Inner Life, Talks and Thoughts Christ the turning point. Owen Barfield in a secular age. A conversation with Ashton Arnoldy
Mar 21, 2025
In this engaging conversation, Ashton Arnoldy, a scholar on Owen Barfield, dives into the relevance of Barfield's ideas in our secular age. They explore the integration of spirituality with modernity and discuss the challenges posed by dualism. Arnoldy shares poignant insights from a transformative ayahuasca experience, reflecting on consciousness and the divine power of language. Additionally, they address the importance of a moral ecological framework and reinterpretations of faith, highlighting Barfield's influence on contemporary spirituality and our understanding of identity.
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Secularism as Supernova
- Secularism is not a removal of transcendence, but an explosion of ways to engage with the world.
- Barfield offers a framework for navigating this fragmented experience.
Buffering and the Self
- Early Christianity introduced 'buffering,' fortifying individuals against spiritual turbulence.
- This buffering reduced porosity but fostered a secure sense of self.
Individuality and Oneness
- Individuality emerges alongside cosmic unity, not in isolation.
- Monotheism allows for a sense of self as a reflection of divine oneness.
