We live in a culture that has a lie at its center.
And that lie is do stuff for yourself and you'll be happier.
Make more money, you'll be happier, build a better career, you'll be happier, have more social capital, and you'll be happier when actually that's not true.
When you give to others, you actually feel increased well being.
And so there's a lot of these teachings that are foundational to all of these spiritual traditions that we could really benefit from.
So ever notice how increasingly spirituality, and especially religion, have become these kind of loaded terms, let alone concepts for so many?
They smack of being everything from irrelevant to modern life values and needs, to even being outright hostile to the very notion of peace, ease and serenity.
And again, not for everybody, but increasingly for many.
Which is why at a time when so many are struggling, grappling with groundlessness, loneliness and upheaval, a time that in prior generations would have sent people running toward a spiritual tradition or path, people are instead running from it.
But does that actually have to be the case?
And when we run from the core elements, beyond the potentially co opted translations and edicts, what potential, good and value are we also running from?
And what might a new lens or approach on spirituality and faith look like?
One steeped in openness, kindness, inclusivity, service, compassion, and beyond that is where we're headed today in this really deep and nuanced conversation with my guest Rainn Wilson.
Now, before you even ask, you may be wondering, Rainn Wilson, isn't that the guy who played Dwight Schrute on NBC's the Office?
And the answer would be yes.
But what you may not know is that rain has been traveling, examining and deeply studying both his own baha'I tradition, as well as nearly every other religious and spiritual tradition for more than 50 years.
He is no stranger to deep, meaningful conversations, and in fact, as the co founder of the production company Soul Pancake, he produced a stunning array of programming that invites us all to ask the big questions and see the humanity in each other.
He's also the host of Rainn Wilson and the geography of Bliss on Peacock, and a New York Times best selling author.
In fact, his latest book, soul why we need a spiritual revolution, it explores the harmony between personal transformation and service and the future of religion and spirituality.
And that that is exactly where we're headed in today's deep, rich, wise, and kind conversation.