Decolonizing Heaven & Hell: A Conversation Between Fr. Joash P. Thomas and Jarrod McKenna

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!