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How well do we know the source of our own beliefs? This episode explores the link between passion and zeal for our own way of thinking, and the reality of how well we actually know (or don’t know) our own sources. Harry Potter fans will definitely want to tune in. Intelligent Design and Artificial Intelligence suggest a value for intelligence in our world. I discuss options for including desired intelligence within religious discussion, and Stephen Kia, a Christian, makes a bold claim about what intelligence can do to bring people with conflicting beliefs together.
Guest: Stephen T. Kia
Stephen Kia is Co-Founder of The R.O.C.K. Coffee House in Eagle Rock, California.
Stephen Prothero’s Religious Literacy Quiz
Be sure to read or listen to the Declaration of Independence audio.
MY FAVORITE FREE APP to guide you through the entire Bible:
Well done Jeremy. I like your approach. I hope this pod cast grows and people all over the world re-consider their beliefs from other points of view. Thanks for making a difference.
Thanks for the comment Russ!
VERY GOOD! Love the concept and enjoyed every minute of it. Good job cuz! Keep it up! I would love it if you could do one about soldiers and their view on god. I have been thinking alot about that ever since the probability of being deployed became known to me! Thanks man!
Fantastic Jeremy! Looking forward to the continuation!
This was incredibly refreshing, thought provoking food for my soul. I am constantly questioning where my beliefs come from and how they are influenced. My own journey and experiences seem to influence my beliefs more than any other source these days. This world cannot continue to turn without people of differing opinions and beliefs being able to bridge together and find common understanding and respect. This is so important. Well done!
I agree — well done! You’ve created a safe and entertaining place to reflect and share thoughts about beliefs and doubts. An unquestioned, untested faith is a blind one, and who can be satisfied with that?
The Harry Potter series example was especially timely for me as I’m currently reading it for the fourth time. I’ve had interesting conversations about the Christian themes in that series, but maybe that’s a whole different conversation. (Lily’s sacrifice seals her son with her love and protects him…sound familiar?)
As listeners reference “The Bible,” we might all keep in mind the many many different translations of that book. For example, some chapters of the bible used by Catholics (St. Joseph Ed. New American Bible) are considered apocryphal or completely unrelated in other faiths. The Oxford Annotated Bible includes the Apocrypha (at the end), and the RSV and King James Versions don’t even mention them. And, who did the translation? I don’t speak Aramaic or Hebrew, so I have to rely on someone else to accurately translate writings into something that makes sense to me, an American, in 2015. That frustrates me, but not to the point that I’m willing to earn degrees in ancient languages and theology. I think about the game of telephone that has occurred over the past 1500-2000 years. That makes me take any translation of The Bible with a grain of salt, even though I know there’s a ton of really good stuff in there.
So, confession time: No, I haven’t read the entire bible since college. I do read what seem like the most important parts over and over. But, as I wrestle with some serious questions about faith, I’m considering your challenge.
I love the humor, depth, and warmly provocative nature of this podcast. What is my source? Outstanding question.
I grew up as a quiet kid in a chaotic home without structured religion. I observed at a young age that the neighborhood kids who went to church were also the meanest to animals and other kids. It bothered me. A lot. I was a sensitive kid and young life was painful, and I didn’t know where to turn to alleviate that pain.
As a tween, I discovered three great painkillers: alcohol, activity, and anger. I kept busy, kept medicated and stayed angry for a long time as I moved through life, fairly successfully, steeping in low grade surliness with an undercurrent of optimism. My source was the golden rule and my rationale brain, i.e. treat people well, and keep your guard up.
I realize now I was always on a spiritual journey. Anger, alcohol and activity were spiritual journeys. They just dead ended. As an adult I have explored Christianity, metaphysics, meditation, 12 Step, talk therapy, trauma therapy, Buddhism, IFS, quantum physics, and others. As a participant in dozens of workshops, and devourer of hundreds of spiritual books, I have come to a simple conclusion. No one has the answer. And everyone has the answer. The answer is inside of each of us, for each of us. Whatever we call it: God, universe, mother earth, source, spirit, great one, I believe the source comes directly through me, and the art of living well is to listen. Cultivating the skill of listening to that spiritual voice is my current journey, and I don’t think there will ever be a dead-end along this path.
Thanks for the great podcast, Jeremy.