307 - Gregg Hurwitz - The Search for Political Nuance
Sep 15, 2023
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Gregg Hurwitz, the American novelist and screenwriter, talks about his experience with the Exodus series and the importance of ritual, humility, and nuance in social matters. He discusses CS Lewis and The Great Divorce, the messiness of life, guilt by association, and pluralistic ignorance. The podcast also explores the dangers of excessive purity, the structure of the Exodus seminar, contrasting visions of hell, and living in a bubble disconnected from a larger narrative.
Online identities are often just a fraction of a person's complete personality, and it is crucial to recognize the distinction between the online world and reality.
Engaging with different perspectives and expertise in discussions can lead to unexpected connections and insights.
Balancing local governance and values within a diverse society is essential, allowing variance within subcommunities once shared values are established, while fostering relationships and partnerships between different communities to avoid domination and promote differentiated value sets.
Deep dives
The Importance of Recognizing the Flaws in Online Communication and Identity
The podcast episode explores the illusionary nature of the online world and the ability for individuals to adopt different personas and roles. It emphasizes the need to understand that people's online identities are often just a fraction of their complete personality. The episode compares this phenomenon to playing a role in a video game and highlights the importance of recognizing the distinction between the online world and reality.
The Revelation of Unexpected Connections and Insights
The podcast discusses the experience of participating in a seminar on Exodus and how it led to unexpected connections and insights. It features a conversation between the host and a best-selling author, who shares his experience of being part of a diverse group with different backgrounds and expertise discussing Exodus for an extended period of time. The author reflects on the honor of being among individuals with such expertise and highlights the value of engaging with different perspectives.
The Significance of Local Governance and Values within a Diverse Society
The podcast episode delves into the importance of balancing local governance and values within a diverse society. It highlights the need to recognize and respect different communities and their value systems, discussing the necessity of allowing variance within subcommunities once a baseline of shared values has been established. The episode also emphasizes the importance of partnerships and relationships between different communities in order to avoid domination and foster a return to differentiated value sets.
Sesluic's insights on humility and the higher good
Sesluic discusses in the podcast the importance of humility and orienting oneself towards the higher good. The example of the protagonist in the book 'Orphan X' is mentioned, where he always asks 'Do you need my help?' when answering the phone. This emphasizes the importance of asking for help as a crucial step for someone to receive assistance. It is highlighted that reflecting on the higher good and leaving room for other solutions and answers is an expression of humility and openness.
The Great Divorce and the concept of heaven and hell
The podcast explores the concept of heaven and hell through an analysis of C.S. Lewis' book 'The Great Divorce.' The book is regarded as a powerful representation of heaven and hell and how individuals can obstruct themselves from accepting the gifts offered to them. The discussion touches on the depiction of hell as a result of one's own desires and the isolation that arises from being annoyed by and avoiding differences in others. The value sets of the old and new testaments are briefly compared, and the idea of surrender and freedom is mentioned as important aspects in letting others thrive in their own time.
I sat down again with the American novelist and screenwriter, Gregg Hurwitz. Gregg was part of the Daily Wire+ Exodus series discussion panel with Jordan Peterson, so I thought it was a good time for us to talk about what we took away from those discussions, Exodus, Christianity, CS Lewis, the importance of ritual, temperance, and a nuanced approach to social matters.
Previous discussions: - New Think - with Gregg Hurwitz: https://youtu.be/nR53MJd8VLI?si=AAIcbBjs4x1pHt9X - Patterns in Politics and Storytelling | with Gregg Hurwitz: https://youtu.be/ykDHAapyaZ4?si=pNF0KV7uIInAMiUs
Exodus series with Daily Wire+ and Jordan Peterson: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL22J3VaeABQAppIsV0MmKYhGeFGJsy-dS&si=VxB_bJsEU-QvWHPW
Gregg’s website: https://gregghurwitz.net/
Original YouTube version of this podcast: https://youtu.be/tOhS9Gm_a5I --- Timestamps: 00:00 // Preview 00:41 // Intro music 01:06 // Introduction 01:56 // Gregg's experience with the Exodus series 04:57 // Let the fringe be the fringe 13:06 // Layers of participation 15:04 // The essence of the laws 16:28 // Values and a foundation 20:20 // Humility 22:06 // A structure in which to navigate 25:39 // The necessity of ritual 31:04 // CS Lewis and The Great Divorce 35:28 // Freedom 38:25 // Hell 43:39 // Hypocrisy and accusation 48:09 // The Nine Worthies 54:34 // The messiness of life 1:03:22 // Guilt by association 1:08:54 // Pluralistic ignorance --- 💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 🗣 Join The Symbolic World Community for discussions about symbolism: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe 🔒 BECOME A PATRON Website: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/pageauvideos 📱 SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheSymbolicWorld Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/pageaujonathan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathan.pageau Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson.
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