Converging Paths

Eric Elnes
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Christianity

Converging Paths is a podcast for people who care about faith and refuse to live it narrowly. Through sustained conversations among a Christian minister, Jewish rabbis, Buddhist teachers, and others, the podcast explores how different spiritual traditions wrestle with the same human questions — meaning, suffering, joy, justice, love, and the transformation of the self. Hosted from a Christian perspective shaped by Christian Pluralism, Converging Paths is rooted in the way of Jesus while honoring the sacred wisdom of other faiths. It is not about blending religions or erasing difference, but about listening across boundaries, learning with humility, and discovering how interfaith dialogue can deepen — rather than dilute — a faithful life. Each season offers thoughtful, honest conversation at the intersection of spirituality, culture, and the inner work needed to live wisely and compassionately in a fractured world.

Episodes

  1. 5d ago

    The Prayer We Thought We Knew, Ep. 1: “Our Father”—Not My Father

    Two billion people know the Lord’s Prayer by heart. Almost nobody stops to ask what Jesus hoped would happen inside us when we say, “Our Father.” In the first episode of The Prayer We Thought We Knew, Rev. Eric Elnes explores the prayer one line at a time with Rabbi Brian Mayer, who says the word “Father” bums him out, and Zen Buddhist teacher Esther Freinkel-Tishman, who finds the whole phrase alien—yet describes her own devotion to prajna, the dark Mother and perfection of wisdom. Together they ask whether we can call God “Father” without reinforcing patriarchy, what changes when we pray our Father rather than my Father, how the Holy can be both intimately near and utterly beyond us, and what it means to hallow a name for the One who cannot finally be named. Along the way, they encounter a cross made from a salmon box, the silence at the bottom of a swimming pool, pages of rabbinic commentary on a single letter, the possibility that God can say two things at once, and an ancient understanding of heaven as “between the waters.” They don’t arrive at agreement. That turns out to be the interesting part. The Lord’s Prayer may be the best-known prayer in the world. It may also be the prayer we have barely begun to understand. Guests: Rabbi Brian Mayer and Esther Freinkel-Tishman, Zen Buddhist teacher Host: Rev. Eric Elnes, Ph.D. Converging Paths is produced by the Eden Tree Foundation, a 501(c)(3) fostering spiritual growth and interfaith understanding through present and emerging technology. Support the series: [DONATE LINK]

  2. Apr 5

    Pride vs. Humility: The Spiritual Trap of Being Certain

    Pride is usually imagined as swagger, ego, and self-importance. But in this episode, the conversation goes deeper: pride may be the invisible cage of certainty — the belief that we already know, already see, already understand. In this season finale of Converging Paths, Eric, Brian, and Esther explore the subtle difference between healthy selfhood and spiritual inflation, the danger of humility language for those who have been taught to disappear, and the challenge of becoming “bustable” — able to admit when we are wrong. A rich and surprising final conversation on pride, humility, curiosity, apology, and wonder.

    Pride vs. Humility: The Spiritual Trap of Being Certain

  3. Mar 30

    Lust vs. Love: Desire, Control, and the Longing to Be Seen

    What is the difference between lust and love? In this episode of Converging Paths, Rev. Eric Elnes, Rabbi Brian Mayer, and Esther Freinkel-Tishman explore lust not simply as sexual desire, but as grasping, control, and objectification — and love as mutuality, spaciousness, and the freedom to let another person be fully real. Drawing on Christian, Jewish, and Buddhist wisdom, the conversation moves from Bathsheba and the Song of Songs to crushes, covenant, perfectionism, leadership, and the deep human longing to be seen. Thoughtful, funny, and surprisingly practical, this episode uncovers why lust may be far more than temptation — and why love asks something radically different of us.

    Lust vs. Love: Desire, Control, and the Longing to Be Seen

  4. Mar 23

    Gluttony vs. Temperance: Why “More” Is Making Us Miserable — and What Actually Satisfies

    Why does “more” so often leave us miserable? In this episode of Converging Paths, Rev. Eric Elnes joins Rabbi Brian Mayer and Zen teacher Esther Tishman to explore gluttony not as simple overeating, but as the deeper spiritual burden of “too muchness” in a culture that never stops asking for more. More consumption. More achievement. More information. More certainty. Drawing from the biblical story of manna in the wilderness, Buddhist teachings about self-forgetting, Jewish traditions of gratitude, and Christian spiritual practice, this conversation reframes gluttony as a loss of trust — and temperance as the rediscovery of sufficiency. Along the way, a surprising nod to Gilligan’s Island helps illuminate how even paradise can feel like scarcity when we forget what is enough. You’ll discover: Why overconsumption often masks anxiety and distrustHow “enoughness” opens the door to generosity and easeWhat mindfulness teaches about the “correct portion”Why temperance is not deprivation — but freedom What if satisfaction isn’t found in more… but in enough?

    Gluttony vs. Temperance: Why “More” Is Making Us Miserable — and What Actually Satisfies

  5. Mar 16

    Sloth vs. Hope: Why You’re Always Busy — and Still Feel Stuck

    Sloth isn’t laziness. It’s avoidance. In this episode of Converging Paths, Rev. Eric Elnes, Rabbi Brian, and Zen teacher Esther explore how sloth shows up in modern life — not as inactivity, but as distraction, busyness, and spiritual disengagement. We ask: What are we busy about?Why does slowing down feel threatening?What does Sabbath actually interrupt?And how is hope practiced — not earned? Hope, we discover, isn’t wishful thinking about the future. It’s the courage to stop long enough to remember that we are already held. Part of our ongoing interfaith series on the Seven Deadly Sins and the Lively Virtues.

    Sloth vs. Hope: Why You’re Always Busy — and Still Feel Stuck

  6. Mar 9

    Wrath vs. Faith: When Anger Hardens — and How to Transform the Fire

    We live in a time when anger feels justified — even necessary. But when does anger become wrath? In this episode, Rev. Eric Elnes, Rabbi Brian Mayer, and Zen teacher Esther Freinkel-Tishman explore the difference between anger that awakens conscience and anger that hardens into self-righteousness. Drawing from Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, and Islamic wisdom, they discuss: – Why wrath narrows our vision – The spiritual danger of righteous indignation – The practice of staying with the “hot potato” of anger – How small frustrations train us for larger conflicts – And why faith means trusting that transformation is possible “Anger can only be measured by love.” This is not a call to suppress anger — but to transform it.

    Wrath vs. Faith: When Anger Hardens — and How to Transform the Fire

  7. Mar 2

    Envy vs. Generosity: When Comparison Turns Toxic — and How to Flip It

    Envy may be the only deadly sin that isn’t any fun at all — but is it always destructive? In this episode of Converging Paths, Rev. Eric Elnes, Rabbi Brian Mayer, and Zen teacher Myobun Esther explore the subtle ways comparison shapes our lives. From Cain and Abel to contemporary social tensions, they examine how envy can corrode connection — and how generosity, gratitude, and empathetic joy can transform it. The conversation includes personal stories of envy, reflections on justice and fairness, and practical spiritual insights for turning resentment into growth. If envy begins in comparison, perhaps healing begins in connection. Part of the series: The Inner Work: An Interfaith Exploration of the Seven Deadly Sins and Lively Virtues

    Envy vs. Generosity: When Comparison Turns Toxic — and How to Flip It

  8. Feb 20

    Greed vs. Gratitude: Why Wanting More Leaves Us Empty—and Thankfulness Makes Us Whole

    Greed is rarely about money alone. It’s about fear, scarcity, and the quiet conviction that what we have—or who we are—is not enough. In this opening episode of The Inner Work, we explore Greed vs. Gratitude through a thoughtful interfaith conversation that reframes one of humanity’s oldest struggles. A Christian minister, a Jewish rabbi, and a Zen Buddhist teacher come together to examine how greed subtly shapes our desires, our relationships, and even our spiritual lives. Rather than moralizing, this conversation looks honestly at why greed takes hold—and how gratitude emerges across religious traditions as a powerful antidote, not through denial, but through awakening. This is Episode 37 of the Converging Paths podcast and the first episode in our Inner Work series, an interfaith exploration of the Seven Deadly Sins and the life-giving virtues that help loosen their grip. Looking for the video version? Visit the Converging Paths Podcast on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@ConvergingPaths-777

    Greed vs. Gratitude: Why Wanting More Leaves Us Empty—and Thankfulness Makes Us Whole
  • 8 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Converging Paths is a podcast for people who care about faith and refuse to live it narrowly. Through sustained conversations among a Christian minister, Jewish rabbis, Buddhist teachers, and others, the podcast explores how different spiritual traditions wrestle with the same human questions — meaning, suffering, joy, justice, love, and the transformation of the self. Hosted from a Christian perspective shaped by Christian Pluralism, Converging Paths is rooted in the way of Jesus while honoring the sacred wisdom of other faiths. It is not about blending religions or erasing difference, but about listening across boundaries, learning with humility, and discovering how interfaith dialogue can deepen — rather than dilute — a faithful life. Each season offers thoughtful, honest conversation at the intersection of spirituality, culture, and the inner work needed to live wisely and compassionately in a fractured world.

Information

  • Creator
    Eric Elnes
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    8
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Eric Elnes
  • Show Website
    Converging Paths

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