Cultpunk
“Why More Māori Are Rejecting Christianity”
The Religion for Breakfast YouTube channel offers an insightful take on the phenomenon of contemporary Māori atheism, based on this 2024 academic study. See here for my own take on post-theistic “civic mythopoetics” in New Zealand.
The Planet People (“The Quatermass Conclusion”, 1979)
Scientist Bernard Quatermass has his first glimpse of the Planet People, a hippie/punk cult drawn to megalithic stone circle sites, in this clip from the 1979 series (also released internationally as a movie) The Quatermass Conclusion. On a personal note, while I have no other memory of having seen this show, I do recall this … Read moreThe Planet People (“The Quatermass Conclusion”, 1979)
The Temple of Poetic Faiths
Here is the notional Temple of Poetic Faiths (ignore most of the text, it’s AI gibberish). Here is a place – perhaps an installation in a modern art gallery, perhaps a civic center in a nation that truly values things like art and imagination and religious pluralism – wherein are found the altars and shrines … Read moreThe Temple of Poetic Faiths
“Beyond Atheism: Finding Meaning in the Secular Age”
Freddie Sayers hosts John Vervaeke and Alex O’Connor, formerly known as Cosmic Skeptic, to explore the deep question of meaning in an increasingly secular world. They discuss the historical role of religion in providing purpose and narrative, the modern challenges of finding meaning, and the rise of non-propositional forms of knowledge and practice. O’Connor and … Read more“Beyond Atheism: Finding Meaning in the Secular Age”
“Poetic Faiths: New Religions and Rituals as Works of Living Art” presentation at Limicon 2025
This live presentation is part of the month-long Limicon 2025 event: Join Tony Wolf, editor of and contributor to the recently published first volume of the Poetic Faiths interview anthology, for a presentation and discussion on new, naturalistic, anti-authoritarian and creative religious/ritual practices. This session will include a slideshow and abridged reading of Tony’s Introduction … Read more“Poetic Faiths: New Religions and Rituals as Works of Living Art” presentation at Limicon 2025
Metamodernism and Poetic Faiths
Brendan Graham Dempsey interviews Tony Wolf, editor of Poetic Faiths: New Religions and Rituals as Works of Living Art: First we tackle the idea of “Poetic Faiths” and what they are before going over what’s in this new anthology of interviews with creators of such Poetic Faiths. Tony shares part of his story that led … Read moreMetamodernism and Poetic Faiths
A future of religion (and religion of the future)
Must it be taken for granted that “religion” is superstitious, authoritarian and fixed in time? Cultpunks imagine and enact alternatives, working towards a time we may never live to see.
“Poetic Faiths: New Religions and Rituals as Works of Living Art”
The first volume of the Poetic Faiths interview anthology is now available!
“The Inevitable Death of Fascism”: Cults of Life and Death in “Mad Max: Fury Road” and “Furiosa”
The Genetically Modified Skeptic YouTube channel offers a cogent comparison of religious/cultic themes in the Mad Max universe with real-world fascistic (and anti-fascistic) movements. Readers with a taste for Mad Max cult action may also enjoy this behind-the-scenes glimpse into the training of the actors and stuntmen who played Immortan Joe’s War Boys.