“Is It True?” vs. “Does It Work?” (#305)

Turn your brains on for a fascinating conversation with scholar and author Tara Isabella Burton (Self Made, Strange Rites, Social Creature) about one of the core tensions in modern spirituality: does it matter more if a religious or spiritual practice works, or if it's true? Drawing from my experience as a therapist and Tara's background in theology, we explore how this plays out in everything from manifesting culture to ancient religious practices. I share my more pragmatic perspective, focused on what actually helps people in therapeutic settings, while Tara makes a compelling case for why we can't separate spiritual practices from their truth claims. We dig into the placebo effect, positive thinking, the limits of pure pragmatism, and whether spiritual practices might "work" precisely because they align with deeper truths about reality. It's a nuanced discussion that challenges both pure pragmatism and rigid orthodoxy, suggesting these seemingly opposing views might actually complement each other in surprising ways.

Tara's New Book | Here in Avalon

Tara's Website | Taraisabellaburton.com

Highlights

12:10 Modern Spirituality and Individualism

21:05 The Intersection of Faith and Truth

30:12 Pragmatism in Therapy and Spirituality

45:03 The Pursuit of Happiness and Material Success

01:07:10 Exploring the Tension Between Ancient and Modern Wisdom

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Faith deconstruction resources: www.soyouredeconstructing.com/

Edited by Josh Gilbert (joshgilbertmedia.com -- he is accepting more work!)

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