Blog
The illusion and danger of believing we're exceptional
Wednesday 12th November 2025
Mike Mullins
“The idea that there’s something unique about us, that species membership is a magical boundary, is becoming increasingly hard to justify.”
In this talk for Green Christian Mike Mullins explores the notion of human exceptionalism. From earliest times human belief systems have asserted that we are somehow “special”. Different from the usual, in a way that’s better, unique, or important. That we stand out from the rest of nature. For thousands of years, we have lived as if we are not animal. In this talk Mike questions if this is true and perhaps more importantly what are the spiritual consequences of this deeply ingrained belief. Perhaps this worldview sits at the heart of the current ecological crisis. If it does, then the question we need to ask ourselves is what is the antidote?