The Nonviolent Jesus Podcast

Joan Chittister: "Beatitudes are Attitudes for life!" with Fr. John Dear

 
What if the Beatitudes weren’t just comforting words, but a blueprint for a way of life? What if Jesus wasn’t just offering hope, but a call to action in a world of injustice, violence, and oppression?
In this powerful first episode of a three-part series, Fr. John Dear sits down with the legendary Sr. Joan Chittister to unpack the Beatitudes—not as prayers, but as bold, countercultural ways of living that challenge systems of power. "The 8 Beatitudes of life are actually the 8 attitudes for life!" Sr. Joan says. Together, they dive deep into:
💠 Blessed are the poor in spirit– What does it mean to let go of ego and privilege in a world obsessed with power?
💠 Blessed are those who mourn– How do we turn grief into action in the face of war, climate collapse, and social injustice?
💠 Blessed are the meek, humble, and gentle– Why is humility a revolutionary force for peace?
Sr. Joan doesn’t hold back—"The Beatitudes are not prayers of supplication: they are the reality of everything we could get out of life right now". She speaks truth to power as a fierce advocate for justice, peace, and human dignity. A Benedictine sister, activist, and author of 60+ books, she’s spent her life challenging the Church, political systems, and all of us to live out our faith with courage.
🔥 This is a conversation you don’t want to miss.
🎧 Listen now. Get inspired. Change the world.
Sr. Joan Chittister is an internationally known lecturer and teacher, a columnist for The National Catholic Reporter, and the author of 60 books including The Time Is Now; Becoming Fully Human; Radical Spirit; Aspects of the Heart; The Gift of Years; and The Rule of Benedict. She has served as Benedictine prioress and Benedictine federation president, president of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, and co-chair of the Global Peace Initiative of Women.
👉 Learn more about Sr. Joan Chittister:joanchittister.org
👉 Join the movement for nonviolence:beatitudescenter.org

10 Essentials: The Nonviolence of Jesus is a Call to Action! with Fr. John Dear

🎙️ Episode #6: Fr. John Dear on “The Nonviolence of Jesus: 10 Essentials”
📅 Drops Feb. 10, 2025
What if Jesus wasn’t just a teacher of love, but a radical, nonviolent activist challenging empire, oppression, and injustice? What if his message wasn’t about passive faith but fearless resistance rooted in love?
In this episode, Fr. John Dear breaks down 10 essential lessons on the nonviolence of Jesus—a message more urgent than ever in our world of war, division, and systemic injustice. From the Sermon on the Mount to his bold civil disobedience in the Temple, from "Put down the sword!" in Gethsemane to the radical new covenant at the Last Supper (“My blood shed for you, do this!” — a total rejection of violence), we’ll explore how Jesus wasn’t just preaching peace—he embodied it in action.
This is more than theology—it’s a call to action. If you’re serious about peacemaking, activism, and following Jesus in a way that actually challenges power and transforms the world, this episode is for you.
Fr. John Dear is a renegade priest, activist, and author of 40+ books, including The Beatitudes of Peace and The Gospel of Peace. He’s been arrested for standing up against war and nuclear weapons, and he’s here to invite you into a new way of living the Gospel—one of courage, justice, and relentless nonviolence.
🔥 Are you ready to follow Jesus in a way that shakes the world? Tune in now.
👉 More from John Dear: www.johndear.org 👉 Join the movement: www.beatitudescenter.org

Richard Rohr on "The Tears of Things" with Fr. John Dear

🔥 Spiritual seekers, this is an episode you won’t want to miss! 🔥
This week on The Nonviolent Jesus, we welcome Fr. Richard Rohr, one of the most influential spiritual voices of our time. A beloved Franciscan priest, best-selling author, and prophetic teacher, Fr. Richard has guided millions—including Oprah, Bono, and even Pope Francis—toward a deeper, more transformative faith.
As the founder of the Center for Action and Contemplation, his teachings on mysticism, contemplation, and social justice have shaped the way we see faith in the modern world. His books, including The Universal Christ, Falling Upward, and The Divine Dance, have become essential reading for spiritual seekers worldwide. His daily reflections reach over half a million subscribers hungry for wisdom in a divided world.
Now, Fr. Richard returns with his most urgent book yet: "The Tears of Things: Prophetic Wisdom for an Age of Outrage." In a time of chaos and division, what can the prophets teach us about courage, hope, and speaking truth to power?
Join Fr. John as he sits down with Fr. Richard for a powerful conversation on faith, justice, and the prophetic voices we need now more than ever.
🎧 Listen in, be inspired, and discover why Richard Rohr remains one of the most beloved spiritual teachers of our time.

Sr Helen Prejean, author of "Dead Man Walking" with Fr. John Dear: "Where is Jesus now?"

🔥 New Episode! The Nonviolent Jesus Podcast 🎙️ ✊Featuring Sister Helen Prejean: A Life of Courage, Compassion & Justice
This week, we welcome Sister Helen Prejean, a spiritual powerhouse and one of the world’s fiercest voices against the death penalty. ⚖️💔
Sister Helen’s journey into activism began in the shadows of death row, where she encountered the raw reality of injustice. Instead of turning away, she stepped closer—standing beside the condemned, bearing witness to their dignity, and challenging a system built on vengeance.
🙏 You may know her as the author of the groundbreaking best-seller Dead Man Walking—a book that sparked a national conversation, became an Oscar-winning film starring Susan Sarandon & Sean Penn, and even inspired a powerful opera recently performed at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York.
📖 Her fearless voice continues in other best-selling books like:✨ The Death of Innocents—exposing wrongful executions🔥 River of Fire: A Spiritual Memoir—her journey into radical faith
Through her ministry, Sister Helen has accompanied eight men to their executions—standing in the face of darkness and proclaiming the unshakable truth: every life has dignity. 🌎❤️
Today, she joins us from her home in New Orleans to share her wisdom, her faith, and her unwavering hope for a world without state-sanctioned killing.
⚡ This is more than a conversation—it’s a call to action.💡 How do we, as followers of the nonviolent Jesus, stand for mercy in a world bent on retribution?💡 How do we embody justice that heals, rather than justice that punishes?
🎧 Take a deep breath, open your heart, and prepare to be moved. This is a conversation you won’t forget.
#TheNonviolentJesus #SisterHelenPrejean #DeadManWalking #FaithInAction #RadicalCompassion #JusticeForAll #EndTheDeathPenalty

The Nonviolent Jesus: Fr. John Dear in Conversation with Bernard Lafayette

On this special MLK Day, we’re honored to welcome Dr. Bernard Lafayette to "The Non-Violent Jesus."
Dr. Lafayette isn’t just a witness to history—he’s one of the leaders who shaped it. As a key figure in the Civil Rights Movement and a close assistant to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Dr. Lafayette’s life has been a masterclass in courage, nonviolence, and relentless dedication to justice.
From organizing sit-ins in Nashville alongside icons like Rev. Jim Lawson, John Lewis, and Diane Nash, to risking it all as one of the Freedom Riders, to leading the Selma voting rights movement, Dr. Lafayette has always been on the front lines of change. After Dr. King’s assassination, he carried forward the dream, founding the Center for Peace and Nonviolence Studies at the University of Rhode Island and teaching Kingian nonviolence to thousands across the globe.
In this episode, we reflect on Dr. King’s 100th birthday and explore what Kingian nonviolence means for today’s struggles for civil rights, equality, and peace. What does it look like to live out nonviolence in a world that still wrestles with systemic injustice and division? What lessons can we draw from the movement that transformed a nation—and how can we be part of the change today?

Fr John Dear in Conversation with Martin Sheen

This week on "The Non-Violent Jesus," we’re sitting down with a true legend—actor and activist Martin Sheen. You probably know him as President Bartlett from The West Wing, or from iconic films like Apocalypse Now, The American President, Selma, and The Way. But Martin Sheen is so much more than a Hollywood star.
For over four decades, Martin has been a fearless voice for justice, peace, and nonviolence. Whether he’s advocating for the homeless, standing up against war and nuclear weapons, or getting arrested at protests (yes, seriously), Martin has lived out his values with relentless passion.
In this episode, Fr. John dives deep with Martin to explore how his faith fuels his activism, his understanding of Gospel nonviolence, and the ways his work in film and TV has shaped his journey as a peacemaker.
If you’ve ever wondered what it looks like to combine art, faith, and activism in a way that truly makes a difference, you won’t want to miss this conversation. Martin’s story is raw, inspiring, and just might leave you ready to take action in your own life.
 

#1 The Nonviolent Jesus Podcast: An introduction with Fr. John Dear on “Living the Beatitudes”

What does it mean to practice ‘Blessed are the peacemakers’ in a world often ruled by violence? The Beatitudes aren’t just ancient sayings—they’re a bold, countercultural call to action. In this episode, we’ll explore how nonviolence isn’t just the absence of conflict—it’s the presence of love in action and creative activism.We can create real change, stand up to injustice, and find the courage to choose peace every single day. Together, let’s uncover how these timeless words can guide us to heal wounds, build bridges, and create a more peaceful world.John reads from the Beatitudes at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount (from Matthew 5:1-11), and reflects on them not as an impossible ideal, but rather as a practical way to transform societal systems of power, justice, and relationships through Jesus’ vision of living a nonviolent life and working for a more just, more peaceful, more nonviolent world. He will invite us to live out the Beatitudes and become people of Gospel nonviolence, peacemakers, the beloved sons and daughters of the God of peace. Fr. John Dear is a priest, activist, and author of 40 books including The Beatitudes of Peace and The Gospel of Peace: Reading Matthew, Mark, and Luke from the Perspective of Nonviolence, and the founder and director of www.beatitudescenter.org See www.johndear.org

The Nonviolent Jesus Podcast: Trailer

What if the key to a more peaceful world is following the path of the nonviolent Jesus?Join Fr. John Dear—priest, author, activist, and Nobel Peace Prize nominee—for The Nonviolent Jesus, a weekly 30-minute podcast. Each episode reflects on the radical teachings of Jesus through the lens of active nonviolence, inspired by the traditions of Gandhi and Dr. King.Featuring compelling conversations with spiritual teachers, authors, and activists like Martin Sheen, Joan Baez, Rev. Richard Rohr, Sister Helen Prejean, Dolores Huerta, Shane Claiborne, and many others, John dives deep into the practice of nonviolence to address critical issues. Together, they explore the practice of nonviolence and its power to end war, racism, poverty, nuclear weapons, and environmental destruction—all while embracing Jesus’ call to universal love, compassion, and peace.Be inspired to reclaim the radical nonviolence of Jesus and work toward a more just and peaceful world and discover how universal love and compassion can transform our lives and the world.Subscribe now and join us as we follow The Nonviolent Jesus!