Let's Talk Religion

As requested by the audience, in this episode we talk about the very early development of Speculative Islamic theology, or "Kalam". Support me on Patreon if you so wish: https://www.patreon.com/letstalkreligion Sources/Suggested reading: Winter, Tim (2008). "The Cambridge Companion to Islamic Theology". Cambridge University Press. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As we continue our series on some of the less known (and sometimes controversial) Sufis of the Middle Ages, we reach the Andalusian poet Abu-l Hasan al-Shushtari. He was a student of Ibn Sab'in but is also famous as a master-poet and Sufi master in his own right. Sources/Suggested Reading: Alvarez, Lourdes Maria (2009). "Abu-l Hasan al-Shushtari: Songs of Love and Devotion". In the "Classics of We...

In this episode, we talk about the controversial Andalusian Philosopher/Sufi Ibn Sab'in (d. 1270) and his teachings. Sources: Ceballos, Carlos Berbil (2015). "Journeying from the Apparent to Absolute Being: Ibn Sab'in and his predecessors". Journal of the Muhyddin Ibn 'Arabi Society Vol. 58. Cornell, Vincent J. (2007). "The All-Comprehensive Circle (al-Ihata): Soul, Intellect and the Oneness of Ex...

In this very long episode, I give an introduction to one of the most significant, yet often misunderstood thinkers and mystics in history - Ibn 'Arabi. Sources: Chittick, William (2005). "Ibn Arabi: Heir to the Prophets". OneWorld Publications. Chittick, William (1998). "The Self-Disclosure of God: Principles of Ibn al-'Arabi's Cosmology". State University of New York Press. Chittick, William (200...

In this latest episode I talk about the Ikhwan al-safa, or "Brethren of Purity" - a group of secretive philosophers and scholars who lived in medieval Basra, Iraq. Sources used: de Callatay, Godefroid (2006). "Ikhwan al-safa - a brotherhood of idealists on the fringes of Orthodox Islam". Oneworld Publications. Walker, Paul E. (2005). "The Isma'ilis". In "The Cambridge companion to Arabic Philosoph...

A new. long awaited historical review, this time dealing with the earliest of the Muslim philosophers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode I talk about the 11th century Ismaili philosopher Nasir Khusraw and his major work "Jami' al-hikmatayn" or "The union of the two wisdoms". This is an audio version of my video on my YouTube channel "Let's Talk Religion". Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There is talk within the Muslim community (and outside) of the so-called "Quranists" or the movement "Quranism". In this episode I talk about, in very generalizing terms, what this term is referring to, and what its characteristics are. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we talk about the third major branch of Islam, known as Ibadism, which is a major presence today in Oman, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya. It is a somewhat forgotten branch, but one that is also often viewed as a moderate and tolerant branch of the religion. Sources: Hoffman, Valerie J. (2012). The Essentials of Ibadi Islam. Syracuse University Press. Wilkinson, John C. (2010). Ibadism...

I see many videos talking about the differences between the Sunni and Shia, but most of them present a simplified version. In this episode, I try to give you a more comprehensive overview. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode I go through the scholarly discussion regarding the composition of the Hebrew Bible and, in particular, the Torah/Pentateuch. The main theory discussed is the so-called "Documentary hypothesis". Sources/interesting articles: https://www.ias.edu/ideas/2018/schmid-torah Matthieu Richelle, “Elusive scrolls. Could any hebrew literature have been written prior to the eighth century B.C....

In this episode, we finally explore the fifth largest religion in the world - Sikhism (more properly called "Sikhi"). Sources/Suggested Reading: Mandair, Arvind-Pal Singh (2013). "Sikhism: A guide for the Perplexed". Bloomsbury Academic. Singh, Patwant (1999). "The Sikhs". John Murray. Also try to get ahold of the Adi Granth (Guru Granth Sahib". You can find translations of the scriptures online,...

The Hasidic movement is pretty famous. But few are aware of its deep mystical teachings and connections with Kabbalah. In this episode, we explore the early history of the Hasidim. This episode was written by Seth Weprin and co-written by me (Filip Holm). Sources/Suggested Reading: Idel, Moshe (1995). "Hasidism: Between Ecstacy and Magic". SUNY Press. Idel, Moshe. “Modes of Cleaving to the Letters...

This episode gives an overview of the so-called "Gnostics", particularly the group that is often otherwise known as the 'Sethians'. Sources/Suggested Reading: Brakke, David (2012). "Gnostics: Myth, Ritual, and Diversity in Early Christianity". Harvard University Press. King, Karen (2003). "What is Gnosticism?". Harvard University Press. Van den Broek, Roelof (2013). "Gnostic Religion in Antiquity"...

A topic hat comes up a lot in the comments. Let's set the record straight. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Finally, we talk about the complex tradition known as Hermeticism and its mysterious namesake Hermes Trismegistus. Sources/Suggested Reading: Copenhaver, Brian P. (Translation & Introduction by) (1992). "Hermetica: The Greek Corpus Hermeticum and the Latin Asclepius in a new English Translation with notes and introduction". Cambridge University Press. Fowden, Garth (1986). "The Egyptian Hermes...

We continue to explore the religions of India by looking at the ancient tradition of Jainism. Sources/Suggested Reading: Dundas, Paul (2002). "The Jains". Routledge. Long, Jeffrey D. (2009). "Jainism: An Introduction". IB Tauris. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Manichaeism is an ancient religion that is relatively unknown. In this episode, I give you everything you need to know as a introduction to this fascinating faith. Sources/Further Reading: Lieu, Samuel N. (1993). "Manichaeism in Mesopotamia and the Roman East: 118 (Religions in the Graeco-Roman World)". Brill. Lieu, Samuel N. (1998). "Manichaeism in Central Asia and China: Collected Studies (Nag H...

One of the main religious traditions in China - Daoism - is the subject of this episode. We go deep into the origins, main writings and later development of the religion, and its connection to other traditions. 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...

This is the second and last part in a series on the Bahá'i Faith. Sources/Further Reading: Smith, Peter (2008). "An Introduction to the Baha'i Faith". Cambridge University Press. Maceoin, Denis (2012). "Making the invisible visible: Introductory books on the Baha'i religion. Routledge. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is the first episode in a two-part series on The Bahá'i Faith - one of the youngest and fastest growing religions in the world. Sources/Further Reading: Smith, Peter (2008). "An Introduction to the Baha'i Faith". Cambridge University Press. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Another episode in my series about religious minorities in the Middle East, this time about the secretive Alawites. Sources: Larson, Göran; Simon Sorgenfrei, Max Stockman (2017). "Religiösa minoriteter från Mellanöstern" (Religious minorities from the Middle East). Myndigheten för stöd till trossamfund. Bar-Asher, Meir M. (2003). Nosayris. In "Encyclopedia Iranica Online". Hosted on Acast. See aca...

Another episode in my series about religious minorities in the middle east. This time we talk about the secretive group known as the "Druze", also known (by themselves) as "al-Muwahhidun". Sources: Larson, Göran; Simon Sorgenfrei, Max Stockman (2017). "Religiösa minoriteter från Mellanöstern" (Religious minorities from the Middle East). Myndigheten för stöd till trossamfund. Bryer, David (1975). "...

In this video in the series on minority religions in the middle east, we explore Yazidism, a fascinating religion that have sometimes been oppressed and persecuted. Sources: Kreyenbroek, Philip G. (1995). "Yezidism: it's background, observances and textual tradition. Lewiston, N.Y.: Edwin Mellen Larson, Göran; Simon Sorgenfrei, Max Stockman (2017). "Religiösa minoriteter från Mellanöstern" (Religi...

What is Mandaeism? And Who are the Mandaeans? This religious group from middle east has a long and rich history that connects it to Gnosticism, Early Judaism and John the Baptist. Listen to find out more about this fascinating tradition. Sources: Buckley, Jorunn J. Jacobsen (2002). "The Mandaeans: ancient texts and modern people". New York: Oxford University Press. Larson, Göran; Simon Sorgenfrei,...