UnHerd with Freddie Sayers Elizabeth Oldfield & John Vervaeke: Can faith solve the meaning crisis?
39 snips
Mar 14, 2025 
Elizabeth Oldfield, host of The Sacred podcast, and John Vervaeke, a cognitive scientist at the University of Toronto, explore how faith might combat the West's growing 'meaning crisis.' They discuss the personal journeys of faith and the transformative power of community connections. The duo critiques cultural Christianity while advocating for a more relational understanding of belief, urging a deeper approach to meaning that transcends modern isolation. Their conversation weaves in themes of love, ethics, and the role of digital connections in contemporary spirituality.
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Non-Theism and Sacredness
- Non-theists believe in sacredness without a personified God.
- They find meaning in ultimate reality and transformation, not a supernatural entity.
Faith as Faithfulness
- Faith is more than belief; it's faithfulness, truth, and commitment to transformation.
- True faith involves trust, reciprocal growth, and discovering truths through personal change.
Relational Christianity
- Christianity is about an orientation toward a relationship with Jesus, not a checklist of beliefs.
- Experiential evidence and dwelling in the story are more important than intellectual assent.
