Thinker Sensitive

In the fourth episode of our season on the question of God, Ryan dispels some common myths about theism and atheism and debunks some stereotypes about believers in God. " Similar to the way in which the myth of Paul Bunyan can be demythologized and debunked, there are various myths about faith and belief that can be and should be debunked as well…. Likewise, there are also many popular stereotypes...

In the third episode of our season on the question of God, Ryan unpacks the profound implications of both worldviews: a theistic worldview and an atheistic worldview—demonstrating why this question is truly the question of all questions. " Nihilism is the necessary effect of atheism as its primary cause. Nietzsche himself understood this, in part because he was a real atheist, as opposed to a nomi...

In the second episode of our new season on the question of God, Ryan sums up the history of this all-important question in the West, chronicling the historical development of both theism and atheism in the ancient and modern world. " Today, atheistic belief is becoming more and more commonplace; if it wasn’t taken very seriously in the 20th century, it certainly should be taken seriously in the 21...

In the first episode of our season on The Question of God, Ryan sets the stage for the rest of the season, explaining why the question is so important to him and sharing how the question has shaped his life. Ryan can only answer this question for himself, and so what follows will be his answer alone…. " I care about this question—the question of all questions—because I care about people, and I sup...

Ryan shares some key details on Thinker Sensitive's upcoming season on the question of God.

In today’s edition of The Weekly, Ryan shares his personal thoughts on poverty in the United States, highlighting the ways in which this issue relates to personal virtue and personal ethics. " The one who is grateful will naturally give more than the one who is ungrateful; the one who sees himself as blessed will give more than the one who sees herself as cursed; the one who lives in a sense of gr...

In today's edition of The Weekly, which is the second episode of a three-part set on American poverty, Ryan outlines the overarching debate on poverty in the United States—examining key arguments and claims from across the spectrum. “even the developed world’s poor and middle classes are, by global standards, extraordinarily rich. After adjusting for cost-of-living differences, a typical American...

In today’s podcast, the first of three on American poverty, Ryan sets the table by analyzing the key definitions and standards that are used when discussing such matters—looking particularly at how we measure and weigh poverty. " ...maybe a more robust and expansive global and historical understanding would help broaden our perspective and help cultivate virtues of contentment, fulfillment, joy, g...

On today’s installment of The Weekly, Ryan analyzes two opposing contemporary views on America: A traditional patriotic and idealistic perspective, on one hand, and a modern (or post-modern) unpatriotic and critical perspective, on the other. Just how does this relate to the popular debate between New York-style and Chicago-style pizza? Listen to the episode to find out! " ...I will always be than...

In today's installment of the The Weekly, Ryan proposes the idea that all human experience is transcendental experience, asserting that all of us experience God "in the everyday," and that each of us encounter the transcendent in our mere existence. To live—to exist—is to be in the presence of one's creator.  " This natural, human openness to Spirit and this anonymous affirmation of God is experie...

On today's Weekly episode, Ryan shares his story and explains how Thinker Sensitive is the culmination of his personal journey, a journey that is still unfolding. 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 thi...

On today’s Weekly episode, which is the second part of a two-part podcast on humans and animals, Ryan begins to develop his philosophy and theology of human nature, unpacking the key differences between a human being and other developed primates, and establishing in what ways the human might be said to be made in the image of God. " In mind, in will, in morality, all human beings were made in the...

Do animals have souls? What are the essential differences between a human being and a dolphin or an ape? Are human beings really special amongst all other animals? What makes a human a human? On today’s Weekly episode, which is the first part of a two-part podcast, Ryan sets the table for an in-depth discussion on the nature of humans and animals. " Though I would classify myself as an animal love...

This week’s episode is a continuation of our interview with Randy Hardman, owner of the Drinklings Coffee House and creator of the Thinklings Podcast . On the second half of this two-part interview, we talk about suffering in human experience, the distinction between the philosophical problem of evil and the existential problem of evil, the presence of God in the midst of pain, the importance of w...

On today’s Weekly episode, I have the pleasure of interviewing my friend from seminary, Randy Hardman, owner of the Drinklings Coffee House and one of the original founders of Ratio Christi . Randy has an amazing story (including how he unfortunately passed up the opportunity to watch Appalachian State upset Michigan in the Big House while a student in Boone, NC). On the first half of this two-par...

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...

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...

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. Y...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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 dr...

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 crit...