“Religious Naturalism | Ursula Goodenough”

What if religion wasn’t about God but about each other? Religion is a divisive topic at best and the cause of war at worst. It has been used to control, dictate, punish and destroy people throughout the ages. Yet faith, it seems, is a critical aid in humankind’s individual and collective existence. The host of this interview has always believed that faith is an act of imagination where religion is an act of dogma. That’s why she was curious when Ursula Goodenough, Professor of Biology Emeritus, emailed a copy of her book, The Sacred Depths of Nature, suggesting she discuss “religious naturalism.” During the episode, Ursula introduces the topic as a grand story to unite humankind. Both go on to discuss humankind as a symbolic species, the necessity and beauty of symbolism, how humans evolve with symbolism, and how people can use story to anchor their existence. Then they discuss language and mindedness, consciousness and the brain, community and individuals, and the relationship between mystery and knowledge. Ursula also gives her insight into what separates religiosity, spirituality and religion.