414. The Rebirth of the Sacred with John Vervaeke

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Jan 15, 2024

John Vervaeke, an Associate Professor in Cognitive Psychology and Cognitive Science, engages in a fascinating discussion about the merging of science and spirituality. They explore the ties between calling and conscience, featuring historical insights from Descartes and Socratic philosophy. Vervaeke shares thoughts on the transformative power of love and meaningful relationships, while examining the metaphysical parallels between baptism and rebirth. The conversation also highlights the significance of navigating suffering and the quest for meaning in today's world.

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ANECDOTE

Vervaeke's Next Series

John Vervaeke plans to film a series, "Walking the Philosophical Silk Road."
It involves tracing Neoplatonism and Zen traditions, merging them in a dialogue on the sacred.

INSIGHT

Advent of the Sacred

Vervaeke sees a new advent of the sacred arising in response to the meaning crisis.
He aims to explore this through his work.

INSIGHT

Vervaeke Foundation

The Vervaeke Foundation supports Vervaeke's work and manages practical aspects.
It funds projects, manages finances, and facilitates educational programs.

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The Courage to Be

Paul Tillich

This book, based on Tillich's Terry Foundation lectures at Yale University, discusses the concept of courage in various philosophical and theological contexts. It presents courage as the strength to affirm one's own life in spite of its inevitable end and the lack of purpose. Tillich analyzes courage in relation to fortitude, wisdom, self-affirmation, and existence itself, drawing on thinkers such as Plato, Aquinas, the Stoics, Spinoza, and Nietzsche. The book is a sophisticated discussion of human ontology, anthropology, and theology, introducing these concepts to a lay readership.

Maps of Meaning

The Architecture of Belief

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Inferno

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The Red Book

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A Deeper Understanding of Meaning and the Meaning Crisis

John Vervaeke

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The Gulag Archipelago

An Experiment in Literary Investigation

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The Gulag Archipelago is a three-volume series written by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, exploring the Soviet labour camp system through a mix of historical narrative, personal accounts, and literary investigation. The book traces the history of the Gulag from Vladimir Lenin's decrees to the era of Nikita Khrushchev, detailing the arrest, conviction, transport, and imprisonment of prisoners. It includes Solzhenitsyn's own experiences as a Gulag prisoner and accounts from other inmates, highlighting the brutal conditions, forced labor, and the psychological and physical suffering of the prisoners. The work is a testament to the human spirit's struggle against evil and serves as a comprehensive critique of the Soviet regime's use of terror against its population[2][5][3].