And now, an email from a listener, sort of like you, or if you are Ken, an email from

a listener exactly like you.

But not exactly you, because this was written a few weeks ago, and you've had a few

weeks worth of experience since then, so you're no longer exactly the same person who wrote

this email, but here it is nevertheless, let's get this podcast started.

Hi Glenn, I really enjoyed your conversations with Brit Hartley on no nonsense spirituality.

I've been searching for a secular approach to spirituality, so this hit home.

A few ideas came up that I'd love to hear your follow-up thoughts on.

One, most religions aren't like other religions because they assert divine authority.

Doesn't this introduce a more critical element of undue influence that amplifies the

harm religion can generate?

Two, Brit talked about saving the baby and throwing out the bathwater in the context of

trying to identify and preserve the good in religion while discarding religion in general.

I mostly agree with this.

Many of the evidences, believing Mormons claim, are in my view, normal, positive responses

claim to be from God, for example, we feel good when we help others.

But what amount of religious experience cannot be separated from religious belief?

Do we need to have strong religious belief to trigger some of the most powerful religious

experiences?

Are there alternative ways to trigger elevation emotion?

And three, relating this to your food analogy, can we recreate the sensation of eating a perfectly

seared filet without actually eating a perfectly seared filet?

...