Rebecca Moore: Religion, Cults, Violence and History Artwork

Happy When Curious

My name is Brady Ryan and I am a sea salt farmer on San Juan Island in Washington State. Ever since I was a child I have felt like my main skill was not that I was smarter or stronger or harder working or braver than anyone else, I was just a little more curious than the average cat. Since becoming a parent and trying to be a good husband and small business owner have taken so much of my energy and attention, I feel like this one superpower I have has fallen by the wayside. This podcast is my attempt to rediscover curiosity through conversation and contemplation. I will be alternating conversations with guests one episode with a short musing of my own the next. The musing episodes will allow me to try to explore ideas that I've heard or that I've come up with in an open ended way. My theory is that exploration is worth much more than answers and hopefully the interviews and the musings can live up to that principle.

All Episodes

Happy When Curious

Rebecca Moore: Religion, Cults, Violence and History

March 24, 2023 • Brady Ryan

Is the human brain more wired towards story than a set of rules to follow?

Can religion prescribe behavior without trying to describe reality?

What is the most successful example of religious violence?

What is the difference between a cult and a religion?

These questions and more I discussed with Rebecca Moore.

Rebecca Moore is Emerita Professor of Religious Studies at San Diego State University. One of her research specialties is new religious movements. She co-edited "Peoples Temple and Black Religion in America" and authored "Understanding Jonestown and Peoples Temple" . Her book "Beyond Brainwashing: Perspectives on Cultic Violence" came out in 2018 and "Peoples Temple and Jonestown in the Twenty-First Century" came out in 2022.

Moore also specializes in the history of Christianity. Her book "Voices of Christianity: A Global Introduction" is a text-reader for college courses. "Women in Christian Traditions" offers a feminist analysis of the role women have played in the development of Christianity and "A Blessing to Each Other: A New Account of Jewish and Christian Relations" is one of her newest books.

Check out the amazing Jonestown Institute here

People on this episode

Brady Ryan

Host