Are we drawn to landscapes that echo the symptoms of our soul? Desert spirituality knows that the God of the vast spaces is an experience of the sacred where we can find ourselves completely undone, stripped of our usual protective identities and driven to awe-filled silence. Safer images and experiences of God are disrupted by the God of wild imagination we find in the wilderness. Author and theologian, Belden Lane joins Peter, Dom and Sue in a conversation that traverses the inner terrain of love, loss and beauty even as it imaginatively takes us in wonder to canyons and forests, deserts and rivers which all reveal the God who may be found always speaking in and through creation, the first sacred book. 

Belden C. Lane is Professor Emeritus of Theological Studies, American Religion, and History of Spirituality at Saint Louis University. His interests include the relationship between geography and faith, wilderness backpacking in the Ozarks, the magic of storytelling and desert spirituality. He is author of many books including “Backpacking with the Saints: Wilderness Hiking as Spiritual Practice” and “The Great Conversation: Nature and the Care of the Soul"

Are we drawn to landscapes that echo the symptoms of our soul? Desert spirituality knows that the God of the vast spaces is an experience of the sacred where we can find ourselves completely undone, stripped of our usual protective identities and driven to awe-filled silence. Safer images and experiences of God are disrupted by the God of wild imagination we find in the wilderness. Author and theologian, Belden Lane joins Peter, Dom and Sue in a conversation that traverses the inner terrain of love, loss and beauty even as it imaginatively takes us in wonder to canyons and forests, deserts and rivers which all reveal the God who may be found always speaking in and through creation, the first sacred book. 
Belden C. Lane is Professor Emeritus of Theological Studies, American Religion, and History of Spirituality at Saint Louis University. His interests include the relationship between geography and faith, wilderness backpacking in the Ozarks, the magic of storytelling and desert spirituality. He is author of many books including “Backpacking with the Saints: Wilderness Hiking as Spiritual Practice” and “The Great Conversation: Nature and the Care of the Soul"

A podcast exploring the deeper mysteries of faith, meaning, and beauty.  Based at St John's Cathedral in Brisbane, the podcast invites others into conversation who are also "on the way"; seeking a transformative spirituality and inclusive faith that speaks to real issues of today. Together we seek to make meaning and articulate a Christianity that expresses the liberating and life-giving message of the Gospel in our time.

On the Way Podcast

On the Way is a podcast exploring the deeper mysteries of faith, meaning, and beauty.

St John's Cathedral

Wild Landscapes and Soul Work: Belden Lane

There is a strong sense that the Church is in a time of transition- preparing to birth something new. John Philip Newell in his new book, The Great Search: Turning to earth and soul in the quest for healing and home, addresses this idea and speaks to the group he refers to as the Christian diaspora; those who, from both ‘inside’ and ‘outside’ the church, have a sense of yearning that there must be something more. Rejoining the podcast for this timely conversation, John Philip explores the tension between the wilderness and the temple. He contests that both the prophetic and priestly voices, which these represent, are needed as we share in the labour pains for this new birth, finding and creating communities to express our deepest longings.

John Philip Newell, author of many books and beloved Celtic teacher, joins Dom, Peter and Sue in this second conversation for the podcast.

There is a strong sense that the Church is in a time of transition- preparing to birth something new. John Philip Newell in his new book, The Great Search: Turning to earth and soul in the quest for healing and home, addresses this idea and speaks to the group he refers to as the Christian diaspora; those who, from both ‘inside’ and ‘outside’ the church, have a sense of yearning that there must be something more. Rejoining the podcast for this timely conversation, John Philip explores the tension between the wilderness and the temple. He contests that both the prophetic and priestly voices, which these represent, are needed as we share in the labour pains for this new birth, finding and creating communities to express our deepest longings.
John Philip Newell, author of many books and beloved Celtic teacher, joins Dom, Peter and Sue in this second conversation for the podcast.

John Philip Newell: The Great Search

Is there an ancient path that can transform lives when we find it together, giving hope and meaning? Alexander John Shaia returns to the podcast from his home in Spain to share his deep mining of the Gospel of John which he argues offer the most important, beautiful and dangerous words in Christianity. The story of Jesus in John proposed a radical joining of all- tribes, genders, slaves and free -  coming in a new human experiment to sit side by side around the table. Alexander John aligns the work of Joseph Campbell around the Hero's Journey with the four paths of the Gospels, with John being the path that shows the way to the question, "How do I receive new vision and know the greater joy of union?" This Gospel proclaims that union is the deepest truth and that we should not be discouraged that old divisions keep returning. There is always work to do in returning to that union which is our deepest reality, and this Gospel shows us the way to restore the beautiful blueprint of harmony in diversity. Drawing from his work as a Jungian psychologist and his devotion to mystical Christianity, in this conversation Alexander John shines new light on this ancient text that transcends traditional understanding. 

Is there an ancient path that can transform lives when we find it together, giving hope and meaning? Alexander John Shaia returns to the podcast from his home in Spain to share his deep mining of the Gospel of John which he argues offer the most important, beautiful and dangerous words in Christianity. The story of Jesus in John proposed a radical joining of all- tribes, genders, slaves and free -  coming in a new human experiment to sit side by side around the table. Alexander John aligns the work of Joseph Campbell around the Hero's Journey with the four paths of the Gospels, with John being the path that shows the way to the question, "How do I receive new vision and know the greater joy of union?" This Gospel proclaims that union is the deepest truth and that we should not be discouraged that old divisions keep returning. There is always work to do in returning to that union which is our deepest reality, and this Gospel shows us the way to restore the beautiful blueprint of harmony in diversity. Drawing from his work as a Jungian psychologist and his devotion to mystical Christianity, in this conversation Alexander John shines new light on this ancient text that transcends traditional understanding.

Alexander John Shaia: The Mystical Christos

On the Way Episode 107

Anne Van Gend: Restoring the Story

Are we too squeamish about atonement? Anne Van Gend, priest, author and ministry educator, joins the podcast to explore how we tell and keep telling stories about ‘atonement’ in different ways; in mythology, in fantasy novels, movies and of course, in the Christian tradition. Anne argues that the central story of Christian faith – the life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus- is so big and important that we need to approach it from as many angles as possible. The danger of post-reformation thinking that we can be ‘saved by having the right belief’, particularly about atonement, means that we are so easily threatened by anyone who tells the story differently. It also means that we lose the enchantment of the stories which tell the most hopeful dreams of humanity and are perhaps echoes of the best dream of all.  

On the Way Episode 107
Anne Van Gend: Restoring the Story
Are we too squeamish about atonement? Anne Van Gend, priest, author and ministry educator, joins the podcast to explore how we tell and keep telling stories about ‘atonement’ in different ways; in mythology, in fantasy novels, movies and of course, in the Christian tradition. Anne argues that the central story of Christian faith – the life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus- is so big and important that we need to approach it from as many angles as possible. The danger of post-reformation thinking that we can be ‘saved by having the right belief’, particularly about atonement, means that we are so easily threatened by anyone who tells the story differently. It also means that we lose the enchantment of the stories which tell the most hopeful dreams of humanity and are perhaps echoes of the best dream of all.

Wild Landscapes and Soul Work: Belden Lane

In 1 playlist(s)

St John's Cathedral

Follow podcast

Recent clips