The hottest Religion Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Science Topics

Two British events

The Abbey of Misrule • 135 implied HN points • 03 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Religion
  1. There's a two-day conference on 'post-liberalism' in Cambridge on December 13th and 14th. Many interesting speakers will be there.
  2. On December 16th, there's an event in London discussing how the West is influenced by 'pseudo-religion'. It will include debates on various spiritual topics.
  3. Expect more content like essays and stories coming soon, as things will calm down after these events.

Sunday West 46

Wrong Side of History • 299 implied HN points • 21 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Religion
  1. The author discusses the rise of new theists and the benefits of religion despite a decline in observance.
  2. Reflections on the TV show 'The Sopranos' and the author's fear of flying are shared.
  3. The newsletter also covers topics like London's housing crisis, diversity statements, conspiracy theories, sobriety culture, and societal changes in France.
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Swinburne's Argument Against Suicide

Going Awol • 119 implied HN points • 30 Jan 23
📖 Philosophy Religion
  1. Swinburne's argument against suicide is based on the idea that if God exists, taking one's own life is ungrateful towards the gift of life given by God.
  2. Swinburne's argument falls short in the face of extreme suffering, where ending one's life may not be a violation of gratitude towards God, as seen in cases like severe pain or incurable genetic conditions.
  3. The premise that suicide is always wrong due to ingratitude to God is questionable, as destroying a harmful gift might be what a loving benefactor would want in certain extreme circumstances.

The blowjob that blew up my life

Sex and the State • 41 implied HN points • 27 Jun 25
🎭️ Culture Religion
  1. Breaking free from traditional beliefs can be driven by personal experiences and desires. It's okay to question what you've been taught about relationships and morality.
  2. Choosing to leave a marriage can come from wanting a more fulfilling life, not necessarily from negative situations like abuse or infidelity. It's important to recognize your own needs and wants.
  3. Sometimes, a pivotal moment can force a change in perspective, leading to unexpected realizations about one's life and choices. A single action or decision can open up new paths for understanding.

What Would Jesus Really Do?

Nonsense on Stilts • 39 implied HN points • 27 Jan 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Religion
  1. Many religious philosophers don't agree on moral issues like the trolley problem. It shows that moral clarity may not be as strong in religion as some claim.
  2. Interestingly, atheistic philosophers seem to have a clearer stance on the trolley problem compared to theistic ones.
  3. Overall, this raises questions about whether religion truly resolves moral dilemmas or if it creates more confusion.

Alone With Our Thoughts.

Trying to Understand the World • 8 implied HN points • 03 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Religion
  1. Our political and professional classes are ill-equipped to grasp or solve very large, complex problems, so societies retreat into small, symbolic actions and managerial posturing instead of serious solutions.
  2. The decline of shared, holistic worldviews and reliable authorities leaves people isolated, prompting emotional, tribal decision-making or the adoption of totalising ideologies to provide meaning.
  3. Education and public life no longer teach real thinking skills like logic, rhetoric, and clear reasoning, so most people rely on authority, identity, or feeling rather than careful evaluation of evidence.

Conclave and the Antichrist

Kvetch • 84 implied HN points • 15 Feb 25
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Religion
  1. One possible twist in the story is seeing the humble Cardinal become the ruthless manipulator behind the scenes, raising questions about the hidden ambitions of those in power.
  2. The election of Cardinal Benitez can be viewed as a moment of peace, but it symbolizes a deeper danger, suggesting that even peace can be used to mask destructive intentions.
  3. The film highlights a divided Church, where leaders are more focused on personal ambitions rather than uniting against external threats, showcasing how a lack of common ground can lead to vulnerability.

Musical Heresies (Part 1)

Secretum Secretorum • 454 implied HN points • 17 May 23
🎶 Music Religion
  1. Some people believe music should only be performed live and regarded as sacred
  2. Recording music freezes a fleeting moment of consciousness, turning it into an object to be obsessed over
  3. There is a long-standing relationship between music, religion, and manipulation throughout history

The Tale of the Machine

The Abbey of Misrule • 416 implied HN points • 29 Jun 23
📖 Philosophy Religion
  1. The essay series discusses the modern project of replacing nature with technology and the emergence of the Machine as a powerful force shaping society.
  2. It explores the impacts of Machine values on culture, including the loss of human connections, cultural upheaval, and the rise of individualism.
  3. The series delves into potential responses to the dominance of the Machine, including stoicism, reactionary radicalism, and the search for eternal values amidst societal decline.

Faith vs Reason

David Friedman’s Substack • 305 implied HN points • 11 Dec 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Religion
  1. The existence of a god does not automatically determine what is right or wrong.
  2. There are solutions to moral questions that do not rely on the existence of a god.
  3. In the early history of Islamic philosophy, there was a debate between schools of thought regarding human reason and moral judgments.

My Face is Mine

backstory • 242 implied HN points • 09 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Religion
  1. The concept of image rights and consent has been a concern since the early days of photography in 1838.
  2. Different cultures and religions have varying views on images; aniconism plays a significant role.
  3. Photography can evoke strong reactions based on territoriality and cultural norms, as seen in various encounters in different parts of the world.

What is 'National Conservatism'?

Wrong Side of History • 446 implied HN points • 12 May 23
🌍 World Politics Religion
  1. Conservatism varies between places and individuals, each with their own visions to conserve specific traditions or institutions.
  2. National Conservatism is like conservatism but with a focus on the nation-state, supporting free market, nationalism, and religion.
  3. Conservatives believe in history's consequences, the importance of tradition, community ties, and the need for moral guidance from religion to maintain freedom.

"The Will To Believe" by William James

Center for Veb Account Research Newsletter • 3 implied HN points • 09 Jan 26
📖 Philosophy Religion
  1. When a choice really matters—because the options feel live, are forced, and have important consequences—it can be reasonable to let your will or feelings decide a belief if the evidence can’t settle it; doing nothing is itself a risky choice.
  2. Belief formation is a psychological process that mixes feeling, effort, and habit, and once a belief is fixed it tends to lose its doubt; forming beliefs always involves trade-offs between different kinds of error, so you should pick a risk attitude that fits the situation.
  3. Truth is practical and fallible: aim for beliefs that work and can be improved by evidence rather than for absolute certainty, and use evidence to make options live and testable while tolerating different reasonable stances on beliefs.

Bubble Explainer Article: Housefire Beliefs

Resident Contrarian • 488 implied HN points • 07 Mar 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Religion
  1. Some arguments can be troublesome because they are specific but associated with bigger, contentious topics.
  2. Beliefs are complex - people may not always act in line with their beliefs, and interpretations of texts can vary.
  3. Challenges to religious beliefs may request believers to treat their beliefs as if they were imaginary, leading to conflicts and complexities.

The whoral majority

Sex and the State • 38 implied HN points • 19 Jun 25
🎭️ Culture Religion
  1. Many people have a rigid view of morality based on what they were taught as children, which can create discomfort with new ideas.
  2. Prostitution, often viewed negatively, has existed throughout history and can actually provide financial independence and safety when decriminalized.
  3. The author questions the morality of organized religions, especially given their contradictions and failures, and believes that the perspectives of sex workers should be valued more.

The Future Belongs to the Machines. The Irrational Belongs to Us.

Brave New Teams • 8 implied HN points • 23 Nov 25
🎭️ Culture Religion
  1. As we use more machines and automation, we lose the messy, unpredictable parts of life that give it meaning. It's not the efficiency that's valuable, but the friction and challenges we face together.
  2. In today's world, where everything is optimized and personalized, people are craving experiences that break the mold. Football stands out as an experience that unites people and creates a sense of hope and belonging.
  3. The age of technology won't mean the end of deep emotions or beliefs. Instead, people will find new ways to connect and seek meaning through irrational experiences, like sports, which bring us together in ways machines can't.

CROSSPOST from 2007: HOISTED FROM THE ARCHIVES: George W. Bush et le Code Ezéchiel

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 99 implied HN points • 01 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Religion
  1. George W. Bush mentioned biblical figures Gog and Magog while discussing the Middle East with Jacques Chirac. This shows how some leaders might connect their political actions with religious beliefs.
  2. The interpretations of biblical texts like Ezekiel can vary widely. Some scholars see historical events in these texts, while others look for modern connections.
  3. The United States' support for Israel can be influenced by religious views, unlike the more geopolitical perspective often taken in Europe.

Does the Pope Go to the Movies?

Gideon's Substack • 9 implied HN points • 18 Nov 25
🎭️ Culture Religion
  1. Movies are a powerful art form that can touch people's souls and create connections among audiences. They encourage us to reflect on life in a unique way.
  2. Experiencing films in a theater with an audience can change how we feel about them, making the experience richer than watching alone at home.
  3. The Pope's message to filmmakers highlights the importance of art in society, suggesting that filmmakers can contribute to a shared deeper understanding and connection with others.

Curator

Castalia • 139 implied HN points • 22 Jan 23
🎭️ Culture Religion
  1. Literary prizes can distract from an artist's true growth and craft. They often create a focus on external validation rather than personal development in art.
  2. Critics have strayed from their true role, becoming more about filtering works for the public than truly engaging with and interpreting art. Real criticism should be a creative dialogue alongside artists.
  3. Science is not as objective as people think. Its methods and findings can change with cultural beliefs, and it's important to recognize that it operates within a social context just like any other belief system.

Additional Notes on Culture War

Banana Peel Pirouette • 59 implied HN points • 15 Oct 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Religion
  1. Different cultures may need to be corrected or influenced by outsiders when they adhere to harmful practices, even if they resist change.
  2. In a multicultural society, there are common norms for everyone to follow in public spaces, but groups often try to shape these norms to better reflect their own values.
  3. The culture war involves groups trying to change societal norms to align more closely with their beliefs through various strategies like forming alliances or influencing institutions.

What Should Count As Nutty?

David Friedman’s Substack • 242 implied HN points • 20 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Religion
  1. It's not enough to have mistaken beliefs to be considered nutty.
  2. Beliefs that no reasonable person with your intellectual background could hold may qualify as nutty.
  3. Defending beliefs in a consistent, intelligent manner doesn't make someone a nut, but ignoring known facts to maintain beliefs may suggest otherwise.

Wells and Bells

The Abbey of Misrule • 209 implied HN points • 10 Mar 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Religion
  1. The story introduces St Declan of Ardmore who was an influential figure in Ireland before even St Patrick's arrival, suggesting early Christian ties even to Egypt
  2. St Declan had a powerful presence in Ardmore, with his monastery becoming popular and attracting pilgrims
  3. The well associated with St Declan is a historic site where he baptised early Irish Christians, and is still a place of pilgrimage today

The Bankman-Frieds as Lukewarm Utilitarians

Cold Button Issues • 58 implied HN points • 12 Oct 23
📖 Philosophy Religion
  1. Utilitarianism may lead to questionable actions like lying, cheating, and stealing for the greater good.
  2. Practicing utilitarianism in personal life may not always align with the philosophy's principles.
  3. Effective altruism movement may not be as ruthlessly utilitarian as perceived, impacting its effectiveness.

Shelach; Shabbos Mevarchim 2023

TorahRedux • 58 implied HN points • 14 Jun 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Religion
  1. Fear is a natural human response, even our greatest heroes felt it, it's not a weakness to feel fear, it's how you respond to it that matters.
  2. Faith and fear can coexist; having faith doesn't mean you won't feel fear, it's about how you act despite feeling afraid.
  3. Moving onward is essential; even after great achievements or failures, it's important to push forward, learn, and grow.

The World Modernity Ended

Reactionary Feminist • 22 implied HN points • 14 Aug 25
🎭️ Culture Religion
  1. The author appreciates the freedom that comes from stepping away from social media, leading to more time for focused reading and thought.
  2. Books discussed explore how modernity has changed our relationship with nature and spirituality, questioning if the benefits of modern life are worth the losses we’ve experienced.
  3. There is a sense that modernity might be ending with the rise of digital communication, prompting a need to reflect on how we engage with technology and what we might reclaim from the past.

An Atheist Grief Observed

Skeptic • 65 implied HN points • 12 Feb 25
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Religion
  1. Loss can be incredibly overwhelming, and sometimes it can lead to devastating consequences like suicide. The experience of losing a home and a loved one at the same time can multiply the grief.
  2. Being an atheist can change how one processes grief. Without a belief in a higher power, there can be less internal conflict and blame, allowing for a more straightforward acceptance of loss.
  3. Compassion and support from friends and family can help during difficult times. Even in the face of tragedy, the kindness of others can soften the experience of loss.

Experience

Castalia • 159 implied HN points • 26 Oct 22
🎭️ Culture Religion
  1. There’s a divide in society between drinkers and those in recovery, like AA members. Many people don't see how close these groups really are despite their different lifestyles.
  2. AA has a certain appeal that goes beyond just sobriety; it offers a sense of community and purpose. Many find strength and support in its structure, similar to religious experiences.
  3. Programs like AA and 'The Artist’s Way' share ideas about discipline and personal growth. They challenge the market-driven mentality and focus on accountability and finding inner fulfillment.

Norse Cosmology Part I: The Nine Realms Are Wrong

Norse Mythology & Germanic Lore • 39 implied HN points • 06 Dec 23
🎭️ Culture Religion
  1. The traditional notion of 'nine realms of Norse mythology' is a common misunderstanding and not accurately represented in the original source material.
  2. The Old Norse phrase 'níu heimar' is mentioned in the Poetic Edda and the Prose Edda, but it does not necessarily translate to 'nine realms' as commonly interpreted.
  3. There is ambiguity and lack of clarity in the ancient texts regarding the concept of 'nine homes,' with suggestions that it might refer to underworld locations connected to Hel, the goddess of the dead.

The Thundergod is Humanity's Hero

Norse Mythology & Germanic Lore • 39 implied HN points • 03 Dec 23
🎭️ Culture Religion
  1. Ancient Germanic people believed Thor, the Thundergod, played a crucial role in protecting humanity from evil creatures like jotuns through artifacts like the Canterbury Charm and Kvinneby Amulet.
  2. Thor was invoked through magical incantations to heal people afflicted by ailments caused by supernatural beings, showcasing his role as a hero and protector.
  3. Pop-culture depictions of Norse gods and jotuns in shades of gray are contrary to historical beliefs, as Thor was seen as a mighty hero who safeguarded humanity against threats from evil creatures.

golden rules and golden ages

bad cattitude • 198 implied HN points • 27 Jan 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Religion
  1. Religions and stories serve as important guides in understanding human nature and society.
  2. Basic values like the golden rule are vital in forming societal foundations and trust.
  3. The decline of religious underpinnings can lead to societal fragmentation and the rise of harmful ideologies.