Unraveling Religion

About 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.

Publisher

Joel Lesses

Category

health & fitness · religion & spirituality · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

25 Apr 2020

Latest episode

2 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

75 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   2 Sept 2026

   'This Moment Is The Scripture,' Wayshowers, Jesus, and The Gospel of Thomas; An Introduction Unity's Christianity, A Conversation With Reverend Mary Masters

   Issued From The Archives, September 2009, this episode of Unraveling Religion, Joel David Lesses speaks with Reverend Mary Masters, then the minister of Unity Church in Buffalo, New York. The conversation examines Unity as a transdenominational spiritual movement and considers its relationship to Christianity, comparative religion, personal spiritual development, interfaith cooperation, and the cultivation of inner wisdom. Within this context, the conversation with Masters considers Unity's effort to move beyond denominational distinctions while maintaining a Christian foundation. Masters describes Unity as a spiritual movement centered on the belief that there is one God and multiple paths toward knowing God. Unity emphasizes the divinity within each person and seeks common principles among diverse religious traditions rather than emphasizing theological division. Masters discusses the history of Unity and the work of its founders, Charles and Myrtle Fillmore. She describes Myrtle Fillmore's experience of illness and subsequent spiritual transformation as formative to Unity's understanding of healing, prayer, forgiveness, and the relationship between consciousness and human experience. The discussion subsequently considers the role of education as more than the transmission of information. Education is presented as a process through which individuals may discover and develop wisdom already present within themselves. Prayer, meditation, intuition, and contemplation become central subjects as Lesses and Masters examine how individuals might develop greater awareness of their internal experience. Their discussion of thought and perception considers the possibility that human beings cannot control every circumstance but can influence their responses to circumstances. This perspective is connected to Unity's emphasis on constructive thought, personal responsibility, cooperation, and the possibility of seeking outcomes that serve the well-being of all. The conversation also examines Jesus as a teacher and way shower. Masters situates Jesus within a broader history of spiritual teachers that includes Buddha, Lao Tzu, and Muhammd. The discussion of biblical parables considers how religious stories may contain multiple levels of meaning and may disclose different insights as individuals develop spiritually. Masters also discusses the Gospel of Thomas and its emphasis on bringing forth what is within, connecting this teaching to creativity, vocation, personal expression, and the consequences of suppressing one's inner capacities. A significant portion of the conversation addresses interfaith cooperation. Masters describes her involvement with the Network of Religious Communities and its work bringing together people from different religious traditions around education, social service, community welfare, and peace. The discussion presents interfaith engagement as a practical form of religious cooperation rather than merely theological dialogue. The episode concludes by examining religious conflict and the importance of listening as a foundation for reconciliation. Masters discusses compassionate and nonviolent communication as methods for approaching interpersonal and intergroup conflict. The conversation ultimately returns to the importance of inward and outward listening, suggesting that greater understanding may begin when individuals become willing to encounter perspectives different from their own. The episode closes with Masters offering Unity's Prayer for Protection, bringing together the conversation's central themes of divine presence, spiritual awareness, compassion, and the possibility of human transformation.

2. 

   18 Jul 2026

   The Labyrinth's ''What Are We In Service To: The Intrinsic Nature of The Universe as Discordant or Meaningful?' Examining Our Phenomenology and Inner Landscape; Pointers, Roadmaps, and Signs'

   In this episode of The Labyrinth reposted on Unraveling Religion as a part of an ongoing collaboration, Lisa Carley introduces Joel Lesses and Rich Grego and engage in a deeply personal narrative exploring purpose, spirituality, identity, and the role of solitude in living an authentic life. Lisa begins by reflecting on a question that has become central to her life: how can she use her time in ways that are meaningful not only in the present moment but also in service of a larger purpose? She explains that while she values mindfulness and presence, she is equally interested in understanding how everyday choices contribute to a deeper calling. As an educator, she extends this question to modern education, asking whether schools prepare students simply for careers or whether they help people discover lives of meaning, purpose, and authentic contribution. The conversation turns to Lisa's recent experience with an Akashic Record reading, which confirmed intuitions she already held about her life direction. Rather than predicting the future, the reading encouraged her to trust an emerging sense of purpose as she considers moving into a larger artist community. She describes feeling called to become a gathering place for ideas—a person who brings together diverse perspectives, synthesizes them, and shares them in ways that serve others. Joel reflects on his own philosophical journey from a worldview that questioned whether life possessed any inherent meaning to one shaped by years of Buddhist practice and the Dharma. He explains that purpose is not something imposed upon life but something discovered through careful attention to one's inner landscape. As people recognize their natural gifts, passions, and values, they begin to understand how they are uniquely called to contribute. Echoing the familiar saying often attributed to Picasso, Joel reminds listeners that the meaning of life is to discover one's gift, while the purpose of life is to give that gift away in service to others. Lisa also shares how her understanding of identity has changed. Much of her life had been shaped by defining herself through close relationships, particularly romantic partnerships. Increasingly, however, she is discovering who she is independent of those roles. This deeper relationship with herself has brought greater clarity to her vocation and a stronger sense of alignment with her own path. The conversation explores the value of solitude within spiritual traditions, particularly Buddhism, and questions whether time alone can become an essential part of personal transformation. Rather than viewing solitude as isolation, the speakers suggest it offers space for creativity, self-discovery, and deeper listening. Lisa proposes expanding the idea of relationship itself, suggesting that we can learn to be in relationship not only with other people but with life, the universe, and reality itself. Asking what life is calling us toward becomes just as important as asking what others expect from us. Throughout the discussion, the speakers emphasize that purpose is rarely discovered through dramatic moments of revelation. More often, it emerges gradually through self-reflection, meaningful work, community, creativity, and service. Authentic living is less about arriving at certainty than about remaining attentive to the patterns that unfold throughout one's life and choosing actions that increasingly align with one's deepest values. Ultimately, this episode invites listeners to reconsider conventional ideas of success and fulfillment. Rather than measuring life solely through achievement or external recognition, Joel, Lisa, and Rich encourage a lifelong exploration of calling, authenticity, and service. Purpose is not simply a destination waiting in the future—it is something revealed through the choices we make, the lives we touch, and the willingness to remain open to the unfolding mystery of...

3. 

   24 Mar 2026

   Part 2 The World As A Garden and, We, The Gardeners; The Relationship of Nature and Human Beings, An Examination of the Question 'What am I?': A Panel Discussion

   Part 2 continues panel discussion by exploring the lived experience of unity, spirituality, and what it means to feel 'at home' in the universe, beginning with reflections on whether healing and awakening dissolve the sense of separation. Andy, drawing from his 12-step recovery background, describes spirituality as a relationship with a higher power understood personally, sharing that his connection takes shape through Christian symbolism rooted in his upbringing. He emphasizes that this framework is not exclusive, but a language through which he experiences alignment, meaning, and a sense that everything in existence is placed in right relationship. Central to his path is humility—learning to recognize value in all people and to move beyond ego-driven identity. The conversation expands into spiritual awakening as both gradual and sudden, drawing on William James’ distinction between 'educational' awakenings and sudden insight, with participants noting that suffering, hindsight, and breakthrough moments all contribute to a growing awareness of interconnectedness. Themes of non-separation emerge across traditions, including Zen and Advaita Vedanta, where suffering is understood as rooted in the illusion of a separate self, and healing arises through re-experiencing unity—both psychologically and physically in the body. Humility as a balance between recognizing higher forces and maintaining personal agency The idea that all relationships—including with the divine—are reciprocal rather than one-directional A Sufi perspective, influenced by Inayat Khan, describing the universe as moving toward love, harmony, and beauty The concept of a 'pull of the future' shaping evolution alongside past causes Parallels to scientific ideas of uncertainty and unfolding potential within the universe Joel offers a complementary perspective on karma, rooted in mystical traditions, emphasizing that every thought, action, and intention generates corresponding effects that return 'measure for measure,' shaping future experience. He frames reality as an interplay between seen and unseen dimensions, where intentionality—especially loving-kindness—acts as a generative force. The panel reflects on the interplay of karma, grace, randomness, and free will, suggesting that human life unfolds within a dynamic system of influence and choice, where individuals both shape and are shaped by experience. Closing reflections highlight the importance of shared inquiry and spiritual community, with participants emphasizing that these conversations create space for meaningful exploration beyond solitary practice. The discussion concludes with a Zen teaching offered by Joel, pointing to the enduring challenge of ethical living—avoiding harm and cultivating virtue—not as abstract ideals, but as practices that must be lived moment to moment.

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Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

5 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

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