Episode 07— Why the Dynamic Between Heresy and Orthodoxy Matters

This episode begins a two-part deep dive into the phenomenology of our notions of heresy and orthodoxy as being far more than a matter of religious history or interest. The tension between our instincts for freedom and transcendence on the one hand, and our need for agreement and security on the other, plays out in both the religious and secular spheres. Moreover, it is as alive today in our politics as it was during the dark days of the Inquisition, the Third Reich, and numerous other state-run and theocratic efforts to control a populace. Understanding the underlying motives and causes of these polarities is essential if we are to avoid repeating their destructive consequences.