Let's Talk Religion

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...

We follow up the last episode on Shankara & Advaita Vedanta by talking about the most influential response to that school. Sources/Suggested Reading: Bartley, C.J. (2002). "The Theology of Ramanuja - Realism and Religion". Routledge. Flood, Gavin (ed.) (2003). "The Blackwell Companion to Hinduism". Blackwell Publishing. "Sri Ramanuja Gita Bhashya - with text in Devangari & English renderin...

The much requested episode about Shankara is finally here. Sources/Suggeested Reading: Deutsch, Eliot (1973). “Advaita Vedanta: A Philosophical Reconstruction”. University of Hawai’i Press. Deutsch, Eliot & Rohit Dalvi (2005). “Essential Vedanta: A New Source Book of Advaita Vedanta”. World Wisdoms Books. Suthren Hirst, J.G. (2005). “Samkara’s Advaita Vedanta: a way of teaching”. Routledge. “T...

This week we talk about the Hindu philosophical school(s) of "Vedanta". Sources/Further Reading: Brahma Sutra Basya by Shankaracharya. Published by Advaita Ashrama, India; New edition (1 Jan. 2000). The Mandukya Upanishad with Gaudapada's Karika & Sankara's Commentary. Published by Vedanta Press. Deutsch, Eliot (1986). "Advaita Vedanta: A Philosophical Reconstruction". University of Hawaii Pre...

The earliest and most sacred scriptures of Hinduism - The Vedas - is some of the oldest surviving religious literature in the world, and simultaneously some of the best preserved. In this episode, we talk about these fascinating texts as the first part in a new series on religion in India. Sources/Further Reading: Flood, Gavin (2003). "The Blackwell Companion to Hinduism". Blackwell publishing. J...

In this episode, we talk about the famous Andalusian philosopher Ibn Rushd. Sources/Further Reading: Kennedy, Hugh (1996). "Muslim Spain and Portugal: A Political History of al-Andalus". Routledge. Genequand, Charles (1986). "Ibn Rushd's Methaphysics". Brill. "Bidayat al-Mujtahid wa nihayat al-Muqtasid" (The Distinguished Jurist's Primer) Vol. 1 by Ibn Rushd. Translated by Professor Imran Ahsan Kh...

Perhaps the most requested figure here - al-Ghazali - is finally getting a treatment! I talk about his life, some of his teachings, ideas and legacy and discuss some common misconceptions and opinions about him today. Sources/Further Reading: Al-Ghazali - "Deliverance from Error" (al-Munqidh min al-Dalal). Translated by Richard J. McCarthy. American University of Beirut. al-Ghazali - "The Incohere...

In this episode I will do my first deep dive into one of the many Sufi orders - the Naqshbandiyya. Sources/Further Reading: Abun-Nasr, Jamil (2007). "Muslim Communities of Grace - The sufi brotherhoods in Islamic religious life". Hurst & Company, London Malik, Jamal & John Hinnells (2006). "Sufism in the West". Routledge. Sorgenfrei, Simon (2016). "Sufism i Sverige". Nämnden för statligt s...

In this unusual episode, we explore the history of coffee and its connection to Sufism, as well as the similar origins of tea. Good to remember: While this episode is still based on the most widely accepted views by historians, research on the matter is somewhat lacking and this light-hearted episode should not be taken as gospel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The long awaited second part of my series about music in the Islamic world! Sources/Further Reading: Hammarlund, Anders, Tord Olsson & Elizabeth Özdalga (1997). "Sufism, Music and Society in Turkey and the Middle East". Swedish Research Institute in Istanbul. Saeed, Yousuf. "Amir Khusrau and the Indo-Muslim Identity in the Art Music Practices of Pakistan". Schofield, Katherine Ruth (2003). "Hi...

In this first part of a new series, we talk about the earliest centuries of Islamic civilization - Rashidun, Umayyad, Abbasid caliphates - and the different forms of music that flourished at this time. Sources/Suggested Reading: al-Faruqi, Louis Ibsen (1985). "Music, Musicians and Muslim Law". Asian Music, Vol. 17, No. 17, p. 3-36. Avery, Kenneth S. (2004). "A Psychology of Early Sufi Sama': Liste...

In this episode, we talk about the short-lived religion founded by the Egyptian pharaoh Akhenaten. Sources/Further Reading: Hornung, Erik (2001) "Akhenaten and the Religion of Light". Cornell University Press. Hoffmeier, James K. (2015). "Akhenaten and the Origins of Monotheism". Oxford University Press. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.