Soul Food for the Spirit: Belief, Atheism, and Finding Common Ground
From faith to doubt, from division to synthesis: reflections on belief, communication, and the soul.
It Feels Like 100 Years Ago
Hi there,
It feels like 100 years ago that I believed in God. I can barely recall my childhood faith or the convictions of my adolescent self. What I do remember more clearly is being in the seminary—Advent, the countdown to Christmas, reciting the morning Office in a beautiful wood-panelled chapel at Mount Saint Mary’s, Milltown, Dublin. Or sometimes sleeping in, missing it, and feeling embarrassed at breakfast.
The Alien Mindset of a Believer
The mindset of a believer now feels alien, like a distant world I once inhabited. It was an extraordinary paradigm I had signed up for, but one that feels almost unrecognizable today.
This morning, I’ve been reflecting on thesis, antithesis, and synthesis. Specifically, on theism, atheism, and what I’m calling syntheism. (Yes, it’s a made-up word, but it might catch on! In fact, I see others have already used it but with a different meaning than mine.)
Soul Food Restaurant: Writing Across the Divide
One of the things I’m proudest of writing was a column called Soul Food Restaurant, published in Reality, a Catholic magazine, between 2007 and 2010. By then, I was already an atheist. My challenge was to create something meaningful for Catholic readers without compromising my non-belief.
I was thrilled when the editor, Father Gerard Maloney, asked permission to use some of my columns on Mass leaflets. It felt like I had bridged a divide—writing something resonant for believers while remaining true to my atheism. What I discovered was that the supposed chasm between theists and atheists often boils down to language.
The Complexity of Communication
Communication is a complex art. That complexity might explain the global trend toward oversimplified political slogans, like Take Back Control or Make America Great Again. But it also shows how nuanced, thoughtful dialogue can break down barriers.
A Taste of Soul Food
Here’s an excerpt from the first Soul Food Restaurant column, published 17 years ago:
Starters
Welcome to the grand opening of Soul Food Restaurant. Thank you for coming. We want you to enjoy your meal, the conversation, and our service. Ladies and gentlemen, we are honoured by your presence. May you become regular diners. Bon appétit!
Main Course
Our two chefs today come from Nazareth and Greece, offering dishes on our theme: the soul. (Not sole, mind you; not everyone likes fish.) Soul: the life and essence of a person.
Interestingly, Jesus never used the word soul. It didn’t exist in Hebrew or Aramaic. The Greek term psyche—the root of psychology—is used in Matthew 16:26: “What profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world but loses his own soul?” Jesus likely meant something more immediate than what happens after death. He spoke of balance, awareness, and attunement to life today.
Religious people often focus on the hereafter, but the human spirit demands we live fully in the present. Are you looking after your psyche—your emotional and physical well-being? Or have you sold your soul to work, wealth, or appearances?
Dessert
At its heart, soul is about living vibrantly, engaged with yourself and the world. Anima—Latin for breath—is what animates us. Think of Ezekiel’s vision of dry bones coming to life: spirit breathed into them, restoring hope.
Restoring Your Soul
As you leave Soul Food Restaurant, consider one simple, practical action to nurture your soul today. Mine? I’m buying a new bike.
(Which reminds me that my ‘new bike’ is now 17 years old!)
Happy days!
Joe
PS. Our new song It’s a Wonderful Life (A Christmas Tale) will be released next Friday 29 November. #ItsAWonderfulLifeAChristmasTale You can pre-save the song by clicking here.
Listen to our love song/wedding song/wedding anniversary song So Glad I Married You on Spotify or YouTube, sung by The Rayne.
Listen to our marriage proposal song/ wedding engagement song /love song Every Moment, sung by The Rayne.
Joe’s acclaimed first memoir In My Gut, I Don’t Believe is available on Amazon in Kindle, Paperback, Hardback and Audible editions. His second memoir Saved by a Woman is available on Amazon in Kindle, Paperback, and Hardback editions.
