Sam introduces MinistriesLab, a space where faith, ecology, and ministry meet. Drawing on his background as a minister, teacher, consultant, and current PhD student in Ecology, Spirituality, and Religion at CIIS, Sam explores why churches need to embrace ecological spirituality as central to their mission. From Thomas Berry’s vision of The Great Work to Hildegard’s viriditas and Edith Stein’s insights on empathy, Sam weaves together theology, philosophy, and practical ministry. Along the way, he offers concrete examples of what MinistriesLab can do for congregations: from rethinking digital outreach with ecological imagination, to planting pollinator gardens as acts of hospitality, to creating liturgies rooted in local watersheds. This episode is both an invitation and a provocation: What would it mean for churches to “stay with the trouble” of our ecological moment (as Donna Haraway puts it) and to rediscover the Tree of Life in their own backyards?

The episode began with a discussion about AI tools and their impact on research and employment, including experiences with different web browsers and their ecosystems. The conversation then evolved to explore the evolving landscape of technology, particularly focusing on AI’s impact on web design and content consumption, while also touching on the resurgence of physical media and its cultural significance. The discussion concluded with an examination of Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” and its relevance to current AI discussions, along with broader themes about creation, consciousness, and the human tendency to view new entities as either threats or allies.

Matthew is back to talk about artificial intelligence, ancient constructs of aid, panpsychism, science and the humanities, and formation of religious texts. Mentioned: Panpsychism Matthew Segall The Blind Spot

In this contemplative field recording beneath a black walnut tree, Sam reflects on the language of the more-than-human world. What if whales aren’t singing—but speaking? What if cedars holding hands and squirrels chittering aren’t just charming scenes, but conversations we’ve forgotten how to hear? Drawing from interspecies communication, wilderness training, Christian kenosis, and Nishitani’s middle way, this episode gently unravels the limits of human speech and invites us into an older, quieter kind of communion. Speech, I suggest, may not begin in words, but in presence, and perhaps in reverence.

A physics teacher’s confession and the call of a wilder truth. For nearly two decades, I taught high school science — physics, environmental science, life science — and believed I was helping students understand how the world works. But something never quite fit. In this episode, I open up about the quiet tension I carried in those classrooms: the gap between what I taught and what I knew in my bones — that the world is more than parts and particles. This is a story about the limits of reductionism, the pull of mystery, and the day I stopped mistaking control for understanding. We’ll explore Alfred North Whitehead’s “Nature Alive,” embodied learning, and the freedom that comes from letting the cosmos be alive again. If you’ve ever felt disillusioned with modern science’s flat explanations, or if you’ve longed for something wilder and more sacred — this episode is for you.

Episode One of the next season of Thinking Religion Rooted In Mystery ​Ecological Intentionality ​Backyard Walnut Trees ​Connections and Awareness

Reviewing The Past Before Us with a meditative reading prompt and the connections between Moʻokūʻauhau and Gullah inferences about genealogy, the land, and western academia.

Episode Summary In this episode of “Thinking Religion,” Sam is joined by Matthew Klippenstein to discuss a wide range of topics, including cultural differences, the development of early Christianities, political dynamics in the USA and Canada, and the philosophical and historical context of monotheism. Cultural Differences and Regional Dialects (and Barbeque) Early Christianities and Monotheism Political Dynamics in the USA and Canada Philosophical and Sociological Reflections Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance The Desert Fathers: Sayings of the Early Christian Monks History of Monotheism in Ancient Israel Platonic Philosophy and Early Christianity Political News on Biden’s Campaign (POLITICO) Dunbar’s Number Explained Sam Harrelson: Website | Twitter Matthew Klippenstein: LinkedIn | Twitter Have questions or comments about this episode? Leave them in the comments section or reach out to Sam and Matthew directly through their social media profiles. Topics DiscussedRelevant LinksContact InformationListener Q&A