Casper ter Kuile: Rituals & The Purpose of Religion

On this episode, Amy interviews Casper ter Kuile, a man with a very cool job title — the Director of Possibility at The On Being Project. Casper is also the co-creator of How We Gather, a millennial-led spiritual startup collaboration between Harvard Divinity School, the Fetzer Institute, and On Being. Although Casper grew up disconnected from and actively avoiding religion, today, he holds masters degrees in both divinity and public policy at Harvard and remains a Ministry Innovation Fellow at Harvard Divinity School, so he knows a thing or two about the purpose of religion.

On top of all that, Casper co-hosts his own podcast, Harry Potter and the Sacred Text, where he explores deeper meanings and themes through a closer reading of Harry Potter passages. Casper is on a mission to build a world full of joyful belonging by connecting people and co-creating projects that help us live lives of greater connection, meaning, and depth. Listen on to find out how “community washing” might be the new “greenwashing,” the power of rituals and why Casper thinks we are ritual starved, the concept of being, belonging, and becoming (plus, some Beyonce!), and how secular groups like SoulCycle, CrossFit, Daybreaker, recovery centers, sanctuaries, and even house concerts are replacing the old paradigm of religious affiliation.

This episode’s an extra fun and informative one, that reflects the vibrant and insightful personality of Casper ter Kuile. Full of history, religion, personal stories, and family traditions, you’ll walk away with a new understanding of what it means to be, belong, and become the person you want to be, notwithstanding, a little ode to Beyonce.