Futurology The Spiritual Life of the Microbiome (with Aminah Bradford and Jonathan Blake)
Sep 23, 2025
Aminah Bradford, a microbial theologian from North Carolina State University, delves into the fascinating intersection of microbiome science and spirituality. She discusses how our bodies teem with microbes, reshaping concepts of individuality and connection. The conversation touches on her journey from fundamentalist upbringing to embracing microbial theology. Bradford highlights the implications of the Human Microbiome Project, the challenges to hierarchical thinking, and even how fermentation ties into worship, urging a rethinking of faith in light of modern science.
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We Are Porous Multispecies Beings
- The microscope revealed humans are porous ecosystems teeming with microbes that outnumber our cells three-to-one.
- This discovery reframes individuality into a communal, ecological self that challenges old hierarchies.
Holobiont Changes The Self
- Biology now treats humans as holobionts: collections of host plus microbes shaping physiology and behavior.
- That challenges theological individuality and raises questions about agency and moral responsibility.
Microbes Undermine Hierarchical Humanism
- The Great Chain of Being put humans above animals, but microbiology undermines that hierarchy by revealing deep interdependence.
- Recognizing our animality restores value to bodily processes often dismissed by spiritual dualism.
