Mark Townsend: The Traitor's Child

The Abiders Urban Achiever Podcast

**New Episodes Released Every Wednesday**

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"It's interesting that Easter is still determined by the moon, you know? You can't get away from it. There is a real paganism deep within Christianity... which Christians don't like to admit..."

-Mark Townsend

Mark Townsend is a former Anglican Priest who spent 10 years with the Church of England. During a 3-year sabbatical, Mark immersed himself in Druid teachings of animism and Gaian philosophy. He also pursued a lifelong interest in magic and later came across the works of Dudeism and the Church of the Later-Day Dude. After a brief return to the COE, he left to practice independently. In his ministry today, he weaves old pagan tradition, street magic, and the tenets of "taking it easy" into his sermons and ceremonies. Mark is also an accomplished writer and has published 6 non-fiction and autobiographical books including "The Gospel of Falling Down," "Jesus: Outside the Box," and "The Path of the Blue Raven" to name a few. Mark's latest book, "The Traitor's Child," is a fiction novel that shatters Judeo-Christain dogma surrounding the life and legacy of Jesus Christ. Through the eyes of several characters over multiple timelines, Mark reminds readers that the testament of Jesus was one of compassion, imperfection, and forgiveness. To paraphrase Mark, Jesus stood up for the losers of society; showing love to those no one else would. The religion built from that legacy, so disconnected from the values Jesus lived by, fight tooth and nail with the protagonists from the story to protect the iteration they have proselytized.

Mark was a really interesting fellow to talk with. It was a blast fleshing apart his interpretations of the church, monotheistic religions, and the teachings of Jesus. I've been wanting to talk with Mark since seeing his interview on Dudeism and I can promise you that we go into some very deep, intimate, and taboo topics on religion and spirituality.

Useful Links/Video Resources:

• A Priest discusses Druidism and Dudeism (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaMP4qgyTAk&t=165s)
• Father Richard Rohr (discussed in-session with Mark) https://cac.org/richard-rohr/richard-rohr-ofm/
• Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids (https://druidry.org/)
  

Connect with Mark Townsend:

• (Mark Townsend Official Website) http://www.marktownsendministry.co.uk/index.html
• Pre-Order "The Traitor's Child" https://www.amazon.com/Traitors-Child-Familys-HistoryS-Biggest/dp/1789043751/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=mark+townsend&qid=1593034681&sr=8-3
  

Intro/Outro Music:

• Lonely Few (Beth Bombara)
  

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The Abiders Urban Achiever Podcast

• Host: Chad Bartalone
• Audio/Visual Editor: Baylor Kern-Lovick
  

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