Biblical World

Erica Ferg - Geography and Religion in the Eastern Mediterranean

Jul 26, 2023

Professor Erica Ferg discusses the impact of geography on religious history in the Eastern Mediterranean, exploring topics such as the Baal Cycle from Ugarit, biblical story of Elijah, and the interconnectedness of religious traditions in the region. The podcast highlights the agricultural focus in biblical research, geographical influence on religious stories, evolution of worship from Baal to Yahweh, and modern implications of religious history in the Eastern Mediterranean.

59:12

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Episode guests

Erica Ferg

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Geography shapes religious narratives in the Eastern Mediterranean, influencing figures like Baal and Elijah.

St. George represents a blend of Elijah's miracles and Baal's agricultural symbolism in the region.

Al-Qadr, 'the green,' links to St. George and Elijah, showcasing shared religious practices among diverse communities.

Deep dives

The Importance of Geography and Religion in the Eastern Mediterranean

Geography has played a crucial role throughout history, influencing religious narratives and motifs in the Eastern Mediterranean. Texts and historical sites demonstrate how geography has shaped religious practices, intertwining important figures like Baal, Elijah, St. George, and Al-Qadr. The region's agricultural communities have long shared these religious figures, depicting a cultural inheritance tied to the land.

Intro

2min

Exploring the Interconnectedness of Religious Traditions in the Eastern Mediterranean

8min

Agricultural Focus in Biblical Research

8min

Geographical Influence on Religious Stories in the Eastern Mediterranean

14min

The Evolution of Worship: From Baal to Yahweh in the Eastern Mediterranean

22min

Exploring Modern Implications of Religious History in the Eastern Mediterranean

4min

Historical Coexistence and Modern Technology

2min

Episode: In this episode, Amy speaks with Prof. Erica Ferg (Regis University) about the impact of geography on the religious history of the Eastern Mediterranean, including the Baal Cycle from Ugarit and the biblical story of Elijah. Erica’s research focuses on the agricultural communities of the Levant and the lived experiences that shaped how people viewed the religious traditions of the biblical world in the pre-modern era, which is the subject of her book Geography, Religion, Gods, and Saints in the Eastern Mediterranean (Routledge, 2020).

Guest: (From the Regis Univ. website) Dr. Erica Ferg is Associate Professor of Liberal Arts and Religious Studies at Regis University. Her research focuses on Mediterranean comparative religion, comparative linguistics, and archaeoastronomy. Prior to academia, Erica was a Persian linguist in the United States Air Force. Erica's first book, Geography, Religion, Gods, and Saints in the Eastern Mediterranean, was published in paperback in January 2022 by Routledge. Erica currently is at work on her second book, entitled Starry Nights: A Celestial History of Religion in the Mediterranean.

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Biblical World

Erica Ferg - Geography and Religion in the Eastern Mediterranean

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

The Importance of Geography and Religion in the Eastern Mediterranean

St. George: A Blend of Baal and Elijah

Al-Qadr and Continued Cultural Exchange

Implications of Modern Changes on Religious Practices

Retracing the Evolution of Religious Figures

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts