Learning How to See with Brian McLaren

On this bonus episode, Brian, Gigi, Mike and Paul conclude the season in their reflections on the dynamics of suffering and the art of beginning again in order to learn how to see.The prayers/intentions used in this season can be found here at the following links, depending on where you listen to podcasts: Apple | Spotify | RadioPublic | StitcherResources: The transcript for this episode can be found here. Brian's e-book: Why Don't They Get It? Song: Bruce Colburn - "Us All" (Youtube) Connect with us: We’d love to hear your thoughts, comments or feedback. Send us an email at podcasts@cac.org Center for Action and Contemplation: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Brian McLaren: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter This podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors. If you would love to support the ongoing work of the Center for Action and Contemplation and the continued work of our podcasts, you can donate at cac.org/podcastsupport Thank you!

On this episode, the hosts discuss the biases of confidence and conspiracy. They explore how our brains prefer confident lies over hesitant truth and how shame makes us vulnerable to stories of evil conspiracy. They emphasize the importance of recognizing biases and engaging in open conversation. The chapter also highlights the value of substance and authenticity in listening to wise voices, the need for vigilance against manipulation, and the significance of embracing contemplative wisdom. They delve into the phenomenon of conspiracy bias, discuss the presence of this bias in conspiracy theories, and explore nested stories of reality as a means to counteract them. The podcast concludes with a prayer for help in cultivating compassion, justice, and humility.

In this episode, the hosts discuss Catastrophe Bias, which makes our brains focus on sudden negative changes and miss slow ones. They also explore Cash Bias, where we struggle to see things that interfere with our livelihoods. They reflect on the impact of the prosperity gospel and share personal experiences with financial struggle. The power of money and its influence on our values and spirituality are discussed. They emphasize the need to prioritize love over money and recognize our biases.

In this episode, Brian McLaren and his guests discuss the biases that shape our worldview, touching on the differences between conservative and liberal perspectives. They explore the comfort bias and how our brains gravitate towards information that makes us happy. They emphasize the importance of understanding and empathy in overcoming biases and encourage deeper engagement with complex issues. The tension between spirituality and politics is also examined, along with the need to embrace discomfort for personal growth. The episode concludes with a prayer for compassionate and just seeing.

In this episode, Brian McLaren and the team discuss consciousness bias and competency bias, exploring how our level of consciousness affects what we see and how our brains prefer to think of ourselves as above average. They also touch on the perpetuation of biases in policies and systems, the stages of consciousness and personal growth, and the importance of cultivating a beginner's mind to challenge our biases. Additional resources and prayers for personal growth are shared.

In this podcast, they discuss biases that hinder perspective, such as community bias, complementarity bias, and contact bias. They also explore the importance of challenging societal norms and going against the flow, using examples from Rosa Parks and Jesus. The significance of community and solitude in maintaining a healthy perspective is also discussed, along with a surprising encounter at a playground. They conclude with a prayer for compassion, justice, truth, wisdom, humility, and glory.

On this introductory episode for Season 2 of Learning How to See, Brian, Gigi, Mike and Paul review the biases and talk about two biases that set the stage for all the others: Confirmation Bias: the human brain welcomes information that confirms what it already thinks and resist information that disturbs or contradicts what it already thinks. Complexity Bias: the human brain prefers a simple lie to a complex truth. The prayers/intentions used in this season can be found here at the following links, depending on where you listen to podcasts: Apple | Spotify | RadioPublic | StitcherResources: The transcript for this episode. Brian's e-book: Why Don't They Get It? Connect with us: We’d love to hear your thoughts, comments or feedback. Send us an email at podcasts@cac.org Center for Action and Contemplation: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Brian McLaren: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter This podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors. If you would love to support the ongoing work of the Center for Action and Contemplation and the continued work of our podcasts, you can donate at cac.org/podcastsupport Thank you!

What could happen if we approached the world in silent wonder, with a humility and openness to learning? Brian McLaren is back for Season 2 of this powerful podcast unpacking the biases that impact the way we see—and ultimately love—ourselves and each other. From judgments made unconsciously to complacency in systemic evil, we must learn how to see if we are to learn how to transform.In Season Two, listeners will have the chance to participate in specially curated practices for each bias, designed to stretch and deepen our hearts so that we can transform how we see into how we pray.

Brian McLaren and Rev. Jacqui Lewis discuss biases, doubt, contemplation, and action. They explore how biases hinder understanding, the importance of doubt for learning to see, and the role of faith in embracing uncertainty. They also address bias, love, and the desire to truly see, and highlight the transformative power of seeking a compassionate worldview. The podcast concludes with an introduction to the Center for Action and Contemplation and its resources.

On this episode, they discuss biases that affect our perception, including comfort/complacency/convenience bias, catastrophe/normalcy bias, and cash bias. They explore the impact of money on our lives, challenging sacred texts, and resistance to change. They highlight the importance of what we focus on and how it determines what we miss.