Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal

The Hardest Question No Religion Can Answer... | David Bentley Hart

Jan 11, 2025

David Bentley Hart, a philosopher and theologian renowned for his insights on evil and Christian thought, dives deep into the problem of suffering and faith. He examines how ancient Stoic beliefs intersect with Christian resurrection narratives. The conversation also traverses the complexities of consciousness and language, questioning materialist views. Hart elaborates on the portrayal of Jesus across the Gospels, offering a rich analysis of early Christology and its evolution. Together, they explore the interplay of love, hope, and the Divine amidst life's trials.

02:04:37

Episode guests

David Bentley Hart

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Quick takeaways

The podcast explores the challenge of reconciling the existence of evil, specifically suffering and injustice, with the belief in a benevolent God.

The historical significance of the resurrection is highlighted as a pivotal event that contributed to the survival of early Christianity beyond Christ's death.

A critical examination of intentionality links consciousness and language, suggesting deeper truths about existence cannot be explained solely through materialism.

Deep dives

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Intro

4min

The Problem of Suffering and Faith

12min

Stoicism and the Nature of Resurrection

18min

Interpreting Jesus: Theological Nuances in the Gospels

21min

The Interplay of Consciousness, Language, and Life

19min

Exploring Flow and Consciousness

24min

The Interplay of Love, Hope, and Faith

3min

Exploring the Intersection of Suffering, Resurrection, and Stoic Thought

4min

Exploring the Trinity and Intentionality

7min

10.

Exploring New Content and Community Engagement

3min

David Bentley Hart is a renowned author, philosopher, religious studies scholar, and theologian. In today's episode David explores the problem of evil, labeling it the most compelling argument against theism due to the undeniable suffering of innocents. David candidly acknowledges the dilemma, finding it intellectually irresolvable, yet juxtaposes this with the profound hope and transformative significance of Christ’s resurrection. Drawing on Stoic metaphysics, David explores the concept of a spiritual body and its philosophical ties to early Christian thought, all while challenging conventional Trinitarian interpretations of texts like John 1:1. This conversation is a rich tapestry of theology, philosophy, and personal insight, inviting listeners to reconsider foundational beliefs about faith, suffering, and the nature of reality.

As a listener of TOE you can get a special 20% off discount to The Economist and all it has to offer! Visit https://www.economist.com/toe

New Substack! Follow my personal writings and EARLY ACCESS episodes here: https://curtjaimungal.substack.com

Timestamps:

00:00 - Evil

08:50 - New Testament

15:02 - Stoic Metaphysics

24:51 - The Spirit

31:12 - Books of the Bible

39:24 - John 1:1

47:55 - Jesus

54:14 - Language

01:02:45 - Neo-Platonism

01:08:53 - Self Awareness

01:14:35 - Consciousness

01:18:05 - God

01:19:51 - Spirituality

01:27:36 - Perennialism

01:36:55 - Belief

01:39:44 - Episode Recap!

01:50:50 - Outro

Links Mentioned:

•⁠ ⁠Johnathan Bi’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@bi.johnathan/featured

•⁠ ⁠David Bentley Hart’s bibliography: https://amzn.to/3C9vIqA

•⁠ ⁠The Experience of God: Being, Consciousness, Bliss (book): https://amzn.to/3DOuNMO

•⁠ ⁠The New Testament: A Translation (book): https://amzn.to/427Dzzv

•⁠ ⁠All Things Are Full of Gods: The Mysteries of Mind and Life (book): https://amzn.to/4h525pm

•⁠ ⁠A Conversation Between Iain McGilchrist and David Bentley Hart (video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vooDJQ3fdug&pp=ygUjaWFpbiBtY2dpbGNocmlzdCBkYXZpZCBiZW50bGV5IGhhcnQ%3D

•⁠ ⁠Curt’s OSV profile: https://www.osv.llc/fellows-grantee/curt-jaimungal-95763

•⁠ ⁠Michael Levin’s blog: https://thoughtforms.life/

•⁠ ⁠The Atheist’s Guide to Reality (book): https://amzn.to/4h4U97n

•⁠ ⁠Psychology from An Empirical Standpoint (book): https://amzn.to/3DHRzWA

•⁠ ⁠Iain McGilchrist on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9sBKCd2HD0

•⁠ ⁠Donald Hoffman on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmieNQH7Q4w&t=7139s

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#science #podcast #religion #spirituality #philosophy

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