<description>What happens when a deeply held religious belief is grounded not in doctrine alone, but in lived experience, trauma, healing, and profound personal transformation?

In this long-form spoken-word dialogue, we practice Street Epistemology—a respectful, curiosity-driven method for exploring how people arrive at their beliefs rather than arguing what they should believe. A stranger approaches us in a public park and shares a powerful story of near-death experiences, loss, spiritual encounters, and absolute certainty that Jesus is God.

Rather than debate, this conversation explores:
✅ How personal experiences shape confidence
✅ Whether peace, identity, and meaning depend on belief
✅ How people evaluate truth when experiences feel undeniable
✅ The role of trauma, healing, and interpretation
✅ What it means to be “open to truth,” even when certainty feels complete

This episode moves slowly and carefully, prioritizing psychological safety, consent, and mutual respect—especially when beliefs are closely tied to identity and well-being.

🎧 This is not a debate.
It’s an invitation to reflect on belief, confidence, and how we decide what’s real.

👉 Comments are welcome:
At what moment would you have asked a different question?

Watch video here: youtu.be/TWfoaSNxC-k
Learn more about Street Epistemology here: linktr.ee/StreetEpistemology
Music provided by Jim Rhodes, with Dan Harris on lap steel.

00:00 – Context, Setup, and Intent
Why this conversation begins informally, pacing choices, and psychological safety considerations.

02:31 – The Core Claim
“I believe Jesus is God” — the belief that frames the entire dialogue.

04:41 – What Is Street Epistemology?
How this conversational method explores how beliefs are formed rather than debating conclusions.

11:46 – Life History and the Search for Meaning
Family background, trauma, therapy, education, and early belief formation.

14:21 – Near-Death Experience and Its Impact
A medical crisis and how it reshaped interpretation of life and meaning.

18:33 – Trauma, Loss, and Spiritual Seeking
Grief, relationship collapse, and an intense period of searching for God.

19:29 – Transformative Spiritual Experience
Receiving the Holy Spirit and the moment belief becomes absolute.

24:37 – Miracles, Healing, and Reinforcement
Extraordinary experiences used to strengthen confidence in the belief.

26:22 – Identity Without the Belief (Thought Experiment)
Would peace, joy, and meaning survive if the belief were removed?

35:39 – Confidence, Truth, and Certainty
Placing belief and truth-seeking on a confidence scale.

41:17 – Reliability of Experience
Can others use experiences to reach opposite conclusions?

59:05 – Alternative Explanations and Closing Reflections
Psychological and social explanations considered, ending with mutual respect.</description>

What happens when a deeply held religious belief …

What happens when a deeply held religious belief is grounded not in doctrine alone, but in lived experience, trauma, healing, and profound personal transformation?

In this long-form spoken-word dialogue, we practice Street Epistemology—a respectful, curiosity-driven method for exploring how people arrive at their beliefs rather than arguing what they should believe. A stranger approaches us in a public park and shares a powerful story of near-death experiences, loss, spiritual encounters, and absolute certainty that Jesus is God.

Rather than debate, this conversation explores:
✅ How personal experiences shape confidence
✅ Whether peace, identity, and meaning depend on belief
✅ How people evaluate truth when experiences feel undeniable
✅ The role of trauma, healing, and interpretation
✅ What it means to be “open to truth,” even when certainty feels complete

This episode moves slowly and carefully, prioritizing psychological safety, consent, and mutual respect—especially when beliefs are closely tied to identity and well-being.

🎧 This is not a debate.
It’s an invitation to reflect on belief, confidence, and how we decide what’s real.

👉 Comments are welcome:
At what moment would you have asked a different question?

Watch video here: youtu.be/TWfoaSNxC-k
Learn more about Street Epistemology here: linktr.ee/StreetEpistemology
Music provided by Jim Rhodes, with Dan Harris on lap steel.

00:00 – Context, Setup, and Intent
Why this conversation begins informally, pacing choices, and psychological safety considerations.

02:31 – The Core Claim
“I believe Jesus is God” — the belief that frames the entire dialogue.

04:41 – What Is Street Epistemology?
How this conversational method explores how beliefs are formed rather than debating conclusions.

11:46 – Life History and the Search for Meaning
Family background, trauma, therapy, education, and early belief formation.

14:21 – Near-Death Experience and Its Impact
A medical crisis and how it reshaped interpretation of life and meaning.

18:33 – Trauma, Loss, and Spiritual Seeking
Grief, relationship collapse, and an intense period of searching for God.

19:29 – Transformative Spiritual Experience
Receiving the Holy Spirit and the moment belief becomes absolute.

24:37 – Miracles, Healing, and Reinforcement
Extraordinary experiences used to strengthen confidence in the belief.

26:22 – Identity Without the Belief (Thought Experiment)
Would peace, joy, and meaning survive if the belief were removed?

35:39 – Confidence, Truth, and Certainty
Placing belief and truth-seeking on a confidence scale.

41:17 – Reliability of Experience
Can others use experiences to reach opposite conclusions?

59:05 – Alternative Explanations and Closing Reflections
Psychological and social explanations considered, ending with mutual respect.

Ep. 526 The Bible Turned To Gold?

<description>Members of Street Epistemology International’s Board of Directors provide a candid progress update and answer questions from the community during the 4th SEI Town Hall.

https://www.streetepistemology.com
https://www.streetepistemologyinternational.org
https://www.navigatingbeliefs.com

https://linktr.ee/StreetEpistemology</description>

Members of Street Epistemology International’s Bo…

Members of Street Epistemology International’s Board of Directors provide a candid progress update and answer questions from the community during the 4th SEI Town Hall.

https://www.streetepistemology.com
https://www.streetepistemologyinternational.org
https://www.navigatingbeliefs.com

https://linktr.ee/StreetEpistemology

Ep. 525 SEI Town Hall 4

<description>This conversation was generated by an AI program based on the transcripts of five recent Zoom meetings with subject matter experts developing the Navigating Beliefs course on Street Epistemology. It covers some of the challenges to critical thinking values and how to overcome them, such as relativism, dogmatism, and apathy or incuriosity.

Watch video here:  https://youtu.be/3E_zZiJjSVQ

Learn more about Street Epistemology here: https://linktr.ee/StreetEpistemology

Music provided by Jim Rhodes, with Dan Harris on lap steel.

The intro and outro of this episode was narrated by Elliott.</description>

This conversation was generated by an AI program …

This conversation was generated by an AI program based on the transcripts of five recent Zoom meetings with subject matter experts developing the Navigating Beliefs course on Street Epistemology. It covers some of the challenges to critical thinking values and how to overcome them, such as relativism, dogmatism, and apathy or incuriosity.

Watch video here:  https://youtu.be/3E_zZiJjSVQ

Learn more about Street Epistemology here: https://linktr.ee/StreetEpistemology

Music provided by Jim Rhodes, with Dan Harris on lap steel.

The intro and outro of this episode was narrated by Elliott.

Ep. 524 Relativism, Dogmatism, Incuriosity Breakthrough Strategies In Navigating Beliefs Course

<description>In this episode, Pierce Watkins engages with a witchcraft practitioner who shares insights into their six-year practice, discussing divination methods like tarot, pendulums, and charm casting. Pierce explores the practices through a skeptical yet curious lens, participating in a pendulum reading, which leads to a candid discussion on accuracy, belief, and personal resonance.

Watch video here: https://youtu.be/ly6BEcZt8OY

Learn more about Street Epistemology here: https://linktr.ee/StreetEpistemology

Music provided by Jim Rhodes, with Dan Harris on lap steel.

The intro and outro of this episode was narrated by Elliott.</description>

In this episode, Pierce Watkins engages with a wi…

In this episode, Pierce Watkins engages with a witchcraft practitioner who shares insights into their six-year practice, discussing divination methods like tarot, pendulums, and charm casting. Pierce explores the practices through a skeptical yet curious lens, participating in a pendulum reading, which leads to a candid discussion on accuracy, belief, and personal resonance.

Watch video here: https://youtu.be/ly6BEcZt8OY

Learn more about Street Epistemology here: https://linktr.ee/StreetEpistemology

Music provided by Jim Rhodes, with Dan Harris on lap steel.

The intro and outro of this episode was narrated by Elliott.

Ep. 523 Mormonism to Witchcraft 🔮 | Street Epistemology | Sir3n

<description>This AI generated episode examines the debate over rebranding Street Epistemology as "Navigating Beliefs," weighing the pros and cons of a name change. It explores whether the new name could broaden its appeal by shedding existing perceptions, while addressing challenges like resistance from practitioners and preserving its core identity.

Watch video here: https://youtu.be/Rs1SBCNaAFs

Learn more about Street Epistemology here: https://linktr.ee/StreetEpistemology

Music provided by Jim Rhodes, with Dan Harris on lap steel.

The intro and outro of this episode was narrated by Elliott.</description>

This AI generated episode examines the debate ove…

This AI generated episode examines the debate over rebranding Street Epistemology as "Navigating Beliefs," weighing the pros and cons of a name change. It explores whether the new name could broaden its appeal by shedding existing perceptions, while addressing challenges like resistance from practitioners and preserving its core identity.

Watch video here: https://youtu.be/Rs1SBCNaAFs

Learn more about Street Epistemology here: https://linktr.ee/StreetEpistemology

Music provided by Jim Rhodes, with Dan Harris on lap steel.

The intro and outro of this episode was narrated by Elliott.

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