The hottest Faith & Spirituality Substack posts right now

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Not So Idolatrous

Polymathic Being • 39 implied HN points • 26 Nov 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Theology Religious texts
  1. The story of the Golden Calf from the Bible is not as simple as it seems and has layers of cultural and historical context.
  2. The Bible was compiled from different sources, including the Yahwist, Elohist, Deuteronomist, Priestly, and other writings.
  3. The use of the Golden Calf as an idol by the Israelites had a symbolic connection to their beliefs and was not entirely illogical.
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Marrying the land: how we broke the ancient bargain

The Art of Enchantment, with Dr Sharon Blackie • 379 implied HN points • 01 Nov 15
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Mythology Sovereignty
  1. In Celtic mythology, women held significant spiritual and moral power, linked closely to the land and nature.
  2. The power of Sovereignty, symbolizing women's power, determined the prosperity or downfall of the land and its people.
  3. The ancient Celtic concept of a sacred marriage between the king and the land symbolized respect for nature and the importance of harmony between feminine and masculine energies.

Secret forces—The I Ching and matters of the heart

The Pamplet • 30 implied HN points • 29 Feb 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Beliefs Philosophy Spiritual Practices Ancient Wisdom
  1. Engaging with text in interactive ways can lead to significant improvement in skills and creativity, transcending just passive reading.
  2. Historically, various cultures placed importance on the heart's role in cognition and emotions, indicating a deep interconnection between heart and brain.
  3. Listening to the subtle impulses of the heart, following them confidently, can lead to originality, satisfaction, and a sense of quiet joy.

A Zealous Wholeness or a Broken Peace?

Gideon's Substack • 4 implied HN points • 21 Jul 25
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Judaism Religious texts Theology Tradition Interpretation
  1. The story of Pinchas shows that acts of extreme zeal can have serious consequences. While he is rewarded for stopping a plague, it raises questions about the morality of his violent actions.
  2. The broken letter 'vav' in the word for peace symbolizes that true peace may be complicated by past violence. It suggests that something that seems whole might still have underlying issues.
  3. The text encourages us to reflect on our own intentions. While Pinchas acted with zeal, we need to consider if we would act with the same purity of motive or if our actions could lead to unintended harm.

The Dangers of "Repressed Special"- Part One

What's Important? • 15 implied HN points • 22 Oct 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Personal Growth Spiritual Practices Coaching Self-help Mindfulness
  1. Intelligent and successful people can face unique challenges when they pursue a spiritual life. This can lead to mistakes if they're not careful.
  2. Having spiritual awareness can make someone more powerful, but it can also amplify their ego, which can cause problems.
  3. It's important to create safe and loving environments for personal growth, to help reduce unnecessary suffering during the journey.

Fragments, Chapter 1 - pp.3-9

Journal of Gurdjieff Studies • 19 implied HN points • 09 Sep 22
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Gurdjieff Studies Eastern philosophy Spiritual Practices
  1. The author embarked on a journey seeking the 'miraculous' and believed the East held the key to a new reality.
  2. The concept of 'schools' or learning communities for self-development evolved from fantastical to more concrete during the author's travels.
  3. Encountering individuals and ideas related to psychology, chemistry, and mystical practices in the East shifted the author's perspectives on magic and the extraordinary.

Theology, Duolingo, Vibe Coding, Friendship

What Is Called Thinking? • 5 implied HN points • 27 May 25
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Theology Philosophy Cognition Friendship Religion
  1. The relationship between theology and evolutionary neuroscience can offer new ways to understand ancient texts, like Genesis. This connection can help bridge science and spirituality.
  2. Discussing the Theology of Finance shows how religious views can influence economic practices and beliefs. It's important to see how faith and finance interact in our lives.
  3. A new tool called RavGPT helps people study religious texts more effectively. It's a great resource for finding and analyzing important sources in theology.

Three Domains of Legacy, Part 1

DruGroup • 59 implied HN points • 29 Jun 21
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Leadership Influence Mentorship Ideas Relationships Organizations
  1. Leaders have influence through three main domains: ideas, people, and organizations. Understanding which domain you excel in can help you focus your efforts.
  2. Each person affects the world in a blend of these domains. It's common for someone to be strong in one area and still have an impact in the others.
  3. A leader's influence can be both intentional and unintentional. It's important to communicate clearly to avoid misunderstandings about the influence being exerted.

Letter #6: Who are You?

Charles Eisenstein • 4 implied HN points • 06 Jul 25
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Spiritual growth Personal Reflection Self-discovery Mindfulness Consciousness
  1. Understanding your identity can help you connect with others better. It’s important to know who you truly are inside.
  2. Sometimes, the simplest insights can have the biggest impact on our lives. We shouldn’t overlook the obvious truths.
  3. Personal journeys and experiences can lead to profound realizations about ourselves. Reflecting on these can change our perspective.

Ecstatic Contact with the Cosmos

Daniel Pinchbeck’s Newsletter • 12 implied HN points • 12 Nov 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Spirituality Rituals Transcendence Consciousness Mythology
  1. Many people yearn for a deeper meaning in life and feel disappointed when they can't find it. This desire for something more has been ignored in modern culture.
  2. Traditional societies had rites of passage to help individuals find their purpose and transition to adulthood. Modern civilization lacks these, which has led to feelings of alienation and chaos.
  3. Crises or disasters can bring people together and awaken a sense of community and love. We can choose to connect with each other now, rather than waiting for a catastrophe.

Taking the Time to Ask the Questions

Notes in the Margins • 19 implied HN points • 26 Sep 22
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Reflection Self-discovery
  1. Focus on asking important questions about your life and future goals to guide your journey.
  2. Identify and prioritize your personal core values to make decisions aligned with what truly matters to you.
  3. Taking the time to define your values can bring focus and clarity for the next chapter of your life, helping you treat yourself with grace and practice agency.

Public Speaking vs. Arrogance

Muslim Musings • 19 implied HN points • 20 Jun 22
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Beliefs Public Speaking Humility Cognitive dissonance
  1. In the heart of every Muslim, arrogance is seen as a great sin, challenging one's belief and sincerity.
  2. There is a conflict between humility and public speaking, as the act of speaking in front of others can feel contradictory for those trying to remain humble.
  3. The resolution to the dilemma lies in externalizing the 'teacher role' when speaking, attributing the status to the role itself and not to the individual occupying it.

Scrolling Toward The Divine

Reactionary Feminist • 10 implied HN points • 29 Nov 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Religion Internet Cognition Experience Philosophy
  1. The internet can help people feel a deeper connection to spirituality and religion. Scrolling through online content might actually draw individuals closer to God.
  2. Reading online changes how we think. It helps us recognize patterns in the world that we might have missed with traditional reading methods.
  3. This shift in how we perceive things can lead to various experiences, including a renewed interest in religious matters.

Thinking Diagonally about the Church

DruGroup • 39 implied HN points • 23 Nov 21
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Community Engagement Identity politics Theology
  1. The church is not just another part of the community; it works across many areas like a network and connects people from all backgrounds.
  2. Thinking of the church in terms of identities is limiting. The church should bring together all kinds of people and intersect various identities to be truly effective.
  3. Leaders need to adopt 'diagonal thinking' to see the church as a whole. This means stepping away from viewing it strictly as a business or identity group and understanding its broader role in the community.

Discovering True Happiness: A Journey Beyond the Hedonic Treadmill

Anima Mundi • 41 implied HN points • 30 Apr 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Happiness Philosophy Self-awareness Self-discovery Spirituality
  1. The hedonic treadmill keeps us chasing fleeting pleasures, leading to stress and emptiness.
  2. True happiness, as Krishnamurti believed, stems from self-awareness and embracing the full spectrum of human experience.
  3. To cultivate true happiness, focus on self-awareness, meaningful activities, accepting discomfort, and pursuing knowledge and profound experiences.

Girardian Isekai Part 1: Agency and the Christian Afterlife

From the New World • 21 implied HN points • 08 Mar 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Christianity Afterlife Agency Innovation
  1. The Christian afterlife is often depicted with the concepts of heaven, hell, and purgatory, each with its unique perspective on innovation and agency.
  2. Agency plays a significant role in how individuals respond to the Christian revelation, with the rejection of agency leading to a vision of persecution and societal systems.
  3. Innovation in a Christian society is compared to living according to the Kingdom of God, embracing a way to end mimetic rivalry and foster a more fundamental approach.

How To Think About the Resurrection

Skeptic • 39 implied HN points • 09 Apr 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Religion Beliefs Philosophy Debate Mythology
  1. The resurrection of Jesus is a claim of an empirical objective truth believed by many, but requires extraordinary evidence for belief.
  2. Historical context and lack of independent corroboration cast doubt on the resurrection miracle claim.
  3. Applying principles like proportionality and Bayesian reasoning can help in assessing the likelihood of extraordinary claims like the resurrection.

when the vision isn’t manifesting

visa's voltaic verses ⚡️ • 30 implied HN points • 30 Aug 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Creativity Process Struggle Inspiration Journey
  1. Being a real artist involves struggling through challenges and failures, not just creating masterpieces.
  2. Creativity is a mysterious process that can be both humbling and exciting, embracing the unknown keeps things interesting.
  3. Let the idea drive - sometimes creativity flows best when you let go and allow the idea to lead the way.

Hardcore Meditation

What's Important? • 8 implied HN points • 31 Dec 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Meditation Mindfulness Philosophy Self-help Community
  1. Meditation can be a personal and unique journey. It's important to find a practice that suits you, whether that's focusing on breath, visualization, or something else.
  2. Community and connection with others who understand meditation can make a big difference. Sharing experiences and learning from others helps everyone grow in their practice.
  3. It's natural to have ups and downs in meditation. Being flexible and open to different methods can lead to better understanding and deeper insights over time.

what's going on in the world?

the rohn report • 39 implied HN points • 17 Mar 21
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Spirituality Life Love God
  1. The things we are told are important in the news might not actually be the most crucial things in our lives. Keeping alive with breathing and heartbeat is what truly matters.
  2. Appreciating the simple things in life like breathing and a regular heartbeat is essential, but often overlooked. These basic functions are what keep us alive and define our existence.
  3. Amidst all the noise of world events, what truly matters is love - the love we have for ourselves and others. This love is more significant than worldly distractions and should be the focus of our attention.

Vision Board Edition

As Ever • 7 implied HN points • 04 Jan 25
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Spirituality Prayer Mindfulness Art Philosophy
  1. Setting goals with a vision board can help make your dreams a reality. When you focus on what you want to achieve, you're more likely to see it happen.
  2. Our thoughts and mindset can influence the world around us. It's important to be mindful of what we think and pray for, as these can shape our experiences.
  3. Anxiety and worry can be spiritual burdens, but prayer and faith can offer comfort and guidance. Being honest in our desires when praying can help us grow and connect with God.

Don't be a spiritual nerd

Square Circle • 3 implied HN points • 20 Jun 25
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Spirituality Philosophy Self-reflection Mindfulness Metaphysics
  1. Being overly obsessed with spirituality can lead to an imbalance in your life. It's important to keep a healthy perspective and not let it consume all your attention.
  2. Spirituality should be approached with a sense of balance, not just as an academic or nerdy pursuit. Finding real-world connections can enhance your spiritual journey.
  3. It's okay to step away from spiritual obsessiveness and focus on being present in the world. Real growth often comes from being firmly grounded in everyday life.

Awakening the Western Soul

Daniel Pinchbeck’s Newsletter • 2 implied HN points • 12 Aug 25
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Philosophy Psychology Religion Mindfulness Wellness
  1. There's a special seminar being offered that you can attend in person or online. It's a good chance to learn and engage with others.
  2. The course is linked to the theme of awakening the Western soul, which suggests a focus on personal growth and understanding.
  3. You can start with a 7-day free trial to access more content and explore what the seminar has to offer.