Dr. Jacqueline Bussie. Photo by Rachel Kabukala Sometimes we do not encounter silence so much as silence encounters us — whether we want it to or not. Today we have a conversation with Dr. Jacqueline Bussie, author of Love Without Limits: Jesus' Radical Vision for Love with No Exceptions. Dr. Bussie teaches religion, theology, and interfaith studies classes at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, where she also serves as the Director of the Forum on Faith and Life. "There is something that I think we have to be more authentic about within our faith traditions... and that is the silence of God and the way that is not always pretty." — Dr. Jacqueline Bussie A book about love may not sound very radical — but when the book's original publisher wanted to edit or remove sections it deemed too controversial, Jacqueline faced a dilemma: either accept the publisher's demands, or lose the publication contract. It was an experience of having her voiced silenced, all because she wanted to affirm the radical nature of true Christian love — a love with no boundaries and no exceptions. Thankfully, a new publisher was quickly found willing to take over the task of publishing the book — without silencing Jacqueline's voice or her commitment to love without limits. But she received a crash course in how vulnerable we all are, to being silenced by those who wield greater power. "Writing is prayer." — Dr. Jacqueline Bussie We recorded this episode of the podcast while Jacqueline was attending the Parlaiment of World Religions in Toronto, where she was one of the presenters. But she made time in her schedule to Skype with the Encountering Silence team, not only to discuss the remarkable story of her encounter with a silence that threatened to silence her, but she also explores more how silence has been part of her story in more life-affirming ways as well. Some of the resources and authors we mention in this episode: Jacqueline Bussie, Love Without Limits: Jesus' Radical Vision for Love with No Exceptions Jacqueline Bussie, Outlaw Christian: Finding Authentic Faith by Breaking the 'Rules' Jacqueline Bussie, The Laughter of the Oppressed: Ethical and Theological Resistance in Wiesel, Morrison, and Endo  Episode 43: Silence and Love without Limits: A Conversation with Jacqueline Bussie Hosted by: Kevin Johnson With: Cassidy Hall, Carl McColman Guest: Dr. Jacqueline Bussie Date Recorded: November 5, 2018 Appreciating healthy silence at a writer's retreat in Wyoming