The hottest Theology Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Faith & Spirituality Topics

'Do You Believe Jesus Died for Our Sins?’ Richard Dawkins Confronts Jordan Peterson

The Poetry of Reality with Richard Dawkins • 933 implied HN points • 29 Oct 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Theology
  1. Richard Dawkins challenges Jordan Peterson about his beliefs on the Bible and whether Jesus died for our sins.
  2. Peterson compares the truths of Christianity to the complexities of quantum physics in a recent conversation.
  3. They discuss how Christianity has influenced human progress and what it means to believe in its truths.

Dear Pastors

Erick Erickson's Confessions of a Political Junkie • 3816 implied HN points • 22 Oct 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Theology
  1. Pastors should focus on their local congregations and their real needs rather than seeking attention on social media. The people in their communities need spiritual guidance more than viral posts.
  2. It's important for pastors to lead people toward Jesus instead of political idols. Encouraging love and prayer for neighbors and leaders can help foster unity rather than division in challenging times.
  3. While voting is a civic duty, true hope and redemption come from faith in Jesus, not political outcomes. The Kingdom of God is everlasting, and that's what should matter most to Christians.

In the Desert of the Heart

The Abbey of Misrule • 523 implied HN points • 11 Mar 26
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Theology
  1. Inner silence matters more than external quiet. Calming the inner noise is what allows the Holy Spirit to dwell in the heart.
  2. Our identities, words, and stories become cages that block spiritual growth. Letting go of self-made opinions and returning to simple, childlike openness creates space for real transformation.
  3. Spiritual change is quiet, hidden work that grows through stillness and prayer. Even amid outer chaos, trusting God and deliberately making room for silence lets the soul be purified.

Bishop Barron: The Problem with ‘Sinners’

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 524 implied HN points • 13 Mar 26
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Theology
  1. Many award-winning films get celebrated because they fit current progressive or "woke" cultural expectations, and awards often reward those themes rather than deeper moral insight.
  2. Some films frame morality as a strict split between "good people" and "bad people," and then present Christianity mainly as a remedy for the bad people instead of addressing the universal capacity for wrongdoing.
  3. The theory of cultural appropriation can be overly simplistic and may miss the complex realities of cultural exchange and artistic influence, so it needs a more nuanced approach.

The God Hypothesis as a Claim about Invariants

apxhard • 94 implied HN points • 16 Mar 26
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Theology
  1. The God hypothesis can be understood as a claim that there’s an invariant link between your present attitude and the emotional tone of your future experiences, so adopting a certain mental posture should predictably shift what you feel later.
  2. The recommended mental posture is twofold: total acceptance of the present and a deliberate choice to love others, and small, repeated attitude changes compound over time via neuroplasticity and social reciprocity to change your life.
  3. This idea is testable—try adopting the orientation and track your emotional distribution (or try the opposite and compare)—but most people treat it as a mere heuristic rather than committing to sustained practice, which is why it’s hard to see the effect.
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Dennis Prager: Right and Wrong Are Not a Matter of Personal Opinion

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 2276 implied HN points • 19 Feb 26
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Theology
  1. Right and wrong are presented as objective truths, not just personal opinions, and people should live as if there is a real moral order behind our judgments.
  2. Teaching children clear moral limits—telling them “that’s wrong”—is essential for raising good people, but fewer adults are doing this today.
  3. The existence of extreme evil shows why we must study why people hurt others and deliberately teach moral responsibility to prevent harm.

Not The Re-Enchantment We Ordered

Reactionary Feminist • 21 implied HN points • 13 Mar 26
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Theology
  1. Digital media is overturning the print-shaped mind: it favors short, hyperlinked, emotive attention and weakens the habits of deep, reflective reading that supported modern objectivity and deliberation.
  2. That cognitive shift is driving a broad re-enchantment where ritual, charismatic religion, online fandoms and conspiracy patterns grow, which can revive genuine faith but also sharpen tribalism, political volatility, and the risk of violence tied to apocalyptic thinking.
  3. The right response is cultural formation not coercion: rebuild practices that train memory, attention, and disciplined study (monastery-like institutions), refuse exclusive Christian nationalism, and offer an inclusive, discipling Christianity as a stable centre in a tribal age.

Walking, Wittgenstein, and God

Chris Arnade Walks the World • 3835 implied HN points • 27 Dec 25
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Theology
  1. Daily, purposeful walking and simple routines can calm obsessive worries and give practical meaning to life, helping people stay grounded during uncertainty.
  2. Science and pure rationalism can’t answer every existential question, and insisting they can often strips life of mystery and leads to emptiness, so humility about limits matters.
  3. Accepting that you can’t control everything and cultivating inner independence—through humility, practices like walking or prayer, and belief in something beyond yourself—brings contentment and purpose.

The War Film That Turned Dietrich Bonhoeffer Away From Nationalism

The Take (by Jon Miltimore) • 237 implied HN points • 10 Oct 24
💾 History Theology
  1. Dietrich Bonhoeffer changed his views on nationalism after watching the antiwar film 'All Quiet on the Western Front.' It made him see the harsh realities of war and question the idea that fighting for one's country is a noble cause.
  2. Alongside a French theologian, Bonhoeffer felt sad and moved by a scene where a German soldier comforts a dying French soldier. This moment helped him understand the deep connections between people, beyond national borders.
  3. Bonhoeffer believed that being a Christian should come before national loyalty. He saw nationalism as a dangerous idea that could harm human values, showing that real bravery means standing up against harmful beliefs, not just fighting in wars.

Charlie Kirk’s Final Message to America

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 2550 implied HN points • 08 Dec 25
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Theology
  1. Set aside one day each week as a true Sabbath by putting away your smartphone and work, and focus on rest, family, and spiritual renewal.
  2. Regularly observing rest can help heal personal and national freneticism by restoring attention to what really matters and reducing constant distraction.
  3. The core message is a hopeful, practical call to change: even if the practice helps just one person, that small change is meaningful.

My Mormon Obsession

Castalia • 479 implied HN points • 13 Aug 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Theology
  1. Joseph Smith had unique and complex beliefs about God and spirituality that diverged from the mainstream ideas of his followers. He believed that humans could become like God and that creativity was a path to divinity.
  2. Smith faced opposition and challenges from both within and outside his community, including issues arising from his controversial practices like plural marriage. This led to tensions among his followers and eventually to his downfall.
  3. After Smith's death, the Mormon community experienced a significant shift as leadership changed hands. Brigham Young led the migration to Utah, where the community adopted a more structured approach, moving away from the free-spirited culture that characterized Smith's time.

Spiritual Attachments as Probability 1 Beliefs

apxhard • 59 implied HN points • 27 Feb 26
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Theology
  1. Treating beliefs as probabilities (not absolute 0s or 1s) lets you update with evidence and avoids the kind of suffering that comes from being unable to change your mind.
  2. Intentionally making fixed commitments—treating some choices as decision variables immune to evidence—can build discipline and agency but also creates deliberate suffering when reality conflicts with those commitments.
  3. There’s a trade‑off: letting go of rigid beliefs (a Buddhist move) reduces suffering, while choosing to hold some 0/1 commitments (a Christian move) aims for a coherent, fully engaged life even at the cost of suffering.

Why I Am A Pagan

Castalia • 1119 implied HN points • 20 Jun 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Theology
  1. Paganism views divinity as a connection to nature and different energies in life, rather than just a single god. It's about listening to nature and aligning with its various forces.
  2. In paganism, people can embody different roles like lover, fighter, or craftsman, and their value is based on how they act in each role. This differs from monotheistic views where morality is more binary.
  3. Paganism offers a richer understanding of our experiences and the complexity of human life. It encourages seeing divinity as a form of art that reflects our relationship to the world.

The Experience of God

Secretum Secretorum • 479 implied HN points • 17 Dec 25
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Theology
  1. Materialist or naturalist accounts can't fully explain why anything exists or why consciousness and physical laws make sense. That suggests we need a transcendent ground beyond nature to account for existence.
  2. Ultimate reality is best understood as an infinite source of being, consciousness, and bliss that grounds and sustains all finite things, not as just another object within the world.
  3. Human knowing is inherently directed toward transcendent ends like truth, beauty, and goodness, and experiences of wonder, beauty, and disciplined contemplation are presented as the proper ways to encounter and confirm that transcendent reality.

Friday Q&A: The Mark of the Beast

Tipping Point Prophecy Update by Jimmy Evans • 2908 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Theology
  1. The post discusses the question of whether receiving the Mark of the Beast is unforgivable or if repentance is possible.
  2. There are two sides to the argument: Some believe that taking the Mark of the Beast means choosing death with no way back, while others think it's possible to repent and still be saved.
  3. To read the full post and explore more about the topic, there is an option for a 7-day free trial for the Tipping Point Prophecy Update subscription.

War

Tessa Fights Robots • 25 implied HN points • 28 Feb 26
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Theology
  1. War brutalizes innocent people everywhere, forcing civilians to run, suffer, lose loved ones, and die while those who start the wars stay detached and desensitized.
  2. People should pray together for peace and justice for everyone, refusing to see geopolitics only as "our team" versus "their team" and asking the Creator to protect all innocents.
  3. Prayer should be paired with living consistently with those prayers and with looking for new, effective, nonviolent ways to resist war and promote fair, lasting solutions; learn from thoughtful voices and support actions that actually help protect people.

Can AI Help Us Find God?

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 190 implied HN points • 28 Jan 26
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Theology
  1. AI is reshaping religion and could change what it means to be religious, even as people keep seeking the divine.
  2. Religious leaders and institutions are reacting differently: some warn that AI can deaden spiritual life, while others adopt it as a learning tool so long as it doesn't replace God.
  3. Modern AIs know a lot about scriptures and are very good at answering questions, so believers may increasingly turn to machines as oracles for personal and doctrinal guidance.

Faith Based Sciences

David Friedman’s Substack • 377 implied HN points • 23 Dec 25
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Theology
  1. Intelligent Design is presented as a scientific theory, but many alleged examples of 'bad design' have clearer evolutionary explanations. Its defenders often start from religious motives rather than neutral inquiry.
  2. Some scientific-sounding ideas, like Nuclear Winter, were promoted by people with political goals before the science was settled, so advocates' motives are a good reason to be cautious even if the idea might be true.
  3. When arguments conveniently align with what people already want, it suggests ideology is driving the case rather than an independent theory; for example, opposition to nuclear power despite its low‑carbon benefits shows belief can outweigh evidence.

The Man Comes Around

Erick Erickson's Confessions of a Political Junkie • 3597 implied HN points • 08 Oct 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Theology
  1. Jude 5 is one of the most profound verses in the Bible, emphasizing the human and divine nature of Jesus.
  2. Jesus's brothers, who initially rejected Him, later went to their deaths proclaiming Him the risen Lord. Something significant must have happened.
  3. Believing in the resurrection of Jesus can bring comfort and hope, even in times of struggle and despair.

5 Quick Things #317 🐌

The Commonplace • 1611 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Theology
  1. Focus on doing things well from the start and mastering important tasks in proper sequence.
  2. Consider the deeper meaning behind adopting a good-enough approach to housekeeping.
  3. Engage in important conversations about sex education for adolescents and married adults.

The West Requires Post-Christian Missional Thinking

DruGroup • 139 implied HN points • 06 Aug 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Theology
  1. The Western church needs to adopt a missionary mindset because society has become more secular. This means thinking seriously about how to share faith in a changing culture.
  2. Returning missionaries, like Lesslie Newbigin, pointed out that the church in the West isn't fully embracing its mission. They saw a need for more active and confident evangelism.
  3. It's important to equip church members with tools to engage their communities. If everything is considered mission work, it can lose its meaning, so we need to be clear about what mission really is.

A Partial Algopoetic Translation of John's Gospel

apxhard • 34 implied HN points • 17 Feb 26
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Theology
  1. Better to realign early with a central truth or guide than to keep investing in a false path that will cause conflicts later.
  2. The guide is framed as the goal, the path, and the measure: follow this way to find enough, rest, and a meaningful measure for life.
  3. Computing metaphors show that lasting, healthy lives respect constraints and architectures; systems that don’t align with those boundaries will consume people or collapse over time.

St. Petroc Returns To Devonshire

Daily Dreher • 1670 implied HN points • 05 Jan 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Theology
  1. St. Petroc, an early medieval missionary saint, returned to Devonshire, spreading the message of God through miracles and missionary work.
  2. Christopher Rufo advocates for a new activism on the Right to challenge prevailing ideologies and institutions, emphasizing the need for meaningful change and principles.
  3. Changes in sacramental practices in the Catholic Church, such as baptizing transsexuals without repentance, can signify deeper shifts in symbolic meanings and belief systems, impacting the faithful.

The World Of Aaron Renn

Daily Dreher • 1179 implied HN points • 06 Feb 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Theology
  1. Aaron Renn discusses the changing societal views on Christianity and offers strategies for church life in a hostile culture.
  2. Evangelicals are encouraged to build a distinct moral community to navigate the Negative World.
  3. The church needs to adapt to being a minority in a changing culture and focus on internal issues for survival.

Craving a Roofless Place

Lore Ferguson Wilbert • 1709 implied HN points • 20 Mar 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Theology
  1. The post discusses Christian-living books and letting oneself be made.
  2. The author receives various books on different topics like seeds, moss, and fungi for research.
  3. The author's spouse questions the need for the books, but the author justifies it as research.

Pandæmonium

Cosmographia • 678 implied HN points • 28 Feb 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Theology
  1. The post discusses the fall of Lucifer and his rebellion against God in heaven, leading to his ultimate downfall and banishment to a hellish abyss.
  2. It explores the concept of eternal damnation for those who follow in Lucifer's rebellious footsteps.
  3. The post hints at the ominous and hopeless fate that awaits those who enter the described underworld, echoing themes from various religious and literary works.

God And Gödel

Daily Dreher • 904 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Theology
  1. The post discusses Kurt Gödel, a famous mathematician and logician, and his belief in life after death.
  2. The post raises interesting questions about logic and philosophy through Gödel's perspective.
  3. The author encourages readers to think outside the box and explore unconventional ideas.

From Many, One

Cosmographia • 738 implied HN points • 23 Jan 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Theology
  1. The concept of monotheism, the belief in one supreme deity, is a relatively recent development in human history, with many cultures historically believing in multiple gods and spirits.
  2. Monotheism marked a significant shift in theological traditions, particularly when the Israelites proclaimed the existence of only one God, breaking away from millennia of polytheistic beliefs.
  3. The idea of 'From Many, One' reflects the evolution from diverse beliefs in multiple gods to the concept of a singular, all-powerful deity, which has shaped major religious doctrines and scriptures.

Formational Writing

Lore Ferguson Wilbert • 1297 implied HN points • 08 Mar 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Theology
  1. Formational Writing is about combining philosophy, theology, art, and imagination.
  2. The author is reflecting on starting their last classes for a graduate degree after years of exploration.
  3. There is an option to subscribe to continue reading the author's content and get a free trial.

Liminal Religion

Contemplations on the Tree of Woe • 1832 implied HN points • 14 Dec 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Theology
  1. The Aenean spirit represents a balance between ambition and awareness of humanity's fragility. It's about seeking progress while understanding the risks involved.
  2. Civilizations have different worldviews shaped by their beliefs and religions, each affecting how they interact with the world and understand their existence.
  3. The idea of an Aenean religion would embrace uncertainty and possibility, encouraging action and engagement rather than complacency or blind ambition.

A Liturgy of Death

Becoming Noble • 1156 implied HN points • 23 Jun 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Theology
  1. Belief systems need action to thrive; faith dies if not lived out.
  2. The importance of integrating actions with beliefs to transcend post-modern culture.
  3. Establishing rituals and liturgy is crucial for sustaining faith and belief.

My Roman nemesis, bottle episodes, and the Seinfeld synod

The Pillar • 1061 implied HN points • 24 Oct 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality 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'.

Church and Mission: A Chicken and Egg Question

DruGroup • 59 implied HN points • 30 Jul 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Theology
  1. The church exists to support God's mission. Instead of the church having its own mission, it is part of God's larger purpose.
  2. All Christians are seen as part of God's mission, whether they realize it or not. This means that every believer has a role in spreading the faith.
  3. Thinking of the church as the egg (the result) rather than the chicken (the source) helps clarify its purpose. The church is there to help fulfill the mission rather than create it.

Liber Ludens

Secretum Secretorum • 580 implied HN points • 01 Jul 25
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Theology
  1. Life can be seen as a game rather than just a series of problems. Embracing playfulness can lead to greater joy and creativity.
  2. The journey of understanding ourselves and the world is filled with ups and downs, and love often comes with challenges. It's through these experiences that we grow.
  3. Divine intervention or unexpected help can change everything. By being kind and surprising others, we can bring more love and light into the world.

Is This The Real Life? Or Just a Fantasy?

Glenn’s Substack • 1081 implied HN points • 25 May 23
📖 Philosophy Theology
  1. The question of whether we are living in a real world or a computer simulation has gained attention.
  2. Living in a simulated universe raises intriguing questions about religion, morality, and existence.
  3. If we are in a simulation, being interesting and full of conflict might be essential for our continued existence.

Perhaps We Expect Too Much of God

Mind & Mythos • 159 implied HN points • 03 Jun 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Theology
  1. We often put too many demands on God, expecting Him to handle everything like a superhero. This can create unrealistic expectations that even an all-powerful being might find overwhelming.
  2. Just like a mother needs help at home, we should recognize that God doesn’t have to do everything alone. We should take more responsibility for our own lives and help out where we can.
  3. While it’s okay to hold God in high regard, we should balance our expectations with what is realistic. Understanding this can help us have a healthier relationship with faith.

The Art of Quitting

What Is Called Thinking? • 26 implied HN points • 29 Jan 26
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Theology
  1. Quitting can be wiser than clinging to past investment when staying on course only protects what you’ve already spent; recognizing sunk costs prevents commitment from becoming self-destructive.
  2. Whether quitting is right often depends on circumstances beyond you — a later discovery or another person’s insight can vindicate or refute your choice — so decisions are contextual, not absolute.
  3. There are two legitimate epistemic styles: one that tests and abandons theories when they fail, and one that holds strong convictions and seeks supporting interpretation; wisdom is choosing the right approach for the moment and avoiding when a virtue hardens into its opposite.

Putin's Pope

Diane Francis • 1039 implied HN points • 17 Aug 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Theology
  1. Pope Francis has not directly condemned Vladimir Putin or Russia for their actions in Ukraine, which many see as disappointing and unacceptable. His statements have sometimes aligned with Kremlin views, making it hard to see where he stands.
  2. Unlike previous Popes who took strong stands against oppressive regimes, Pope Francis seems to avoid clear condemnation of the aggressors in the Ukraine conflict. This has led to frustration among those who expect moral leadership from him.
  3. The Pope's attempts at peace talks have been criticized as ineffective, especially since they often ignore Ukraine's role as a victim. Many believe that until he openly condemns Russia, he won't be taken seriously.

The Scientific Case for Belief and the Religious Case for Science

What Is Called Thinking? • 66 implied HN points • 25 Dec 25
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Theology
  1. The universe is strikingly intelligible, mathematics maps physical reality in surprising ways, and humans feel a powerful need to understand — together these facts suggest the cosmos may have been made to be known.
  2. Purely evolutionary or materialist explanations struggle to account for the reach and trustworthiness of human reason, since survival needs don’t require deep abstract knowledge and if our beliefs are only physical products we have no clear reason to trust them.
  3. Science and religious insight can be compatible: investigating nature can be seen as listening to a rational order or Mind, so scientific inquiry can itself be a form of devotion rather than a rival to faith.