276. What’s Your Spiritual Story: Jonathan on Zen Buddhism, World Religions, and Finding Judaism

276. What’s Your Spiritual Story: Jonathan on Zen Buddhism, World Religions, and Finding Judaism

Author: Jerry L. Martin March 26, 2026 Duration: 1:04:00

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In this episode of God: An Autobiography, The Podcast, Jerry L. Martin speaks with philosopher and world religions scholar Jonathan Weidenbaum in the series “What’s Your Spiritual Story.”

Jonathan shares how his early fascination with Zen Buddhism, Hinduism, and Eastern philosophy led to a lifelong exploration of world religions. Through study, travel, and teaching, he immersed himself in diverse spiritual traditions across Asia while engaging deeply with thinkers like Martin Buber and Søren Kierkegaard.

Yet his path was not one of leaving Judaism behind—but of returning. Jonathan reflects on rediscovering Jewish practice through attending shul, putting on tefillin, and reconnecting with the rhythms and disciplines of religious life. His story highlights the tension between exploration and rootedness, and the way a tradition can call someone back over time.

The conversation explores spirituality, philosophy, prayer, and the challenge of understanding the divine—whether as a personal God or an ultimate reality. It also reflects on how religious identity can be reshaped in response to both personal searching and the pressures of the modern world.

Jonathan, Jerry, and others continue this conversation at Ultimate Questions, a public Substack from Theology Without Walls exploring life’s deepest questions across traditions. Join the discussion at substack.com/@ultimatequestions.

Other Series:

The podcast began with the Dramatic Adaptation of the book and now has several series:

The Life Wisdom Project – Spiritual insights on living a wiser, more meaningful life.

From God to Jerry to You – Divine messages and breakthroughs for seekers.

Two Philosophers Wrestle With God – A dialogue on God, truth, and reason.

Jerry & Abigail: An Intimate Dialogue – Love, faith, and divine presence in partnership.

What’s Your Spiritual Story – Real stories of people changed by encounters with God.

What’s On Our Mind – Reflections from Jerry and Scott on recent episodes.

What’s On Your Mind – Listener questions, divine answers, and open dialogue. 

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Imagine a philosopher, a dedicated scholar who spent his life in the realm of ideas without a trace of faith, suddenly finding himself in a dialogue he never sought. GOD: An Autobiography, As Told to a Philosopher-The Podcast is the unfolding account of Dr. Jerry L. Martin, a lifelong agnostic and former head of the National Endowment for the Humanities, who one day offered a prayer and received a clear, verbal response. This isn't a theoretical exercise or a sermon; it's a personal chronicle of what happened next, as a trained thinker with deep skepticism began asking the big questions about existence, purpose, and human nature, and recorded the answers he received. Each episode moves this extraordinary narrative forward, blending the disciplines of philosophy, spirituality, and raw personal experience. You'll hear Dr. Martin's thoughtful reflections on these conversations, which span topics from the nature of the divine to the practical challenges of living an ethical life, all grounded in his academic background. This podcast invites you into a story that challenges preconceptions, not to persuade but to present a profound and documented experience. It's for anyone curious about the intersection of intellect and the ineffable, where a philosopher's quest for truth took an utterly unexpected turn. The journey detailed here resonates across categories of religion, culture, and society, offering a unique perspective that is both deeply human and mysteriously transcendent.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 278

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