Hmm …

… Philosophers and their religious practices, part 8: religious naturalism. (Hat tip, Rus Bowden.)

I think the core of religion is the realization that you are embraced by patterned powers which exceed you and which will save you. Because these powers are patterned in a benevolent way, they are powers in which you can place your faith, which you can learn to trust. But trust and faith are emotional, and, most importantly, they need to be learned through practice. You gain trust in others as you work with them, as you solve problems together. You have to learn to trust your friends. Rituals help theists gain trust in divine people. You can feel like you’re working with God when you pray. But trust doesn’t require personality. The powers in which we can place our faiths need not be people. You can place your faith in impersonally patterned powers. You can trust algorithms, you can trust the laws of nature, you can trust arithmetic. Religiously, you can place your faith in utterly impersonal laws of karma.

What is the point in pacing your faith in utterly impersonal laws of karma or anything else? Have you any choice in the matter? I am a person. So is Professor Steinhart.  I think that personality in inherent in being. Evidently, he doesn't think that. A faith in impersonal forces seems to me amount to amount to no faith at all, at least I understand the word. See A Matter of Trust.