Vincent van Gogh is usually remembered for three things: swirling paintings, emotional instability, and that one extremely over-discussed ear incident.

But before he became one of history’s most iconic artists, Van Gogh was chasing a very different calling: ministry.

Born the son of a Dutch pastor, Vincent once hoped to follow in his father’s footsteps. He studied theology, preached to coal miners, and threw himself into faith with the kind of intensity that made people wonder whether he was deeply devoted or just… a lot.

When the pulpit didn’t work out, Van Gogh didn’t abandon his spiritual questions—he redirected them.

In this episode, Mark and returning guest Joshua Noel explore how Van Gogh’s theology shaped his art, how his religious upbringing influenced his worldview, and why his paintings may be less “pretty landsc ...