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 (2004). "Beliefs in Spirits among the Pre-Islamic Arabs". In "Magic and Divination in Early Islam". ...
Oct 15, 2022•20 min
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.
Oct 14, 2022•15 min
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 & summarized by Reynold A. Nicholson. E.J. Brill. 1914. Adamson, Peter (ed.) (2005). "The Cambridge Compan...
Sep 30, 2022•58 min•Ep. 60
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 Dalvi (2005). “Essential Vedanta: A New Source Book of Advaita Vedanta”. World Wisdoms Books. Flood, G...
Sep 27, 2022•24 min•Ep. 59
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-Rouayheb, Khaled & Sabine Schmidtke (2019). "The Oxford Handbook of Islamic Theology". Oxford Unive...
Sep 23, 2022•32 min•Ep. 58
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". University of Texas Press. Cornell, Vincent J. (Tranlated by) (1996). "The Way of Abu Madyan: The Works ...
Sep 20, 2022•24 min•Ep. 57
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" (ed. Peter Adamson & Richard C. Taylor). Cambridge University Press. #Suhrawardi #Philosophy #I...
Sep 02, 2022•37 min•Ep. 56
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., The War on Heresy (Cambridge, Mass.: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2012). Hosted on Acast...
Aug 31, 2022•27 min•Ep. 55
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'". Social scientist, Vol. 30, Nos. 7-8. Nair, Shankar (2020). "Translating Wisdom: Hindu-Muslim Intellectua...
Aug 26, 2022•41 min•Ep. 54
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'. Nair, Shankar (2020). "Translating Wisdom: Hindu-Muslim Intellectual Interactions in Early Modern ...
Aug 23, 2022•30 min•Ep. 53
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 Classification". Article. Al-Jallad, Ahmad (2019). "The Linguistic Landscape of Pre-Islamic Arabia: Context for t...
Aug 19, 2022•23 min•Ep. 52
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 Gendle. In the "Classics of Western Spirituality Series". 1982. #Hesychasm #Mysticism #Christianity Hoste...
Aug 16, 2022•25 min•Ep. 51
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 translation so I edited the quotes myself to make more sense in modern english). For a more modern translat...
Aug 09, 2022•20 min•Ep. 50
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 Fatimid Caliphate: Diversity of Traditions". I.B. Tauris. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy fo...
Aug 05, 2022•24 min•Ep. 49
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 epigraphic attestation and its original significance". Draft. The Ohio State University. Bowersock, G.W...
Aug 02, 2022•23 min•Ep. 48
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 (ed.) (2006). "Sufism in the West". Routledge. Ridgeon, Lloyd (ed.) (2014). "The Cambridge Companion ...
Jul 29, 2022•21 min•Ep. 47
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 Press. Wolfson, Harry Austryn (2014). "The Philosophy of Spinoza: Unfolding the Latent Processes of H...
Jul 26, 2022•19 min•Ep. 46
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 University Press. #AssassinsCreed #Islam #History Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more inf...
Jul 23, 2022•24 min•Ep. 45
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 University of New York Press. Idel, Moshe (1988). “Studies in Ecstatic Kabbalah”. State University of New Yo...
Jul 19, 2022•46 min•Ep. 44
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 study of the historical Jesus. Volume 1. Brill. Levine, Amy-Jill; Dale C. Allison Jr. & John Dom...
Jul 15, 2022•25 min•Ep. 43
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 (Volume 2). Edited by Leonard Lewisohn. Herman, Denis & Mathieu Terrier (2020). "Shi'i Islam and Sufis...
Jul 12, 2022•26 min•Ep. 42
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, Migration & Identity: A conceptual and theoretical exploration". Edited by Martha Frederiks & Dor...
Jul 08, 2022•17 min•Ep. 41
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, Bernard (1992). "Meister Eckhart: Teacher and Preacher". Classics of Western Spirituality Series. P...
Jul 05, 2022•44 min•Ep. 40
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 from Traditional Commentaries". Translated by Brook Ziporyn. #Zhuangzi #Daoism #Philosophy Hosted on ...
Jul 01, 2022•24 min•Ep. 39
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 rendering". Translated by Swami Adidevananda. Chennai: Sri Ramakrishna Math. Thibaut, George (translated by)...
Jun 28, 2022•25 min•Ep. 38
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. “The Mandukya Upanishad with Gaudapada’s Karika and Sankara’s Commentary”. Translated by Swami Nikhila...
Jun 24, 2022•44 min•Ep. 37
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 Press. Deutsch, Eliot & Rohit Dalvi (2005). "Essential Vedanta: A New Source Book of Advaita Vedant...
Jun 21, 2022•20 min•Ep. 36
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. Jacobsen, Knut A. (2003). "Hinduismen: Historia, tradition, mångfald". Kultur och Natur. Hosted on Aca...
Jun 17, 2022•18 min•Ep. 35
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 Khan Niazee. Garnet Publishing. Taylor, Richard C. (2005). "Averroes: religious dialectic and Aristote...
Jun 14, 2022•28 min•Ep. 34
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 Incoherence of the Philosophers". Translated by Michael E. Marmura. Islamic Translations Series. University ...
May 17, 2022•29 min•Ep. 33
