The AC Podcast Spiritual but not Religious
12 snips
Aug 15, 2025 
Michael Horton, a theologian and systematic theology professor, dives into the allure of being 'spiritual but not religious.' He addresses the rise of New Age practices among Christians, including astrology and reincarnation. Horton explores how Christianity's message can engage a culture seeking meaning beyond organized religion. The discussion highlights the unique aspects of Christian revelation compared to other spiritual beliefs, emphasizing the significance of Jesus's resurrection in the context of modern spirituality.
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Origin Story Of The Project
- Michael Horton recounts a PhD-era lecture that sparked his study of spirituality without religion.
- That professor created a mixed mystical religion which offended students committed to particular faiths.
Shamanic Current Under Western Religion
- Horton traces the shaman-to-sage thread as a persistent subterranean current beneath public religion.
- That current resurfaces periodically when organized religion wanes, producing renewed 'spiritual but not religious' eruptions.
The Ancient Turn To The Individual
- The rise of philosophical religions around the 6th century BC shifted focus to the individual's afterlife and selfhood.
- That shift birthed utopian, inward-looking practices that contrast with communal, locative religions.
