Harmonic Atheist podcast (4/9/2024)
Last week, I was a guest on the Harmonic Atheist podcast, hosted by my friend, Tim Mills.
Why Do We Believe What We Believe?
Sometimes, we believe things because they are comfortable, not because they are sensible.
Is Free Will an Illusion?
Surely, it seems like we have free will, but is free will an illusion?
Leaving Church, Maintaining Spiritual Practices
Many people are leaving church over questions of belief or doctrine. How are people who are leaving church maintaining spiritual practices?
Pragmatic Buddhist Book Discussion Group
On April 7, the Pragmatic Buddhist Book Discussion Group will be discussing "The Way" on a Meetup zoom call.
Leaving Church, Finding Community
Many people are leaving church because of some speculative doctrines, supernatural beliefs, and unkind practices that they found in church. Where are they finding community after leaving church?
War Machine podcast (3/12/2024)
Last month, I was a guest on the War Machine podcast, a place for "theological nomads." This is one of my favorite podcasts, hosted by my friend, Matt Baker.
Christianity: Creeds, Exclusive Claims and Evangelization
Christianity uniquely emphasizes creeds, exclusive claims and evangelization, compared to many other religions.
The Desert Sanctuary podcast (10/7/2023)
Last fall, I was a guest on The Desert Sanctuary podcast, hosted by my friends, Karl and Laura Forehand. Karl and Laura are a former pastor and pastor's wife, who authored several books. They are truth-tellers who have been helpful and inspirational to me.
No Self? No Soul? No Worries.
In the Eastern worldview, there are some people who believe that self is a construct, and soul is a fiction. These are some of the most challenging and interesting ideas that we will encounter in our journeys.
Are We Separate From God and From Each Other?
Many religions, particularly Eastern religions such as Buddhism, Hinduism, and Taoism, embrace nonduality. Christianity, too, has been interpreted in nondual terms.
All Religion is Cultural. All Theology is Speculation.
There are many paths to the top of the mountain and many ways of looking at things.
Spiritual Reading List
This list appears as an appendix, "Suggestions for Further Reading," in my book, The Way: Meaningful Spirituality for a Modern World.
Why I Always Say, "You Might Be Right."
“You might be right” emerged as an unscripted theme during my first author talk in Crestone, Colorado. This disarming phrase has become one of my catchphrases.
Welcome to "You Might Be Right: An Interspiritual Journey"
Welcome to “You Might Be Right: An Interspiritual Journey,” my column on Patheos!! Thanks for joining me on an interspiritual journey and for reading my column.
How Do You Know?
We do not "know" as much as we think that we know, so there are a few questions that I ask myself to clarify the difference between believing something and knowing something.
"I'm Not 'out' with My Doubt."
Since I wrote a book about asking questions, I'm meeting a lot of people who are asking questions. Many of them tell me, "I'm not 'out' with my doubt."
If Not Christian Theism, Then What?
Sometimes, readers will ask me, "If you don't believe in a Supreme Being who creates the Universe and manages human affairs, then what do you believe?"
Is Christian Theism Dead?
Jim Palmer, a friend and mentor who wrote the foreword to my book, recently posted a podcast episode called, "Is Christian Theism Dead?" for the Center for Non-Religious Spirituality.
Awe, Gratitude, Reverence, and a Sense of Responsibility
We believe different things for different reasons. Sometimes, our beliefs are rational or sensible. Sometimes, our beliefs are borne of experience. Sometimes, our beliefs are due to fear or insecurity. Some people believe things because it feels more comfortable to believe them.