The hosts discuss the book 'My Year with God' and the value of religion in a scientific age. They explore positive takeaways about God's existence and the impact of religion on society. They delve into the relationship between God and science, explore the universe's message, discuss Richard Dawkins' views on the soul, and reflect on an agnostic's search for God.
Dr. Svend Brinkman advocates for a pragmatic approach to religion, focusing on its benefits for individuals and society.
Brinkman highlights the importance of an authentic and compassionate expression of faith, avoiding self-righteousness and fundamentalism.
Deep dives
Exploring the Relevance of Religion in a Secular World
The podcast episode discusses a book titled 'My Year with God' by Dr. Sven Brinkman, a Danish agnostic who spent a year thinking about God. Brinkman's goal was to see if the religious dimension of life could have relevance to someone from a secular background. He wanted to explore whether there is value from religion in our modern, scientific day. He approaches religion from a pragmatic standpoint, focusing on the benefits it may offer to individuals and society. Brinkman also emphasizes the importance of having a civil discussion about faith and religion in a divided world.
Finding Common Ground and Embracing Conversation
Brinkman invites a collective discussion about faith and religion, acknowledging the need to find common ground in a secular society. He recognizes the risk of entering the sphere of religion, especially in a highly secularized country like Denmark. Brinkman offers a critique of dogmatic and fundamentalist approaches to Christianity, expressing a desire to see a faith that makes a person's life whole, meaningful, and worthy of emulation. He values the lived experiences of believers and the impact their faith has on their lives, rather than attempts to convince others to believe the same.
Recognizing the Potential Flaws in Contemporary Christianity
Brinkman acknowledges his envy for those who have found meaning in religious faith, but expresses skepticism towards attempts to convince him to believe the same. He highlights the importance of seeing tangible evidence of a believer's faith, such as a life that is whole, meaningful, and worthy of emulation. He finds alienating the religious self-righteousness and fundamentalism that often prevail in certain Christian circles. Brinkman calls for a more compassionate and authentic expression of faith, one that avoids rigidity and maintains a genuine focus on God's message of love and forgiveness.
Exploring the Intersection of God, Morality, and Science
Brinkman delves into the relationship between God, morality, and science. He questions whether morality can be insisted upon without the existence of God, asserting that ethical demands and obligations may be illusions of evolutionary history. He raises the issue of the grounding of objective moral values and duties in a materialistic worldview. While recognizing the value of ethics and the positive impact it has on society, Brinkman does not provide a definitive answer to the question of how morality can be objectively grounded without God. He suggests that science and religion deal with different kinds of issues and may have separate magisteria.
What would happen if an agnostic committed to thinking about God for a year? In this episode, Sean and Scott discuss the recent book "My Year with God," by Danish psychologist and Humanist of the Year Dr. Svend Brinkmann. They discuss positive takeaways from the book and some areas of disagreement about the intersection of science and faith, evidence for the soul, and how to go on a spiritual quest. This is an episode you won't want to miss.
Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith and Culture is a podcast from Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, which offers degrees both online and on campus in Southern California.
To submit comments, ask questions, or make suggestions on issues you'd like us to cover or guests you'd like us to have on the podcast, email us at thinkbiblically@biola.edu.
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