Let's Talk Religion

This is the first in a series of episodes exploring the world of Occult Sciences in the Islamicate World, including such topics as Alchemy, Astrology, Talismanic Magic & the Science of Letters. Sources/Suggested Reading: Melvin-Koushki, Matthew & Noah Gardner (2017). "Islamicate Occultism: New Perspectives". Brill. Saif, Liana (2015). "The Arabic Influences on Early Modern Occult Philosoph...

In this second episode in our Shocktober 2020 series, we explore the king of mythical creatures in the middle east - the Jinn. What are some of the misconceptions about these creatures, and what different kinds are there out there? Sources/Further Reading: Lebling, Robert & Tahir Shah (2014). "Legends of the Fire Spirits: Jinn and Genies from Arabia to Zanzibar. I.B. Tauris. Henninger, Joseph...

This episode was originally recorded and released in 2020 on the Let's Talk Religion Youtube channel. In this first Shocktober-special we dive into the world of Middle eastern folklore and talk about some of the mythical creatures that we can find in places like the Arabian Nights. #Mythology #Arabia #MiddleEast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we finally dive into one of my favorite topics - Sufi Music. We discuss its history, practical uses as well as theoretical, philosophical perspectives on the role and power of music to affect the human soul, all from the perspective of Muslim Sufi writers. Sources/Suggested Reading: Abu Nasr Abdallah b. Ali al-Sarraj al-Tusi - "Kitab al-Luma' fi al-Tasawwuf". Translated & summ...

In this last part in the trilogy about Vedanta, we explore the life and teachings of Madhvacharya - the founder of the school of Dvaita (dualistic) Vedanta. Sources/Suggested Reading: Bartley, C.J. (2002). "The Theology of Ramanuja - Realism and Religion". Routledge. Deutsch, Eliot (1973). “Advaita Vedanta: A Philosophical Reconstruction”. University of Hawai’i Press. Deutsch, Eliot & Rohit Da...

In this episode we talk about a scholar who represents the very opposite tendency compared to many other figures we have discussed on this channel. Ibn Taymiyya is a controversial thinker, but one that has had a major impact on the contemporary Islamic world. Sources/Suggested Reading: Abrahamov, Binyamin (1998). "Islamic Theology: Traditionalism and Rationalism. Edinburgh University Press. El-Rou...

In this episode, we keep exploring the world of Sufism through one of the oldest and most important orders in history - the Shadhiliyya. Sources/Suggested Reading: Abu-n Nasr, Jamil M. (2007). "Muslim Communities of Grace: The Sufi Brotherhoods in Islamic Religious Life". C Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd. Cornell, Vincent J. (1998). "Realm of the Saint: Power and Authority in Moroccan Sufism". Univ...

It's finally time to talk about Suhrawardi, one of the most fascinating philosophers of the middle ages. Sources/Suggested Reading: Suhrawardi (1187). "The Philosophy of Illumination". Translated by John Walbridge & Hossein Ziai. Islamic Translation Series. University of Chicago Press. Walbridge, John (2005). "Suhrawardi & Illuminationism". In "The Cambridge Companion to Arabic Philosophy"...

In this episode we discuss the famous medieval "heretics" known as the Cathars, and the Albigensian crusade which tried to wipe them out. Sources/Suggested Reading: Barber, Malcolm, The Cathars: Dualist heretics in Languedoc in the High Middle Ages, Second edition (Harlow, United Kingdom: Pearson, 2013). Sennis, Antonio (ed.), Cathars in Question (York: York Medieval Press, 2016). Moore, R. I., Th...

This episode explores the life and teachings of the Mughal prince and Sufi teacher Dara Shikoh. Sources/Suggested Reading: Gandhi, Supriya (2020). "The Emperor who never was: Dara Shukoh in Mughal India". Belknap Press. Eaton, Richard M. (2020). "India in the Persianate Age: 1000-1765". Penguin. Moovsi, Shireen (2002). "The Mughal Encounter with Vedanta: Recovering the biography of 'Jadrup'". Soci...

In this episode we explore the religious ideas and explorations of the Mughal empire's most famous emperor. Sources/Suggested Reading: Eaton, Richard M. (2020). "India in the Persianate Age: 1000-1765". Penguin. Wink, André (2012). "Akbar". In the "Makers of the Muslim World" Series. Oneworld Academic. Moosvi, Shireen (2002). "The Mughal Encounter With Vedanta: Recovering the biography of 'Jadrup'...

In this episode, we explore the history and development of the Arabic language, as well as its connection to religion. Check out this excellent lecture by Ahmad al-Jallad on the subject: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHRbuu8c8nw&t=2836s Sources/Suggested Reading: Al-Jallad, Ahmad (2019). "Safaitic". Article. Al-Jallad, Ahmad (?). "The Earliest Stages of Arabic and its Linguitic Classificatio...

In this episode, we talk about the mystical tradition called "Hesychasm" in the Eastern Orthodox Church. Sources/Suggested Reading: Lossky, Vladimir (1944). "The Mystical Theology of the Eastern Church". James Clarke & Co. Ware, Timothy (2015). "The Orthodox Church: An introduction to Eastern Christianity". New Edition. Penguin Books. "Gregory Palamas: The Triads". Translated by Nicholas Gendl...

In this episode we talk about the fascinating writer & possibly beguine Marguerite Porete (d. 1310). Sources/Suggested Reading: "The Mirror of Simple Souls (From the 15th century translation of the French manuscript)". Edited by C. Kirchberger. First printed in 1927. Soul Care Publishing, Vancover, Canada. (This is the primary source I used for the quotes in the video, it is a very old transla...

In this episode we discuss the Tayyibi Isma'ilis, including the Dawwodi Bohras, Alavi Bohras & Sulaymanis and their history. Don't forget to check out Hikma History: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsaViv1SDQy2FcRFHrf_Dkw Sources/Suggested Reading: Daftary, Farhad (2007). "The Isma'ilis: Their History and Doctrines". Cambridge University. Daftary, Farhad & Shainool Jiwa (ed.) (2017). "The...

Sources/Suggested Reading: al-Jallad, Ahmad (forthcoming) "The Religion and Rituals of the Nomads of Pre-Islamic Arabia: A reconstruction based on the Safaitic Inscriptions". Pre-Print Darft (Version 2: April 3, 2021). al-Jallad, Ahmad (2019). "The 'One' God in a Safaitic Inscription". Draft. The Ohio State University. al-Jallad, Ahmad (2020). "The pre-Islamic basmala: reflections on its first epi...

Today we talk about an often asked question - what is the relatioship between Sufism and Islam? Are they the same thing or is there some difference? Sources/Suggested Reading: Karamustafa, Ahmet T. (2007). "Sufism: The Formative Period". Edinburgh University Press. Knysh, Alexander (2017). "Sufism : A New History of Islamic Mysticism". Princeton University Press. Malik, Jamal & John Hinnells (...

Spinoza is one of the most controversial and debated philosophers in the last few centuries. This episode attempts to give a very general overview of his perspective on God as well as some ways that it can be interpreted. Sources/Suggested Reading: Garrett, Don (1996). "The Cambridge Companion to Spinoza". Cambridge University Press. Nadler, Steven (2018). "Spinoza: A Life". Cambridge University P...

This episode explores the historical and religious context of the first Assassin's Creed Game. The episode uses sound taken from gameplay footage from No Copyrightgfg Gameplaykj. Link to their video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3k2CfOK74c&list=UUMcIQ4ZIKaYC6YescDoyw2w&index=663 Sources/Suggested Reading: Daftary, Farhad (2007). "The Isma'ilis: Their History and Doctrines". Cambridge U...

Abraham Abulafia (d. 1291) is one of the most fascinating jewish mystics of all time, who is credited with founding the "Ecstatic/Prophetic Kabbalah". Sources/Suggested Reading: Hames, Harvey J. (2007). “Like Angels on Jacob’s Ladder”. State University of New York Press. Ide, Moshe (1988). “The Mystical Experience in Abraham Abulafia”. Translated from the Hebrew by Jonathan Chipman. State Universi...

In this episode we talk about Jesus, who is was and if he even existed. Sources/Suggested Reading: Chilton, Bruce & Craig A. Evans (ed.) (1998). Studying the historical Jesus: Evaluations of the state of Current Research. Brill. Ehrman, Bart D. (2013). Did Jesus Exist?: The Historical Argument for Jesus of Nazareth. HarperOne. Holmén, Tom & Stanley E. Porter (ed.) (2011). Handbook for the...

In this episode we talk about the great 14th-15th century saint Shah Ni'matullah Wali and the order that carries his name. Sources/Further Reading: Dahlén, Ashk (2001). "Sufismen i det moderna Iran". In Levande Sufism. Edited by David Westerlund. Graham, Terry (1999) "Shah Ni'matullah Wali: Founder of the Ni'matullahi Sufi Order". In The Heritage of Sufism: Legacy of Medieval Persian Sufism (Volum...

This episode is one that leans heavily on the academic side. Here we talk about the effects that religion and migration have on each other. Sources/Further Reading: Levitt, Peggy (2009). "God Needs No Passport: Immigrants and the Changing American Landscape". The New Press. Frederiks, Martha (2014). "Religion, Migration & Identity: A conceptual and theoretical exploration". In "Religion, Migra...

Meister Eckhart is an influential, and often surprising, Christian theologian/philosopher/mystics whose writings & sermons have both inspired future thinkers in the catholic church, but also been condemned by the pope as heretical. Sources/Further Reading: McGinn, Bernard (2003). "The Mystical Thought of Meister Eckhart: The Man from Whom God Hid Nothing". Independent Publishers Group. McGinn,...

In this video, we talk about one of the most central texts and figures in Daoism. Sources/Further Reading: Komjathy, Louis (2013). "The Daoist Tradition: An Introduction". Bloomsbury Academic. Lao Tzu (2013). "Tao Te Ching - A New Translation. Translated by William Scott Wilson. Shambala Publications. Hackett Publishing Co, Inc. Zhuangzi (2008). "Zhuangzi - The Essential Texts: With Translations f...