Brian Hines

Brian Hines
Born (1948-10-07) October 7, 1948 (age 78)
OccupationsWriter and land-use activist
Years active1973–present
Known forBooks and blogs
Notable workLife Is Fair: The Law of Cause and Effect
Return to the One: Plotinus’s Guide to God-Realization
SpouseLaurel 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. Over several decades, he has written about spirituality, public policy, and land-use issues, while maintaining an active presence in regional civic debates.

Education

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 to 1977.

Career

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. In the mid-1980s he co-founded Oregon Health Decisions, a statewide citizen network aimed at expanding public engagement with bioethical issues. As executive director, he led efforts to involve non-experts in discussions around medical ethics, resource allocation, and health policy.

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. His blogs and published works have been widely circulated among readers interested in comparative religion, skepticism, and civic engagement.

Spirituality

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. 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.

Writing and influence

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.

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. 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.

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.

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.

Land use activism

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

Personal life

Hines lives currently in Salem, Oregon with his wife, Laurel.

Bibliography

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Douglass, Joe (2016-12-23). "Blogger accuses Salem city councilor of retaliation; state says blogger broke law". KATU. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
  2. 1 2 Bloemers, Ralph. "Local Citizens Hail Ruling Protecting South Salem Hills from Sprawl | Crag Law Center". Retrieved 2025-12-17.
  3. ↑ "Integral egos gone wild, Wilber and Cohen relish worship, Brian Hines". www.integralworld.net. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
  4. 1 2 Crawshaw, Ralph (1985-12-13). "Oregon Health Decisions". JAMA. 254 (22): 3213. doi:10.1001/jama.1985.03360220079033. ISSN 0098-7484. Archived from the original on 2024-07-12.
  5. ↑ Hines, B. (1986). "Health policy on the town meeting agenda". The Hastings Center Report. 16 (2): 5–7. ISSN 0093-0334. PMID 3700080.
  6. ↑ "Talk set on Salem police facility proposal". Statesman Journal. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
  7. ↑ Altstedter, Ari (16 August 2018). "The Billionaires and The Guru: How a Family Burned Through $2 Billion". Bloomberg. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  8. ↑ "Vipassana vs. Surat Shabd Yoga meditation. I pick a winner".
  9. ↑ Bowe, G.S. "Review of: Return to the One: Plotinus' Guide to God-Realization". Bryn Mawr Classical Review. ISSN 1055-7660.
  10. ↑ Hines, Brian. "Break Free of Dogma : Churchless Sermons Preaching the Gospel of Spiritual Independence book by Brian Hines: 9781081736712". Amazon. ASIN B07WCDB61R. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
  11. ↑ Hines, Brian (1996). God's whisper, creation's thunder: echoes of ultimate reality in the new physics. Brattleboro, Vt: Threshold Books. ISBN 978-0-939660-48-3.
  12. ↑ KBR, Upala (7 May 2013). "The man who changed Shahid Kapoor's life". Daily News and Analysis. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
  13. 1 2 Hines, Brian (2015-05-28). "Directionless, I feel like I've found my way". The Spiritual Naturalist Society. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
  14. ↑ "Science, Spirit, and the Wisdom of Not-Knowing by Brian Hines" (PDF).
  15. ↑ "Life is Fair - RSSB Books". scienceofthesoul.org. Retrieved 2025-12-22.