s07e73 | The Orthodox Option, with David Patrick Harry

May 26, 2025

David Patrick Harry, a philosopher and Orthodox Christian YouTube creator, engages in deep discussions about the relevance of Orthodoxy in today's world. He explores the rising interest in Orthodoxy among disaffected post-liberals, comparing it to modern ideologies like transhumanism. Harry highlights the rich sensory experiences of Orthodox rituals, contrasts Orthodox and Catholic theology, and examines the impact of technology on spirituality. He also addresses the identity challenges faced by youth in modern America and the importance of understanding Orthodox prophecies for spiritual reassurance.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Books

Transcript

Episode notes

ANECDOTE

Doctorate on Transhumanism vs. Theosis

David Patrick Harry completed a doctorate comparing transhuman deification with Orthodox theosis.
His research links technological utopias with the intellectual origins of modern science and transhumanism.

INSIGHT

Modernity’s Utopian Foundation

Modernity is built on reason, science, and democracy aiming for linear progress and utopia.
The American mythos embeds this belief, making progress a foundational Enlightenment project.

INSIGHT

Technology Changes Our Sensory Perception

Technology alters our sensory ratios, shifting us from literate to auditory perception.
Digital technology reverts us to a primitive 'global village' sensory state, transforming how we relate to information.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

Postmodern metaphysics

Christos Yannaras

The Psychedelic Gospels

Etain Boorman

Jules Cashford

Understanding media

The Extensions of Man

Marshall McLuhan

In 'Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man', Marshall McLuhan explores how different media forms influence human society and perception. He introduces the concept that 'the medium is the message', suggesting that the characteristics of the medium, rather than its content, are what truly impact society. McLuhan categorizes media into 'hot' and 'cool' types, based on the degree of audience participation required. He also discusses how media extend human senses and alter human consciousness, leading to significant social and psychic consequences. The book is a comprehensive analysis of various media, including print, radio, television, and more, and their effects on human interaction and culture[1][3][4].

Looking Backward

2000-1887

Edward Bellamy

In 'Looking Backward: 2000-1887', Edward Bellamy presents a vision of a future socialist utopia through the eyes of Julian West, a young Bostonian who falls into a hypnotic sleep in 1887 and awakens in the year 2000. The novel describes a society where industry is nationally owned, goods are distributed equally, and there is no need for money, police, military, or lawyers. Bellamy's vision includes advanced technologies such as radio, television, motion pictures, and credit cards. The novel is a critical examination of 19th-century capitalism and advocates for a society based on equality, cooperation, and the brotherhood of man.

Corpus hermeticum

[Asclepius]

Hermes Trismegistus

The Corpus Hermeticum is a series of sacred texts presented mostly as dialogues in which a teacher enlightens a disciple. These texts discuss various aspects of Hermetic philosophy, including the divine, the cosmos, mind, and nature. They also touch upon alchemy, astrology, and related concepts. The collection includes fifteen tractates, such as the 'Poemandres' and the 'General Sermons', which cover basic and mystical aspects of Hermeticism[4][5].