Josh has spent his whole life learning and teaching. His formal education is in Christian religion, with an emphasis on biblical interpretation. After finishing his PhD in Old Testament (Duke University) in 2012, Josh’s curiosity expanded far beyond Christianity and the Bible. Josh no longer considers himself to be a Christian, or a part of any formal religion. Thus, now the possibilities are wide open. And though this freedom can be scary, Josh is learning to enjoy this freedom. Josh’s current interests include, but are not limited to: consciousness, neuroscience, behavioral psychology, existentialism, spiritual development, mind-body connection, psychedelic research, and gender and sexuality.
Josh worked as peace activist and thought leader until 2026. His focus was on educating people on the injustice of the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories and Palestinian people. And this injustice is reminiscent of so many injustices in the U.S. and throughout the world. He brought groups on tours of Israel/Palestine. These tours showed people the brutal realities of the Israeli occupation. The tours also taught folks about the difficulties of understanding the history of ancient Israel and the life of Jesus as illumined by history, archaeology, and the Bible. He also leads online courses on the questions of God, the good life, and spirituality. Josh finished a documentary in 2021, entitled “The Law and the Prophets,” detailing the mechanisms of oppression utilized by Israel to oppress and silence Palestinians.
Josh lives in Holland, MI with his wife, Nicoly, two daughters, Mahalia and Luciana, and dog, George.
