5 Ted Talks on Religion
- Let’s Teach Religion — All Religions — In Schools
- Politics and Religion are Technologies
- It’s Time to Reclaim Religion
- Why the Only Future Worth Building Includes Everyone
- A Life of Purpose
Whether you are deeply committed to one particular religion or interested in exploring different religions, it is often a hot topic of discussion and one that you can spend a lifetime studying. There is more information on the internet about religion than ever before. If you are interested in hearing what various influential people have to say about religion, here are five intriguing Ted talks to check out.
1. Let’s Teach Religion — All Religions — In Schools
One of the biggest debates right now is whether or not to allow religion to be taught in schools, and among those who are proponents of this, how to do it. Wherever you fall on the subject, or if you are still trying to decide, you will enjoy Dan Dennet’s talk titled “Let’s Teach Religion — All Religions — In Schools”. Grounded in his professional experience as a philosopher, he discusses the value of teaching all religions as natural phenomena. You will either love his ideas or love to hate them.
2. Politics and Religion are Technologies
Another perpetually hot debate is the role that religion should play, or not play, in the world of politics. In his TED talk titled “Politics and Religion are Technologies”, Noah Feldman invites us to shift the focus to the similarities between these two forces. He highlights that they are both technologies used for a very similar purpose. Even if you do not change your position on this debate, his talk might influence you to view and approach it differently.
3. It’s Time to Reclaim Religion
Debates such as those mentioned above have left many people a sour taste about religion. In her TED talk titled “It’s Time to Reclaim Religion”, Rabbi Sharon Brous adds a little sweetener back into the concept of religion. She offers insightful thoughts on how to return to a place where religion provides the comfort and positivity it is meant to provide when we resist twisting it into something negative.
4. Why the Only Future Worth Building Includes Everyone
When discussing religion, it is good to hear from religious leaders. Pope Francis offers a TED talk titled “Why the Only Future Worth Building Includes Everyone”. He speaks to people of every faith about the importance of coming together in unity. He offers his suggestions through the lens of our current world and focuses on the positivity in our need for community.
Related Resource: 50 Best Christian Graduate Schools Online
5. A Life of Purpose
Pastor Rick Warren became both famous and infamous through his book The Purpose Driven Life. In his TED talk titled “A Life of Purpose”, Pastor Warren shares with vulnerability his experience following the release of the book. He refocuses his message on the positive intentions he believes God has to help us use our gifts to create more good in the world.
Religion is not one-size-fits-all. Even the same religion is practiced differently and holds a unique significance for individual followers. Some people hold religion accountable for the majority of the world’s problems, while others see it as the only way out of them. Wherever you fall on the grand spectrum of religion, one thing most of us can agree upon is that it is always beneficial to try to understand further and hear the other side, even if it only serves to strengthen our own position. These five Ted Talks on religion offer insight and perspective.