
Sign up to save your podcasts
Or


James and Barry have words about what unbelievers really believe. Tara Isabella Burton has written a stimulating book called Strange Rites about people in the States who identify as "spiritual but not religious". She argues that America is not "secular" at all, but "spiritually self-focused".
Does that explain why people currently seem so willing to believe in phenomena such as ghosts, UFOs, and all things "woooooo"? And does it explain why the hyper-rational arguments of the new atheists seem not to have won the day?
Review of Strange Rites: https://www.solas-cpc.org/book-review-strange-rites-new-religions-for-a-godless-world/
Article by Tara Isabella Burton about post-rationalists: https://www.thenewatlantis.com/publications/rational-magic
Uncanny radio show: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/m0010x7c
Guardian article on the growth of religious belief in recent years: https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/aug/27/religion-why-is-faith-growing-and-what-happens-next
Terrifying AI generated woman, LOAB: https://techcrunch.com/2022/09/13/loab-ai-generated-horror/
Paul Kingsnorth's spooky article on AI, The Universal: https://paulkingsnorth.substack.com/p/the-universal
Support the show
Unlock extended ad-free episodes, advance access, a huge episode archive, and bonus content, by subscribing to Cooper & Cary+ on Apple Podcasts. Or get everything on C&C+, together with video, and access to the exclusive C&C Discord server, by becoming a Patron.
Encouragement and/or open derision should be addressed here: [email protected]
Production and music by Cooper & Cary. Opening theme by Beyond Our Galaxy.
By James Cary & Barry Cooper5
115115 ratings
James and Barry have words about what unbelievers really believe. Tara Isabella Burton has written a stimulating book called Strange Rites about people in the States who identify as "spiritual but not religious". She argues that America is not "secular" at all, but "spiritually self-focused".
Does that explain why people currently seem so willing to believe in phenomena such as ghosts, UFOs, and all things "woooooo"? And does it explain why the hyper-rational arguments of the new atheists seem not to have won the day?
Review of Strange Rites: https://www.solas-cpc.org/book-review-strange-rites-new-religions-for-a-godless-world/
Article by Tara Isabella Burton about post-rationalists: https://www.thenewatlantis.com/publications/rational-magic
Uncanny radio show: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/m0010x7c
Guardian article on the growth of religious belief in recent years: https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/aug/27/religion-why-is-faith-growing-and-what-happens-next
Terrifying AI generated woman, LOAB: https://techcrunch.com/2022/09/13/loab-ai-generated-horror/
Paul Kingsnorth's spooky article on AI, The Universal: https://paulkingsnorth.substack.com/p/the-universal
Support the show
Unlock extended ad-free episodes, advance access, a huge episode archive, and bonus content, by subscribing to Cooper & Cary+ on Apple Podcasts. Or get everything on C&C+, together with video, and access to the exclusive C&C Discord server, by becoming a Patron.
Encouragement and/or open derision should be addressed here: [email protected]
Production and music by Cooper & Cary. Opening theme by Beyond Our Galaxy.

5,242 Listeners

2,027 Listeners

1,131 Listeners

838 Listeners

717 Listeners

2,571 Listeners

3,151 Listeners

637 Listeners

1,435 Listeners

1,435 Listeners

103 Listeners

1,375 Listeners

907 Listeners

1,574 Listeners

2 Listeners