The Symbolic World 356 - Dr. Nathan Jacobs - Embrace Realism: It's All Mystical!
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Aug 23, 2024 Dr. Nathan Jacobs is an academic, artist, and filmmaker who delves into the blend of reason and mysticism. He discusses how modern society often separates these concepts, leading to a misunderstanding of spirituality. Jacobs emphasizes the importance of recognizing the divine in everyday life and explores the historical narrative shifts in spirituality. He also critiques the materialistic view of existence and the struggles faced by those seeking meaning beyond traditional beliefs. The conversation unveils the interplay between intuition, reason, and the human experience.
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Realism as Mystical Experience
- Embracing realism means seeing the world as inherently mystical, with perception itself as a mystical experience.
- Reason then helps discern spiritual realities without dismissing the mystical dimension of existence.
Ghost Belief Among Non-Religious
- Dr. Jacobs found that 90% of religiously unaffiliated people he interviewed believed in ghosts.
- This contradicted expectations that abandoning religion means adopting strict atheism or materialism.
Post-Religion Fascination Shift
- Those leaving organized religion often do not adopt secular atheism but gravitate toward paranormal beliefs and occult fascinations.
- This highlights a post-Enlightenment cultural shift rather than a pure rationalist victory.