Seeing Death Clearly

Jonathan Foster on Grief, Love, and Reimagining Faith After Loss


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Jonathan Foster joins the conversation to share the story behind Indigo, his book about the life and death of his daughter, Quincy. This episode explores how a parent’s grief can reshape faith, deepen compassion, and reveal new ways to heal and live consciously. It offers an honest look at love, loss, and the courage it takes to rebuild meaning after tragedy.


He explains how losing her forced him to rethink long-held beliefs about God, certainty, and what it means to love without conditions. Jonathan describes how this heartbreak challenged his theology but also opened space for a more expansive, healing understanding of love that is not limited by religious rules. He shares how nature, community, and honest conversations about death and dying helped him stay connected to his daughter’s legacy while learning to live with deep sorrow. Together, they reflect on the “sin of certainty,” the power of curiosity, and the importance of end-of-life awareness in shaping a more compassionate world.


Jonathan’s background spans decades of ministry, writing, and advocacy. He is a father of three, a former church planter, and a partner of one, with a doctorate in theology from Northwind Seminary. His work, including his leadership with lovehaiti.org and the co-founding of OpenTable.network, centers on love-driven community, inclusion, and human connection. His book Indigo: The Color of Grief has been praised by progressive Christian thinkers for its honest exploration of death, mourning, and healing. This conversation offers comfort, clarity, and a reminder that even in loss, beauty and meaning can still be found.


jonathanfosteronline.com 


00:00 Introduction: Exploring Life and Death

00:16 Meet the Host: Jill McClennan

00:41 Guest Introduction: Jonathan Foster

01:34 A Mother's Grief and Appreciation

03:03 The Meaning Behind 'Indigo'

05:06 Faith, Loss, and Transformation

09:57 Navigating Grief and Relationships

17:11 The Divine and Gender Perspectives

20:33 Balancing Masculine and Feminine Energies

22:51 Questioning Good and Bad

24:17 The Absurdity of Defining Good and Bad

26:39 Leaving Religion and Asking Questions

30:48 The Sin of Certainty

34:34 Understanding Sin and Love

37:15 Unconditional Love and Compassion

41:40 The Complexity of Love and Forgiveness

43:10 Conclusion and Final Thoughts



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Seeing Death ClearlyBy Jill McClennen

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