Eight Trails

About the Substack

Inspired by the true story of a young family lost in a wintery mountain wilderness, I reflect on how religious symbols can guide us on our wilderness trails -- if we know how to read them as maps.

Free Subscription Benefits

  • Eight Trails, text version only, delivered in brief episodes

Paid Subcription Benefits

  • Subscriber-only audio posts

Paid Subscription Plans

  • $50 a year
  • $5 a month

About Dr. Joanne Swenson

Puzzled and even incredulous at many religious beliefs, I was driven to understand it, especially Christianity. This took me to academia (Harvard) to the pew (from progressive to evangelical) to the pulpit (minister), to now advising young adults.

Is this your Substack? Request changes.

Eight Trails's recommended Substacks

Church Blogmatics by Beth Felker Jones logo
Beth Felker Jones

Church Blogmatics by Beth Felker Jones

Theology is more like poetry than geometry. Theology is "vile for the sake of the gospel" (so says my friend, John Wesley). Aspiring to a vile poetics.

100+
paid subscribers
5K+
free subscribers
Marginalia with Beth Allison Barr logo
Beth Allison Barr

Marginalia with Beth Allison Barr

Reflections on Evangelicalism, Medieval History, and Women's History

100+
paid subscribers
9K+
free subscribers
The Pietist Schoolman logo
Chris Gehrz

The Pietist Schoolman

Exploring Christianity, history, and education — and how they intersect

1K+
free subscribers
John’s Newsletter logo
John Hawthorne

John’s Newsletter

Thoughts about Contemporary Culture, Politics, and Religion

1K+
free subscribers
Breaking the News logo
James Fallows

Breaking the News

Dispatches from a veteran reporter

1000+
paid subscribers
22K+
free subscribers