The Two Tongues Podcast

In this episode Chris explores Professor E.J. Michael Witzel's theory on the source and origin of all the mythologies of the world. A single explanation? Yes, indeed! Witzel uses a historical approach to comparative religion, aided by the latest in linguistic, archeological and DNA evidence to trace the myths of the world back to two distinct groups, an older one he calls Gondwana and a later one...

In this episode Kyle and Chris reunite after a month of scheduling conflicts. We discuss the solo content each of us produced in the interim, including Kyle's episode with his Eastern Orthodox friends and Chris' piece on Jesus as a "shapeshifter." We catch-up on just about everything else: discussing HBO's latest season of "True Detective," whether women should be allowed in the military and the t...

In this episode Chris explores what it means to be a 'Shaman' and how the term relates to the great world religions of the modern day. He asks the questions: Is a priest, technically, a Shaman? What about a Prophet? What about Jesus Christ? And this last question takes us on a journey through long-lost Christian scriptures, folklore, Paleolithic cave paintings and back into the Bible, as we attemp...

In this episode Chris riffs on whether or not angels and demons actually exist. He asks the question, just what the hell is an angel or a demon? How do these ideas from our monotheistic traditions compare to the older, classical idea of 'gods' with a lowercase 'g', or to the even older animistic idea of the 'spirits of nature'? Lastly he tries to explain the physical correlates of such spiritual e...

In this episode we examine a myth from the Basque people of Spain and France. Why? Because I love stories, but also because the Basque people are unique among the ethnicities, cultures and languages of Europe. They do not descend from the Indo-European migration, which so heavily influenced the rest of Europe and do not speak an Indo-European language. That said, their myths give us incredible ins...

In this episode Chris and Kyle conduct a post-mortem on episode 2136 of the Joe Rogan Experience where Graham Hancock finally gets to defend his ideas of a forgotten civilization against a mainstream archeologist.  Enjoy ;)

In this episode Kyle and Chris reunite after an extra week's hiatus...and they had lots to talk about! We cover Kyle's recent experience as a debate moderator on The Crucible and Chris' latest solo episode on the book Orthodoxy and the Religion of the Future. But we don't stop there. We hash out a theological disagreement about the origin of religion, discuss the "Neo Trad" movement, the existence...

In this episode Chris presents Opinion Scholarship on an influential book by a Christian Orthodox Father--Seraphim Rose--titled Orthodoxy and the Religion of the Future. This exploration was sparked by Kyle's interest in Eastern Orthodox Christianity and on the recommendation of an Orthodox friend of the show--Jason Mironchuck--of the 2Bit Podcast. I suspected this book was going to argue that Ort...

In this episode Chris brings you Opinion Scholarship on a Hindu holy book called the Ashtavakra Gita, which expounds the non-dual philosophy of the Upanishads and Advaita Vedanta. This text is profound and poetic, but as good as it is in describing the nature of God, it fails in other ways to account for the realities of the world and our place in it. Chris outlines his objections and what he sees...

This episode originally aired March, 24th on the Onion Unlimited Podcast. It was another classic chat between Chris and Daniel Torridon on the nature of God and of spirit. We discuss the mythological motif of the "Silver Cord" (Ecclesiastes 12:5-7) or "Silver Thread" (Greco-Roman Moirai), which is said to bind the divine spirit to the material body in life and is "loosed" or "cut" at the moment of...

In this episode Kyle and Chris chat with Jason Mironchuck of the 2Bit Podcast about a shift in the societal zeitgeist. We all feel that change is in the air. It's both fearful and hopeful. We discuss the archetype that best describes the totalitarianism and warful nationalism of the 20th century--the Tyrannical Father--and our current age of both genuine and contrived compassion--the Devouring Mot...

In this episode we attempt to redeem the ideas of the physicist Amit Goswami who made a strong impression on Chris (and even inspired the podcast's logo), but had a terrible showing on the Joe Rogan Experience back in 2013 (JRE 334), sabotaging his opportunity for broader appeal. His ideas may not have hit the mainstream, but his book The Self Aware Universe brings together an astonishing synthesi...

One part alternative history, one part social commentary, we kick off season 4 with an exploration of Asha Logos' YouTube channel entitled "Our Subverted History." This one is where common sense intersects with political correctness. We discuss Indo-European as a historical ethnic and linguistic family and how it's been maligned by modern notions of "whiteness." We get comfortable with being uncom...

In this episode Chris explores Charles Darwin's great work "The Origin of Species" and asks the question: Was Darwin an atheist? We explore Charles Darwin's influences, including his infamous grandfather--Erasmus Darwin--and dig into unexpected quotes from the book. Did you know Charles Darwin used the term 'The Creator' in the book? Did you know he acknowledged the insufficiency of his theory to...

In this episode Chris discusses a document from 1980's which exposed a U.S. Military program called "The Gateway Process," aimed at harnessing such extrasensory phenomena as "remote viewing." We all know the world of espionage is dark and cut-throat, but when it comes packaged up in the language of biochemistry and quantum physics, it's got my attention. As if this wasn't enough it explores its co...

In this episode Chris explores the mathematical patterns behind forms in nature. We discuss the Mandelbrot Set and Vortex Math and a strange phenomena that connects them--the Cartoid? What is a Cartoid? What does it represent? Are there mystical parallels? How about natural ones? You betcha! Strap in for a myth that describes how the infinite can be in the finite, how self-experience is a creative...

In this episode Chris and Kyle reconnect after the holiday break. We reminisce about nearly 3 years of podcasting, discuss the strange realities of incorporating cannabis dispensaries in our towns and cities and ponder the meaning of the awe experience.  Enjoy ;)

This episode concludes our exploration of the religious philosophy of Walter Stace. We discuss the difference between first-hand religious experience and the second-hand version we commonly call organized religion. We explore how religious symbols are used to evoke first-hand religious experience and thereby preserve the value of organized religion in society. Enjoy ;)

In this episode we continue exploring the philosopher Walter Stace's book "Time and Eternity." In this one we focus on the other half of the religious paradox; what Stace calls the Positive Divine. We discuss what it means to know the unknowable and how that can be achieved. We discuss the role of symbols and contemplate whether the world of our experience is representational...a world of symbols....

In this episode Chris introduces us to Walter Stace, Princeton professor of philosophy from the turn of the century who believed personal, mystic experience is the origin of all religions. We focus on what Stace calls the "Negative Divine," to understand how God must "be" and "not be" simultaneously; how God must be a paradox, a contradiction. How God must be " a Mystery even to Himself."  Enjoy ;...

In this episode Kyle and Chris reunite after a month off. We compare various types of psychedelic experiences and their religious implications. Chris focuses on the "meaning" or "messages" these experiences are commonly held to provide. Then we pivot to a discussion of Jonathan Pageau's new show on The Daily Wire called "The End of The World" and Chris' excitement at the idea that Jonathan is expl...

In this episode we read the surviving fragments of the philosophy of Empedocles and explore the shamanistic and mystical foundations of Western thought. Empedocles carries on the Orphic and Pythagorean tradition in his quest for Ultimate Reality, for which Aristotle grants him the title of 'Natural Philosopher'. But a strange kind of natural philosopher indeed! He speaks of the union of opposites,...

In this episode we explore the fragments of the works of Parmenides that survive to modern times, with a focus on the mystical, shamanistic tradition expressed in them. In Parmenides, like Pythagoras before him, we find a mystic seeking a personal experience of the divine; we also find an honest-to-God Shaman, who visits the divine realm, speaks to "the Goddess" and brings mystical insight back to...

In this episode we take a break from religion and current events to reminisce with our old friend Matthew from "Ohio Toy Kick." We discuss old times, the state of art and creativity in modern America, music, professional wrestling, and, of course, Matthew's artistic expression in the form of toy photography. Don't knock it 'til you've seen it. The guys from Ohio Toy Kick create incredible stills u...

In this episode we tackle the second novel in C.S. Lewis' Space Trilogy. We explore Venus as a new and innocent paradise, meet the mirror or our primordial Mother--Eve--and get to watch as she's tempted by the Devil. But this time...this time, there's another presence in the garden, our hero--Elwin Ransom--and he's hungry for serpent! Lewis weaves theological concepts masterfully into the re-telli...