“The Church isn’t dying—the voluntary association is.”

What happens when the institutions that once carried faith begin to collapse?

In this episode of Complex Creatures, Rev. Dr. Jarrod Longbons reflects on church decline, secularity, and the unraveling of America’s voluntary association culture. Rather than lamenting loss, he invites listeners to imagine the Church not as an institution to be maintained, but as a movement shaped by shared practices, shared mission, and shared life.

At the center of this vision is the Eucharist—not merely as ritual, but as a social and theological force that binds people together across difference, memory, and decline. This conversation explores loneliness, authenticity, belonging, and what it might mean for the Church to take its table into the world.

A thoughtful reflection for anyone wrestling with faith, community, and what comes next.

#ComplexCreatures#FaithInASeularAge#ChurchAndCulture#ChristianPodcast#EucharisticImagination#SpiritualCommunity#FaithAfterInstitutions#TheologyAndLife

Is the Enneagram just a personality test—or could it be a pathway to deeper faith?

In this rich and heartfelt episode of Complex Creatures, Rev. Dr. Jarrod Longbons speaks with Rev. Jamie Butcher—Presbyterian minister and certified Enneagram coach—about how this ancient tool offers more than labels. Together, they explore how the Enneagram can lead us from self-protection to self-giving, from pigeonholing to spiritual compassion, and into the very presence of God.

Topics include:

• The Enneagram as a contemplative Christian practice

• Why Christians are drawn to typologies—and how to avoid the pitfalls

• How compassion begins with self-understanding

• Prayer postures, personality awareness, and spiritual growth

• Using the Enneagram in pastoral care, spiritual direction, and community life

Whether you're new to the Enneagram or a longtime student, this conversation invites you to move beyond “what number are you?” into a deeper life of reflection, grace, and love.

#ComplexCreaturesPodcast #EnneagramAndFaith #SpiritualFormation
#ChristianContemplation #JamieButcher #EnneagramWisdom
#BelovedNotBoxed #FaithAndPersonality #CompassionateLeadership
#SpiritualDirection #TemplarPath #ChristianPodcast

In this illuminating conversation, Rev. Dr. Jarrod Longbons sits down with psychology professor and confessional Lutheran Dr. Jonathan Stadler to explore the timely intersection of faith, psychology, masculinity, and meaning. From behavioral neuroscience to the cultural impact of Jordan Peterson, from Stoicism and positive psychology to the beauty of carrying the fire in a broken world, this episode dives deep into the hopes and wounds of modern men—and how the Christian tradition can offer both healing and purpose.

Together, they explore:

• The psychological power of gratitude, humility, and relational living

• The role of The Road and apocalypse parenting in Christian manhood

• Why Gen Z is gravitating toward tradition

• The difference between faith formation and spiritual self-help

If you're navigating your own growth, longing for wholeness, or wondering what it means to be a man of faith in today’s world—this episode offers both challenge and comfort.

#ComplexCreaturesPodcast #FaithAndPsychology #ChristianMen
#MentalHealthAndFaith #JonathanStadler #MasculinityCrisis
#PositivePsychology #SpiritualFormation #JordanPeterson
#Stoicism #TheRoad #CarryTheFire #ChristianPodcast