Current Affairs

Why Are Millennials So Into Astrology?


Listen Later

Tara Isabella Burton is the author of Strange Rites: New Religions for a Godless World. She joined Current Affairs editor Nathan Robinson to discuss changing religious practices in the United States. Traditional organized religion has been on the decline for years, as more and more young people are identifying as nonreligious. But are we really? Tara's book looks at the way that new communities and spiritual practices, from SoulCycle to astrology to online political communities, have arisen in the place of churches. We discuss:
- To what extent these are identities versus beliefs
- What a "religion" is and whether the term should apply to these other kinds of beliefs and practices
- How charlatans sell people the promise of spiritual fulfillment
- The pluses and minuses of having "bespoke" religions for everyone. On the one hand, everyone gets the faith that suits them best. On the other, we may lose our sense of belonging in the broader human community
Edited by Tim Gray
Nathan's audio is absolutely horrible for reasons unknown. Many apologies for this. Figuring out the problem so it can be fixed in future.
...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Current AffairsBy Current Affairs

  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6

4.6

618 ratings


More shows like Current Affairs

View all
Economic Update with Richard D. Wolff by Democracy at Work, Richard D. Wolff

Economic Update with Richard D. Wolff

1,983 Listeners

Behind the News with Doug Henwood by Doug Henwood

Behind the News with Doug Henwood

515 Listeners

Jacobin Radio by Jacobin

Jacobin Radio

1,459 Listeners

The Dig by Daniel Denvir

The Dig

1,581 Listeners

The Intercept Briefing by The Intercept

The Intercept Briefing

6,105 Listeners

Citations Needed by Nima Shirazi and Adam Johnson

Citations Needed

3,907 Listeners

Politics Theory Other by Politics Theory Other

Politics Theory Other

176 Listeners

Know Your Enemy by Matthew Sitman

Know Your Enemy

2,058 Listeners

Bad Faith by Briahna Joy Gray

Bad Faith

2,704 Listeners

What's Left of Philosophy by Lillian Cicerchia, Owen Glyn-Williams, Gil Morejón, and William Paris

What's Left of Philosophy

278 Listeners

American Prestige by Daniel Bessner & Derek Davison

American Prestige

1,063 Listeners

Lever Time by David Sirota

Lever Time

558 Listeners

The Chris Hedges Report by Chris Hedges

The Chris Hedges Report

348 Listeners

Drop Site News by Drop Site News

Drop Site News

459 Listeners