Unraveling Religion

These mystical and practical discussions are explorations of spirituality and its relation to religion and psychology, with questions always. Beyond a specific religion or spiritual practice; what do we share, what do we have in common? These talks are a work in progress evolving our rich inner life, including reflections on religious texts, poems, art, and what is common in our human experience enhancing understanding of our relationships: with ourselves, with one another, and with the world we share. Unraveling Religion has developed a cross-collaboration with both Lisa Carley's The Labyrinth podcast and Henry Cretella's Alchemical Dialogues podcast, cross-posting episodes both 'Selected, Best of The Labyrinth' podcast and 'Selected, Best of Alchemical Dialogues' podcast episodes, periodically.

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Episodes

PART 2 Capturing the Nature of Intimate Conversation, A Treasured Friendship Revealed (with Lisa Carley Hotaling)

In this continuation of the three part show, Joel and Lisa talk more about identity and examine it through the psychological lens, relationship as a model of teaching, repressed memories; poetry begins to emerge in this second segment, existential psychology and mental health distress are examined. What do we attach or connect to in the world. Is the world physical spiritual or both? What does it mean to be a 'good father.' Past lives and poetry intertwine. What are we as human beings 'holding t...

Apr 25, 2020•56 min•Season 1Ep. 2

PART 1 Capturing the Nature of Intimate Conversation, A Treasured Friendship Revealed (with Lisa Carley Hotaling)

Lifted from the archives, this from July 2013, into the deep of night, armed with Mike's Hard Lemonaid, American Spirits, Pringles, Eckhart Tolle and Rumi, in Lisa's 2001 Black Hundai Elantra in the parking lot of Allentown Trading Company Gas station, at the corner of Buffalo's Allen Streen and Delaware Avenue, Lisa Carley Hotaling and Joel Lesses explore the nature of the existential condition and its relation to identity and reveal an enduring friendship. Using psychological, poetic and spiri...

Apr 25, 2020•56 min•Season 1Ep. 1

We Shall Not Hate, The Meaning of Sa'lam, Shalom, and Peace: Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish Speaks On Peace and Understanding Differences Among People

In this special episode of Unraveling Religion, Joel travels to Toronto to meet Dr. Abuelaish and together engage in a Sacred conversation regarding life, understanding, and reaching beyond tolerance into respect and love for our human differences found in countries, religions, cultures, and people. As a medical doctor and healer, Dr. Abuelaish's life is a tireless effort to broaden our human understanding that the differences between people are much smaller than the similarity. Joel and Dr. Abu...

Apr 25, 2020•40 min

Finding Our Humanity, "How To Embody" Responses To Questions of Forgiveness and Other Teachings in Unity's Christianity

In this deep and sacred connection, Reverend Mary Masters and Joel Lesses discuss the moderate, practical and mystical aspects of Unity's message. As fellow students together, shared wisdom insight and questions for one another are explored, deepening understanding of our humanness and humanity. Joel seeks to understand forgiveness and to resolve to do "non-harm." How do we embody: "Forgiveness?" "Presence?" "Faith?" And ultimately "how do we embody Love?" While bearing a cross and burdens is a ...

Apr 25, 2020•49 min

Truth, Identity, Memory And Varieties of Religious Experiences: A Talk With Richard Wicka and Joel

In this older talk from 2017, dusted off, Richard Wicka (I Thou Video Series) and Joel discuss in deep kinship: our planet and how decisions of our President affect our world, identity and ego of human beings including Trump, problems and solutions on a large scale, and delve also into memory, poetry, writings, and life. Spiritual versus biological lenses are used to explore these and many other topics in this episode. Richard Wicka is a Buffalo, N.Y.-based media artist and photographer and the ...

Apr 25, 2020•59 min

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