Dr. Greg Garrett (Good Trouble) and I may seem like we’re from worlds apart, but we have a lot in common, ranging from our shared literary agent (Morgan Strehlow of The Bindery) to finding our faith again through the historical Black Church in the American South. Greg Garrett is (according to BBC Radio) one of America's leading voices on religion and culture. He is The Carole Ann McDaniel Hanks Chair of Literature & Culture at Baylor University and the author or co-author of over twenty books of fiction, theology, cultural criticism, and spiritual autobiography - including his latest book, White Lies: Dismantling Ten Cultural Myths About Race. Tune into this honest conversation about racial justice and allyship that will challenge all of us - regardless of where you find yourself on the political or religious spectrum. Then, get your copy of White Lies here or wherever you buy your books! This is absolutely a book you’ll want to read - especially if you’re seeking to be a good ally to our BIPOC / POGM / racialized neighbours. I’ll be coming back to this book for years to come. Get full access to Masala Chai Theology with Father Joash at joashpthomas.substack.com/subscribe

Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac has been a personal hero of mine for many years now. When western empires (backed by the western church) started supporting what the United Nations and other international humanitarian watchdogs have officially labeled as a ‘genocide’ in Gaza, Munther’s 2023 Christmas sermon as a Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Pastor was streamed to millions of people worldwide - leading to a host of unlikely invitations ranging from CNN to Tucker Carlson's show. In that sermon, Munther prophetically, courageously, and famously declared a simple yet profound pastoral truth (which I quote in my book, The Justice of Jesus): “If Jesus were born today, he would be born under the rubble in Gaza.” With his deeply pastoral and prophetic presence, Munther encourages the Global Church (especially the western church) to reclaim the saltiness of its salt, light & masala public witness. Tune into this one of a kind conversation to be inspired by hope coming from a church leader under the boot of Empire’s oppression; hope that defies the spiritually lazy, binary ways of Empire and that is deeply rooted in the ancient, creatively non-violent way of Jesus of Nazareth. Then, you can support Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac’s work at the Bethlehem Institute for Peace & Justice (BIPJ) by subscribing to their work on Substack, donating here and taking classes with BIPJ through St. Stephen’s University (where I also teach and serve in leadership). Also consider being embodied in your learning journey and solidarity with the Palestinian Church by attending BIPJ’s Church at the Crossroads conference in Atlanta this November 5-7 or the legendary Christ at the Checkpoint conference in Bethlehem this December 27-31. And if you’re feeling overwhelmed and unsure about where to begin in your learning journey of solidarity with the Palestinian Church, join me as a BIPJ monthly donor while you prayerfully discern next steps: www.bipj.org/donate Get full access to Masala Chai Theology with Father Joash at joashpthomas.substack.com/subscribe

We cannot talk about justice and decolonization as Americans and Canadians without first talking about settler colonialism, the harm to indigenous communities, and how it shapes the world we live in today - especially if we can talk about this in healing, invitational, transformative, and non-shame based ways. This was such an insightful conversation with two of my favourite colleagues at St. Stephen’s University (SSU) who have taught me so much through their lived experience and wisdom! We discuss SSU’s Centre for Reconciliation Studies and its unique, land-based, transformative courses that further the work of Indigenous-Settler truth & reconciliation - especially in our Turtle Island (US & Canada) settler colonial context. Tune into this rich conversation and then study with us at SSU’s Centre for Reconciliation Studies by signing up for courses here. Rena Novotny is the Co-Director of SSU’s Centre for Reconciliation Studies and brings her unique indigenous and settler backgrounds to her work. Steve Schallert is SSU’s Director of Communications & Storytelling. He is based in Cape Town, South Africa and has extensive experience in peacemaking across several global contexts. Get full access to Masala Chai Theology with Father Joash at joashpthomas.substack.com/subscribe

Dr. Sid Sudiacal (Pensées by Sid) is a dear longtime friend and a CBC-featured Filipino-Canadian Augustine scholar. He has advanced education in both psychology and theology, and brings his expertise in both as a scholar who has researched the emotion of disgust and Augustine’s theology of disgust - specifically in the context of the Donatist Controversy. In continuation of our Masala Chai Theology Substack series on Augustine vs. Celtic Christianity, this was such a rich conversation on Augustine’s theology of disgust (especially towards his theological opponents such as the Donatists), how it shapes the western church today, and what it ultimately says about us when we choose to center disgust-fueled theological frameworks. We discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly of Augustine’s life and theology and invite the Church to critically examine all of its saints; and the trauma that shapes the best and worst parts of them. Augustine’s theology of disgust is evident not only from his use of state violence in the Donatist controversy; we also see this in his use of state violence to label Pelagius of Wales and his ancient Celtic Christian wisdom as ‘heresy’ - despite three church councils in Palestine and Rome exonerating Pelagius as being within the bounds of orthodoxy in the lead up to this. We also see Augustine’s theology of disgust manifest in his framing of ‘Original Sin’ (a doctrine that continues to haunt the western church and its participation in justice today) and his ‘Just War Theory’ (a doctrine regularly used by US politicians ranging from George W. Bush to JD Vance to justify the American Empire’s use of violence against civilians behind enemy lines). But disgust towards ourselves and our neighbours comes from a place of deep trauma - something we also discuss in the context of Augustine’s life: ranging from his childhood trauma to sex addiction trauma to even church persecution trauma. After all, some men would rather become doctors of the church (or start a podcast) than go to therapy. Finally, we discuss how the Church and human society can heal from its disgust and theologies of disgust towards our siblings in creation today. Give this conversation a listen and then be sure to follow Dr. Sid on Substack (Pensées by Sid) and his Instagram (@drsid_s). Get full access to Masala Chai Theology with Father Joash at joashpthomas.substack.com/subscribe

As a Priest, Public Theologian and Decolonial Scholar, I get to run into a lot of cool folks. But Ciarra Jones, MTS is *the coolest* Public Theologian and Decolonial Scholar I personally know. When I met Ciarra at a retreat in Savannah, GA (hosted by the incredible Erica Williams Simon this April for justice-focused creators in the digital space, I knew I had to introduce Ciarra to our Masala Chai Theology community! If you’ve enjoyed my current, ongoing Substack series on Augustine vs. Celtic Christianity, you will absolutely enjoy this conversation on cultivating the eyes to see Creator God in what ancient Celtic Christians called his ‘Big Book’ (Creation). Come for this enlightening conversation on Decolonized Ecotheology - stay for Ciarra’s uniquely brilliant insights on Creator God from her Black, Queer, and Womanist lens; and for an update on how I’m spiritually processing my first-ever backcountry camping trip. And then go subscribe to Ciarra Jones, MTS’ Substack and support Ciarra’s work! Get full access to Masala Chai Theology with Father Joash at joashpthomas.substack.com/subscribe

Contrary to the news cycles and narratives of Empire, Palestinian women, children and families (including Palestinian Christians) are still being bombed in Gaza and subject to settler colonial violence in the West Bank region of Palestine right now. I’m joined by Dr. Daniel Bannoura, Palestinian theologian and Director of Public Engagement at the Bethlehem Institute for Peace & Justice (BIPJ)! Tune in as we talk about how Decolonizing Christian Zionism means completely dismantling the ‘software’ of Christian Zionism that’s deeply embedded across the western church - software directly supporting the hardware of bombs being dropped (to borrow from the language of Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb). Listen to this conversation on your own or with someone and then join the work of Bethlehem Institute for Peace & Justice by becoming a monthly donor here to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian Church as they resist Empire. It’s been an honour for me to be a monthly donor with BIPJ myself in addition to serving on their Advisor’s Circle over the past few months. So I’m not inviting you into something I don’t do myself. Then, wrestle with the Spirit on how what else you can do to show solidarity with our Palestinian siblings - including possibly taking courses with Bethlehem Institute for Peace & Justice via St. Stephen’s University here through our MA & Certificate in Peace and Justice programs. Get full access to Masala Chai Theology with Father Joash at joashpthomas.substack.com/subscribe

One of the things I get asked about the most (not just online but also at in-person speaking engagements) is what it looks like for us to decolonize Christian (specifically, evangelical) missions work. The first step to this decolonizing work is to reckon with the damaging impact of western evangelical missions - not just on the Global South but also on the western church. Dr. Holly Berkley Fletcher (author of The Missionary Kids) speaks and writes from the perspective of a historian, essayist, and former intelligence analyst. She was raised in Kenya by missionary parents. She earned a PhD in American history and taught in universities for several years before being hired as an Africa analyst by the Central Intelligence Agency, where she worked for nineteen years. She writes the Substack A Zebra Without Stripes. Her award-winning book, The Missionary Kids: Unmasking The Myths of White Evangelicalism is a truly excellent read and I’ll be including it as a recommended reading in my Jesus, Justice & Empire course at St. Stephen’s University this summer. You can get your copy here or wherever you buy your books / audiobooks! If you enjoyed this and other similar conversations on Masala Chai Theology, would you consider partnering with my work as a Paid Subscriber? Less than 2 percent of my overall Substack Subscribers are Paid Subscribers. In fact, I’m only 9 Paid Subscribers away from hitting 2 percent! I’d love to get this up to 3 percent or even 4 percent this year - especially with Substack now being my second most consistent source of income. Paid Subscribers partner with my work by making space for me to share more contemplative (and slightly theologically spicy) conversations and reflections like this - to ultimately stretch our imaginations in ancient, precolonial, and Empire-resisting ways that benefit all our marginalized neighbours. Someone who recently upgraded to being a Paid Subscriber shared how much they appreciate the way my content bridges academic wisdom with everyday Christian living. I’d be so grateful for your support as a Paid Subscriber! Masala Chai Theology with Fr. Joash P. Thomas is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber. As sidekicks to their parents’ and churches’ ambitions, missionary kids (MKs) face questions many white Christians eventually ask: about God’s calling, sacrifice, faith, privilege, racism, abuse, and what belonging means. In The Missionary Kids, Fletcher reveals how MKs have intimate access to the movement’s logic, longings, and ideals. With penetrating research, sly wit, and an empathic gaze, Fletcher lays bare complicated emotions and troublesome truths. She investigates how calling, multiculturalism, saints, and indispensability can distract white American Christians from their own tradition’s sins and failures. Drawing on her experience as a Southern Baptist MK in Kenya, on conversations with other missionary kids, and on the work of psychologists, historians, missiologists, and researchers, Fletcher paints an intricate portrait of family life on the front lines of the missionary movement. From boarding school to war zones, and from sexual assault by adult missionaries to fending for themselves so as not to distract from the work of the Lord, MKs bear the weight of their parents’ choices and their churches’ ideals. Fletcher delves into the “missionary industrial complex” that shapes the lives of missionary families, listening to MKs speak of the vexing, wordless longing for the places they’ve lived. For many years, few people sought out MKs’ real voices. God had called their parents to do great things, so the kids were beside the point. But the children of missionaries are beneficiaries of evangelicalism’s rewards and victims of its failings. Get full access to Masala Chai Theology with Father Joash at joashpthomas.substack.com/subscribe

A little over three years ago, in one of the most challenging seasons of life and ministry, I had dinner in Calgary, AB with Fr. David S Harvey where I invited his wisdom and guidance. I remember him saying to me, “I wonder if you should be discerning the priesthood too. I can tell you love the Church and the work you do in the justice space is lonely. I think you need a clergy community to sustain you in ministry.” Three years later, this February, Fr. David bore witness to my ordination into the priesthood as one of my priest mentors. There wouldn’t be a ‘Father Joash’ today if it weren’t for Father David seeing a priest in me and inviting me to discern the priesthood. Turns out, the priesthood is exactly what I need to ground me in my ministry as a public theologian, author, and itinerant minister today. As I say in my endorsement for his forthcoming book (A Fire in Our Ears), Rev. Dr. David Harvey has been one of the most profound theological influences on my life and gets key real estate in the acknowledgments section of my book (The Justice of Jesus) for exactly this reason. Needless to say, it was so great having Fr. David on Masala Chai Theology alongside his Associate Teaching Pastor, Cody Matchett, a brilliant Bible scholar and co-author of Revelation for the Rest of Us alongside Dr. Scot McKnight and a PhD candidate under Dr. Michael F. Bird. Watch this conversation as Fr. David, Pastor Cody, and I unpack our Pentecostal heritage and connect it with our journeys towards Jesus and justice through the ancient sacraments of the Global Church. I get to have a lot of special conversations with a lot of incredible folks at Masala Chai Theology but this had to be the most spirited conversation I’ve ever had here - something reflected in the spirited chat room. If you enjoyed this unique conversation, do get Fr. David and Pastor Cody’s newly released book, Hearing in the Dark: Reflections on Christian Spiritual Formation which has more convergence, justice-oriented and Pentecostal-sacramental wisdom from them like this. What questions do you have for us as you watch this? PS: Paid Subscribers allow me to keep unique Masala Chai Theology conversations like this free and accessible to all by contributing towards key life expenses and ministry costs. If this conversation blessed you, would you consider becoming a Paid Subscriber today? Less than 2% of my overall subscribers are Paid Subscribers and I’d love to see that go up to 3% - especially in this season of key ministry transitions where I’m taking a significant pay cut to make more time for deep writing, speaking and teaching work like this. Thank you in advance for your ministry partnership! Masala Chai Theology with Fr. Joash P. Thomas is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber. Get full access to Masala Chai Theology with Father Joash at joashpthomas.substack.com/subscribe

Such an enlightening conversation with Dr. Mark Braverman, an internationally renowned peacemaker who grew up Jewish and was introduced to Jesus by Palestinian Christians persevering under the boot of Empire. We discuss how Christian Zionism (the number one theological killer / software of Palestinians - including Palestinian Christians and children) is anti-semitic and colonial in its roots. To learn more from Dr. Braverman’s wisdom on this very relevant topic, you can take his summer school course at St. Stephen’s University this May, titled ‘Zionism, the Church’s Colonial Legacy, and the Palestinian Call’. Register here! Course description: With Palestine as the entry point, we will focus on the church's struggle to reclaim the core of the gospel given its historical entanglement with colonialism and Empire. We will train a critical theory lens on Christian Zionism in light of the philojudaic revisionism that theologians and church leaders have undertaken in the post-holocaust era. We will enter deeply into the kairos theology of the South African church struggle and the flowering of Palestinian kairos theology, and understand the weapon-ization of antisemitism in the context of Christian nationalism through the lenses of scripture, public theology & church history. You can also follow along with Mark Braverman on his newly launched Substack for more of his insights and wisdom. Get full access to Masala Chai Theology with Father Joash at joashpthomas.substack.com/subscribe

Hey friends - I wanted to introduce to you my dear friend - Canadian theologian and pastor, Dr. Jon Coutts who is teaching some fascinating courses on Dietrich Bonhoeffer and AI’s connexus with Empire / Authoritarianism at St. Stephen’s University’s (SSU) Summer School program this Summer - two timely courses for our time that are sure to open up your worlds! SSU Summer School is online and open to anyone who wants to audit or take a class for graduate level credit. Do watch this conversation and sign up here whenever you’re ready. Here are the course descriptions for the two courses: Theology in Turmoil: The Life and Thought of Dietrich Bonhoeffer This is a study of the theology of Dietrich Bonhoeffer as it grew against the grain of early twentieth century German nationalism and American racism. Through lectures and text discussions, students will learn about Bonhoeffer’s historical context and his political theology, thereby enabling them to consider how they engage the world today. DATES: MAY 17 – AUGUST 8, 2026 A.I. vs Humanity: A Theology of Technology This is a study of the theologies of humanity and of technology through the lens of modern developments in AI, or Artificial Intelligence. The particular AI in view will be that of Large Language Models (LLMs) and Generative Pre-Trained Transformers (GPTs), analyzed in light of theological anthropology, disability theology, and political theology. DATES: MAY 17 – AUGUST 8, 2026 About Dr. Jon Coutts: Jon Coutts lives in Calgary where he has pastored and taught theology in a leading seminary for many years. Prior to this, he pastored churches in the Christian and Missionary Alliance and most recently taught ethics in England. He is the author of the SCM Studyguide to Church Leadership and of A Shared Mercy, a book on forgiveness in the church published with IVP. Get full access to Masala Chai Theology with Father Joash at joashpthomas.substack.com/subscribe

Such a joy getting to talk about my new role at St. Stephen’s University (SSU) as our Director of Fundraising & Advancement + Instructor in Public Theology, Peace & Justice with my new colleagues, Dr. Bradley Jersak (Principal of SSU) and Steve Schallert (Director of Marketing and co-host of Good on Wood Podcast! We discuss our incredibly rich Summer School online course offerings that are open to anyone and everyone for graduate school credit / audit. Instructors (apart from myself and Bradley Jersak) include Dr. Randy Woodley, Lisa Sharon Harper, Shane Claiborne, etc. And courses range from Christian Zionism, to Bonhoeffer, to AI, to Indigenous Theology, to Jesus, Justice & Empire (my first course at SSU!). Register for Summer School here. Hope to see you in class! Get full access to Masala Chai Theology with Father Joash at joashpthomas.substack.com/subscribe

I first heard of Jarrod McKenna years ago (right before my public platforms blew up) when a particular ex of mine said to me, “You’ve got to check this Jarrod McKenna guy out! Watch his videos. He seems brilliant about this justice stuff.” I responded, “Sure,” as I was generally unsure about anything this particular ex recommended. But this recommendation was massively different. I’ve been hooked onto Jarrod and his wisdom ever since! Then, about 3 years ago, one of my Australian Paid Subscribers here (also a parishioner of Jarrod’s) messaged me saying, “How do you not know Jarrod? He’s my Pastor. Let me introduce you both because you should absolutely be friends.” Jarrod has been more than just a friend over the past three years. He’s been a wise mentor-figure (with at least a decade more of peacemaking experience than myself) and one of my biggest encouragers. Really, he’s been incredibly priestly towards me as a friend - even if our deep chats are mostly him Instagram video calling me while dropping his sweetest little boys off to school in the morning (my evening). And even if we’ve failed at planning my Aussie trip twice now. Our worlds are colliding even more now given both of our shared work at St. Stephen’s University - especially as Jarrod co-hosts our incredible podcast (Good on Wood Podcast) alongside fellow South African peacemaker, Steve Schallert. I hope you enjoy this rare conversation where we got to invite others into our wrestling. We might even do another one soon to discuss how the American Empire tried to suppress Liberation Theology movements across the Global South Church by propping up evangelicalism as its Empire-endorsed brand of Christianity. PS: If you enjoyed this conversation, go subscribe to Jarrod McKenna’s incredible Substack Transfiguring Power with Jarrod McKenna! Get full access to Masala Chai Theology with Father Joash at joashpthomas.substack.com/subscribe

Such an honour to get to engage in conversation with one of my heroes and gurus in the justice & peacemaking space - Lisa Sharon Harper! If you’ve read my book (The Justice of Jesus), you’ve seen me quote Lisa repeatedly throughout it. Tune into this conversation to discuss Lisa’s upcoming summer school course at St. Stephen’s University on Fortune: Genealogy, Revolution & Repair (based on her must-read book, Fortune). This course is a much needed space for anyone (especially our white settler siblings in the US & Canada) to unpack our complex family histories (the Shalom, the brokenness, and the trauma) with Lisa as their teacher and guide. Because as Lisa shared in our conversation, “Power without rootedness is how you get Donald Trump.” People so disconnected from their ancestors and Creator-given identities (stolen from us by Empire) that they spill over towards their neighbors in harmful ways. But things don’t have to be this way. Because peacemakers like Lisa and I have found healing, compassion, and courage by reconciling with the stories of our own ancestors - inner healing work that has been critical in both of our formation journeys as peacemakers. Seriously - don’t miss out on this rare opportunity to learn from Lisa Sharon Harper’s wisdom in this classroom community at St. Stephen’s. Learn more about this course (including dates, fees, etc.) and register for it here! This is a terrific course to be taking alongside my summer school course at St. Stephen’s - Jesus, Justice & Empire. We hope to see you in class soon! Join me for my next live video in the app. Get full access to Masala Chai Theology with Father Joash at joashpthomas.substack.com/subscribe