Mosque and state
In post-Soviet Azerbaijan, religion was a hot new commodity. I bought into it, too
by Ilkin Huseynli
Values and beliefs
Articles, Films and practical Guides on values and beliefs, part of Psyche’s coverage of values and ethical living.
Why the search for proof can’t be separated from faith
Rather than being an enemy of empiricism, belief in what can’t be known is part of how we gain knowledge, even now
by Adam Kucharski
‘We are all always coming and going’
Steve Schwartzberg’s journey from Harvard psychologist to erotic healer, Buddhist and teacher was always haunted by death. Then he was diagnosed with terminal cancer
by Andrew Lawler
Your purpose isn’t something to find, it’s something you form
In my therapy office, I’ve found that to live with greater purpose, we must think differently about where it comes from
by Ross White
Tolerance isn’t just nice, it’s a civic virtue we all can build
At a time of rising intolerance, the century-old work of C E M Joad reminds us what tolerance really is and why we need it
by Kiran Kumbhar
Let the mystery be
As a hospital chaplain, I watched lives end, faiths fracture and certainties crumble. My job was holding hands in the dark
by Nettie Reynolds
How to tolerate annoying things
Hassles are part of life, but the way we react often makes them worse. ACT skills can help you handle them with greater ease
by Patricia E Zurita Ona
Why ‘false authenticity’ is so unsettling
The Old Town of Würzburg seemed to offer a real connection to the past. But none of it was authentic
by Sam Dresser
Cults needn’t fit stereotypes to be dangerous. Here’s how to identify a controlling social group
Video by BBC Ideas
Confessions of a teenage fundamentalist
My world was dark and scary. But beautiful things crept in, and threats of hell just couldn’t compete
by Liz Boltz Ranfeld
Complexity science can deepen your mindfulness practice
What if ‘stress reduction’ is the least interesting thing mindfulness does? Complexity science offers new ways forward
by Pavel Chvykov
There are three lenses through which to weigh any decision
Whether an act seems ‘good’ depends on how you look at it. Brain research reveals what happens when the lens changes
by Clara Pretus & Jay Van Bavel
Is modern asceticism about conformity or quiet revolution?
From detoxes to slow food, today’s asceticism is often about fitting in. But we can rediscover its transformative power
by Iryna Mykhailova
Prison letters animate Diana’s attempt to understand a distant father
Directed by Diana Cam Van Nguyen
Cultural taboos arise from a basic feature of the human mind
Unquestioned community rules on marriage, dining and even black cats often stem from our hunger to explain random events
by Kevin (Ze) Hong
Bunkerised society – why prepping for end times is so American
Millions are preparing for doomsday, not together, but by closing the hatch. It’s a logical response to a hollowed-out state
by Robert Kirsch & Emily Ray