Data Over Dogma Even Heretics Deserve Rituals! With Jeremy Steele
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May 11, 2026 Jeremy Steele, author and ordained United Methodist minister turned secular ritualist, explores reclaiming ritual without theology. He discusses why rituals matter beyond religion. He explains adapting sacred practices for solo use, the neuroscience behind ritual effects, grief and healing rituals, safety and cultural sensitivity, and playful, practical ways to experiment with ritual.
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Rituals Are Millennia Of Practical Human Knowledge
- Rituals encode refined human knowledge with measurable psychological effects proven by modern science.
- Jeremy Steele notes rituals were refined over millennia and continue to impact the brain regardless of belief in God.
Remove God Language Keep The Method
- Do remove the supernatural language but keep ritual mechanics to access their psychological benefits.
- Steele recommends keeping the methodology (movement, smell, repetition) while letting belief be optional.
Sacred Meals Create Material Connection And Accountability
- Food functions as a connecting modality in sacred meals because molecules cycle through ecosystems and bodies.
- Steele reframes communion as accountability: eating connects us to past and future life and demands stewardship.
