Have you ever stopped to consider that regardless of your formal religious beliefs, you might be naturally religious in how you interact with the world? Through a thoughtful exploration of the Latin root of religion—religare, meaning "to reconnect" or "to realign"—this episode delves into how humans naturally venerate images and symbols. From sports heroes displayed prominently in school hallways to public figures like Charlie Kirk and George Floyd whose images appear on billboards and social media, we constantly engage in acts of veneration that mirror religious practices.Drawing from personal experience finding solace in the Holy Orthodox Church, I explore how Orthodox traditions of icon veneration offer a framework for understanding our relationship with all images. The crucial distinction between worshipping an image itself versus venerating what it represents through that image provides a powerful lens for examining our contemporary culture.The episode introduces a compelling metaphor: when we look through a window at a beautiful landscape, we don't worship the glass—we appreciate what it allows us to see. Similarly, the images we choose to elevate in our lives should function as windows to greater truths and values rather than endpoints of devotion themselves.As societies become increasingly polarized around figures and symbols, this meditation invites listeners to reflect deeply on what we venerate and why. Our choices reveal our core values and shape our understanding of the world. What beauty are you truly seeking through the windows you've chosen? What do your venerations reveal about what you worship?Drop us a line

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