What if we've been reading the Gospels wrong? In this powerful conversation recorded live at the 2025 Wild Goose Festival, theologian and author Jennifer Bashaw challenges us to flip the script on familiar Gospel stories. Instead of focusing solely on Jesus's death, Bashaw reveals how Jesus consistently positioned himself alongside society's scapegoats—women, the poor, infirm and the outsider. Through this lens, we discover how Jesus exposed the scapegoating mechanisms that create victims in the first place. This episode will transform how you read Scripture and help all of us recognize the dangerous patterns of scapegoating still playing out in our communities today.
Key Takeaways
Recognize the Pattern: Learn to identify when political, religious, and social leaders use scapegoating tactics—blaming marginalized groups (immigrants, LGBTQ+ individuals, racial minorities) for complex societal problems. These tactics distract from problem solving and accountability.
Amplify Silenced Voices: Move beyond speaking about marginalized communities to creating space for them to speak for themselves.
Choose Companionship Over Control: Jesus modeled walking alongside the vulnerable rather than exercising power over them. This challenges us to examine where we seek dominion versus where we offer genuine solidarity—in our congregations, places of worship, families, workplaces, and communities.
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Jennifer Bashaw | jgbashaw.com
Professor, minister, theologian and author of Scapegoats: The Gospel through the Eyes of the Victim Available on Amazon
Ellen Corcella | ellencorcella.com
Author of Walk with Me: A Journey through the Landscape of Trauma and ordained minister with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). She is the host of the Faith & Resilience Podcast, exploring the sacred values that anchor us through contemporary turbulence, trauma, and anxiety.
Discover healing and hope in Ellen's powerful book: "Walk with Me: A Journey through the Landscape of Trauma."
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About the "Wild Goose" Festival - www.wildgoosefestival.org
The Wild Goose Festival is an annual gathering that brings together people from diverse backgrounds to explore the intersection of faith, justice, music, and art. It serves as a space for meaningful dialogue about faith-inspired social justice and community building.