The Wonder and The Mystery of Being

A discussion about the nature of consciousness. What is it, exactly, and what is its relationship with the physical world? Dr. Philip Goff is one of world's leading proponents of a view called panpsychism, which suggests that all matter may have an element of consciousness, and in a sense, everything has experience. Dr Philip Goff is an Associate Professor of Philosophy at Durham University. His research focuses on how to integrate consciousness into our scientific world view. He has authored an academic book with Oxford University Press – Consciousness and Fundamental Reality – and a book aimed at a general audience – Galileo's Error: Foundations for a New Science of Consciousness. Goff has published 45 academic articles as well as writing extensively for newspapers and magazines, including Scientific American, The Guardian, and the Times Literary Supplement. Goff's interview by Pulitzer Prize winning author Gareth Cook was one of the most viewed of the most viewed articles in Scientific American of 2020.https://twitter.com/Philip_Goffhttps://www.philipgoffphilosophy.com/https://conscienceandconsciousness.com/

Human Beings. How did we become the creatures that we are? How did our bodies, and more importantly, our minds, evolve from the bodies and minds of simpler creatures? In this episode I speak with Dr William Von Hippel, a social psychologist, and author of the book The Social Leap, which is about this very subject. Join us as we learn the story of humanity.About Dr William Von Hippel:https://psychology.uq.edu.au/profile/3034/bill-von-hippelThe Social Leap:https://www.amazon.com/Social-Leap-Evolutionary-Science-Where/dp/0062740393A clip from Dr Von Hippel's appearance on the Joe Rogan Show:https://youtu.be/h6oF1CCupiE

How do we relate to our body? Do we treat our bodies like objects we possess? Is there a better way? These questions are at the heart of Jamie Lee Finch's work. In this episode we discuss her background in evangelical Christianity, her 2019 book You Are Your Own, and the work she does now as an embodiment coach. Links to Jamie Lee Finch's work:Websitehttps://jamieleefinch.com/Her Course "Your Body Is A Person":http://www.jamieleefinch.com/wonderHer Book "You Are Your Own":https://www.amazon.com/You-Are-Your-Own-Christianity-ebook/dp/B07TDNMK8K/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=you+are+your+own&qid=1628274596&sr=8-1Social Media:http://www.instagram.com/iamjamieleefinchhttp://www.twitter.com/jamieleefinch

Is a secular society an atheist society? Hemant Mehta, the writer behind thefriendlyatheist.com, youtuber, and activist, would say a resounding "no". In this conversation we talk about his work advocating for a society that functions better for everyone, rather than catering to religious groups. Find out more about Hemant Mehta:http://www.friendlyatheist.comhttp://www.twitter.com/hemantmehtaMentioned in this episode:Conversation between Sean McDowell and Hemant Mehta hosted by Justin Brierleyhttps://youtu.be/Hhuxq7wLpFc

Why is everyone talking about deconstruction? Why are hashtags like #exvangelical becoming so familiar? Are people leaving evangelical churches in droves? These are just a few of the questions that my guest Chrissy Stroop and I discuss in this week's episode of The Wonder and The Mystery of Being.Chrissy Stroop holds a Ph.D. in History and Interdisciplinary Studies in the Humanities from Stanford University. She filed her dissertation (as Christopher Stroop, pre-transition), "Providential Empire: Russia's Religious Intelligentsia and the First World War" in May 2012. Since that time Stroop has taught at the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration in Moscow, Russia, and at the University of South Florida in Tampa. Chrissy has written for The New Republic, The Economist, The New York Times,  Foreign Policy, Political Research Associates, Religion Dispatches, The Moscow Times, Eurasianet, Playboy, or Dame Magazine, and co-edited a book called Empty the Pews: Stories of Leaving the Church with Lauren O'Neal.Follow Chrissy Stroop on twitter:https://twitter.com/C_StroopSupport Chrissy Stroop on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/cstroopEmpty the Pews on Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XL2T2LD/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

"Good religion takes us deeper into our own humanity." This week Justin McRoberts and I discuss our perspectives on religious practices, whether they can be healthy and helpful, and what that might look like. Nietzsche, Heiddeger, and Camus are just a few names that come up over the course of this conversation. This is the first in-person interview for the show, filmed in the evening in front of my 1969 Airstream Trailer, The Curiosity. Justin McRoberts is a musician, writer, and speaker. His new book is called "It Is What You Make of It: Creating Something Great from What You've Been Given"The book on amazon:https://www.amazon.com/What-You-Make-Creating-Something-ebook/dp/B08L71Y5CY/Learn more about Justin:http://www.justinmcroberts.comhttp://www.twitter.com/justinmcroberts

This week we're talking about the SOUL! What is it? Do we really HAVE a soul? How did we come to believe in the idea of a soul in the first place?  We also go down several incredible tangents such as simulation theory, solipsism, visual perception, and how our brains process information. Shannon is a regular host of the Atheist Experience, and The Line, two weekly youtube shows run by the Atheist Community of Austin (ACA). Shannon also has her own youtube channel. Links to all these are below!Shannon's Youtube Channel:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0qhPJh8DeoR-3JhMrIvw0gThe Atheist Experience:https://www.youtube.com/user/TheAtheistExperienceThe Line:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIv3LvN_0CNzMpSrTF9naNA

1 year ago I wrote an instagram post that changed my life.  In this special live episode of the show, I re-read the post, and talk about what feels the same, what feels different, and what I would have done differently. This is live, casual, and off-the-cuff. Aired on youtube live on May 20, 2021. Youtube link here:https://youtu.be/hl4fpJAw-8gI hope you enjoy!

No two people's process of religious deconstruction is the same. In getting to know C Davis, aka @deconstructingblack on Instagram, I've found that many of our experiences are similar, but some are quite different. In this conversation, C and I discuss those similarities and differences, and she shares with us what it's like to go through a process of deconstruction as a Black woman in America.Learn more about C:http://www.instagram.com/deconstructingblackhttp://www.instagram.com/deconstructingcolors

Sasha and I discuss the immense value of rituals, even for those of us with a much more secular, non-religious worldview. We get into how we make meaning, experience awe, and approach mystery. Some of my favorite topics! I'm thrilled to get this chance to speak with Sasha, for so many reasons. Her life, work, and family are so brilliantly interesting to me, and her father's book/movie "Contact" was so influential for me growing up. We talk about that story towards the end of our chat.Sasha is a writer, speaker, and filmmaker, and the book we discuss in this conversation is her 2019 release "For Small Creatures Such As We...", which is one of my top book recommendations. To learn more about Sasha Sagan:http://www.sashasagan.comhttp://www.twitter.com/sashasaganhttp://www.instagram.com/sashasagan"For Such Creatures Such As We..." on Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/Small-Creatures-Such-We-Unlikely-ebook/dp/B07N5JQXFK/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=for+such+creatures&qid=1620071000&sr=8-3

How did the Bible come to be? That is a massive question that couldn't possibly be unraveled in a single episode. So over the coming months, I plan on doing several episodes tackling different aspects of this question. We'll start with the first books of the Bible - the Torah, also called the Pentateuch. In this episode I speak with Dr Joel Baden, Professor of Hebrew Bible at Yale University, about the documentary hypothesis of Torah authorship. The Torah is traditionally attributed to Moses, but there appear to be some very good reasons why that might not be the case, and some incredible implications if not. Join Dr Baden and I as we begin to lay the groundwork of how best to understand what the Bible is, how best to read it, and how we can gain a richer understanding of its ancient roots by learning from the Jewish perspective. Check out Dr Baden's books here:https://www.amazon.com/Joel-S.-Baden/e/B004R86924%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_shareDr Baden's twitter account (where he's breaking down the Torah verse by verse daily):https://twitter.com/joelbadenDr Baden's Talk at the Nantucket Project (I mentioned it in the episode):https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XS7LgbMr1m4

Kyle and Neesha share their experience departing the Mormon faith tradition. While sharing a lot of elements with other Christian streams, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS) is a particularly tight knit community with many unique dynamics. I was curious how much their own journey might sound familiar to me, and how much it might be entirely different. The conversation was deeply fascinating and moving. I am approaching this topic as a student, and as I'm not connected to this particular faith tradition, I am not here to criticize the LDS church. I simply wanted to learn about the faith and Kyle and Neesha's experience, both inside it, and outside it, where they find themselves today.Follow Kyle and Neesha on Tik Tok:https://www.tiktok.com/@challenge.faith?lang=enA Link to "A Letter For My Wife" (referenced in this episode)https://www.letterformywife.com/the-letter

Ahimsa is a sanskrit word that means non-harm. In this episode Dr Katie Blake and I discuss Ahimsa, as well as other incredibly helpful ideas that we've both discovered in more eastern-influenced thought and philosophy. Dr Katie Blake has her Ph.D. in Social Psychology, and is also a 500-hour-Masters-level yoga instructor. She has used that background to guide her own process of religious deconstruction, and works with others to help them do the same.Check out Dr Katie Blake:http://www.instagram.com/drkatieblakehttp://www.drkatieblake.com 

What if there are things God can't do? Like know the future or intervene in the lives of human beings? That's the central question of my chat with Dr Thomas Jay Oord, who is one of the most prominent voices in a field known as Open and Relational Theology (also sometimes called Open Theism). We talk about the problem of evil, suffering, hell, and also love, morality, and goodness. Learn more about Dr Oord:http://www.thomasjayoord.comhttp://www.twitter.com/thomasjayoordBuy "God Can't":https://www.amazon.com/God-Cant-Believe-after-Tragedy/dp/1948609126

How do you find your own creative voice? What if you're interested in lots of things instead of just a few things? How do you create art that is meaningful for people both inside and outside of your belief system? These are questions I wanted to explore with Morgan Harper Nichols, who makes beautiful art in real life and also on instagram, where nearly 2 million people follow her work! Morgan also shares about her recent autism diagnosis, and how that may have played a part in her creative journey. Check out Morgan Harper Nichols:www.morganharpernichols.comwww.instagram.com/morganharpernicholsPreorder Morgan's new book!https://www.amazon.com/How-Far-You-Have-Come/dp/0310456592

This episode is about HELL. Where did we get our ideas of hell? What does the Bible really have to say on the subject? Bradley Jersak, author of the book "Her Gates Will Never Be Shut" discusses this and more with me as we try to deconstruct the idea of eternal conscious torment. Learn more about Bradley Jersakhttp://www.bradjersak.comhttps://www.instagram.com/bradley.jersak/http://www.twitter.com/bradjersakhttp://www.facebook.com/bradjersakHer Gates Will Never Be Shuthttps://www.amazon.com/Her-Gates-Will-Never-Shut-ebook/dp/B00IGGZRJY/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=her+gates+will+never+be+shut&qid=1616534787&sr=8-1The Pastor: A Crisishttps://premierecollectibles.com/pastor

If the earth is only 6000 years old, what do we do with the dinosaurs? This is the question that started popular YouTuber Paulogia on his journey of deconstruction, re-examining everything he had ever been taught about God, science,  creation, and so much more. We cover a LOT of ground in this episode - if you're curious to learn more, check out his channel here:http://www.youtube.com/paulogiaAnd for videos on some of the specific topics we touch on are below:Ken Ham vs William Lane Craig - Ham & AiG News (referenced at 19:00 in the episode)https://youtu.be/TSk8ipvdBtsFinal Nail to Apostle Martyrs? (referenced several times in this episode)https://youtu.be/9CHV6dXZRUcA book we mentioned in the episode:Sapiens by Yuval Noah Hararihttps://www.amazon.com/Sapiens-Humankind-Yuval-Noah-Harari-ebook/dp/B00ICN066A/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=sapiens&qid=1615921342&sr=8-1

Brenda Marie Davies from the youtube channel God Is Grey joins me, and we talk about the evolution of both of our faith perspectives, as well as sexuality, being LGBTQ+ affirming, and her new memoir On Her Knees: Memoir of a Prayerful Jezebel.Preorder Brenda's new book:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08JG6KPLS/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1Check out Brenda on youtube and socials!http://www.youtube.com/godisgreyhttp://www.instagram.com/godisgrey

What does healthy deconstruction look like? Is it a one-time thing, or ongoing? Where do we go to find truth? I discuss these questions in an introduction, and then I have a fantastic discussion with David Hayward, aka Naked Pastor.David went through his own process of deconstruction, long before any of us had a word to describe it. She shares what led him on his journey, and how he uses art to convey meaning.Learn more about David Hayward aka The Naked Pastor:http://www.nakedpastor.comhttp://www.instagram.com/nakedpastor

Ok this one is a bit of a MEGASODE! It became apparent to me during the course of making this episode that this topic is far-reaching and also affects many people in many different ways. So, in an effort to cover as much ground as possible in a reasonable amount of time, this episode features segments from conversations with 4 different people who have all experienced purity culture from different viewpoints. Check out Linda Kay Klein:www.lindakayklein.comCheck out Talk Purity To Me:www.instagram.com/talkpuritytomeCheck out Meg Cowan:www.megcowan.comCheck out Kevin Miguel Garcia:www.thekevingarcia.com

In this week's episode I chat with Mike Donehey of the band Tenth Avenue North. We chat about belief, joy, sorrow, and saying goodbye to bands that we had each been a part of for years. Mike has also recently launched a podcasted called "Chasing The Beauty". Links are below. In addition to his time in Tenth Avenue North, Mike wrote a book called "Finding God's Life for My Will: His Presence is the Plan". To learn more about Mike Donehey:http://www.mikedonehey.comhttp://www.instagram.com/mikedoneheyhttps://www.mikedonehey.com/podcast 

In this week's episode I speak with Vi La Bianca about their life, journey, and perspective as a transgender nonbinary individual. We touch on their journey from conservative Christianity to atheism, and their journey of understanding both their orientation and gender identity. Check out Vi on socials and also on youtube!https://twitter.com/AuthorConfusionhttp://www.viroselabianca.comhttps://www.youtube.com/c/ViRoseLaBianca

In this episode I speak with Derek Minor about Christian music. Specifically, I wanted to ask him if he felt welcomed into the community the way I did. We touched on some areas in which our experiences were similar, and some area in which they couldn't be more different.As always, Derek speaks from the heart, with conviction and courage. I hope you learn as much from this chat as I did.Learn more about Derek Minor at:http://www.derekminor.com/https://www.instagram.com/thederekminor/https://twitter.com/thederekminorAnd support his organization:http://www.weownnow.com

Can members of the LGBTQ+ community be Christian music artists? That's the question I tackle with Grace Baldridge, as she releases an EP under her artist name Semler, called "Preacher's Kid". We talk about growing up in the evangelical church system, sexuality, and what it means to be LGBTQ+ affirming. This podcast is timed with the release of her EP, so here are some ways you can go check out her music!https://www.semlermusic.com/https://open.spotify.com/artist/1UPqLSmKOY8Ld8LoAuNA5ghttp://www.instagram.com/gracebaldridge*audio note - there are a few glitches in the audio around 43 minutes into the conversation. It's not a problem on your end - it's on mine!Book mentioned in the pod:"The Gospel of Inclusion" by Brandan Robertsonhttps://www.amazon.com/Gospel-Inclusion-Christian-Case-Church-ebook/dp/B07RXWF8PM/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=the+gospel+of+inclusion&qid=1612480270&sr=8-3

This episode is all about the Bible. I spend a few minutes unpacking some of the things I've learned about the gospels, and then I have a conversation with Will Thorpe, aka Heretical Theology, as he's known on instagram, discussing his journey from Christian apologist to outspoken atheist.To learn more about Will, check him out on instagram:http://www.instagram.com/heretical_theologyThis week's nonprofit is the American Humanist Association.http://www.americanhumanist.org

In this episode Justin Brierley and I discuss the importance of having hard conversations with people with whom we disagree. Justin has a long history (15+ years) of hosting conversations between atheists and Christians on his show Unbelievable? and is one of the most gracious and thoughtful facilitator of hard conversations I've ever met. You can learn more about Justin Brierley:https://www.premierchristianradio.com/Unbelievablehttp://www.twitter.com/unbelievableJBhttps://www.instagram.com/justin.brierleyhttp://www.thebigconversation.showThe nonprofit of the week is Divine Holistic Ministries:https://dhmcharities.org/

In this episode Peter Rollins and I discuss the deep contradictions built in to the fabric of our lives, and how to bear them. He shares his thoughts on how atheism and theism aren't truly opposites, but are rather in a dance, each informing and elevating the other.You can learn more about Peter Rollinshttp://www.peterrollins.comhttp://www.instagram.com/peter_rollinshttp://www.twitter.com/peterrollinsThe nonprofit of the week is Doctors Without Borders:http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org

After unprecedented events in Washington D.C., Jo Luehmann helps me unpack how the mob that stormed the Capitol is connected to white supremacy and Christian culture and theology. We discuss decolonization: what it is, and how can we better understand it and apply it to our spiritual lives. How can we be sure our beliefs aren't harming others? That is a question worth asking.You can learn more about Jo Luehmann:http://www.instagram.com/joluehmannhttp://www.twitter.com/joluehmannThe nonprofit of the week is the Native American Rights Fund:http://www.narf.org

Phil Drysdale and I talk about the definition of deconstruction, and dive into spiral dynamics, a way of understanding human psychological development. This is a tremendously useful framework for understanding the conversations we'll be having in the coming weeks!You can learn more about Phil Drysdale:http://www.phildrysdale.comhttp://www.instagram.com/phildrysdaleThe nonprofit of the week is Charity Water:http://www.charitywater.org

Welcome to the very first episode of The Wonder and The Mystery of Being. In this introductory episode, we talk about the purpose of this podcast and show, and also begin to build a framework within which we will be able to think and talk about God, Christianity, spirituality, atheism, sexuality, politics, philosophy, theology, and so much more.