Brian Hines

Brian Hines
Born	(1948-10-07) October 7, 1948 (age 77)
Occupations	Writer and land-use activist
Years active	1973–present
Known for	Books and blogs[1]
Notable work	Life Is Fair: The Law of Cause and Effect Return to the One: Plotinus’s Guide to God-Realization
Spouse	Laurel Hines

Brian Hines (born October 7, 1948) is an American writer and land-use activist known for his work opposing development on farm and forest land in Oregon.^[2] Over several decades, he has written about spirituality, public policy, and land-use issues, while maintaining an active presence in regional civic debates.^[1]

He earned a degree in psychology from San Jose State University in 1971, and a master's in social work from Portland State University in 1973. Hines completed course requirements for a Ph.D. in systems science at PSU from 1974–77.

He worked in health policy and planning from 1973 to 1988: four years as a research associate at University of Oregon Health Sciences Center followed by six years at the Oregon State Health Planning and Development Agency, where he held various management roles.^[3] In the mid-1980s he co-founded Oregon Health Decisions, a statewide citizen network aimed at expanding public engagement with bioethical issues.^[4] As executive director, he led efforts to involve non-experts in discussions around medical ethics, resource allocation, and health policy.^[5]

After leaving government service, Hines became more active as a writer, exploring topics ranging from meditation and spirituality to public philosophy and local land-use controversies.^[6] His blogs and published works have been widely circulated among readers interested in comparative religion, skepticism, and civic engagement.^[1]

In 1971, Hines became a member of Radha Soami Satsang Beas, a spiritual organization in Radha Soami movement. He was actively involved in the movement for several decades and wrote extensively about it.^[7] Over time, he became critical of the organization. He later adopted Samatha-Vipassanā meditation as his primary practice, reflecting a shift toward Buddhist-influenced mindfulness techniques.^[8]

Hines is the author of four published books on spirituality and philosophy. His first major philosophical work, Return to the One: Plotinus’s Guide to God-Realization, presents a modern interpretation of the teachings of the ancient Greek philosopher Plotinus. The book received scholarly attention, including a formal academic review in the Bryn Mawr Classical Review.^[9]

He later published Break Free of Dogma: Churchless Sermons Preaching the Gospel of Spiritual Independence, which argues for a non-institutional, experiential approach to spirituality.^[10] His third book, God’s Whisper, Creation’s Thunder: Echoes of Spiritual Reality in the New Physics, explores perceived connections between modern physics and spiritual experience.^[11]

His best-known popular work, Life Is Fair: The Law of Cause and Effect presents a moral argument centered on karma, ethical responsibility, and vegetarianism. The book gained international attention after Bollywood actor Shahid Kapoor publicly credited it with influencing his decision to become a vegetarian, bringing widespread visibility to Hines’s writings in India and beyond.^[12]

In addition to his books, Hines maintains several long-running blogs addressing spirituality, skepticism, land-use policy, and local politics in Oregon: Church of the Churchless, HinesSight, and Salem Political Snark.^[13]

Residing in Oregon for much of his adult life, Hines has been a vocal critic of urban expansion onto agricultural and forest land.^[2] Through public testimony, local commentary, and writing, he has contributed to debates surrounding rural preservation, zoning, and environmental protection in Salem and surrounding communities.^[4] His activism reflects a long-standing commitment to sustainable land-use planning and the protection of Oregon’s rural landscapes.^[1]

Hines lives currently in Salem, Oregon with his wife, Laurel.^[13]

• Hines, Brian. God’s Whisper, Creation’s Thunder ISBN 978-0977735235 is a study of how ancient mysteries relates to the new physics.
• Hines, Brian. Science, Spirit, and the Wisdom of Not-Knowing is a 24-page essay that also explores how science and spirituality relate.^[14]
• Hines, Brian. Life is Fair ASIN B000CBCXP2 is a modern discussion of karma, complete with cartoons, and why vegetarianism is both sensible and moral.^[15]
• Hines, Brian. Return to the One ISBN 978-0-9777352-1-1 is an exposition of the teachings of Plotinus, a Greek mystic philosopher.
• Hines, Brian. Break Free of Dogma: Churchless sermons preaching the gospel of spiritual independence ISBN 978-1081736712.

• Brian's website
• Brian Hines' blog called Church of the Churchless.
• Article in the Journal of the American Medical Association