What happens when the light breaks in—on a photograph, a theology, or a life?
In this episode, photographer, theologian, and “Theology Jack” creator Dr. Mark Umstot joins host Michael Brennan for a deep and wildly honest conversation about failure, reconstruction, and what happens when theology barks, limps, and still curls up in your lap. Mark shares stories of spiritual trauma, ministry betrayal, holy defiance, and how photography taught him to see the divine in vulnerability.
We talk about:
Why theology is dangerous (and why that might be good)
The story behind “Theology Jack” as more than a persona, it’s a posture
How quantum physics and dogs might help us understand God
Deconstruction, parenting, and redefining sin
What happens when you get fired for being “too liked”
This episode is raw, redemptive, and rooted in the idea that liberation isn’t the loss of belief, but the refusal to carry what was never yours to begin with.
📸 See more of Mark’s work: www.theologyjack.com
📺 Subscribe to Theology Jack: YouTube @TheologyJack
Theology Jack is a platform where Open and Relational Theology meets raw storytelling, existential grit, and the occasional holy side-eye.
I am very excited to introduce you to Mark. He is first a good friend, fellow Open and Relational Theologian, but he also has a great heart and mind. He is the second guest on Theodivergent.
Trained under Thomas Jay Oord, Mark holds a Doctorate in Theology and specializes in dismantling tired God-talk to make space for something wilder, more honest, and actually worth believing. His work lives in the tension between horror and hope, fusing emotional realism with a relentless curiosity about divine presence. Based in Texas, he’s reimagining how we talk about love, power, and suffering — not from a distance, but from the middle of the mess.
📸 This episode is about finding beauty without resolution, staring into the weird, and making peace with the divine in the shadows.
Here are the links again!
📺 Watch & subscribe: www.youtube.com/@TheologyJack
🌐 Explore more: www.theologyjack.com and https://www.instagram.com/theology_jack/
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