Welcome to the CODA Project!
If you haven’t done so already, please take a few minutes to read through the About page, which goes into detail about the Project, what I’m trying to accomplish, what the Project’s core values are, and much more.
There are also a number of specific posts for various “audiences,” for lack of a better word. Check out the descriptions below, select the one that best fits, and go to that page to read about how the CODA Project might be able to benefit you.
AUDIENCE PAGES
“Nones”
If you are one of the millions of people in the United States who select “none” on surveys that ask you to indicate your religious affiliation, then spend a few minutes reading A Note to the Nones. I commend you for eschewing organized religion and believe the CODA Project truly benefits those who are religiously unaffiliated.
Spiritual but Not Religious
Full disclosure: I no longer believe in the supernatural, and I include most flavors of “spirituality” in my definition of supernatural, so the CODA Project won’t help you in that regard. However, if you read Solid but Not Spiritual, I hope you’ll agree that the Project’s focus on values, morality, ethics, logic, and reason can be beneficial for those who are exploring the ideas related to enlightenment and spirituality.
Deconverted Christians
If you’ve escaped from Christianity, then you’ve come to the right place! My focus is not on debunking Christianity or the Bible, but I don't pull any punches, so you may learn more about the underlying problems with your former religion, which can also help you on your journey. Check out Three Cheers for the Ex-Christians to learn more.
Deconverted Non-Christians
If you’ve deconverted from Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Wicca, Paganism, or any of the other non-Christian religions or supernatural belief systems, the CODA Project offers you a logical, well-reasoned approach to living your life outside of organized religion. Spend a few minutes reading Non-Believing Non-Christians for some thoughts on how the CODA Project can benefit you.
Atheists, Humanists, and Agnostics
This is an intentionally broad category and can overlap the other “audiences” in many ways, but if you identify with any of these labels, I believe you’ve found your online home! The CODA Project isn’t focused on debunking religion, but you don’t need that anyway. What you need are solid ideas for identifying and maintaining your core values, living a good life without god, teaching values and morals within your families, and creating small supportive communities outside of any particular religious tradition. Head on over to AHA - You’ve Made It! to learn more.
Mythologizing the Bible
Mythologizing the Bible (MTB) is a weekly webinar series that is also being released as a podcast and video series. MTB follows the Sunday readings from the Roman Catholic Lectionary and analyzes them through the lens of “sacred myth.” Each week, I look at three readings from these ancient writings and try to find the perennial patterns and universal truths that should be applicable to all of us, regardless of our religious beliefs (or lack thereof).
Because I look at the readings through a secular lens, the MTB series should be applicable to everyone. However, because most of the Bible readings covered are well known to Christians, especially Roman Catholics, this show is a fantastic way to think differently about something that’s very familiar. One of the most common things I hear from the MTB audience is that the show addresses all sorts of issues that bothered people for years, though they had a hard time vocalizing their questions and concerns. Visit the Mythologizing the Bible (MTB) page for more info.
COMING in 2025: CODA Meetings
In January of 2025, I’ll be launching CODA Meetings, which will include the Weekly CODA and the Monthly CODA. These meetings will be designed to help you begin to create small communities and/or teach strong values within your homes.
One of the most common concerns people have after deconverting is that they no longer have a community. There are many things that churches do very wrong, but one of the most common things they often get right is the creation of “community.” When people leave their church, it’s usually this feeling of belonging that they miss.
Another common concern that parents of younger children express is that they aren’t sure how their kids will learn good values. They’ve fallen for the myths that it’s hard to be good without god and that religion does a good job of teaching values. Frankly, it’s easier to be good without god (and organized religion), and churches do a very poor job of teaching good values. The goal of any religion is to perpetuate itself. Any truly good values you learn along the way are supplemental to the main tenets of the faith.
So, the goals of the CODA Meetings are to (1) give you an easy way to create a little community of your own, and (2) provide the means to teach solid values within your families.
Weekly CODA
Each week, the CODA Project will publish a meeting plan and accompanying video. The meetings can be held with a group of friends or with your family. Each meeting begins with an introduction, to be read by someone at the meeting, followed by a viewing of the video. This 10 -15 minute video explains the value being explored that week and takes the place of a sermon or homily, which you would hear at a church service. Following the video, there are a series of questions for the group to discuss, followed by a closing statement, read by one of the attendees.
The CODA Project will share ideas on slightly different formats for the meeting, but the ultimate goal is to have a ritualized meeting each week that focuses on a specific value, shares excellent information, and then encourages groups to interact with each other by discussing their own ideas about the topic. Preferably, the group will share a meal either before or after the meeting.
In music, a coda is the concluding passage of a piece or movement, typically forming an addition to the basic structure. My hope is that the Weekly CODA will be incorporated into the basic structure of your week and will help conclude it or wrap it up nicely.
Monthly CODA
On the final weekend of each month, I will publish the Monthly CODA. This meeting will be the same format but will bring together an overarching theme for the Weekly CODA meetings that month. The Monthly CODA can be held with the same group or with a larger group that comes together once a month.
The CODA Meetings program will provide you with everything you need start building your own traditions and communities.
Next Step: SUBSCRIBE!
At the very least, please become a free subscriber to ensure you never miss any of the CODA Project content. However, if you’d like to do more to support the work I’m doing and help turn this into a strong secular movement, stop tithing to a religious organization and become a paid subscriber to the CODA Project!
Once you’ve selected the subscriber tier that’s right for you, then the next step of your journey is to select the post that’s most applicable to you from the following:
