EP 49: Jesus, Moses, the Buddha and Muhammad Walk Into a Bar… with Rev. Dave Carpenter

What if the path to healing our divided world isn’t found in power or politics—but in realizing that we belong to each other? 

In this powerful and thought-provoking episode of the Crazy Amazing Humans Podcast, we sit down with Rev. David Carpenter, senior pastor of Brentwood Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles, to explore how faith, inclusivity, and a radical sense of interconnectedness can heal our divided world. Reverend Carpenter is a deeply compassionate and forward-thinking leader who has been reshaping the conversation around faith. With an M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary and a current doctoral thesis in progress at Duke Divinity School, Rev. Carpenter brings deep theological insight and global perspective. From the philosophy of Ubuntu to confronting Christian nationalism, and from spiritual deconstruction to climate change and biblical stewardship, this conversation is a must-listen for seekers, believers, and changemakers alike.

Together with hosts Katrina Carlson and Jefferson Denim, Rev. Carpenter explores what it truly means to live out the gospel in today’s world—and why it's more radical, inclusive, and revolutionary than often portrayed.

Highlights from the Episode:

• Faith as Relationship, Not Religion: Rev. Carpenter shares his transformative spiritual journey that began with a hillside moment in high school and ultimately led him from pre-med at Tufts to a life in ministry.

• The Decline in Church Attendance: Why millennials and Gen Z are leaving organized religion, and why the Church must take responsibility for becoming judgmental, hypocritical, and out of touch.

• What is Ubuntu & Imago Dei?  We take a deep dive into Rev. Carpenter’s thesis on Ubuntu, a South African philosophy meaning “I am because we are,” and how Archbishop Desmond Tutu infused it with Christian theology through the lens of Imago Dei—the belief that each of us is made in the image of God.

• The Dangers of Christian Nationalism: A candid conversation on how political movements have co-opted Christian identity, often in contradiction to the teachings of Jesus.

• Interfaith Harmony: Rev. Carpenter reflects on the beauty of shared values across major religions and how faith leaders like Jesus, Moses, Muhammad, and the Buddha might just walk out of a bar as best friends. 

• What the Bible Really Says About Climate Change and Environmental Care: A new (and ancient!) understanding of humanity’s relationship with the environment—how serving the garden, not dominating it, reflects God's love for all creation.

• Ubuntu in Action Today: What would it mean if we all truly believed we were interconnected? Why should we create inclusive communities of faith in a modern, multicultural world? How could that shift politics, climate action, religion, and relationships?

• Practical Ways to Live More Meaningfully—whether you’re religious or not!

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