Patheos is a non-denominational, non-partisan online media company providing information and commentary from various religious and nonreligious perspectives. Upon its launch in May 2009, the website was primarily geared toward learning about religions through a reference library and other peer-reviewed resources on 27 global religions and worldviews. In its current form, the site also hosts more than 450 blogs in eleven "Faith Channels," offering commentary and news from these perspectives in topics including politics, institutions, culture, sacred texts, history, lifestyle, entertainment, family life, and business. Patheos is the largest English language religion and spirituality site in the world, while the Catholic, Progressive Christian, Nonreligious, and Pagan Channels constitute the largest web presence for their respective traditions.
History
Patheos was founded in 2008 by Leo and Cathie Brunnick, both web technology professionals and residents of Denver, Colorado. They amassed hundreds of essays and works from scholars, practitioners, and religious leaders, shaping them into a comprehensive peer-reviewed Library. As the site developed, bloggers and columnists from various traditions were added to the format. The name Patheos is a portmanteau of "path" and "theos", the Greek word for god. In November 2015, Patheos served over 30 million content page views, making it the largest English-language religion website in the world. In September 2016, Patheos was acquired by Beliefnet, a property of BN Media, LLC.
Content
In an early interview, Leo Brunnick described the site's intention as a middle ground between dry academic sites, "gimmicky" popular sites, and faith-based sites that are passionate and knowledgeable but biased toward a single perspective. Its Religion Library is intended for students of religion in school or home settings and includes a “Comparison Lens” feature to compare and contrast elements in different religious traditions, including the origins, development, beliefs, rituals, ethics, and community of each tradition. Patheos hosts eleven “Faith Channels”, providing commentary from their respective faith communities through more than 450 blogs and columns. Contributors include professors, journalists, authors, activists, and religious leaders. There are also several topical Channels, including: Entertainment ; Family ; Preachers ; and Faith and Work. Patheos Book Club features sponsored material on new releases in religious publishing, including excerpts, book reviews, author Q&As, interviews, and roundtable discussions. Patheos Public Square is a monthly symposium that poses a single question of timely and general interest, inviting internal and external contributors to shape responses from their own religious perspectives. Past topics have included the Future of World Religions; America and Civil Religion; Faith Communities and the Alleviation of Poverty; Political Engagement and Culture Wars; Politics in the Pulpit; Abortion; and Religion and the Environment. Patheos Press publishes ebooks and print books on religious topics; Patheos Ad Network provides revenue and advertising management to other websites; and Patheos Labs offers web services and design, creative content development, new media strategies, and technology facilitation. In June 2014, Patheos began a partnership with TIME.com to provide select religion and spirituality content for the site. In early 2017 The Huffington Post reported that over a dozen "pagan" bloggers had left the platform, citing changes made to their contracts after the company's merger with Beliefnet. Warren Throckmorton, a professor of psychology and writer for Patheos said he had his articles removed from the platform. According to Throckmorton, the communication he received said that his blog no longer fit the “strategic objectives” of Patheos Evangelical.
Reception
Time magazine called the materials on Patheos "streamlined" and "reader-friendly". Religion News Service described it as "a more cerebral approach to what Beliefnet's been doing for nearly a decade". Patheos was featured as one of "21 Ways to Be Smarter in 2011" by Newsweek. The site's advertising model has raised questions for some bloggers.
Prominent contributors
Some notable Patheos writers include:
Thomas Moore – Psychologist, former monk, author of Care of the Soul
