Thinking Better and Thinking Together about Life's Most Important Issues. A place to finally meet in the middle to think freely and reasonably about the big questions of life. Welcome to Thinker Sensitive. Thinking Better: Thinker Sensitive promotes and models free thinking, critical thinking, open thinking, charitable thinking, impartial thinking, mediating thinking, and nuanced thinking. We believe that all of these values are key ingredients to sound thinking, which opens up the possibili ...
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Ryan bids his listeners farewell, departing with a final word. "This is what I am learning: I must abide in him that he might abide in me. I hope you have learned something too. I hope, like me, you’re striving to become something more. I hope we reach the same end. I hope that we wash up on the same shore….” About Ryan, Host of Thinker Sensitive: …
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Ep. 87 The Weekly: Stoicism - Resignation & Fortitude
25:49
25:49
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Ryan shifts to a personal evaluation of ancient Stoicism, offering some commendations and some corrections. "There’s a lot of practical wisdom and prudent advice in Stoicism, as long as we stay clear of some of the extremes—incorporating the recommendations of Epictetus into our lives in a nuanced and balanced manner.” About Ryan, Host of Thinker S…
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Ep. 86 The Weekly: Aristotle - Character & Virtue
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After briefly discussing Epicureanism, the moral philosophy of Epicurus, Ryan transitions to Aristotle’s moral philosophy—which is widely understood as a “character, or virtue, ethic.” "One of the most intriguing and thought-provoking aspects of Aristotle’s ethics is the idea that morality, virtue, and happiness are solely based on acting, doing, l…
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Ep. 85 The Weekly: Epicurus - Hedonism in Moderation
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Ryan dips into Classical Greek ethics, beginning with a brief summary of Epicureanism, which is an ancient form of hedonism that emphasizes simplicity and moderation. "Epicurus was born on the Island of Samoa. He visited Athens as a teenager and briefly studied under a disciple of Plato. Years later, he would return to Athens, but this time not as …
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Ep. 84 The Weekly: Retribution, Rewards, or Love?
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Fear of retribution, hope of rewards, or the power of love? Ryan talks about the only motivating factor and inspirational force in the universe worth living and dying for. "...fear of punishment and hope of rewards are motivations and incentives for the immature, not the mature. They are what help children behave, but we must progress beyond childh…
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Ep. 83 The Weekly: The Law of Love (Pt. 2)
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In the second part of a two-part podcast on "The Law of Love," Ryan argues that no one—neither Christians nor non-Christians—consistently and perfectly embodies the love that fulfills all law. "...the love that fulfills the law, the love of God in Christ—self-sacrificial, edifying, and unconditional love—represents an immensely high standard, one t…
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Ep. 82 The Weekly: The Law of Love (Pt. 1)
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Ryan discusses the nature and character of the love that fulfills all law. "True love, real love, the love that fulfills all law, is made up of three defining characteristics: selflessness, edification, and unconditionality." About Ryan, Host of Thinker Sensitive: Ryan Ragozine is the host of Thinker Sensitive. He is passionate about ecumenical dia…
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Ryan unpacks the contextual and nuanced ethic of Christ, which was centered on the values of the kingdom that he proclaimed. "So much of Jesus’s ethical reasoning has to do with notions of priority and primacy, as moral judgments often involve a deliberation—choosing which principle or principles should be given ultimate primacy and priority above …
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Ryan talks about dreaded religious rules and much maligned divine precepts, taking a uniquely positive and optimistic approach to the law of God in the Judeo-Christian tradition. "As I have said many times before, and as the ancient thinkers and classical philosophers also taught—not just in Israel but in Greece and in Rome as well—the moral life i…
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Ryan explains why he believes that the moral life is the good life, that the spiritual life is the blessed life, and that the holy life is the happy life. "Holiness and happiness, purity and pleasure, benevolence and blessedness, virtue and vivaciousness, faithfulness and fulfillment, jurisprudence and joy, character and contentment. What do these …
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Ryan discusses the gods of the present age—envisaging the Western world as deeply religious, even if not in the traditional sense. "Over the last few episodes, I have attempted to demolish the false gods and idols of our age. I have been in the process of a kind of deconstruction, but not the kind of deconstruction that has become popular today, no…
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Ep. 77 The Weekly: The Pursuit of Pleasure
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Ryan discusses the shortcomings of the wanton pursuit of pleasure, a pursuit that is often confused with the pursuit of happiness. "What I will say is that pleasure is a good thing, but, like fortune and fame, it is easily abused and easily corrupted—especially when it is treated as an end in itself rather than as a means to or, in some cases, as a…
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Ep. 76 The Weekly: The Pursuit of Popularity
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Ryan discusses the futility and vanity of the pursuit of popularity, a pursuit that is often confused with the pursuit of happiness. Like with money and wealth, instead of viewing fame as an end in itself, it should be used as a means to an end—particularly a means to the end of helping others. In this way, popularity and status can be used for goo…
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Ryan discusses the pitfalls of the pursuit of wealth and riches, a pursuit that is often confused with the pursuit of happiness. "The way in which we use our money and use our possessions makes all the difference in the world! Those who give, receive; sharing with others and living for others is inherently rewarding. There is a huge difference betw…
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Ep. 74 The Weekly: The Way of Contentment
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In today’s installment of The Weekly, Ryan invokes a peculiar theory from the French Enlightenment philosopher Rousseau in order to discuss the path to fulfillment and the way of contentment. "Rousseau believed that this simple and humble way of life, this life without unnecessary ambitions, without exorbitant desires, without an inflated sense of …
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On today's Weekly episode, which is really the first full Weekly of the New Year, Ryan discusses the topic of modern convenience and contemporary ease of living. "The ancient person doesn’t know what she doesn’t have, she doesn’t know what she can or could have; and so, it may very well be that she is happy with what she does have, even happier tha…
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In today's installment of The Weekly, the first podcast episode of the new year, Ryan updates his listeners on recent progress and does some vision casting for 2023 and beyond. Special Requests: Write a quick review on Apple Podcasts If you feel so inclined, donate to the show Thanks for your support! About Ryan, Host of Thinker Sensitive: Ryan Rag…
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Ep. 71 The Weekly: Chad Graham (the culture)
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In the final part of our three part interview with Chad Graham, the original creator of Thinker Sensitive, Ryan and Chad discuss several pertinent cultural issues—issues ranging from political polarization to environmental and energy concerns to the possibility of alien life. Links: Website: https://www.thinkersensitive.com YouTube Channel: https:/…
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Ep. 70 The Weekly: Chad Graham (the church)
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In the second part of a three-part interview with Chad Graham, Ryan asks Chad some candid questions about the state and condition of the contemporary church in the United States. Links: Website: https://www.thinkersensitive.com YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thinkersensitive1752 Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/thinkersensitive In…
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Ep. 69 The Weekly: Chad Graham (the story)
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In the first part of a three-part interview with the original founder of Thinker Sensitive, Ryan asks Chad about his personal story, which includes the story behind the development of Thinker Sensitive. Links: Website: https://www.thinkersensitive.com YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thinkersensitive1752 Facebook Page: https://www.facebook…
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In the ninth episode of our season on the question of God, Ryan concludes the season with some final words and some final declarations. "I cannot not believe. I have to believe. I must believe. To deny the reality of God would be to deny my very existence—to reject my very being, my very history, my very experience, my very essence. This would be a…
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In the eighth episode of our season on the question of God, Ryan discusses the notion of miracles—analyzing the concept from a philosophical perspective and sharing some personal stories. "...this Spirit is the power of the future—the power that liberates the world, liberates history, from the bondage of past-present causation, from the restriction…
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Ep. 66 The Question of God: Engagement (part 2)
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In the seventh episode of our season on the question of God, Ryan continues to evaluate theism and atheism from a cognitive perspective, juxtaposing and critically assessing these worldviews on the basis of rational categories and criteria. "My philosophy professor from graduate school, Michael Peterson, who is a joint editor on some of the philoso…
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Ep. 65 The Question of God: Engagement (part 1)
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In the sixth episode of our season on the question of God, Ryan finally begins to evaluate theism and atheism from a cognitive perspective, juxtaposing and critically assessing these worldviews on the basis of rational categories and criteria. "I believe that there is need for both a creator of the universe and a developer of the universe. The form…
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In the fifth installment of our season on the question of God, Ryan examines the holistic nature of human belief, demonstrating that belief is not simply a matter of the mind, but a matter of the heart, the will, and personal experience. "...the cognitive dimension is not everything; faith and doubt, affirmation of God and rejection of God, are not…
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Ep. 63 The Question of God: Myths & Stereotypes
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In the fourth episode of our season on the question of God, Ryan dispels some common myths about theism and atheism and debunks some stereotypes about believers in God. "Similar to the way in which the myth of Paul Bunyan can be demythologized and debunked, there are various myths about faith and belief that can be and should be debunked as well…. …
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In the third episode of our season on the question of God, Ryan unpacks the profound implications of both worldviews: a theistic worldview and an atheistic worldview—demonstrating why this question is truly the question of all questions. "Nihilism is the necessary effect of atheism as its primary cause. Nietzsche himself understood this, in part be…
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In the second episode of our new season on the question of God, Ryan sums up the history of this all-important question in the West, chronicling the historical development of both theism and atheism in the ancient and modern world. "Today, atheistic belief is becoming more and more commonplace; if it wasn’t taken very seriously in the 20th century,…
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In the first episode of our season on The Question of God, Ryan sets the stage for the rest of the season, explaining why the question is so important to him and sharing how the question has shaped his life. Ryan can only answer this question for himself, and so what follows will be his answer alone…. "I care about this question—the question of all…
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Ryan shares some key details on Thinker Sensitive's upcoming season on the question of God.By Ryan Ragozine
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In today’s edition of The Weekly, Ryan shares his personal thoughts on poverty in the United States, highlighting the ways in which this issue relates to personal virtue and personal ethics. "The one who is grateful will naturally give more than the one who is ungrateful; the one who sees himself as blessed will give more than the one who sees hers…
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In today's edition of The Weekly, which is the second episode of a three-part set on American poverty, Ryan outlines the overarching debate on poverty in the United States—examining key arguments and claims from across the spectrum. “even the developed world’s poor and middle classes are, by global standards, extraordinarily rich. After adjusting f…
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In today’s podcast, the first of three on American poverty, Ryan sets the table by analyzing the key definitions and standards that are used when discussing such matters—looking particularly at how we measure and weigh poverty. "...maybe a more robust and expansive global and historical understanding would help broaden our perspective and help cult…
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On today’s installment of The Weekly, Ryan analyzes two opposing contemporary views on America: A traditional patriotic and idealistic perspective, on one hand, and a modern (or post-modern) unpatriotic and critical perspective, on the other. Just how does this relate to the popular debate between New York-style and Chicago-style pizza? Listen to t…
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Ep. 55 The Weekly: Transcendental Experience
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In today's installment of the The Weekly, Ryan proposes the idea that all human experience is transcendental experience, asserting that all of us experience God "in the everyday," and that each of us encounter the transcendent in our mere existence. To live—to exist—is to be in the presence of one's creator. "This natural, human openness to Spirit …
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On today's Weekly episode, Ryan shares his story and explains how Thinker Sensitive is the culmination of his personal journey, a journey that is still unfolding. About Ryan, Host of Thinker Sensitive: Ryan Ragozine is the host of Thinker Sensitive. He is passionate about ecumenical dialogue, inter-religious dialogue, and worldview engagement. He i…
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On today’s Weekly episode, which is the second part of a two-part podcast on humans and animals, Ryan begins to develop his philosophy and theology of human nature, unpacking the key differences between a human being and other developed primates, and establishing in what ways the human might be said to be made in the image of God. "In mind, in will…
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Do animals have souls? What are the essential differences between a human being and a dolphin or an ape? Are human beings really special amongst all other animals? What makes a human a human? On today’s Weekly episode, which is the first part of a two-part podcast, Ryan sets the table for an in-depth discussion on the nature of humans and animals. …
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This week’s episode is a continuation of our interview with Randy Hardman, owner of the Drinklings Coffee House and creator of the Thinklings Podcast. On the second half of this two-part interview, we talk about suffering in human experience, the distinction between the philosophical problem of evil and the existential problem of evil, the presence…
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On today’s Weekly episode, I have the pleasure of interviewing my friend from seminary, Randy Hardman, owner of the Drinklings Coffee House and one of the original founders of Ratio Christi. Randy has an amazing story (including how he unfortunately passed up the opportunity to watch Appalachian State upset Michigan in the Big House while a student…
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Ep. 49 Wade Bearden: Letter to a Prodigal (Part II)
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In today’s Weekly episode, Ryan continues his interview with his friend from college, Wade Bearden, author of To My Friend Who Left the Faith: A Letter to a Prodigal from a Prodigal. In the second half of their conversation, they talk about the relationship between faith and certainty, hypocrisy in the church, the problem of pain, the role of suffe…
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Ep. 48 Wade Bearden: Letter to a Prodigal
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In today’s Weekly episode, Ryan sits down with Wade Bearden, author of To My Friend Who Left the Faith: A Letter to a Prodigal from a Prodigal. In the first half of our conversation, we talk about “emotionalism,” doubt, personal bias, the role of desire in faith, deconstruction, reconstruction, and self-criticism. “Wade and his friend met and grew …
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On today's Weekly episode, Ryan discusses the importance of having a sense of awe and wonder in life and for the world around us, attempting to inspire people to transcend modern disillusionment and contemporary disenchantment. Life is full of beauty and majesty, and it's important to be mindful of this. “The nuns taught us there are two ways throu…
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Ep. 46 The Weekly: The Pragmatism of Faith
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On this week's episode, Ryan unpacks the practical benefits of belief in God, looking at the relevant data and research from contemporary studies. "I have said it before, and I will say it again: theism—belief in God—gives people meaning, purpose, and hope—something that I have personally experienced throughout my life—and something that these stud…
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On this week's episode, Ryan offers a constructive critique of the selective kindness of the world and tries to explain why universal kindness and unconditional love are far greater. "I believe that striving to become a truly kind person—someone who is kind to all people, not just some people—and striving to become a truly loving person—someone who…
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In the second part of our two part podcast on the current deconstruction movement, Ryan looks at the reasons why so many people are deconstructing Christianity today, closing with a brief appraisal and a brief critique of contemporary deconstruction. "I talked about three types of deconstructionists in last week’s episode: the arsonist, the gentrif…
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If you are on Instagram or TikTok, you are probably familiar with the deconstruction hashtag. This hashtag is often associated with other hashtags, like: #exevangelical, #exfundie, #exholiness, and even #exchristian. As a type of deconstructionist himself, in the opening installment of this two-part podcast, Ryan sets out to deconstruct the deconst…
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Ep. 42 Cancel Culture & Public Education: Ethical Teaching Pt. 2
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In the final episode of our new mini-series, Ryan brings his discussion of ethical education to a close, laying down some guidelines and ending with a concrete application. "The public university should not, in any shape or form, represent a system of coercion or indoctrination—whether of a conservative variety or a liberal variety—but a safe, welc…
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Ep. 41 Cancel Culture & Public Education: Ethical Teaching Pt. 1
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In the second installment of our new mini-series, Ryan sets the table for his ethic of education—defining terms, making key distinctions, and establishing the ideal of neutrality (which is an "impossible possibility") in the public sphere. "During the enlightenment period, many political philosophers developed and propagated the modern idea of publ…
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Ep. 40 Cancel Culture & Public Education: Cancel Culture
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In the first episode of our new mini-series, Ryan evaluates cancel culture from a philosophical and ethical perspective—looking at various pros & cons and presenting a way forward. "If we want grace and forgiveness from others, then we should extend grace and forgiveness to others; if we don’t want to be judged and shamed by others, then we should …
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