Episode 112 - Belief Is Not a Zero-Sum Game

Episode 112 - Belief Is Not a Zero-Sum Game

From The Camino Podcast by Dave Whitson

March 3, 2026 · 1h 5m

About this episode

This episode explores the motivations of non-religious individuals who undertake the Camino pilgrimage, featuring discussions with two authors on their experiences and beliefs.

We don't know exactly how many non-religious people make the Camino annually, but it's unquestionably a sizable percentage. What inspires or compels atheists and agnostics to go on pilgrimage? To explore that question, this episode brings together Leonard Vance of Tucson, Arizona and Rhian Sasseen of Brooklyn, New York. Leonard is the author of An Atheist on Pilgrimage: Tales of Humanity from the Camino de Santiago, while Rhian (www.rhiansasseen.com) recently had an essay published in The Nation titled "Walking the Camino in the Shadow of Belief." Together, they discuss the value of losing yourself on pilgrimage, the calming of the mind that can occur over the course of a long walk, and the ways that the Camino did--and didn't--reshape their beliefs. Available on Apple, Spotify, and Youtube. For more information on The Camino Podcast: www.davewhitson.com www.facebook.com/CaminoPodcast www.patreon.com/davewhitson

People in this episode

Host: Dave Whitson

Guests: Leonard Vance, Rhian Sasseen

Topics covered

  • pilgrimage
  • belief
  • atheism
  • Camino de Santiago
  • personal journey
  • mindfulness

Keywords

  • Camino
  • pilgrimage
  • atheism
  • belief
  • mindfulness
  • personal journey
  • Leonard Vance
  • Rhian Sasseen

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The Nation, The Camino Podcast

Places: Tucson, Arizona, Brooklyn, New York

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