Towards a Faith Beyond Belief
This is a Decentering Practice designed as an existential journey into the dark heart of doubt, unknowing, and loss Rather than treating atheism as the enemy of religion, this course approaches it as one of faith’s most demanding allies. A tool that helps to strip away belief in the name of faith.
Structured around the season of Lent, the course unfolds through a series of lectures and conversations that move dialectically into greater and greater unknowing. We begin with the classic arguments for the existence of God, then subject them to rigorous critique. From there, we explore atheism, mysticism, materialism, existentialism, and radical theology, before arriving at contemporary perspectives shaped by psychoanalysis and continental philosophy. However, this isn't just an intellectual jounrey. First and foremost it is an existential one, designed to disrupt, disturb and transform.
Throughout the practice, atheism is employed as an ever intensifying fire that can burn away belief in order to clean the way for faith. This is not designed to reassure, convert, or resolve tension. It is an invitation to sit with contradiction, loss, and unknowing, and to discover what kind of life might be possible once the guarantees are gone.
Drawing on some of the deepest philosophical and theological resources available, this practice is designed to help you understand what the death of God means. Yet, more importantly, it is an invitation into an existential encounter with its disruptive power.
No prior background in theology or philosophy is required, only a willingness to think deeply and honestly about what we mean when we speak of God, belief, and unbelief.
Content
For each day of Lent, participants receive a short reflection, alongside extensive optional material for those who wish to go deeper. This includes a carefully curated collection of articles, podcasts, book excerpts, and videos. Each week builds upon the last in a dialectical fashion, guiding participants more deeply into the cloud of unknowing.
Thinkers you will engage with directly include:
Aquinas, Anselm, Paley, Kant, Flew, Hume, Pascal, Meister Eckhart, Feuerbach, Marx, Nietzsche, Beauvoir, Freud, Sartre, Goldman, Bonhoeffer, Barth, Weil, Altizer, Tillich, Boothby, Caputo, Žižek, and McGowan.
In addition, I will give seven live talks, introducing each Sunday of Lent, held at 10am PST / 6pm GMT. These can be watched live or later. A WhatsApp group will also be available for participants who wish to discuss the material together.
Dates
18th February – 2nd April
Tickets
Individual
You can purchase an individual ticket here, or gain access by joining my Patreon community at the Blaze level. Patreon members also receive access to hundreds of hours of additional talks, courses, and resources.
Facilitator
This ticket is designed for those who wish to facilitate their own Atheism for Lent group—whether in a formal setting or informally with friends. It includes:
Up to 15 individual tickets
A 60-minute interactive video call with me in advance of the course, focused on helping you effectively facilitate group engagement