Peter Bolland

Preeminent among the British Empiricists, John Locke (1632-1704) offered a bracing alternative to the earlier rationalist philosophy of Descartes, Leibniz, and Spinoza. Unlike rationalism which argued that knowledge was best built on a foundation of innate or priori ideas, Locke argued that empirical or sense experience was our sole means of apprehending the world—all of the ideas in our head were a posteriori, or built on perception of the external world. Furthermore, and probably more germane to our everyday lives, Locke famously championed the idea of natural rights, including the right to private property—a notion that would transform the world. Join us for this inquiry into the influential philosophy of John Locke.

I'll be guest-preaching at both the 8:00 A.M. and 10:30 A.M. services. Attend live or watch live, or after the fact, on the cathedral's YouTube channel. Click here for more information: https://stpaulcathedral.org/

In the vast world of religion and spirituality there is a nether region called mysticism far outside the mainstream, yet hidden in plain sight. By claiming an intimate and direct experience of God within, mystics often find themselves at odds with the mainstream of their own tradition, branded as blasphemers and heretics. Join us as we tell the stories of these brave men and women whose love for God burned like a flame illuminating new paths while threatening to burn down the hierarchical institutions that birthed them.

Join us for this special Saturday evening concert presentation of the songs of John Denver. The life and music of John Denver left an indelible mark on pop music, culture, and our lives. Join singer-songwriter Peter Bolland as he weaves the songs of John Denver with tales of his life and impact. And you’re all invited to sing along—lyrics for some of the songs will be projected on the screen. Join us for this concert and retrospective of the world’s most beloved folk singer of all time.

Immanuel Kant (1724–1804) took it upon himself to repair the rift between rationalism and empiricism in startling ways, and we’ve been arguing about whether or not he pulled it off ever since. But he left behind a towering body of work upon which all modern philosophy is built. Particularly impactful is the way he grounded moral philosophy in metaphysics. Ethical determinations, he argued, are best anchored to logical calculations instead of being left to the vagaries of the heart. Morality, he claimed, was our birthright and our moral obligation. Join us in this inquiry to learn just how much of our modern worldview is rooted in the philosophy of Kant.

No two names are more associated with the influential ethical theory of Utilitarianism that Jeremy Bentham (1748–1832) and his protégé John Stuart Mill (1806–1873). Attempting to bring scientific rigor to the messy business of morality, Bentham and Mill left a lasting legacy in the way we govern and legislate our collective decisions and navigate our personal moral calculations. Learn how Utilitarianism made modern rights movements possible, including women’s rights, animal rights and the rights of LGBTQ+ people. Whether you know it or not, you may already be a Utilitarian.

Join us for a four-day retreat where I'll be the keynote facilitator, alongside others, offering a variety of opportunities to learn, rest, expand, and grow. This retreat will sell-out, so please click here for more details, as well as registration options: https://uucamp.org/camps-for-adults/2026-adult-summer-break-camp-singing-in-the-pines/

Another of the British Empiricists, Scottish philosopher David Hume took Locke’s work to its logical conclusion, and shocked the philosophical world in the process. Known as skepticism, Hume’s philosophy openly questioned the existence of God, a radical stance in the early 18th century. Under Hume’s scalpel, no sacred cow was safe—not science, not reason, not theology, not even the existence of the soul. Join us for an inquiry into the brilliant, beloved, and unorthodox mind of David Hume.

Join Americana/folk singer-songwriter Peter Bolland for a rare and intimate solo concert of original songs. All of Bolland’s albums, both as a solo artist and as front man for The Coyote Problem, have been nominated for Best Americana Album at the San Diego Music Awards, and two have won. But music isn’t about trophies – it’s about opening up and laying bare the beating heart within us. The best songs celebrate our joys, salve our wounds, and move us toward healing. Let this simple, direct, and heartfelt music take you deeper into the beauty of your own life.

From the great Hindu wisdom texts called the Upanishads comes the Katha Upanishad, the story of a young spiritual seeker who goes on a mystical journey to study the secret of existence with none other than Yama the Lord of Death. As we study this story we are drawn into one of the most beautiful, sweeping, and inspiringly profound dialogues in all of the world’s wisdom literature. Is there life after death? What is God? To whom are the secrets of the universe revealed? All of this and more unfolds in the Katha Upanishad.