Let's Talk Religion

In this episode, we explore the famous persian sufi poem "Mantiq al-Tayr" or The Conference of the Birds, written by Fariduddin Attar. Sources/Suggested Reading: 'Attar, Fariduddin. "The Conference of the Birds". Translated by Afkham Darbandi & Dick Davis. Penguin Classics. 1984. "Farid ad-Din 'Attar's Memorial of God's Friends: Lives and sayings of Sufis". Translated by Paul Losensky. Classic...

In this episode, we explore what little we know of the mysterious group of Jewish Christians known as the Ebionites. Sources/Suggested Reading: Brakke, David (2012). "Gnostics: Myth, Ritual, and Diversity in Early Christianity". Harvard University Press. Chilton, Bruce & Craig A. Evans (ed.) (1998). Studying the historical Jesus: Evaluations of the state of Current Research. Brill. Ehrman, Bar...

In this episode, we explore the history and key features of the movement known as Salafism, which has become a significant force in modern Islam. Sources/Suggested Reading: Crawford, Michael (2014). "Ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab". Oneworld Academic. Hamid, Sadek (2016). "Sufis, Salafism and Islamists: The Contested Ground of British Islamic Activism". I.B. Tauris. Hoover, Jon (2019). "Ibn Taymiyya". Oneworl...

In this episode, we explore whether or not we can find the conception of a single, absolute god in ancient Egyptian theology. Sources/Suggested Reading: Assmann, Jan (2001). "The Seach for God in Ancient Egypt". Translated by David Lorton. Cornell University Press. Copenhaver, Brian P. (ed.) (1995). "Hermetica: The Greek Corpus Hermeticum and the Latin Asclepius in a New English Translation, with...

In this episode, we explore the life and movement of Pythagoras and the Pythagoreans, and discover that the common image of him as an ancient mathematician isn't entirely supported by the evidence. Sources/Suggested Reading: Huffman, Carl A. (2008). "Philolaus of Croton: A Commentary on the Fragments and Testimonia with Interprative Essays". Cambridge University Press. Huffman, Carl A. (ed.) (2017...

This episode explores the life, teachings and movement of Abraham Maimonides, the son of the much more famous Jewish philosopher Moses Maimonides (d. 1204). Sources/Suggested Reading: Idel, Moshe (1987). "The Mystical Experience in Abraham Abulafia". State University of New York Press Kraemer, Joel L. (2010). "Maimonides: The Life and World of one of Civilization's Greatest Minds". Doubleday &...

In this episode, I attempt to give you an overview of the vast and complex Twelver school of Shi'ism across history. Sources/Suggested Reading: Abdulsater, Hussein Ali (2017). "Shi'i Doctrine, Mu'tazili Theology: Al-Sharif al-Murtada and Imami Discourse". Edinburgh University Press. Amir-Moezzi, Mohammad Ali (1994). "The Divine Guide in Early Shi'ism: The Sources of Esotericism in Islam". Translat...

WARNING: This episode contains depictions of violence, references to sexual acts and mild nudity. In this episode, we explore the often misunderstood tradition of Tantra or Tantrism. Sources/Suggested Reading: Bharati, Agehananda (1965). "The Tantric Tradition". B.I. Publications. Bhattacharyya, N.N. (2005). "History of the Tantric Religion". Second Revised Edition. Manohar. Dyczkowski, Mark S.G....

In this episode, we continue our explorations of Daoism by studying its later developments into organized movements and the fascinating practice of Neidan, or "Internal Alchemy". Sources/Suggested Reading: Graham, A.C. (1999). "Disputers of the Tao: Philosophical Argument in Ancient China". Open Court. Kohn, Livia (1991). "Early Chinese Mysticism: Philosophy and Soteriology in the Taoist Tradition...

In this episode, we explore the most (in)famous book of occult sciences in the history of the Islamicate World: the Shams al-Ma’arif (Sun of Knowledge). WARNING: I am quoting from the book in this episode. Those concerned about its dangers might want to avoid listening to this episode. Sources/Recomended Reading: Al-Buni, Ahmad ibn ‘Ali. “The Sun of Knowledge (Shams al-Ma’arif): An Arabic Grimoire...

We continue this year's Shocktober with an exploration of demons and exorcism in Ancient Mesopotamia. Sources/Recomended Reading: Abusch, I. Tzvi (2020). "Babylonian witchcraft literature: case studies". Brown Judaic Studies. Scholars Press, Atlanta, Georgia. Abusch, I. Tzvi (2020). "Mesopotamian Religion". In Essays on Babylonian and Biblical Literature and Religion, Vol. 65: 5-23. Brill. Abusch,...

In this episode of Shocktober 2022, we explore the creature(s) known as "Mare" in Northern European folklore. #mare #folklore #halloween Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We continue our exploration of the Occult Sciences by taking a look at some of the earliest theories and practices surrounding astrology in the Islamicate World. Sources/Suggested Reading: Adamson, Peter & Richard C. Taylor (ed) (2004). "The Cambridge Companion to Arabic Philosophy". Cambridge University Press. Adamson, Peter & Peter E. Pormann (ed) (2012). "The Philosophical Works of al-K...

We continue our exploration of the Occult Sciences by looking at the theory and use of Talismans in the Islamicate World. Sources/Suggested Reading: Melvin-Koushki, Matthew & Noah Gardner (2017). "Islamicate Occultism: New Perspectives". Brill. Saif, Liana (2015). "The Arabic Influences on Early Modern Occult Philosophy". Palgrave Macmillan. Saif, Liana; Francesca Leoni; Matthew Melvin-Koushki...

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'...