Patheos
Leo and Cathie Brunnick launched Patheos in Denver, Colorado during 2008. Both founders worked as web technology professionals before starting the project. The website officially opened to the public in May 2009 with a specific goal of teaching people about religions through reference materials. They gathered hundreds of essays from scholars and religious leaders to build a peer-reviewed library covering twenty-seven global faiths. The name itself combined the word path with the Greek term theos for god. This early version focused on academic resources rather than personal opinion or commentary.
The platform expanded rapidly over its first few years of operation. By November 2015, Patheos served more than thirty million content page views across the internet. This volume made it the largest English-language religion website in existence at that time. The company continued to grow until September 2016 when BN Media LLC purchased the organization. Two years later, BN Media announced they would operate under the new business name Radiant. The acquisition marked a turning point for how the site functioned and who controlled its direction.
A significant change occurred after the 2016 acquisition by BN Media. Nonreligious bloggers received instructions that they could no longer publish posts critical of other religions or political systems. This policy shift directly contradicted the original mission of providing diverse perspectives without bias. Most writers from the nonreligious channel chose to leave the platform following these new restrictions. The departure represented a major loss of voices that had previously contributed to the site's broad appeal. The editorial team prioritized alignment with specific faith-based viewpoints over maintaining neutrality.
Patheos organizes its content into eleven distinct Faith Channels representing different belief systems. These channels include Buddhist, Catholic, Evangelical, Hindu, Jewish, Mormon, Muslim, Pagan, Progressive Christian, Spirituality, and Nonreligious groups. More than four hundred fifty blogs and columns provide commentary from within each community. Contributors range from professors and journalists to activists and religious leaders. Additional topical channels cover Entertainment, Family, Preachers, and Faith and Work topics. The Religion Library features a Comparison Lens tool allowing users to contrast origins, beliefs, rituals, ethics, and communities across traditions.
The company generates revenue through several specialized divisions beyond standard website traffic. Patheos Press publishes ebooks and print books focused on religious subjects for general audiences. The Patheos Ad Network manages advertising and provides revenue streams to other websites in the industry. Patheos Labs offers web services, design work, creative content development, and technology facilitation for partners. A partnership with TIME.com began in June 2014 to supply select religion and spirituality content. The Book Club section features sponsored material including excerpts, reviews, author interviews, and roundtable discussions about new releases.
Time magazine described the materials as streamlined and reader-friendly for general audiences. Religion News Service noted it offered a more cerebral approach compared to similar sites like Beliefnet. Newsweek featured the platform among twenty-one ways to be smarter in 2011. Some bloggers raised questions regarding the site's advertising model and its impact on editorial independence. Controversy arose in January 2021 when a satirical blog called Laughing in Disbelief published a false story about Iceland making religion illegal. Social media users mistakenly spread this fictional account as factual news before corrections could be issued.
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Common questions
Who founded Patheos and when did they launch it?
Leo and Cathie Brunnick launched Patheos in Denver, Colorado during 2008. Both founders worked as web technology professionals before starting the project.
When did Patheos officially open to the public?
The website officially opened to the public in May 2009 with a specific goal of teaching people about religions through reference materials. They gathered hundreds of essays from scholars and religious leaders to build a peer-reviewed library covering twenty-seven global faiths.
What happened to Patheos after BN Media LLC purchased the organization in September 2016?
Two years later, BN Media announced they would operate under the new business name Radiant. The acquisition marked a turning point for how the site functioned and who controlled its direction.
How many Faith Channels does Patheos organize its content into?
Patheos organizes its content into eleven distinct Faith Channels representing different belief systems. These channels include Buddhist, Catholic, Evangelical, Hindu, Jewish, Mormon, Muslim, Pagan, Progressive Christian, Spirituality, and Nonreligious groups.
Why did most writers leave the nonreligious channel following the 2016 acquisition?
Nonreligious bloggers received instructions that they could no longer publish posts critical of other religions or political systems. This policy shift directly contradicted the original mission of providing diverse perspectives without bias.