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Soul Searching is a collection of podcast essays featuring psychological, wellness and practical spiritual solutions, cheeky alternative ideas and innovative ways to help you look at life differently. Thomas Budge asks the awkward questions you would like to ask, he pokes holes in rigid belief systems and challenges the way the world taught you to think. You might strongly disagree with his views and that's okay because this project aims to stimulate healthy debate and encourages lateral thinking.

  • Episodes 01—10
    • 1. Introduction

      When a friend became station manager for a newly launched gay radio station, broadcasting via the internet, he asked me if I would produce and present a weekly show about Soul Searching. I jumped at his offer and instantly agreed to give it a go. This is the introductory episode which gives you a clue about me and the show's expected context.

    • 2. LGBTI in Islam

      Islam, like so many other religions, takes issue with LGBTI people. I interviewed Imam Muhsin Hendricks. The Inner Circle started as a social group in 1996 when some Sufi Muslims realised the need to create support for queer Muslims. Imam Muhsin Hendricks, ex-scholar of the University of Karachi, Jamia Dirasaat (1990 — 1994) pioneered the venture with a vision to reconcile homosexuality and transsexualism with Islam. Imam Muhsin created a safe space in a corner of his garage and brought together 25 gay men into dialogue, providing psycho-spiritual support and helping them to reconcile their faith with their sexual orientation and gender identity.

    • 3. Religious Bigotry

      Christianity has a lot to say about LGBTI issues, condemning homosexuality based on literal interpretation of scriptures. The story of Lot and Sodom and Gomorrah is frequently offered as the reason for condemning same-sex practices. But is this the only way we should be looking at Biblical texts? The Bible, if it is to be the Word of God, can contain only one truth. Hence, is there any possibility of interpreting Biblical texts in a way that accommodates gay lifestyles?

    • 4. Love and Sex

      There are two threads that are often entangled and they are Love and Sex. Love is an emotion; sex is a biological urge. Often, when one is in a state of emotional neediness, one uses sex to bargain for love. Sex can also be addictive and one can get hooked on one's own neurochemistry. Nevertheless, Love and Sex can also be spiritual pathways worth exploring.

    • 5. Itrinsic Wealth and Protesting Steve Anderson

      In the first part of this show we take a close look at one's intrinsic value, who are you and what you are worth. Then, in the second half of the show we do a little soul searching of our own when it comes to protesting over Pastor Steve Anderson's visit to South Africa.

    • 6. Chirology with Jennifer Hirsch

      Eavesdrop on a telephone conversation I had with Jennifer Hirsch. She is a Chirologist, an ambassador for the craft of hand reading and the ancient knowledge of palmistry. Chirology is a dialogue therapy. In using counselling with hand reading, Jen's purpose is to teach that our hands are our unique, personal guide and tool for self-enquiry, and that their forms and markings tell an accurate story about our physical, emotional, vocational, mental and spiritual preferences. She has pioneered chirology in South Africa since 1991 when she founded the Chirology Centre in Johannesburg.

    • 7. Reconsidering the Forces of Evil versus the Forces of Good

      Steve Anderson is now banned from entering South Africa unless he repents publicly from his current views. He will claim that the Devil has control of this country and that he has the God' unequivocal blessing. This will be cited as another case of the Forces of Evil versus the Forces of Good. But what motivates people to seek conformity in others? Why can't we just get along with everyone, regardless of how we might differ. Motivated by the story of Cain and Abel, with Abel representing white Europeans and Cain, dark-skinned heathens, the prevailing Christian view by the end of the Middle Ages was that non-Europeans were inferior creatures. Based on these interpretations, the Mormons banned black men from the priesthood and the Dutch Reform Church claimed biblical authority for the practice of apartheid. As Dr Verwoerd, the then Prime Minister of South Africa said "We did what God wanted us to do." But over the years, there has been a lot of eating of humble pie. Religious leaders of some of the world's most prominent faiths have had to stand on the public platform and repent for their erroneous beliefs of the past. Fanaticism is slowly being squeezed from the crevices of society, opening up new avenues for acceptance, tolerance and the celebration of all.

    • 8. Food, Fasting and Famine

      In 2014, we experienced the worst drought in decades and it is at times like this when nature switches off the urge to reproduce and turns its attention to survival. All animals exhibit adaptive responses to the lack of food. When deprived of nourishment, animals employ various mechanisms to reduce metabolism. This prolongs the period in which energy reserves can last. Science seems convinced that we still have these thrifty genes and that intermittent fasting may be both a smart and smartening way to live as it could increase health and strengthen brain functions. But it is one thing to say that fasting has benefit to spirit, mind and body but it's quite another matter making sense of starvation and suffering, and how suffering can lead to higher states of consciousness.

    • 9. Mindfulness

      Mindfulness is the ability to know what's happening in your head at any given moment without being carried away by it. Mindfulness has been around in Buddhist tradition for the last 2,500 thousand years. Clinical psychology and psychiatry since the 1970s have developed a number of therapeutic applications based on mindfulness for helping people who are experiencing a variety of psychological conditions because studies have shown that rumination and worry contribute to mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety which in turn may lead to physical illness. Most of us are permanently trapped in some form of anxiety. The practice of mindfulness diffuses our negativity, aggression, pain, suffering, and frustration, which may have been gathering power. Rather than suppressing emotions or indulging in them, here it is important to view them, and your thoughts, and whatever arises with an acceptance and a generosity that are as open and spacious as possible. Listen to the podcast to learn how to use a simple mindfulness technique.

    • 10. Fearless Aging

      Negativity, prejudice and fear about aging is a process that inevitably leads to self-loathing and despair. One of the hardest things one might be expected to deal with in life is invisibility, not being noticed or valued as a human being. Suddenly becoming invisible due to aging is a particularly cruel aspect of life. People often become reclusive because they don't want to be seen as elderly and so they render themselves invisible. They stop circulating because they don't think they'll be noticed, many choose to stay at home out of fear of becoming irrelevant and being rejected or ridiculed. Before you can expect others to think of you as something more than just your age, you have to think of yourself as something more than just your age. It takes some guts to reinvent yourself in your midlife and again as you begin to age. Developing a wholesome attitude towards ageing is not only about survival but more about thriving. Successful ageing means continuing to do what you love to do — and never using your age as the only reason for not doing it. It is also about paying more attention to spiritual issues. I talk to Tobie Cronje to get his wisdom about fearless aging.

  • Episodes 11—20
    • 11. Afterlife, the Other Side of Death

      Most of us have a morbid fear of our own mortality — we are generally petrified to die. Most of this fear about death is admitting that science might be right when it suggests that there is only total oblivion after death. Science requires greater scepticism than is found amongst religions regarding the belief in the continuity of consciousness after death. In this episode, we investigate several key beliefs regarding the hereafter: There is the belief that you are born into this world to begin a cycle of repeated lives, each with no memory of what happened to you in the past. Another belief is that after your death you will go to a specific plane of existence determined by God, such as heaven or hell, limbo or purgatory. People continuously seek proof of the afterlife. They cite Past Life Regression as proof of a previous spiritual existence or memory of a past incarnation. Near Death Experiences are also offered as proof of an afterlife because some people claim they can remember details of their experience leading to death after they are medically resuscitated. There are also some people who claim to remember perfect facts of the lives of others who lived in a different time in history.

    • 12. A Relationship Hand Guide

      Your hands teach you a lot about your romantic relationships. There are around half a dozen different hand configurations that symbolise different kinds of relationships. Listen to learn what they are so that you can identify bad ones and forge better choices to upscale the relationship you have or to develop wholesome new ones.

    • 13. In Pursuit of Truth

      With so many religions and sects claiming sole mandate to truth through their interpretation of scripture, what is true and what isn't and how do we tell the difference? Would it even matter? For any interpretation of Scripture to be true, it needs to be part of a coherent system of truths. Anyone is free to propose any idea but it could not be accepted as being the absolute truth unless its proven to be true. Beliefs and propositions are very different. A belief exists only in the mind and people are inclined to act on beliefs as if the thing were true. You are free to act out your beliefs, provided it doesn't cause harm to others. Proving the Bible to be true is a very subjectively flawed endeavour. These texts are written in many different literary styles. Not all of them are factual. This episode explores whether the Bible is meant to be interpreted literally or figuratively.

    • 14. Nothing but Truth

      In Soul Searching Episode 13, we took a tongue-in-cheek look at some of the very literal ways in which people interpret the Bible. Philosophy and Law say that it is your personal right to have any belief system and to act it out as if it were true, given that the enactment does not impinge on the rights of others. However, last week's show ended without resolving a particular issue: is there an absolute truth, one fundamental original intention embedded in holy scriptures, like the Bible? If so, how do we find it and how will we know whether it is true or not? There are so many conflicting, unprovable interpretations of holy texts each competing for the greatest following, like corporations that strive to increase market share. Given all the different kinds of beliefs, how do we test which one is factual and which are mistaken? Today we turn to the principles of quantum mechanics to try to prove that every belief there is or ever has been, is true.

    • 15. I swear to tell the Truth

      In recent shows (Soul Searching Episode 13 and Soul Searching Episode 14), we looked into various ideas and notions around truth. In this episode, we investigate what motivates people to lie. With a lot of our attention focused on lies within relationships, we find out if there are any benefits to making a commitment to truth. Do you know the history and implication of the phrase, "I swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help me God"? Do you believe that punishment for telling lies deters or encourages people to lie? Learn why and how people tell lies and acquire some personal basic skills to help you recognise deception cues that expose people who are lying to us.

    • 16. Helping People across the River of Life

      A daughter has a drug-taking problem and has been clean for a while but her mom is stricken with fear and won't give her the freedom her daughter seeks. Mother mollycoddles the young woman by micro-managing her daughter's life. This podcast lets you peek into the method I used to help Mom to establish trust again. It's a demonstration of therapeutic metaphor.

    • 17. The Zeigarnik Effect, ways to Improve Motivation and Memory

      We investigate an observation made by Bluma Zeigarnik after she carefully watched how Viennese waiters were incredibly adept at remembering orders but how they quickly they forgot them once the patron had left the coffee shop. Her colleague, Maria Ovsiankina further noted that incomplete actions create a gentle motivation that spurs a person to get the job done. The conclusions these women published help us explain why we feel the way we do, sometimes motivated and enthusiastic and at other times, gloomy, worried and anxious over apparently nothing. Their astute theories give us opportunity to create some ingenious tricks to help improve memory, productivity and aid us in get things done quicker.

    • 18. The Erroneous Right to Kill a Lesbian

      Eleven Khayelitsha men burst into the home of 22-year old, Noluvo Swelindawo, dragged her away, murdered her and left her body alongside the highway. The alleged motive: homophobia. Of 2,130 LGBTI South Africans surveyed, 41% responded that they knew of someone who was murdered due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. African leaders have, in various statements, implied that homosexuality was never part of African culture and is yet another Eurocentric idiosyncrasy foist upon African people. As a result, some of these leaders completely reject international Gay Rights proposals. Without proper legislative support, LGBTI people are subjected to 'corrective rape', marginalisation and many other hate crimes, including, as in the case of 22-year old, Noluvo Swelindawo, murder. We've seen how intolerant the world is to anyone who doesn't match up to societies norms and standards. We are also witnessing a resurgence of conservatism, as proven by the American population's vote for Donald Trump and Britain's desire to leave the European Union. Does this mark the beginning of the end for interpersonal tolerance? In this episode, we discuss what can be done personally to become that change we wish to see in the world.

    • 19. The Ten Commandments - How Relevant are they Today

      The epic 1956 movie, the Ten Commandments, directed by Cecil B. DeMille and starring Yul Brynner, Anne Baxter and Charlton Heston in the leading role of Moses depicts the Israelite's Exodus out of Egypt. En route to the Promised Land, Moses climbs Mount Sinai where God gives him the 10 Commandments. These sacred tablets were placed inside the Arc of the Covenant, carried all the way to Jerusalem and kept in the Holy of Holies in the Temple there. Critics of the Old Testament poke fun at the implausibility of the 10 Commandments and they question their relevance in a modern world. In this episode, I try to help you to decide. Who's right and who's wrong? Do the 10 Commandments have any relevance in your life? Should they?

    • 20. Christmas Special — The Star of Bethlehem

      All who celebrate Christmas, do so on the 25th December each year. This date marks Jesus' birth in a manger somewhere in Bethlehem. It was a major event, prophesied and expected for a long time and it had a profound effect on the way the modern world unfolded. For one, Jesus birth gave rise to the Julian and Gregorian calendars, the primary system of global timekeeping today. But the big question is: Was Jesus really born on 25th December in the years spanning 1 BC to 1 AD? In this show, we investigate Biblical texts, historical records and astronomical events to find out if we can get a better handle on the actual date of Jesus' birth.

  • Episodes 21—30
    • 21. New Year Resolutions and a String of Cooked Spaghetti

      It's that time of the year again! With tiny traces of remorse lingering for having wildly indulged over the Festive Season and a hint of embarrassment at your lack of restraint, having done things you normally wouldn't want to have done, have you already decided on your New Year's resolutions? Shell-shocked from your year-end break, you slowly emerge from this festive haze as part of your brain slowly begins to thaw from its dormant holiday hibernation. As sensibility reawakens, you start to think rationally again, and in the sober light of the New Year, with the next twelve months stretched out in front of you like a blank sheet of writing paper, you repentantly and understandably hack together a handful of ground-rules to utilise this moment of motivation to your betterment and to the advantage of others around you. This is how we conceive a plethora of New Year's resolutions. But it is well-known that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. I have some solid advice to share in this episode to help you manage your resolutions. I suspect that you would like to succeed, so let me tell you how.

    • 22. The Emotional Damage of Child Sexual Exploitation

      There are fewer crimes in society that trigger greater public outrage than the sexual exploitation of children. For some, it conjures up memories of horrific television documentaries showing how children are sexually trafficked for commercial gain; for others, it brings back childhood events of shameful sexual conduct with much older persons. Race, gender, ethnicity, or socioeconomic standing does not prevent the sexual exploitation of children — it happens across the human social spectrum. The effects of sexual abuse linger into the person's adult life giving birth to many physical and psychological troubles. We examine this phenomenon a bit closer so that we don't lose our empathy, sticking our heads into the sand and pretending that this isn't really a big deal, saying, "It only happens in some parts of Asia, South America and Africa, so why worry."

    • 23. Getting to Grips with Suffering and Finding Ways to Overcome It

      There is a very important question and one that has been asked for millennia, "What is suffering?" We delve into this in detail in this show and we'll try to find ways to change suffering. We cannot easily duck the stream of hardships the world flings at us, not unless we hermit ourselves away in a cave and get right off the grid, but even then, life tends to throw curved balls. However, if we can't change what gets lobbed at us, can we at least modify the way we perceive the things we have to deal with? The happy answer is that we can, and quite readily too! But it requires a radical overhaul of the way we think. Eckhart Tolle says, "You don't run your body, your intelligence does. It also is in charge of [your] response to [your] environment." Intelligence gives rise to our instinctive reactions as an organism. This instinctive response is the body's direct response to some external happening, whereas an emotion is the body's response to an inner happening, a thought. Join me to learn how you eradicate all suffering from your life by changing the way you think.

    • 24. Watch out for the Sinister Side of Smartphones

      If somebody pulled out a gun on a crowded train you were riding on, would you notice? People in San Francisco didn't. Why? Because they were too into their smartphones. Smartphones run people's lives at every level. But unless you exercise restraint and caution and become a responsible digital citizen, the convenience of modern technology may be far less rewarding than the trouble it causes. Indiscriminate smartphone use may lead to full-blown mental addiction and obsessive compulsiveness. The way you interact with others via your smartphone sends out subtle waves of information which can alter your social landscape by either drawing you in or pushing you away from your friends. Learn how smartphones give commerce and government a way of profiling and tracking you. Never before has one device gathered so much data about an individual. Indiscriminate use of your cellphone may get you into some serious legal hot water and if it doesn't do that, it can easily undermine your productivity, erode your relationships and dilute your friendships, leaving you depressed and listless towards life. Is the nature of social media and smartphone usage so strong so that it is becoming a human plague? Does the proliferation of the smartphone create an atmosphere of shallowness and weaken the human capacity for empathy?

    • 25. Athiesm, a Choice to not Believe in God

      If Theism is belief in the existence of a god or gods. What Is Atheism? No one asks this question enough, yet people have some very strong preconceived ideas and notions about what an Atheist is and is not. Most people's opinions about atheism tend to evolve from theistic influences which often distort matters by adding derogatory adjectives, like: "wicked" and "sinful." But, is this so? It is incorrect to define atheism as a belief system. Atheism is not a belief that gods don't exist; it is a lack of belief in them. Atheism is the view that there are no gods and supernatural beings. People become atheists for many different reasons. Being an atheist isn't a choice or act of will - like theism, it's a consequence of what one knows and how one reasons. Atheists are not all angry, they aren't in denial about gods, and they aren't atheists to avoid taking responsibility for their acts. It is not necessary to believe in Heaven and Hell to live a moral and ethical life, is it? We explore all of this in our show.

    • 26. The Esoteric Meaning of Solomon's Temple

      People of the world seem to be slipping away from the belief that God is our Father, sitting on His Heavenly throne, somewhere up there in space, taking punitive measures against anyone who doesn't worship Him properly. It sounds narcissistic, tyrannical, divisive and illogical. After all, He is the Almighty, the epitome of Love, glory and fullness but this side of Him is only exposed to those who obey Him. But, this externalised notion of God is not the only perspective we have of Him. In this show, I shall explore the possibility that you are God. It's an apparently blasphemous statement to make but there is some evidence to support this idea regarding the whereabouts of God. I shall also show how this change in perspective brings Christianity and Eastern religions together. What we see today as very different sets of religious dogma, might actually have some common roots in the ancient underlying set of beliefs that arose out of the Indus Valley, many millennia before Jesus walked this earth. Surprisingly, the esoteric meaning of King Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem may also provide evidence for this perspective shift.

    • 27. How the Lord's Prayer becomes an Exaltation for the Highest Self

      If you attended a Christian school, you'll probably remember singing the Lord's Prayer in the classrooms or in the main assembly hall each day. You might even recall those words now — I can. The Lord's Prayer is a seven petition Prayer prescribed by Jesus. By offering it as a part of our daily spiritual practices, we affirm God's superiority in contrast to our human frailties, leaving us no other choice but to beg for His forgiveness and to seek His help. But there is a very different take on it, one that the Indian yogi and guru, Paramahansa Yogananda, taught. When Jesus' Prayer is held against the light of Hindu teachings, and amazing parallel emerges. It becomes a calling from our most inner space, to recognise our core godhead; to simultaneously recognise our physicality as a human with all our human needs; and to strive to attain the highest possibility of self — enlightenment — which then connects us inseparably to the rest of the universe.

    • 28. Political Correctness, Empathetic Language Sensitivity, Censorship or a Powerful Tool for Manipulation

      The waters are a bit murky when it comes to Political Correctness [being PC]. Although it doesn't change reality, softer phrases like 'same-sex relationships' are far more sensitive than the offensive terms like faggots, poofters or moffies. Now, political correctness uses the abbreviation LGBTI as an umbrella term to describe what others might consider as sexual deviance. We will of course risk serious indictment if we use the k-word in public and feminists balk at third-person personal pronouns like, he, him and his — even though the English language has no other grammar to offer as a substitute. But there is a tiny revolution occurring, fueled in part by President Trump's disregard for all forms of political correctness. Are we seeing a global shift where people drop this form of subtle censorship in favour of explicitly expressing what they think and feel inside? Find out if this is wrong or right?

    • 29. The Eight Hypnosis Rules of the Mind, a Key to Self-Understanding

      Just as Neuro-Linguistic Programming [NLP] is built around a collection of presuppositions (or foundational statements), hypnosis, and more specifically hypnotherapy, emanates from eight pivotal Rules. They are collectively known as the Eight Rules of the Mind and every hypnosis student learns them. They are obvious assumptions that explain the workings of your subconscious mind and the way it interfaces with your conscious awareness and your body. I unpack these rules in this show because the insight they give, will assist you to adjust your thinking a bit and the results from doing that can be very profound. Since a lot of hypnotherapy theory is based on the application of these rules, applying them to the way you think will open a gateway to enhanced self-esteem, overcoming pain and illness and the mastery of complex skills on the sports field or elsewhere in life. As I explain each rule, I shall give you little snippets of advice that you could apply to adjust your thinking so that you can find practical benefit.

    • 30. Polyamory — Committed Intimate Relationships with a Limited Number of other People

      Is it conceivable that you could form intimate relationships with a limited number of other people? That's called polyamory. In conservative worlds, this kind of sexual expression seems limited, debauched or may even hint at a mental disorder but research psychologists are noticing an increasing openness to alternative sexual lifestyles — at least in the more progressive corners of the modern-day Western world, like Australia, Canada and the US. This episode of Soul Searching informs you of the differences between polyamory, polygamy and promiscuity.

  • Episodes 31—40
    • 31. Parenting Skills needed for the Moment your Gay or Lesbian Child Comes Out

      This show is for parents. It's possibly one of the hardest things for you, as a parent, to hear your child utter these three little words, "I am gay." It is also one of the most difficult confessions any child might have to make to his or her parents as the risks are enormous in your child's mind. You could do one of several things when he or she comes out: you could either be loving, understanding and supportive; or, fueled by the stereotypes of public opinion, righteous indignation and bigotry, you could be shocked, angered and dismayed. Some parents have rejected their children completely, as if the gay or lesbian child had suddenly died. I examine some of the strategies you as a parent can take to positively direct the outcome of your son or daughter's coming out disclosure.

    • 32. It's never too late to have a Happy Childhood

      Do you still carry around painful memories from long ago? Unhappy childhoods happen to many people, touching on such issues as trust, denial, self-acceptance, forgiveness, and faith, they account for a lot of the difficulties people experience as adults. Some sufferers feel compelled to hide their childhood adversities while others choose to disclose them to others. A third of the children who experienced sexual abuse by an adult kept it a secret, and four out of five children did not disclose their sexual abuse when it was from a peer. One's past never goes away but instead of sweeping it under the carpet, there are strategies that you can use to reclaim a lost happy childhood to create a brighter future for yourself. Join me as I examine some of the strategies you can use to reclaim a lost happy childhood.

    • 33. Fat Bodies, Maladjusted Minds and the Clues to a Slimmer You

      Weight gain is often the physical manifestation of some deeper, unresolved emotional stuff lying in your subconscious mind, and to solve it, you might need to dig deep into your emotional archives and core belief systems. Naturally, you eat to sustain life, giving your body the nutrients it needs to maintain health. However, you also eat, not necessarily to nourish your body, but as a core part of your socialisation with others. Weight management would be far less complicated if these were the only two reasons for eating but sometimes, you could eat to fill emotional voids. This reason for eating is by far the most dangerous of all. This show teaches you about ways to manage your weight and what works and what doesn't. I'll share some case studies with you to give context to some of the awful reasons why some people allow themselves to get so out of shape. Join me to learn more.

    • 34. [ Part 1 ] Faith Healing, Workings of Holy Spirit or Hypnosis

      Invited by the South African Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities, better known as the CRL Commission, I agreed to participate in a dialogue on 15th March 2017, the aim of which was to understand: the phenomena of prophecy, healing, miracles, magic and deliverance; how it might affect religious followers; whether it is used as a means of capturing people; is it the workings of the Holy Spirit or just states of trance; to understand what trance is and how it is induced; why people are more likely to subject themselves to this phenomenon, either in religious settings or elsewhere; whether it is religious practice or cult; and to determine the extent to which this phenomenon occurs. What conclusions will you reach after having listened to this show?

    • 35. [ Part 2 ] Faith Healing, Workings of Holy Spirit or Hypnosis

      This is the second and concluding half of this topic. I accepted an invitation by the South African Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities, better known as the CRL Commission, and agreed to participate in their very interesting dialogue on 15th March. They needed to understand: the phenomena of prophecy, healing, miracles, magic and deliverance; how it might affect religious followers; whether it is used as a means of capturing people; is it the workings of the Holy Spirit or just states of trance. They also wanted to understand what trance is and how it is induced; why people are more likely to subject themselves to this phenomenon, either in religious settings or elsewhere; whether it is religious practice or cult; and to determine the extent to which this phenomenon occurs. In the first half of the show (Soul Searching Episode 34) we listened to a fragment of Benny Hinn's purported channeling of the Holy Spirit to cast out a 'homosexual demon' from a young man, Steven. In this show, I offer facts about hypnosis that may be useful in determining whether this phenomenon of Faith Healing is indeed the workings of the Holy Spirit or whether it is a magnificently executed hypnosis act. Listen to this show so that you can decide which it is.

    • 36. Water, Science Magic and Sacred Substance

      Water. It's a scarce commodity in many parts of the world. Growing populations, pollution and drought put pressure on this precious resource and some experts fear that the next World War will be fought over water rights. Water has some quirky scientific properties too, making it a unique and intriguing substance. Join me as I peek into some of water's scientific craziness and examine its spiritual significance and importance for so many people in different and diverse parts of the world. Have you ever wondered how Holy Water is made? I'll tell you how the church does it and I'll share my personal secret water ritual in the show.

    • 37. Are Jesus and the Easter Bunny Best Pals?

      Rabbits pop up frequently in children's stories and comic strips, and genderless Easter Bunnies have had the pleasant task of bringing us baskets of decorated easter eggs for many centuries. But what are the origins of Easter folklore and how did Jesus get to take centre-stage with the Easter Bunny. This show explores old Biblical history, astronomy and pagan traditions to find an explanation.

    • 38. Let me Remember that there is no Sin

      Sin is a myth, an illusory, erroneous judgement that you made about yourself. If there was such a thing as sin, then this would have been the biggest sin you made, to judge yourself as anything less than perfect. The most devastation meme that reached my brain was that I was born in sin. This meme implied that I was substandard, a failed human before I even began and perhaps an even crazier implication, that the intercourse that brought me to my human life, was of itself sinful. However, we are told that we are made in the Image and Likeness of God, that we are all Gods and Goddesses. Life without sin is a life of freedom and joy. But if there is no such thing as sin, then what are we to make of codes of conduct and morals? If all human experiences are acceptable experiences in God's eyes, if God is ambivalent to what we do, then is it okay to cheat on your partner, to embezzle money or to murder someone? This episode explores all of these ideas.

    • 39. [ Part 1 ] Biblical Proof that Earth is Flat, Fact or Fiction

      The Genesis account in the Bible offers some compelling evidence to support a flat-earth model. Here, in Part 1 we investigate this evidence that supports Earth being flat, not round, as we were taught. If Earth is indeed flat, you will learn what the Earth's flat structure is like and how it works. Much of this evidence is very plausible and convincing. However, what is fact and what is fiction and does it really matter whether Earth is flat or spherical?

    • 40. [ Part 2 ] Biblical Proof that Earth is Flat, Fact or Fiction

      Astronomical evidence debunks the Genesis account that is believed to support a flat-earth model. Here, in Part 2, by investigating this scientific and mathematical evidence, we inadvertently end up challenging scripture and belief. What are the implications of overturning the way God said He created Earth? This episode probes these and other intriguing possibilities.

  • Episodes 41—50
    • 41. Practical Steps to Fully Awaken your Spirituality

      Have you ever wondered why you're not really finding traction with your spirituality? Why it seems so difficult and elusive? You may have read many scriptures and spiritual teachings and, while you have a good mental grasp of these philosophies, you simply don't seem to walk the spiritual talk. What's going on and how can you change this? For you to get a better understanding of what it is to be spiritual, it's important to know a little about the basic functions of your brain to realise the relevance of how you can use it advantageously to cultivate true spiritual presence.

    • 42. Essential Tips when Choosing between Religion and Spirituality

      This show tackles the thorny issue of whether you should be religious, spiritual or neither and it will help you to understand what it means to pursue your own divinity. To be spiritual (or religious for that matter) often makes one feel bashful and insecure when sharing your journey with others, particularly in a modern world that is driven by consumerism, science and technology. It's easy to feel awkward and out on the fringe when you indulge in your spiritual awakening. We'll also define what is meant by being spiritual and I shall leave you with a handful of essential steps you'll need to take to embark on this journey of self-discovery.

    • 43. I Am Jehovah, Witnessing!

      My spiritual journey started in a Jehovah's Witnesses Kingdom Hall and it came full-circle thirty-five years later. This is not a story discouraging you from joining that organisation but it does encourage you to embark upon your spiritual journey with eyes wide open and with a good measure of scepticism because there are some whacky beliefs out there and you'll need to carefully avoid them. This show is about your intrinsic, spiritual magnificence, God (Jehovah if you are brave enough to call Him that) who through you and all creation, witnesses to His almightiness.

    • 44. Clarifying the Meaning of Mind, Body and Spirit

      If the word body refers to your physical being and all of its material acquisitions, how do you define the words mind and spirit? Are there differences between spirit and soul? Most of us have a vague, three-way distinction between mind, body and spirit but it is insightful to know what various philosophies say about them. Having this proper distinction is key to your personal, spiritual growth. Join me as we explore these differences.

    • 45. Brutally Honest Truths You Need to Hear If You Want to Get Your Stuff Together

      Most of us have piles of personal poo to deal with in life. Life isn't always easy and we don't always make the right choices when trying to solve our problems. In fact, we're often quite blind to the mistakes we make or we find ourselves hellbent on pursuing a course of action that leads nowhere. Your close friends and family may notice how crazy you are but many of them won't stick their necks out and tell you, with brutal honesty, what they think you're doing wrong. In my experience, close friends and family tend to shut their mouths and look away, leaving me floundering, trying to get my act together. If it was a huge issue I was dealing with, they'd brave up a bit and challenge me. So, why do we all shy away from being brutally honest with one another? We tend to mind our own business to keep the peace. None of us like being criticised or told that we're wrong. It bruises the ego and we'll often become defensive and launch a counterattack on the person criticising us. This inflammatory kind of dialogue goes nowhere. Instead, it is likely to tear relationships apart. Very few people are humble and secure enough to accept brutal honesty without demolishing their self-esteem and self-respect.

    • 46. More Than Nine Things You Can Learn from Being with a Dying Person

      For many, being with a dying person is a nightmarish experience. We live in a disposable world and modern western trends encourages us to outsource dying to others, like nurses, hospice staff and doctors. Most of us don't know what to say. We are afraid to be honest. We think that we need to bring hope and future possibility to the dying person. All while we're grappling with our own emotions of impending loss and bereavement. But being with a dying person can also be a profound spiritual moment. Let me show you how.

    • 47. Here is Some Help if you are Cheating or Being Cheated Upon

      Contemporary moral values are rapidly replacing old-fashioned ones. This translates into freedom and openness about your sexuality and how you express it. Statistics prove that it has also led to an endemic proliferation of affairs, sexual exploration outside the commitments of a relationship. If you have cheated on your partner, you may carry huge angst and guilt about it; if your partner cheated on you, then it may result in terrible of feelings of abandonment and worthlessness. This programme explores the world of affairs and flings, giving you insight into what you can do, whether you are the victim or the cheater.

    • 48. Learn how Wormholes, a Naked Man and Balloons Define Spiritual Meaning

      What have wormholes through space, filled with drifting coloured balloons and a hovering naked man got to do with spirituality and time? Well, they fit together as perfect symbols that explain our layered consciousness, how we attract experiences and how we perpetually live in this present moment of time, which we call 'now.'

    • 49. One Powerful Trick That Makes It Easy to Forgive Others and To Set Yourself Free

      Are you stuck in a world of guilt, remorse and shame? Forgiveness might be the tool to use to set yourself free. It is not the kind of forgiveness most people think of. There is a truth behind the truth, the one powerful trick you can use to dramatically change your future for the good. Join me in this show to learn what that forgiveness trick is. You won't regret it.

    • 50. The Law of Reciprocity and What Can Go Wrong with It

      Have you ever traded sex for the other person's love and respect? Have you ever believed that you must first offer God your loyalty and faithfulness before you can receive His favour? If so, you have then experienced the perversion of the Law of Reciprocity. In this show, we explore what we mean by the reciprocity rule and we shall see how it can easily go awry with tretcherous consequences. Join me as we explore this fascinating topic.

  • Episodes 51—
    • 51. Discover How Your Beliefs and Attitude Repairs Broken DNA Inside Your Cells

      This is a story of how scientific advances removed God from the equation governing all physical matter and replaced Him with science's powerful sense of control over the clockwork mechanics that it had discovered. Science also changed our views about life and God's role in it when Darwin published his theories of evolution. The church fought an arduous battle to keep God at the centre of things but the scales had tipped and science emerged victoriously. Yet, this is a story much greater than science's victory over God, it is a story of new discoveries which dilutes the power biotech has over gene expression and DNA engineering, giving primary control back to you. Learn how you, through mindfulness, meditation and positive visualisation can rewire the very DNA inside your cell's genes. This is not science fiction, it is science fact with profound consequences.