Imagine that you have a mystical experience that changes your life. Perhaps you see the face of Jesus, Muhammad, or Buddha. Perhaps you feel the Universe pouring out love into your being. Or perhaps you just feel immense peace. Now imagine that this experience is actually the result of an epileptic seizure. This is the […]
Are science and religion compatible? For some, the answer is a resounding yes! Others see nothing but conflict, especially, it seems, around evolution. Today, we talk about science, religion, and evolution, from the points of view of a Jewish rabbi, a Humanist chaplain, a Christian pastor, and a Buddhist sensei. We also talk about The […]
It may not seem like it when you glance at your Roomba, but robots are influencing gender roles, family, and even religion. From Rosie to RoboCop, robots and gender have a connection in both science fiction and reality. “Female” robots are often small, with almond shaped eyes and light colors, while “male” robots are burly, with […]
If someone on the other side of the world uses a different type of spoon to eat their soup than you do, chances are it’s not going to bother you. But if they engaged in practices that hurt women and children, it would. What is the difference? It turns out that choices that we see […]
Today on the podcast we are joined by Brother Guy Consolmagno. Often referred to as the Pope’s Astronomer, Brother Guy is the director of the Vatican Observatory and head of the Vatican Observatory Foundation. He has a foot in two worlds. In one, he is a scientist. He specializes in meteorites and is a graduate […]
What is the self? Does the collection of neurons in our brains define the entirety of who we are? Modern day neuroscience attempts to explain who we are through understanding how the brain works, sometimes even trying to find a single entity that can be labeled as the “self”. Yet, for thousands of years, […]
When you think of protecting our planet, what comes to mind? Making a better world for your children? Cleaning up your neighborhood? Often, we think of that which we see around us – our communities, our lives, and our loved ones. There is nothing wrong with that response. But perhaps, when looking at sustainability, we […]
If the Dalai Lama didn’t become a monk, he would have been an engineer. Even today, science and mathematics fascinate him. But in spite of this, many Tibetan monks are unfamiliar with modern science, some not even knowing that the Earth revolves around the sun. In an attempt to remedy this, the Dalai Lama helped […]
Climate change is often viewed as a political problem. But in reality, it is a scientific issue, and perhaps equally as important, it is a moral and spiritual issue. How are religious communities responding? Today we are talking to three people involved in various religious environmental organizations, each representing a different faith community – Asher from […]
We hear it every year around this time – the story of the Nativity. More specifically, we hear about three wise men, following the star of Bethlehem to bring the newborn Jesus gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. But is this story grounded in reality? Or was it a literary device concocted by Matthew as he wrote […]