Is Burning Man a Party or a Pilgrimage? (2022)
Every year, thousands of people head to Nevada's Black Rock Desert for a week at Burning Man. And while from the outside, it might seem like a place for partying, drugs, and debauchery, to many, it offers something deeper, even life changing.
August 27, 2023
38 min
Full
41 of 115
August 27, 2023
Is Burning Man a Party or a Pilgrimage? (2022)
0:00 / 38:19
Excerpt playback isn’t available for this episode — use the full-episode link.
Search the Record
Moment search isn’t open for this episode yet
When it opens, you’ll be able to type any phrase and jump straight to the second it was said.
Jew and Greek Episodes Around August 27, 2023
Episode 41 of 115 — walk the feed in the order it was published.
38:19This episodeIs Burning Man a Party or a Pilgrimage? (2022)
Summary
<p><strong>Every year, thousands of people head to Nevada's Black Rock Desert for a week at Burning Man. And while from the outside, it might seem like a place for partying, drugs, and debauchery, to many, it offers something deeper, even life changing.</strong></p>
<p><strong>We’ll ask neuroscientist Molly Crockett and Episcopal minister Alex Leach, both burners themselves: Is Burning Man a new type of spiritual gathering? How and why does it deeply move people? And should more traditional faiths aim to have a bit more Burning Man in them? After all, Jesus went to the desert to find himself. Maybe we should too.</strong></p>
<p><strong>For more on Molly’s research, visit her <a href="http://www.crockettlab.org/news/2022/10/6/the-science-of-generosity-burning-man-project" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">website</a> or read her <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/head-quarters/2014/sep/26/gifts-in-the-desert-psychology-burning-man-altruism" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">article</a> in The Guardian. Alex Leach’s camp at Burning Man is <a href="https://religiousafcamp.com/about-burning-man/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Religious AF</a>. Special thanks to Alex for recording interviews and ambient audio for this episode at this year’s Burning Man.</strong></p>