In this week’s Taste Test Thursday, Megan dives into a thought experiment that’s as bold as it is complex: what would the world look like without religion? Would we finally be free from dogma, conflict, and constraint—or would we lose something vital in the process?

From the unifying power of shared myth to the dark side of certainty, this episode explores the tension between liberation and longing, community and control. Pull up a seat at the table for a conversation that asks: can we live without religion and still make meaning—or do we risk trading old structures for new forms of fragmentation?

In This Episode:

• Why people crave frameworks—even flawed ones

• The human hunger for transcendence and moral grounding

• How religion can both bind us together and blind us

• The rise of secular fundamentalism and identity-based dogma

• What we might lose when we throw out collective ritual and sacred story

Perfect for listeners who:

• Are deconstructing their faith or exploring life beyond religion

• Are curious about secularism, spirituality, and the psychology of belief

• Appreciate nuanced takes on polarizing topics

• Love a blend of sociology, personal reflection, and cultural critique

Mentioned or Alluded To:

• Jonathan Haidt’s The Righteous Mind

• Mythology, community rituals, and modern moral vacuums