Podcasts about how we gather

Today, Oni Blecher speaks with Zoë Rose Gameau to hear Zoë's breech birth story. Zoë is a mother of two girls and lover of nature. She lives with her daughters in a tiny studio home nestled amongst the trees and streams of the Northern Rivers of New South Wales. Her current work is in creative development as Executive Producer at a sustainable film production company, Green Thumb Media.  In the past, whilst being primary carer mothering two young children, she worked closer to home, founding How We Gather, a profit for purpose company facilitating health coaching for individuals and groups with creative methods and circle gatherings.  She also worked part time for the not-for-profit group Environmental Leadership Australia which further deepened her engagement with the reality of the challenge we face environmentally and some of the solutions available. Previously an actress, Zoë worked with almost every major TV network in Australia, also contributing behind the scenes and featured in the documentaries That Sugar Film and 2040.  As a published author she contributed to books 1 & 2 of That Sugar Guide - A Pan Mac Millan publication. The weaving of these worlds leads Zoë to where she is today; combining all her efforts to bring about the sharing of meaningful stories to help shape a healthy society and environment in a responsible, wise and artistic way, whilst taking time to enjoy the simplicity of her surroundings and raising her children lovingly.Find Zoë at her film production company here: https://www.greenthumbmedia.com.au

Organized religious communities have seen steep declines in participation in recent decades and the rise of the “nones,” those who have no particular religious affiliation, is a well-rehearsed story. But that story isn't just about loss and lack. New forms of spiritual life and meaning-making are emerging that seek to fill the universal longings of the human heart: belonging, transformation, and love. Casper ter Kuile has studied this horizon of spiritual frontier for many years. 10 years ago, he and fellow Harvard Divinity School classmate Angie Thurston wrote a report called "How We Gather", which looked at how millennials were seeking spirituality in seemingly secular communities like crossfit, soul-cycle or social justice movements.Since that report, Casper has continued to explore the changing spiritual practices of young people. He started a very beloved podcast called Harry Potter and the Sacred Text, wrote a book called "The Power of Ritual" and has recently launched a new project called The Nearness, which is an online space to explore life's big questions in small communities.In this conversation, Zach Davis talks with Casper about what he's learned in his years studying and working on the edge of America's evolving spiritual landscape.

This episode originally aired on April 4, 2021. Casper ter Kuile is helping to build a world of joyful belonging. He is the author of The Power of Ritual and the co-host of the award-winning podcast Harry Potter and the Sacred Text. Casper is a Ministry Innovation Fellow at Harvard Divinity School and the co-founder of startup Sacred Design Lab - a research and design consultancy working to create a culture of belonging and becoming. He also co-authored “How We Gather” and collaborated with Holstee on his Ritual Life Planner. Resources Casper on the web, Twitter: @caspertk, IG: caspertk_, Facebook: @caspertk86, LinkedIn: caspertk, Newsletter: caspertk.com Tech sabbath from sundown Fri-Sat. Sacred Design Lab Articles: NYT feature: God Is Dead. So Is the Office. These People Want to Save Both Podcast: Harry Potter and the Sacred Text Books: Pivot The Power of Ritual: Turning Everyday Activities into Soulful Practices Co-author: How We Gather Ritual Life Planner Outrageous Openness by Tosha Silver Agnostic by Lesley Hazleton Wintering by Katherine May Authors: Richard Rohr Abraham Joshua Heschel Byron Katie Tosha Silver Related Pivot Podcasts: 105: Tools for Transitions—Just Ahead Mentors, Jealousy Antidotes, and Powerful Small Steps to Find Jobs (or Clients) with Dev Aujla 83: Pivot From Working in the Morgue to the Ministry with Former Forensic Pathologist Dr. Thomas Andrew 114: Illuminating Invisible Privilege with Karen Pittelman (and Why She Gave Away Her $3 Million Trust At 24) ❤️ Enjoying the show? Pivot Podcast is listener supported—consider donating to become a Pivot Insider and you'll get access to a private monthly Q&A call: http://pivotmethod.com/insider

A dilemma that has gripped the hearts of traditional church leaders and their followers is the trend toward “non-affiliation–” those folks referred to as the “Nones” - who check “none” when asked if they affiliate with any religion or attend any church. Which begs the question–why? Why aren't people attending church like they used to? And why are people outright leaving the church?  Are people still seeking and finding spiritual community somewhere out there?  Writer, speaker and co-founder of the Sacred Design Lab, Casper ter Kuile–a graduate of Harvard Divinity School who once identified as an atheist–has done some fascinating research on why people–millennials in particular–are leaving religious institutions in droves; what it is they are searching for, and the surpising places they are finding connection and hope. Caspar published a study titled How We Gather, which discusses this millennial exodus from the church, and how they are transitioning into a more spiritual journey instead of a religious one. For those of us who may have been embedded in traditional church culture for years and now find ourselves at a crossroads because of the politicization of religion, or perhaps because of untenable behavior that occurred behind closed doors at churches for years wondering if we can see ourselves in spiritual community ever again, This conversation with Jen and Caspar reveals the darker reasons for the detachment many have from religion and church, but also insight into a transformation on how we might practice a new “religion” that draws from the best of tradition and the new and inspiring ways people are congregating.    * * *   Thank you to our sponsors!   Rothy's | Get $20 off your first purchase at rothys.com/forthelove.   KiwiCo | Get 30% off your first month plus free shipping on any crate line using code FORTHELOVE at kiwico.com   Betterhelp | Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/forthelove. ABLE | Sign up with promo code FORTHELOVE for a special offer that includes a 4-week trial, free postage, and a digital scale at stamps.com

The Common Good podcast is a conversation about the significance of place, eliminating economic isolation and the structure of belonging. This week's episode is the Abundant Community Conversation between Casper ter Kuile and Peter Block, which happened on June 22nd. Every couple of months the Common Good Collective helps to produce these interactive conversations on Zoom and they always contain poetry, small groups and an exploration of a particular theme with a community practitioner. In this Abundant Community Conversation, Casper and Peter speak about crossroads, possibilities, ritual and gifts. Casper ter Kuile is helping to build a world of joyful belonging. In the midst of enormous changes in how we experience community and spirituality, Casper connects people and co-creates projects that help us live lives of greater connection, meaning, and depth. He is the author of The Power of Ritual (HarperOne) and the co-host of the award-winning podcast Harry Potter and the Sacred Text. He's also a Ministry Innovation Fellow at Harvard Divinity School and the co-founder of startup Sacred Design Lab - a research and design consultancy working to create a culture of belonging and becoming. He co-authored “How We Gather” and his work has been featured in the New York Times, Vice, The Atlantic, and the Washington Post. He holds a Masters of Divinity and Public Policy from Harvard University, and before moving to the U.S. co-founded Campaign Bootcamp and the UK Youth Climate Coalition, both training and mobilizing young activists.Rabbi Miriam Terlinchamp  serves as the spiritual leader of Temple Sholom in Cincinnati, Ohio. Temple Sholom sets itself apart through dynamic, mission-driven initiatives.  Most notable is their pioneering approach to “sacred marketing.” Through the release of over 40 innovative videos, Temple Sholom has delivered Jewish content to a growing viewership of more than 700,000 people. Rabbi Terlinchamp is the Director of JustLOVE, a multi-faith initiative that seeks to empower individuals with the knowledge, inspiration, and spiritual strength to be their best selves and do justice in this world. She writes for several media outlets including The Enquirer Board of Contributors and The Times of Israel Blogs. Rabbi Terlinchamp is a Rabbis Without Borders Fellow and is a member of the esteemed GLEAN Spiritual Entrepreneur 2017 cohort, a collaborative incubator formed in partnership between CLAL and the Columbia Business School. Rabbi Terlinchamp received her masters degree in Hebrew Letters in 2008, and was ordained as a rabbi in 2010 at HUC-JIR, Los Angeles. She received her Bachelors degree in Philosophy of Religion and Studio art from Scripps College in Claremont, CA and received additional studio art training at the London Slade School of art.Troy Bronsink founded the Hive in spring of 2016 with a desire to collaborate with facilitators from various traditions and backgrounds, making space for transformative individual and group encounters. He brings 25 years of experience in small group facilitation ranging from corporate consulting to community organizing, to spiritual formation. Through the Hive, Troy has developed the curriculum for The Common Good Fellowship, as well as hosting the weekly podcast, From the Hive, interviewing local and global contemplative leaders about their work and practice. Troy is a member of The Living School, an ordained Presbyterian minister, retreat leader, author, spiritual director, entrepreneurship coach, speaker, mixologist, musician, and consultant. He and his family live in the Cincinnati neighborhood of Northside.Be on the lookout for upcoming Abundant Community Conversations. Check the show notes for everyone's bios and information. You can find more information about the Common Good Collective at commongood.cc. This episode has been guest hosted and produced by me, Joey Taylor and the music is from Jeff Gorman.

When Kristen Recommended The Power of Ritual by Casper ter Kuile, I grabbed onto the title. Ritual was exactly what I was missing in my pandemic life. Sure, I was doing a lot of the same things each day, but I wasn't doing them with the attention, intention and repetition that make a ritual. And Kristen has never pointed me towards a book that wasn't worth my time. What I didn't realize before I was pouring over the pages of ter Kuile's book (in a nightly bath/book ritual, thank you very much) was how much his writing style would make me want to be his friend. He's delightful on the page, and, as you'll hear on this week's episode (and if you've listened to him on podcasts Harry Potter and the Sacred Text or The Real Question, you already know this), he's even more delightful if you have the chance to speak with him. But beyond being our new best friend, he's dedicated his professional life to rituals and community as a Harvard Divinity fellow (and so much more). As ter Kuile puts it, he gets to think about community and religion all the time as a job and how people can live lives of meaning, connection and purpose. But for the sake of understanding exactly how cool he is, I've taken the liberty of summarizing: Education: Masters of Divinity and Public Policy from Harvard University - he's a Ministry Innovation Fellow at Harvard Divinity School. Author: The Power of Ritual (HarperOne), co-authored “How We Gather” - his work has been featured in the New York Times, Vice, The Atlantic, and the Washington Post. Podcast host: co-host of the award-winning podcast Harry Potter and the Sacred Text, co-host of The Real Question. Founder: co-founder of startup Sacred Design Lab - a research and design consultancy working to create a culture of belonging and becoming. Co-founded Campaign Bootcamp and the UK Youth Climate Coalition, both training and mobilizing young activists. But how he got there is the most interesting part. He was raised without a religious background, but was really interested in bringing the cultural and community lens to secular culture. That's how he - a human who grew up by all accounts as an atheist - decided to go to divinity school. In this episode he recounts feeling rejected by religion as a gay teenager and so he "rejected it right back." That's why he says, most of his research is focused not on the beliefs of religion, but on the practices. And after years of that work, he's found that each of those practices gives a home for meaning and helps him pay attention to the things that matter most. Listen to the full episode for reflections on writing a book and where you'll see ter Kuile once he achieves his future goal (hint: TV). To say that Kristen and I loved interviewing Casper ter Kuile together is a super understatement. If you love this episode as much as we do, subscribe to the #WeGotGoals podcast wherever you like to listen to podcasts, including on Apple and Spotify (and leave us a rating while you’re at it, please). Resources: How We Gather: a paper ter Kuile co-authored that examined where unaffiliated millennials were gathering (spoiler: it's a lot of fitness communities) The Power of Ritual: This is Casper's book that we absolutely recommend buying or checking out from your local library Harry Potter and the Sacred Text: this is the podcast that he was involved in producing for more than five years (and just semi-retired from) The Real Question: from the same team that brought you Harry Potter and the Sacred Text, every episode of this podcast has made me cry (in a good way, but I also have a lot of feelings) Follow Casper ter Kuile on Instagram

Casper ter Kuile is helping to build a world of joyful belonging. He is the author of The Power of Ritual and the co-host of the award-winning podcast Harry Potter and the Sacred Text. Casper is a Ministry Innovation Fellow at Harvard Divinity School and the co-founder of startup Sacred Design Lab - a research and design consultancy working to create a culture of belonging and becoming. He also co-authored “How We Gather” and collaborated with Holstee on his new Ritual Life Planner. ❤️ Enjoying the show? The best way to say thank you is leaving a rating or review. Free Time is listener supported—consider donating to become a podcast Insider and you’ll get access to a private monthly Q&A call:

This week, Misty and Lisa review The Power of Ritual: Turning Everyday Activities Into Soulful Practices by Casper ter Kuile. Casper ter Kuile is helping to build a world of joyful belonging. He's the author of The Power of Ritual (2020), and co-host of the award-winning podcast Harry Potter and the Sacred Text. Casper is a Ministry Innovation Fellow at Harvard Divinity School and holds Masters of Divinity and Public Policy from Harvard University. He’s also the co-founder of startup Sacred Design Lab, and former Director of Possibility at the On Being Impact Lab. He co-authored the seminal paper How We Gather in 2015 and his work has been featured in the New York Times, Atlantic Magazine, and Washington Post. If you like what you're hearing, you can purchase the book here or learn more about the author at his website here.  We cover something from every chapter in this Power of Ritual book review podcast, including: Introduction: The Paradigm Shift  Connecting with Self Connecting with Others Connecting with Nature Connecting with Transcendence Already Connected Make sure to check out our Patreon community and grab some GHY merch, too.  Thanks for supporting Go Help Yourself!

February 1, 2021 - Contemporary Issues Topic: Religion for a New Generation What does the future hold for religious communities? Most churches, other religious congregations, and secular organizations have found younger generations are simply not joining in the same numbers we saw from older generations. Instead, Millennials (now ages 25-40) are forming meaningful community in new and perhaps unfamiliar ways. Casper ter Kuile and Angie Thurston have studied "How We Gather." They find p [...]

Our guest today is Samantha Moyo. Sam is vibrating harpstring of a human. In 2013 she founded MorningGloryville - an early morning sober rave. The concept went off like a bass bomb. City workers, professionals and folk of all stripes were kicking off their day with a dance to DJs like Fat Boy Slim.Joyful, non-rational, transformative experiences are fundamental to being human, are a fundamental part of Lifefulness and she is an expert in them.Her work was recognised in the ‘How We Gather’ report from Harvard Divinity School as an important way millennials were finding community in a post-religious world. Today Sam is a culture change and innovation consultant for major brands, and a spreader of wisdom and joy.In this conversation you'll get a glimpse into a fascinating pan-religious upbringing in Zimbabwe before we dive into the MorningGloryville story. Fans of the show will know that there’s adult language and this episode has got more than most. There’s an unusual story at the end which certainly acknowledges the existence of sex. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Sign up for the newsletter.We're at part 3 of our series about community at work.Today's guest is one of the most respected community thinkers in the world, Casper ter Kuile, Fellow at the Harvard Divinity School and author of The Power of Ritual. His book is a practical guide to the way that communities come to life, not only is it practical it's also brilliantly written. I found myself annotating a lot of it and it's impossible not to learn from his wisdom on the topic.“Disconnection sours the sweet things in life and makes them nearly unbearable”Casper previously wrote a free book with Angie Thurston is at Harvard Divinity School called How We Gather which was a wonderful exploration of how post religious (secular) groups were creating get togethers that seemed to be inspired by the religious communities that went before them. Casper's perspective is wonderful, so respectful of religion even though he sits outside of it.This series of episodes has been about understanding how our organisations can shape a sense of belonging in us, especially when we're no longer physically together.I feel like the episodes are a journey. No one has professed to know the answers and there's plenty of cautionary notes. I'm certain anyone trying to shape community in their work will come away with plenty of thoughts after this. Not least that Casper says that it goes strongly against the spirit of community that someone in a community can fire someone else. Community is built on safety. In the podcast I also talk about a previous episode on rituals and you can find that here. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Listen in as I chat with Chelsy Ferguson the founder and owner of The Gathering Co. The Gathering Co is an event planning business that mainly deals with weddings. Learn how this pandemic has affected her business and what she is doing to ease the minds of her brides. Check out The Gathering Co Website https://tgcevents.com/ Follow on Instagram @thegathering.co Follow on Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/thegatheringco/ Check out How We Gather https://tgcevents.com/howwegather Follow How We Gather on Instagram @howwegather_ Follow Chats from the Blog Cabin on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chatsfromtheblogcabin/ Catch the lives on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/AdventuresofFrugalMom/ Watch the Youtube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOhpY-uzzVBH1Ii08ypuxWA --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/chatsfromtheblogcabin/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/chatsfromtheblogcabin/support

Sign up to the bookmark newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/1119b1358a84/thebookmark  About the Book  “After half a decade of research and hundreds of conversations with people around the country, I am convinced we are in the midst of a paradigm shift. That what used to hold us in community no longer works, and that the spiritual offerings of yesteryear no longer help us thrive.”–Casper ter Kuile What do Soul Cycle, gratitude journals, and tech breaks have in common? For ter Kuile they offer rituals that create the foundation for our modern spiritual lives.  We are in crisis today. Our modern technological society has left too many of us—no matter our ages—feeling isolated and bereft of purpose. Previous frameworks for building community and finding meaning no longer support us. Yet ter Kuile reveals a hopeful new message: we might not be religious, but that doesn’t mean we are any less spiritual.   The Power of Ritual reminds us that what we already do every day matters—and has the potential to become a powerful experience of reflection, sanctuary, and meaning. Source: amazon.com   About the Author Casper ter Kuile is helping to build a world of joyful belonging. He's the author of The Power of Ritual (2020), and co-host of the award-winning podcast Harry Potter and the Sacred Text. Casper is a Ministry Innovation Fellow at Harvard Divinity School and holds Masters of Divinity and Public Policy from Harvard University. With his team at Sacred Design Lab, he co-authored the seminal paper How We Gather (2015) and his work has been featured in the New York Times, Atlantic Magazine, and Washington Post. He and his husband Sean Lair live in Brooklyn, NY. Source: amazon.com Buy the Book from the Book Depository - https://www.bookdepository.com/The-Power-of-Ritual/9780008389901/?a_aid=stephsbookshelf Would you like to take better notes from the books you read?  Get your copy of Archley's beautiful book journal, the Book of Books here: https://www.archleys.com/?ref=JamVyS-U4mVR   BIG IDEA 1 (5:34) – Ritual is for everyone. We all may already be partly doing ritual, but that doesn’t mean you’re already getting the benefits from it because ritual needs to be intentional and repeated. When we cook, eat, read, exercise or travel, all of these things can be turned into meaningful rituals. Ritual is about the gaps you’d like to fill or identifying the connection or habits you lack. In the book, it says that rituals are for everyone because you don’t have to believe in anything to enjoy and create a ritual. It is about connection which is a necessity, not a luxury.   BIG IDEA 2 (7:53) – The four types of ritual.       Connection with self – this can include sacred reading which is generally picking a fiction book and reading it and analysing it as if it is a sacred text. The other idea in this book is the Sabbath, or taking a weekly period of time to connect with yourself, preferably offline.       Connection with others – there are two ideas in this ritual – eating with others and working out with others - and using these mediums to better connect with other people.       Connection with nature – pilgrimage, celebrating seasons and reimagining us and our relationship with the natural world are three ideas you can use to connect with nature.       Connection with the transcendent – this is really the idea of rethinking the practice of prayer. This doesn’t need to be a prayer to someone, but a conversation with yourself. Similar to journaling or doing your gratitude out loud.   BIG IDEA 3 (13:52) – The permission to be creative. Convention is the death of tradition. It is where old ways of being have lost their relevance and stayed too strict to their methods. Tradition, however, shows us how to live and it allows for tweaks and changes along the way. The good thing about being creative with rituals is that it gives us permission to take things from different places and make them our own to better connect. It could be a religious activity you want to unbundle from it’s religious context, or an old routine from your childhood. The rituals you have growing up with your family that you want to re-enact or restate. Change it to what you need and make it happen to create the meaning and connection. Also listen to the episode: The Art of Learning by Josh Waitzkin: How to learn anything Music By: After the Movie (by Plaid) - Remix Version Song by Ricardo Tobar Let’s Connect LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/steph-clarke Instagram: @stephsbizbookshelf Enjoying the show? Please hit subscribe so you don’t miss an episode and leave a review on iTunes to help others find us.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Casper ter Kuile is on the podcast this week, and this episode is just beautiful. Casper has been such a huge inspiration for me and I think is one of the most important current voices in the conversation around community and belonging. In this conversation, we discuss: ritual and meaning outside of religion, how ritual creates reminders of interconnectedness, Shabbat and Abraham Joshua Heschel, creating our own blessings for sacred moments, how individualizing our spirituality creates more loneliness, and creating a shared meaning of G-d and why this word feels unsafe to some.Casper ter Kuile is a researcher at Harvard Divinity School and the co-founder of Sacred Design Lab, and one half of the duo who created the popular podcast “Harry Potter and the Sacred Text” which goes by the motto “Reading fiction doesn’t help us escape the world, it helps us live in it”. Casper is the co-author of How We Gather, a cultural map of Millennial communities, and the co-founder of the UK Youth Climate Coalition and Campaign Bootcamp. A graduate of Harvard’s Divinity and Kennedy Schools, his work has been featured in The New York Times, The Boston Globe and on NPR.   He lives in New York City with his husband Sean.www.caspertk.com

The Power of Ritual with Casper Ter Kuile ------------------------------ After just five swipes of your newsfeed, and you'll immediately see ideology and groupthink dominate just about every conversation. As the world becomes more and more digital, we're simultaneously becoming more tribal. The negative fallout is obvious, but what about the positives? What about a sense of purpose, belonging, ritual, and community? Can we find deep meaning and connection on our own terms? On this week's podcast, a Harvard researcher joins me to share his work on ritual and religion.   Listen & Learn:  Why agnostics are growing in numbers - but these are not atheists How it's human nature to gather, share, celebrate, and establish norms Is there such a thing as a leaderless tribe?  How to take the good and avoid the bad of organized groups and religion  Links & Resources The Power of Ritual Book ABOUT OUR GUEST Casper is a Ministry Innovation Fellow at Harvard Divinity School. He holds Masters of Divinity and Public Policy from Harvard University. With his team at Sacred Design Lab, he co-authored a paper How We Gather (2015), and his work has been featured in The New York Times, Atlantic Magazine, and Washington Post. He's the author of the new book, The Power of Ritual (2020).  Nutritional Tip of the Week: Fruit Until Five Got Questions? Send me a voicemail here: Ask Lucas a Question Or write to us: podcast@yogabody.com  Like the Show? Leave us a Review on iTunes

For episode homepage, resources, free download and links, visit: https://kristenmanieri.com/2020/06/23/the-power-of-ritual-with-casper-ter-kuile/   Description This week we're joined by Casper ter Kuile, author of The Power of Ritual: Turning Everyday Activities into Soulful Practices. While they share some of the same DNA, rituals are distinct from habits. To put it simply, repetition without intention and attention is a habit. But when you bring your presence and heart to an activity, that’s a ritual, and rituals give life more meaning and purpose.   Guest Bio Casper ter Kuile, a Harvard Divinity School fellow and cohost of the popular Harry Potter and the Sacred Text podcast, recently published his book, The Power of Ritual: Turning Everyday Activities into Soulful Practices. Casper is also the co-founder of startup Sacred Design Lab—a research and design consultancy working to create a culture of belonging and becoming—and he is the co-author of “How We Gather.” His work has been featured in the New York Times, Vice, The Atlantic, and the Washington Post. Casper holds a Masters of Divinity and Public Policy from Harvard University.   Mentioned in this Episode The Power of Ritual: Turning Everyday Activities into Soulful Practices by Casper ter Kuile: https://www.amazon.com/Power-Ritual-Everyday-Activities-Practices/dp/0062881817   Casper ter Kuile: https://www.caspertk.com/   Connect with the 60 Mindful Minutes podcast   Web: https://kristenmanieri.com  Email: Kristen@kristenmanieri.com    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/60MindfulMinutes Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristenmanieri_/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/kristenmanieri/

If you're passionate about how the world builds meaningful communities, you likely know Casper ter Kuile. After an early career in grassroots climate organizing, Casper earned masters degrees in Divinity and Public Policy from Harvard. While there, he started a reading community around the Harry Potter texts, that has grown to more than 70 chapters and millions of podcast listeners around the world. Casper is also co-author of the How We Gather report, a cultural map of Millennial communities, and now a brand new book: The Power of Ritual, which is available for pre-order and will publish on June 23, 2020. In this episode, we go deep on two things Casper knows a lot about: rituals and communal reading. As Casper says, “ritual makes things real,” taking what’s invisible and making it visible, tangible to us. Casper has honed the craft of cultivating a community’s identity through ritual. Established rituals have the power to connect new community members to others who came before them. That will help your community stick together as it evolves. Hear more from other community leaders about stage 2 in getting your people together,

Casper ter Kuile is one of the authors of the How We Gather report which is an exploration into how Millennials are finding and building communities of meaning and belonging. He's also the co-host of the podcast Harry Potter and the Sacred Text which itself has grown into a community and business in its own right. During our conversation we discuss what community means to Casper and how our need for belonging in the modern age is being met by different secular organisations. Some excerpts from this episode: in a time of social isolation and mental health crises how do we live lives of deep connection community is a group of people where you are deeply known and deeply loved there's an overuse of the word community because there's such a need for it community is not fun all of the time: it can be stifling and people know your business community is wonderful but is also terrible the pendulum as swung to the other side where people are too free but it comes with this sense of disconnection relationships are held by structures there's been a shift that people would rather affiliate with thought leaders, influencers and people rather than institutions and companies it's incredibly powerful to see ourselves in another's story in fitness communities people come for the body but stay for the breakthrough people gather around a common activity (the third thing) you can only lead others as far as you've gone yourself fill up yourself before you can help others leaders need a place where their needs are met as well (which isn't necessarily their own communities/organisations) in our culture having a hot body is something we will pay for it's easier to build communities around fitness groups because culturally it's more acceptable to pay for that donations are a simple way to generate financial sustainability for communities have something of value that people recognise and then have community as the second layer of value that people get as a benefit there's a hesitation about money and community but we shouldn't be afraid to bring money into community and articulating its value community is a powerful healthcare strategy could we see tax breaks for communities in order to pay for community people need to not only justify to themselves but also to their peers can we design our organisations based on the principles of community if a community is only for itself only, it will die. communities need a purpose bigger than itself more and more of us our finding our closest friendships at work maybe there's something beyond the triple bottom line which is about our relational connection in organisations a covenant is about how we're going to be in this work that we're doing together and can help with managing conflict it's not just about scaling wide but also scaling deep To find out more about Casper's work check out: https://www.howwegather.org/ http://www.caspertk.com/ http://www.harrypottersacredtext.com/

Artistic Director and Pastor, Lisa Cole Smith opens up the Gather series with an introduction episode on VergeNow's current case study discussing the "How We Gather" reports, Priya Parker's "The Art of Gathering" and recognizing that change is necessary in our quest to gain insight into how Millennials are changing the way we gather and the opportunity for communities of faith to effectively meet the yearning for soulful community among rising generations. "Gather" is our newest podcast series which is a Current Case Study from VergeNow asking how we might transform our worship at Convergence to meet a rising generation. Through an ongoing study group, podcasts, blog, virtual conversations and interviews with “experts” we will explore the How We Gather and Something More reports from Harvard Divinity School and the book, The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker. This project is made possible through a Vital Worship Grant from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, Grand Rapids, Michigan, with funds provided by the Lilly Endowment Inc.

Casper ter Kuile is one of the authors of the How We Gather report which is an exploration into how Millennials are finding and building communities of meaning and belonging. He's also the co-host of the podcast Harry Potter and the Sacred Text which itself has grown into a community and business in its own right. During our conversation we discuss what community means to Casper and how our need for belonging in the modern age is being met by different secular organisations. Some excerpts from this episode: in a time of social isolation and mental health crises how do we live lives of deep connection community is a group of people where you are deeply known and deeply loved there's an overuse of the word community because there's such a need for it community is not fun all of the time: it can be stifling and people know your business community is wonderful but is also terrible the pendulum as swung to the other side where people are too free but it comes with this sense of disconnection relationships are held by structures there's been a shift that people would rather affiliate with thought leaders, influencers and people rather than institutions and companies it's incredibly powerful to see ourselves in another's story in fitness communities people come for the body but stay for the breakthrough people gather around a common activity (the third thing) you can only lead others as far as you've gone yourself fill up yourself before you can help others leaders need a place where their needs are met as well (which isn't necessarily their own communities/organisations) in our culture having a hot body is something we will pay for it's easier to build communities around fitness groups because culturally it's more acceptable to pay for that donations are a simple way to generate financial sustainability for communities have something of value that people recognise and then have community as the second layer of value that people get as a benefit there's a hesitation about money and community but we shouldn't be afraid to bring money into community and articulating its value community is a powerful healthcare strategy could we see tax breaks for communities in order to pay for community people need to not only justify to themselves but also to their peers can we design our organisations based on the principles of community if a community is only for itself only, it will die. communities need a purpose bigger than itself more and more of us our finding our closest friendships at work maybe there's something beyond the triple bottom line which is about our relational connection in organisations a covenant is about how we're going to be in this work that we're doing together and can help with managing conflict it's not just about scaling wide but also scaling deep To find out more about Casper's work check out: https://www.howwegather.org/ (https://www.howwegather.org/) http://www.caspertk.com/ (http://www.caspertk.com)/ http://www.harrypottersacredtext.com/ (http://www.harrypottersacredtext.com/)

On this episode, Amy interviews Casper ter Kuile, a man with a very cool job title — the Director of Possibility at The On Being Project. Casper is also the co-creator of How We Gather, a millennial-led spiritual startup collaboration between Harvard Divinity School, the Fetzer Institute, and On Being. Although Casper grew up disconnected from and actively avoiding religion, today, he holds masters degrees in both divinity and public policy at Harvard and remains a Ministry Innovation Fellow at Harvard Divinity School, so he knows a thing or two about the purpose of religion.   On top of all that, Casper co-hosts his own podcast, Harry Potter and the Sacred Text, where he explores deeper meanings and themes through a closer reading of Harry Potter passages.  Casper is on a mission to build a world full of joyful belonging by connecting people and co-creating projects that help us live lives of greater connection, meaning, and depth. Listen on to find out how “community washing” might be the new “greenwashing,” the power of rituals and why Casper thinks we are ritual starved, the concept of being, belonging, and becoming (plus, some Beyonce!), and how secular groups like SoulCycle, CrossFit, Daybreaker, recovery centers, sanctuaries, and even house concerts are replacing the old paradigm of religious affiliation. This episode’s an extra fun and informative one, that reflects the vibrant and insightful personality of Casper ter Kuile. Full of history, religion, personal stories, and family traditions, you’ll walk away with a new understanding of what it means to be, belong, and become the person you want to be, notwithstanding, a little ode to Beyonce.

Finish your SoulCycle class and tune in to Casper ter Kuile and I chatting about the spirituality bubbling up in America. Casper talks about his work with How We Gather, the spiritual but not religious movement, and the rise of the nones. Guest Bio/Info: Casper ter Kuile is the co-author of How We Gather and Care of Souls and has co-convened hundreds of leaders in the emerging field of secular and sacred community innovation. He co-hosts Harry Potter and the Sacred Text, a podcast engaging a modern classic through traditional sacred reading practices like lectio divina and havruta. His work has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and on PBS. Find Casper here: caspertk.com Twitter: @caspertk Instagram: caspertk_ Facebook: facebook.com/caspertk86 Special music by Joel David Weir: joeldavidweir.com Twitter: @joeldavidweir Instagram: joeldavidweir Facebook: facebook.com/joeldavidweir Get connected to Mason: masonmennenga.com Patreon: patreon.com/masonmennenga Twitter: @masonmennenga Facebook: facebook.com/mason.mennenga Instagram: masonmennenga

Along with Angie Thurston, Casper produced a seminal report with the Harvard Divinity School called How We Gather. It's well worth a look, as it speaks to the root causes driving much of what's caused coworking to become a big deal in recent years. Find it here: https://howwegather.org Casper is currently working as the Director of Possibility of the Impact Lab at the On Being project, which among other things produces some amazing podcasts: https://onbeing.org He's a brilliant mind. Don't miss this episode and check out all of the great things he's produced!

The fastest growing religion in America, is no religion at all! Religious disassociation is a trend being led by Millennials - the most plugged-in, racially diverse, and (apparently) least religiously affiliated generation in American history. So if they aren't showing up in churches, then where are they gathering? To answer these questions, we talk to Angie Thurston, the Director of Formation at the On Being Impact Lab about “How We Gather,” a groundbreaking report she co-authored profiling new forms of social and spiritual connection. Learn more about Commune courses and events at onecommune.com.

The fastest growing religion in America, is no religion at all! Religious disassociation is a trend being led by Millennials - the most plugged-in, racially diverse, and (apparently) least religiously affiliated generation in American history. So if they aren’t showing up in churches, then where are they gathering? To answer these questions, we talk to Angie Thurston, the Director of Formation at the On Being Impact Lab about “How We Gather,” a groundbreaking report she co-authored profiling new forms of social and spiritual connection. Learn more about Commune courses and events at onecommune.com.

In this revisiting of a favorite episode from 2016, Angie Thurston--a Ministry Innovation Fellow at Harvard Divinity School and the Director of Formation at On Being Impact Lab--co-wrote 2 groundbreaking studies of how millennials are gathering together to find purpose and meaning and what that looks like in spiritual settings. She fills Dave Schmelzer, Val Snekvik, and Tom Wassink in on what the spiritual landscape looks like today. Mentioned in Today's Episode: Websites: How We Gather - https://www.howwegather.org/ On Being - https://onbeing.org/author/angie-thurston/ What I'm Into: The Hero's Journey -  Joseph Campbell :https://amzn.to/2HGNpvl

The decline of organized religion in the West has opened up new paths for individuals to pursue what once was once understood to be salvation. Guests Craig Calhoun, President of the Berggruen Institute and author of Rethinking Secularism Sean Kelly, Professor of Philosophy of Harvard University and author of All Things Shining Angie Thurston, fellow at On Being and author of How We Gather

What you illustrated with your frustration at a service in a religious context is that it's not doing the job it's supposed to do in your life. We come at this whole question from the perspective that religion is really about the tools that we use to make meaning of our lives and help us live flourishing lives. That means all sorts of things. It means giving you a sense of connection to other people around you, to your deepest self, to the natural world the moments of transcendence or the experiences that some people might call God, to a sense of time to history. Really it helps you find a place in the world, it gives you a sense of who you are. A ritual, a set of words, chant, or song, all the tools or religion were right at one point in time. To be honest, someone could still sit in that service and find something. But it's not working for you, and you're not alone in that question. The fastest growing religious group in the US is “none of the above.” – Angie ThurstonAngie Thurston and Casper ter Kuile are Ministry Innovation Fellows at Harvard Divinity School and On Being Fellows. They are the co-authors of How We Gather and Something More, two reports profiling new forms of meaningful community in America. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Casper Ter Kuile is co-author (along with Angie Thurston) of the How We Gather report and its sequel, Something More, which map a landscape of life-giving organizations that are emerging even as religious affiliation declines, such as Crossfit and The Dinner Party. Casper is training to be a minister for non-religious people to build a world of joyful belonging. He is a graduate of Harvard Divinity and Kennedy Schools, the co-host of the hugely popular Harry Potter and the Sacred Text, named of one of iTunes best podcasts in 2016, and a fellow and contributor with Krista Tippet's On Being. In this episode of the RePlacing Church Podcast, he joins me to discuss: How the religiously unaffiliated are finding and forming spiritual community What new expressions of spiritual community are emerging How accountability is making a comeback Why covenants are important in community and how to craft them How to engage Harry Potter like a sacred text and why that's connecting with so many people. *Originally posted at theV3movement.org *Get your free RePlacing Church Resource List, a guide to being and becoming the church in the neighborhood. SUBSCRIBE, RATE, and REVIEW the RePlacing Church Podcast on iTunes, or listen on Stitcher, Google Play, or Podbean. Sign up for RePlacing Church updates at www.replacingchurch.org. Like on Facebook, Follow on Instagram. Episode Song Credits: "Another Wrong to Right" and "You Won't Walk Alone" by Mercir. "Closed" by Zadok Wartes. Used with Permission.

Angie Thurston and Casper ter Kuile, experts on the emerging group of Americans known as the religious "nones," join Judaism Unbound for Episode 18. Thurston and ter Kuile are co-authors of two monographs, entitled How We Gather and Something More, respectively, and they serve as Ministry Innovation Fellows at Harvard Divinity School. If you're enjoying Judaism Unbound, please help us keep things going with a one-time or monthly tax-deductible donation. Support Judaism Unbound by clicking here. To access full shownotes for this episode, click here!