The Top Posts of 2025 on The Tolton Path
Quite a year for faith, culture and imagination
2025 was a remarkable year for The Tolton Path. From reflections on culture and faith to meditations on imagination, AI, and the human spirit, this year’s posts sparked some of the strongest engagement since the newsletter began.
Below are the top‑performing posts of 2025, ranked by total views and measured against each post’s average performance. Each one resonated with readers in its own way — and together, they tell the story of a year spent exploring what it means to be human in an age of machines, mystery and faith.
Here’s the year in review, counted down from #10 to #1.
10. R.I.P. Gene Hackman — March 2, 2025
Exceeded average by 14%
Read it: https://www.thetoltonpath.com/p/rip-gene-hackman
A tribute to a legendary actor, reflecting on craft, vocation, and legacy. Readers who share a love of film found this piece especially meaningful.
9. Pope Leo and Artificial Intelligence — May 25, 2025
Exceeded average by 19%
Read it: https://www.thetoltonpath.com/p/pope-leo-and-artificial-intelligence
A bridge between 19th‑century Catholic teaching and modern AI ethics. It resonated with readers interested in how the Church’s intellectual tradition speaks to contemporary questions.
8. We’re Going to be Okay: A Walk Through Time and the Solution to Violence — September 14, 2025
Exceeded average by 23%
Read it: https://www.thetoltonpath.com/p/were-going-to-be-okay-a-walk-through
A long‑view exploration of human conflict and Christian hope. Readers appreciated its blend of realism and trust in divine providence.
7. Will 50 Cent Go To Heaven? — April 6, 2025
Exceeded average by 37%
Read it: https://www.thetoltonpath.com/p/will-50-cent-go-to-heaven
A playful title leading into a serious reflection on salvation, mercy, and the universality of grace. Its cultural hook made it widely read.
6. The New Earth Series Continues! — August 10, 2025
Exceeded average by 48%
Read it: https://www.thetoltonpath.com/p/the-new-earth-series-continues
An installment in the unfolding New Earth narrative. Readers following the series showed strong enthusiasm for this chapter.
5. My Amazing Conversation with AI About Creation — March 16, 2025
Exceeded average by 52%
Read it: https://www.thetoltonpath.com/p/my-amazing-conversation-with-ai-about
A surprising dialogue exploring creation, theology, and the nature of intelligence. The blend of classical ideas and modern tools captured readers’ imaginations.
4. The Stations of the Cross — March 23, 2025
Exceeded average by 56%
Read it: https://www.thetoltonpath.com/p/the-stations-of-the-cross
A contemplative devotional walk through Christ’s Passion. Its simplicity and prayerful tone made it a standout during the Lenten season.
3. The Annunciation Church Shooting: Love Always Defeats Evil — August 31, 2025
Exceeded average by 58%
Read it: https://www.thetoltonpath.com/p/the-annunciation-church-shooting
A reflection on tragedy, forgiveness, and the Christian response to violence. Its insistence on hope in the face of evil resonated deeply with the community.
2. I Wrote a Song and AI Sang It — February 2, 2025
Exceeded average by 87%
Read it: https://www.thetoltonpath.com/p/i-wrote-a-song-and-ai-sang-it-listen
A creative experiment blending human songwriting with AI‑generated vocals. Many readers were intrigued by the intersection of technology and artistic expression.
1. The Secret Plan (and How I Found Mine) — June 29, 2025
Exceeded average by 204%
Read it: https://www.thetoltonpath.com/p/the-secret-plan-and-how-i-found-mine
A meditation on vocation and the quiet ways purpose reveals itself. This piece became the year’s clear breakout—resonating far beyond the usual readership and becoming the community’s most read post of 2025.
Conclusion
As this list shows, 2025 was a year shaped by your curiosity, generosity, and willingness to explore big questions — about faith, imagination, technology, culture, and the quiet movements of grace in everyday life. These posts rose to the top because you read them, shared them, and carried their ideas into your own conversations.
Looking ahead, 2026 already feels full of promise. There are new essays to write, new questions to wrestle with, and new moments of wonder waiting to be uncovered. And of course, there is the continuing work on my novel, The Marrying Man. With the manuscript completed, I’ll be sharing meaningful updates in the months ahead.
Thank you for being part of this journey. Here’s to another year of embracing faith in our culture and including faith in all parts of our lives — especially in stories still waiting to be told.
Peace.