Recent writings on atheism expediently disregard a nuanced and complex history and relationship with religion. In this ETZ TalK, Rabbi Jon Sommer will explore a historical and liminal intersection of religion and non-belief, and how contemporary writers such as Richard Dawkins get it wrong by setting up religion as a convenient target. Rabbi Sommer suggests, rather, that the fundamental concern is not religion, but the lack of critical thought, which leads to errant ways of thinking, and is more challenging and complex to address than religion.

Rabbi Jon Sommer has been providing support and counseling to those in grief for nearly 30 years. He began his training and graduate education in 1993 and has worked as a rabbi and grief counselor since ordination from HUC-JIR in 1998. He provided non-profit grief support through the Bay Area Jewish Healing Center for 17 years serving the broad diversity of our community, and earning post-graduate Clinical Pastoral Education through UCSF-Mt. Zion among other hospitals

In addition to receiving the Air Force Achievement Medal during graduate work at the U.S. Air Force Academy, and later in Washington D.C. and at Air Force Space Command, he has an MA from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and BA University of California. During his free time he enjoys Medieval Jewish Philosophy, social justice projects around inclusivity, being with his family, dressage, CrossFit, and yoga.