The hottest Religion Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Science Topics

Cultivating the Heroic Spirit

Becoming Noble • 1315 implied HN points • 14 Oct 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Spirituality Religion Sports Virtue Heroism
  1. Merely playing sports may not convey the full spectrum of virtue and spiritual experience sought; modern sports lack metaphysical significance and encounters with the transcendent.
  2. Sport is a vehicle for developing essential virtue, such as discipline and hardiness, which underpin the pursuit of higher goals.
  3. True sport is a fundamentally spiritual quest, calling for a connection between physicality and spirit, ultimately leading to transcending oneself through play, beauty, action, prayer, and devotion.

Give despair a chance

Wrong Side of History • 322 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Religion Violence Anti-Semitism London Security
  1. A Conservative Member of Parliament in London decided not to run for re-election due to threats from violent extremists.
  2. There have been several anti-Semitic incidents in London, including arson attacks, assaults, and threats to Jewish individuals.
  3. Despite these incidents, London is generally a safe city, but there are areas with security concerns.

What Is Truth

Erick Erickson's Confessions of a Political Junkie • 3026 implied HN points • 07 Apr 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Christianity Religion Spiritual beliefs Truth
  1. Truth, embodied in Jesus, prevailed over death according to both religious and secular history.
  2. Believers' unwavering faith in Jesus's resurrection has transformed history and shaped religion over two millennia.
  3. The message of Christ calling for repentance suggests a need to acknowledge and overcome modern societal idols.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

The Great Repaganization

Daily Dreher • 1493 implied HN points • 13 Sep 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Christianity Religion Culture
  1. The author discusses how as post-Christians, we struggle with our vices and their cure.
  2. Louise Perry's article in First Things titled 'We Are Repaganizing' is recommended for reading.
  3. Perry, a non-Christian, has a positive view of Christianity but observes a trend towards repaganization in society.

My Roman nemesis, bottle episodes, and the Seinfeld synod

The Pillar • 1061 implied HN points • 24 Oct 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Religion Catholicism Church Theology
  1. The synod on synodality involves diverse descriptions like ecclesial reform, renewal, and revolution, leading to broad mistrust among Catholics.
  2. About 25% of the voting members at the synod are non-bishops, raising concerns about non-bishop votes deciding resolutions.
  3. The impact of the synod on synodality on the Church's narrative and mission may be limited, with expectations of it being more of a 'bottle episode' and a 'departure episode'.

Misquoting Darwin

Going Awol • 139 implied HN points • 11 Mar 24
📚 Literature Philosophy Religion Evolution
  1. Charles Darwin expressed doubts about the reliability of human cognitive faculties, specifically in forming abstruse metaphysical and theological beliefs.
  2. Darwin's doubt should be understood in the context of his concerns about certain philosophical and religious convictions, rather than everyday beliefs.
  3. Apologists quoting Darwin out of context have misunderstood his doubts, leading to misconceptions about the scope of his concerns.

Thanks to Lutherans I skipped ballet

Garrison Keillor and Friends • 2653 implied HN points • 15 Mar 23
🎭️ Culture Religion Society Arts
  1. Lutherans have a long history of being predominantly white due to their origins in countries that were not major colonial powers.
  2. Growing up in a Lutheran culture in Minnesota influenced the author's perspective on personal choices, culture, and lifestyle.
  3. The author avoided pursuing a career in ballet due to their upbringing among Lutherans, which shaped their values and lifestyle choices.

The Prophet — the Archetype of Societal Renaissance

The Living Philosophy • 314 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Religion Life Doctrine Ethics
  1. The Prophet archetype emerged as a new way of being religious, challenging the traditional roles of priests and magicians.
  2. Prophets were outsiders but not rebels, called into their roles by a higher power and providing a vantage point to critique the existing system.
  3. The Exemplary Prophets emphasized how life should be lived, while the Ethical Prophets focused more on transcendent doctrine, leading to varying prophetic traditions.

Our Father, Fr. Rupnik, and the devil’s paradox

The Pillar • 923 implied HN points • 27 Oct 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Religion Church Spiritual warfare
  1. The retreat focused on praying the Our Father with sincerity and what it means to call God our Father.
  2. A monk was murdered in the Nigerian Diocese of Ilorin, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by the Church in Nigeria.
  3. Pope Francis' decision to waive the statute of limitations for Fr. Marko Rupnik's prosecution showcases the importance of listening attentively and compassionately to victims.

Anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and the Strip Between

Pen>Sword • 658 implied HN points • 28 Nov 23
🌍 World Politics Conflict Religion Media Equality
  1. The ongoing violence in Gaza has reshaped the consumption and dissemination of mass death, especially on digital platforms like social media.
  2. Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia are closely linked forms of bigotry rooted in white supremacy, with distinct but similarly inferior stereotypes about Jews and Muslims.
  3. The political cooption of anti-Semitism and the colonial tenets of Zionism undermine genuine reckonings with these forms of bigotry, perpetuating violence and hindering equality.

Douglas Groothuis Joins The Worldview Bulletin

The Worldview Bulletin Newsletter • 353 implied HN points • 17 Jan 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Christianity Apologetics Philosophy Religion
  1. Renowned Christian philosopher and apologist Douglas Groothuis joins The Worldview Bulletin as a regular contributor.
  2. In his first article, Groothuis discusses the 'oddness' of Jesus and how it challenges common perceptions.
  3. Jesus' actions and teachings in the Bible often display a level of complexity and depth that challenge traditional understanding.

Neighbor Tuesday: Israel, Gaza, Palestine

The Friendly Neighbors • 1002 implied HN points • 10 Oct 23
🌍 World Politics Conflict Middle East Humanitarian Crisis Religion Solidarity
  1. The conflict in Israel, Gaza, and Palestine is complex and involves multiple sides with long histories.
  2. It's important to show solidarity and compassion for both Israeli and Palestinian neighbors.
  3. As Christians, it's possible to support Israel while also praying for peace in Palestine and recognizing the humanity of all involved.

Sunday West 46

Wrong Side of History • 299 implied HN points • 21 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Religion TV shows Housing Literature
  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.

Dune 3: Planetary Regeneration?

Surfing the Future • 59 implied HN points • 01 Apr 24
🎭️ Culture Film Literature Environment Religion Science fiction
  1. The Kynes family in 'Dune' is crucial, with Pardot, Liet-Kynes, and Chani playing significant roles in planetary regeneration.
  2. The complex characters and the family business of planetary regeneration add depth and memorability to the 'Dune' story.
  3. Herbert's ecological themes in 'Dune' explore the aim of all life to maintain coordinated patterns of greater diversity, emphasizing the importance of sustaining life.

A Personal IVF Story

Karlstack • 144 implied HN points • 28 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Fertility Healthcare Politics Religion
  1. A personal IVF story revealed the author's unique background and insights into the political implications of IVF treatments.
  2. Democrats are using IVF as a political strategy against Republicans, leveraging statistics on public support for fertility treatments like IVF.
  3. While most support IVF, observant Catholics are a key group opposed to it due to teachings of the Church.

Judaism, Atheism, and the Language of the Sacred: A Religious Mini-Memoir (UNLOCKED)

Philosophy for the People w/Ben Burgis • 599 implied HN points • 19 Nov 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Religion Atheism Philosophy Ethics Beliefs
  1. The author reflects on their journey from Judaism to atheism, highlighting the conflict between personal beliefs and traditional religious views.
  2. The philosophical debate on the existence of God played a significant role in the author's transition to atheism, questioning the concept of a deity in the face of suffering and evil.
  3. Despite identifying as an atheist, recent events have rekindled a desire for religious language to articulate deep emotions and moral outrage in response to tragic events.