In this episode of Sacred Tension, I’m joined by journalist Helen Lewis to discuss her new BBC series The New Gurus. We discuss the rise of advice-giving gurus online, whether social justice is a new religion, her confrontational interview with Jordan Peterson, how online cancelation radicalizes people, and much more.
Continue reading “Sacred Tension: Online Gurus and New Religious Movements | Helen Lewis”
In this episode of Sacred Tension I speak with new religious movements scholar Joseph Laycock about his book Speak of the Devil: How the Satanic Temple is Changing the Way We Talk About Religion.
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In this episode of Sacred Tension I’m joined by Ross Blocher, cohost of the podcast Oh No Ross and Carrie. Every week Ross and Carrie investigate a different outlandish claim, try a spiritual practice, or join a fringe religion. Ross and I discuss what he’s learned from Scientology, the rise of conspiracy theories in America, my own relationship with Satanism, and much more.
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In this episode of Sacred Tension I’m joined by religious studies professor Megan Goodwin to discuss abuse within religious communities, Satanic Panic, New Religious Movements, QAnon, her new book Abusing Religion, and more. Find Professor Goodwin here.
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I recently received this question from a listener and reader in response to my post On Satanism and Atheism:
For your average follower, Satanism is the epitome of being a troll religion, almost as bad, if not perhaps worse than Pastafarianism. What practices define you as a Satanist? Not beliefs. Practices.”
As always, I’m grateful for these questions from bemused readers.
Continue reading “On Satanic Practice”
Few religious groups are as misunderstood as Satanists. While I’ve done a great deal of explaining and pontificating about my own Satanism, I haven’t featured many other Satanic voices on this blog. I thought I would reach out to a few prominent Satanists and ask them what they wish non-Satanists understood about their religion. I found their answers enlightening and lovely.
Continue reading “What Satanists Wish Other People Understood About Satanism”
In March of 1997, Heaven’s Gate committed ritual suicide to the astonishment and horror of the world. Over 20 years later, we are still piecing together the mystery of this fringe UFO religion: who were they, what did they believe, and why did they end so horribly? Joining me for today’s Sacred Tension podcast is Benjamin Zeller, widely considered the leading authority on Heaven’s Gate.
Continue reading “The Theology of Heaven’s Gate”
Stephen Bradford Long 