Thinker Sensitive

Thinker Sensitive

By Ryan RagozineSociety & Culture
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Thinker Sensitive episodes

  • Ep. 49 Wade Bearden: Letter to a Prodigal (Part II)

    In today’s Weekly episode, Ryan continues his interview with his friend from college, Wade Bearden, author of To My Friend Who Left the Faith: A Letter to a Prodigal from a Prodigal. In the second half of their conversation, they talk about the relationship between faith and certainty, hypocrisy in the church, the problem of pain, the role of suffering in the Christian life, and Wade’s goals for his book. Listen to the pod to ponder these important topics with Ryan and Wade.

    Purchase Wade’s book today: https://www.amazon.com/My-Friend-Who-Left-Faith/dp/0578391597/

    Links:

    • Website: https://www.thinkersensitive.com
    • YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thinkersensitive1752
    • Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/thinkersensitive
    • Instagram Account: https://www.instagram.com/thinkersensitive/
    • Twitter Handle: https://twitter.com/ThinkerSen
    • 34 min
    • Ep. 48 Wade Bearden: Letter to a Prodigal

      In today’s Weekly episode, Ryan sits down with Wade Bearden, author of To My Friend Who Left the Faith: A Letter to a Prodigal from a Prodigal. In the first half of our conversation, we talk about “emotionalism,” doubt, personal bias, the role of desire in faith, deconstruction, reconstruction, and self-criticism.

      “Wade and his friend met and grew up at church. After high school, they parted ways. Wade’s friend left the faith. Wade stayed—only to wrestle with his own questions about Christianity.” 


      Purchase Wade’s book today: https://www.amazon.com/My-Friend-Who-Left-Faith/dp/0578391597/

      Links:

      • Website: https://www.thinkersensitive.com
      • YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thinkersensitive1752
      • Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/thinkersensitive
      • Instagram Account: https://www.instagram.com/thinkersensitive/
      • Twitter Handle: https://twitter.com/ThinkerSen
      • 38 min
      • Ep. 47 The Weekly: Awe & Wonder

        On today's Weekly episode, Ryan discusses the importance of having a sense of awe and wonder in life and for the world around us, attempting to inspire people to transcend modern disillusionment and contemporary disenchantment. Life is full of beauty and majesty, and it's important to be mindful of this.

        “The nuns taught us there are two ways through life, the way of Nature and the way of Grace. You have to choose which one you’ll follow. Grace doesn’t try to please itself. Accepts being slighted, forgotten, disliked. Accepts insults and injuries. Nature only wants to please itself. Get others to please it too. Likes to lord it over them. To have its own way. It finds reasons to be unhappy when all the world is shining around it. And love is smiling through all things. They taught us that no one who ever loves the way of grace ever comes to a bad end. I will be true to you. Whatever comes.”

        -Terrence Malick 


        About Ryan, Host of Thinker Sensitive:

        Ryan Ragozine is the host of Thinker Sensitive. He is passionate about ecumenical dialogue, inter-religious dialogue, and worldview engagement. He is a major proponent of civil discourse, free thinking, free speech, and ethical communication. Ryan has always been preoccupied with big ideas and big questions. He holds a B.A. in Theology and an M.A. in Philosophy. While in seminary, Ryan had the privilege of studying under Michael Peterson, editor and author of several philosophy of religion texts published by Cambridge, Oxford, and the University of Notre Dame—most notably in the subcategories of religion and science, the problem of evil, and C.S. Lewis scholarship. Ryan and his wife are huge advocates of Christian hospitality, running a house church that welcomed people from all different backgrounds and belief systems for about five years before eventually taking over at Thinker Sensitive.

        Links:

        • Website: https://www.thinkersensitive.com
        • YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thinkersensitive1752
        • Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/thinkersensitive
        • Instagram Account: https://www.instagram.com/thinkersensitive/
        • Twitter Handle: https://twitter.com/ThinkerSen
        • 26 min
        • Ep. 46 The Weekly: The Pragmatism of Faith

          On this week's episode, Ryan unpacks the practical benefits of belief in God, looking at the relevant data and research from contemporary studies.

          "I have said it before, and I will say it again: theism—belief in God—gives people meaning, purpose, and hope—something that I have personally experienced throughout my life—and something that these studies all demonstrate."


          About Ryan, Host of Thinker Sensitive:

          Ryan Ragozine is the host of Thinker Sensitive. He is passionate about ecumenical dialogue, inter-religious dialogue, and worldview engagement. He is a major proponent of civil discourse, free thinking, free speech, and ethical communication. Ryan has always been preoccupied with big ideas and big questions. He holds a B.A. in Theology and an M.A. in Philosophy. While in seminary, Ryan had the privilege of studying under Michael Peterson, editor and author of several philosophy of religion texts published by Cambridge, Oxford, and the University of Notre Dame—most notably in the subcategories of religion and science, the problem of evil, and C.S. Lewis scholarship. Ryan and his wife are huge advocates of Christian hospitality, running a house church that welcomed people from all different backgrounds and belief systems for about five years before eventually taking over at Thinker Sensitive.

          Links:

          • Website: https://www.thinkersensitive.com
          • YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thinkersensitive1752
          • Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/thinkersensitive
          • Instagram Account: https://www.instagram.com/thinkersensitive/
          • Twitter Handle: https://twitter.com/ThinkerSen
          • 20 min
          • Ep. 45 The Weekly: True Kindness

            On this week's episode, Ryan offers a constructive critique of the selective kindness of the world and tries to explain why universal kindness and unconditional love are far greater. 

            "I believe that striving to become a truly kind person—someone who is kind to all people, not just some people—and striving to become a truly loving person—someone who loves all and loves unconditionally—is not just personally beneficial, but beneficial for all."


            About Ryan, Host of Thinker Sensitive:

            Ryan Ragozine is the host of Thinker Sensitive. He is passionate about ecumenical dialogue, inter-religious dialogue, and worldview engagement. He is a major proponent of civil discourse, free thinking, free speech, and ethical communication. Ryan has always been preoccupied with big ideas and big questions. He holds a B.A. in Theology and an M.A. in Philosophy. While in seminary, Ryan had the privilege of studying under Michael Peterson, editor and author of several philosophy of religion texts published by Cambridge, Oxford, and the University of Notre Dame—most notably in the subcategories of religion and science, the problem of evil, and C.S. Lewis scholarship. Ryan and his wife are huge advocates of Christian hospitality, running a house church that welcomed people from all different backgrounds and belief systems for about five years before eventually taking over at Thinker Sensitive.

            Links:

            • Website: https://www.thinkersensitive.com
            • YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thinkersensitive1752
            • Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/thinkersensitive
            • Instagram Account: https://www.instagram.com/thinkersensitive/
            • Twitter Handle: https://twitter.com/ThinkerSen
            • 16 min
            • Ep. 44 The Weekly: Deconstruction Pt. 2

              In the second part of our two part podcast on the current deconstruction movement, Ryan looks at the reasons why so many people are deconstructing Christianity today, closing with a brief appraisal and a brief critique of contemporary deconstruction.

              "I talked about three types of deconstructionists in last week’s episode: the arsonist, the gentrifier, and the renovator. When I discussed them, I talked about them in relation to deconstructing or reconstructing homes and dwelling places. The arsonist is left without a home, which, I think in many cases, can be much worse than having a home—even if one’s former home was very imperfect; the gentrifier has a new and completely different home, but there’s no guarantee that this new house will be any better than the old one—and it could end up being worse; the renovator has an updated home, but some of the new renovations could very easily lead to new problems."


              About Ryan, Host of Thinker Sensitive:

              Ryan Ragozine is the host of Thinker Sensitive. He is passionate about ecumenical dialogue, inter-religious dialogue, and worldview engagement. He is a major proponent of civil discourse, free thinking, free speech, and ethical communication. Ryan has always been preoccupied with big ideas and big questions. He holds a B.A. in Theology and an M.A. in Philosophy. While in seminary, Ryan had the privilege of studying under Michael Peterson, editor and author of several philosophy of religion texts published by Cambridge, Oxford, and the University of Notre Dame—most notably in the subcategories of religion and science, the problem of evil, and C.S. Lewis scholarship. Ryan and his wife are huge advocates of Christian hospitality, running a house church that welcomed people from all different backgrounds and belief systems for about five years before eventually taking over at Thinker Sensitive.

              Links:

              • Website: https://www.thinkersensitive.com
              • YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thinkersensitive1752
              • Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/thinkersensitive
              • Instagram Account: https://www.instagram.com/thinkersensitive/
              • Twitter Handle: https://twitter.com/ThinkerSen
              • 28 min
              • Ep. 43 The Weekly: Deconstruction

                If you are on Instagram or TikTok, you are probably familiar with the deconstruction hashtag. This hashtag is often associated with other hashtags, like: #exevangelical, #exfundie, #exholiness, and even #exchristian. As a type of deconstructionist himself, in the opening installment of this two-part podcast, Ryan sets out to deconstruct the deconstruction movement in a constructive manner, setting the table for more in-depth analysis in the second episode.

                "My personal journey, my existential history, is a journey from immature Christianity to deconstructionism to reconstructionism and mature Christianity."


                About Ryan, Host of Thinker Sensitive:

                Ryan Ragozine is the host of Thinker Sensitive. He is passionate about ecumenical dialogue, inter-religious dialogue, and worldview engagement. He is a major proponent of civil discourse, free thinking, free speech, and ethical communication. Ryan has always been preoccupied with big ideas and big questions. He holds a B.A. in Theology and an M.A. in Philosophy. While in seminary, Ryan had the privilege of studying under Michael Peterson, editor and author of several philosophy of religion texts published by Cambridge, Oxford, and the University of Notre Dame—most notably in the subcategories of religion and science, the problem of evil, and C.S. Lewis scholarship. Ryan and his wife are huge advocates of Christian hospitality, running a house church that welcomed people from all different backgrounds and belief systems for about five years before eventually taking over at Thinker Sensitive.

                Links:

                • Website: https://www.thinkersensitive.com
                • YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thinkersensitive1752
                • Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/thinkersensitive
                • Instagram Account: https://www.instagram.com/thinkersensitive/
                • Twitter Handle: https://twitter.com/ThinkerSen
                • 16 min
                • Ep. 42 Cancel Culture & Public Education: Ethical Teaching Pt. 2

                  In the final episode of our new mini-series, Ryan brings his discussion of ethical education to a close, laying down some guidelines and ending with a concrete application.

                  "The public university should not, in any shape or form, represent a system of coercion or indoctrination—whether of a conservative variety or a liberal variety—but a safe, welcoming, and comfortable shelter for free thinking, sound reasoning, civil discourse, and open self-expression and creativity."


                  About Ryan, Host of Thinker Sensitive:

                  Ryan Ragozine is the host of Thinker Sensitive. He is passionate about ecumenical dialogue, inter-religious dialogue, and worldview engagement. He is a major proponent of civil discourse, free thinking, free speech, and ethical communication. Ryan has always been preoccupied with big ideas and big questions. He holds a B.A. in Theology and an M.A. in Philosophy. While in seminary, Ryan had the privilege of studying under Michael Peterson, editor and author of several philosophy of religion texts published by Cambridge, Oxford, and the University of Notre Dame—most notably in the subcategories of religion and science, the problem of evil, and C.S. Lewis scholarship. Ryan and his wife are huge advocates of Christian hospitality, running a house church that welcomed people from all different backgrounds and belief systems for about five years before eventually taking over at Thinker Sensitive.

                  Links:

                  • Website: https://www.thinkersensitive.com
                  • YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thinkersensitive1752
                  • Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/thinkersensitive
                  • Instagram Account: https://www.instagram.com/thinkersensitive/
                  • Twitter Handle: https://twitter.com/ThinkerSen
                  • 19 min
                  • Ep. 41 Cancel Culture & Public Education: Ethical Teaching Pt. 1

                    In the second installment of our new mini-series, Ryan sets the table for his ethic of education—defining terms, making key distinctions, and establishing the ideal of neutrality (which is an "impossible possibility") in the public sphere.

                    "During the enlightenment period, many political philosophers developed and propagated the modern idea of public neutrality—that the public square should be driven by objectivity and impartiality rather than subjectivity, personal agendas, and ideologies."


                    About Ryan, Host of Thinker Sensitive:

                    Ryan Ragozine is the host of Thinker Sensitive. He is passionate about ecumenical dialogue, inter-religious dialogue, and worldview engagement. He is a major proponent of civil discourse, free thinking, free speech, and ethical communication. Ryan has always been preoccupied with big ideas and big questions. He holds a B.A. in Theology and an M.A. in Philosophy. While in seminary, Ryan had the privilege of studying under Michael Peterson, editor and author of several philosophy of religion texts published by Cambridge, Oxford, and the University of Notre Dame—most notably in the subcategories of religion and science, the problem of evil, and C.S. Lewis scholarship. Ryan and his wife are huge advocates of Christian hospitality, running a house church that welcomed people from all different backgrounds and belief systems for about five years before eventually taking over at Thinker Sensitive.

                    Links:

                    • Website: https://www.thinkersensitive.com
                    • YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thinkersensitive1752
                    • Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/thinkersensitive
                    • Instagram Account: https://www.instagram.com/thinkersensitive/
                    • Twitter Handle: https://twitter.com/ThinkerSen
                    • 28 min
                    • Ep. 40 Cancel Culture & Public Education: Cancel Culture

                      In the first episode of our new mini-series, Ryan evaluates cancel culture from a philosophical and ethical perspective—looking at various pros & cons and presenting a way forward.

                      "If we want grace and forgiveness from others, then we should extend grace and forgiveness to others; if we don’t want to be judged and shamed by others, then we should be slow to judge and shame others. Do we criticize ourselves with the same vigor with which we criticize others? If we were public figures—with all our thoughts, ideas, beliefs, and speech made visible for the whole world to see, with everything we do and say held under a microscope—would we be cancelled? How fast would it take?" 


                      About Ryan, Host of Thinker Sensitive:

                      Ryan Ragozine is the host of Thinker Sensitive. He is passionate about ecumenical dialogue, inter-religious dialogue, and worldview engagement. He is a major proponent of civil discourse, free thinking, free speech, and ethical communication. Ryan has always been preoccupied with big ideas and big questions. He holds a B.A. in Theology and an M.A. in Philosophy. While in seminary, Ryan had the privilege of studying under Michael Peterson, editor and author of several philosophy of religion texts published by Cambridge, Oxford, and the University of Notre Dame—most notably in the subcategories of religion and science, the problem of evil, and C.S. Lewis scholarship. Ryan and his wife are huge advocates of Christian hospitality, running a house church that welcomed people from all different backgrounds and belief systems for about five years before eventually taking over at Thinker Sensitive.

                      Links:

                      • Website: https://www.thinkersensitive.com
                      • YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thinkersensitive1752
                      • Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/thinkersensitive
                      • Instagram Account: https://www.instagram.com/thinkersensitive/
                      • Twitter Handle: https://twitter.com/ThinkerSen
                      • 36 min

                      About Thinker Sensitive

                      From the publisher's feed

                      Thinking Better and Thinking Together about Life's Most Important Issues. A place to finally meet in the middle to think freely and reasonably about the big questions of life. Welcome to Thinker Sensitive.