The GOD PARADOX - Brian Muraresku & Karen Armstrong | After Skool

Sep 18, 2025

Explore the intriguing concept of God as a paradox, delving into the depths of mysticism and the Axial Age. Discover how thinkers like Augustine and Eastern philosophies connect our understanding of divinity with compassion. Uncover the idea of mystical kenosis, where self-annihilation leads to deeper ecological awareness. The discussion culminates in a call for inner transformation and the importance of redefining the sacred for our planet's future. This captivating dialogue blends spirituality, philosophy, and the quest for truth.

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INSIGHT

God As Paradoxical Mystery

Karen Armstrong emphasizes God as an idea pointing to a transcendent mystery beyond rational thought.
This paradox appears across traditions where God is described as an incomprehensible, immanent force.

INSIGHT

Divinity Within Nature And Self

Armstrong highlights Eastern concepts like Brahman and Atman to show divinity resides within and around us.
She argues medieval Christian thinkers like Aquinas similarly saw God as a sacred force imbuing nature.

ANECDOTE

Scholarship Becoming Meditation

Karen Armstrong describes moments in scholarship that spontaneously produced awe and wonder.
She realized close study became a form of meditation that touched her emotionally.

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The GOD PARADOX - Brian Muraresku & Karen Armstrong Go to http://www.audible.com/afterskool or text afterskool to 500 500 to get your free trial.

Karen Armstrong OBE FRSL (born 14 November 1944) is a British author and commentator of Irish Catholic descent known for her books on comparative religion. A former Roman Catholic religious sister, she went from a conservative to a more liberal and mystical Christian faith. She attended St Anne's College, Oxford, while in the convent and majored in English. She left the convent in 1969. Her work focuses on commonalities of the major religions, such as the importance of compassion and the Golden Rule.

Brian C. Muraresku is the New York Times Best Selling author of "The Immortality Key: the Secret History of the Religion with No Name". Alumnus of Brown University and Georgetown Law. He was recently on the Joe Rogan Podcast with Graham Hancock (episode 1543) and Lex Fridman Podcast (episode 211).

The Immortality Key is a look into the psychedelic origins of the world's great spiritual practices and what those might mean for how we view ourselves and the world around us.

More information on Brian C. Muraresku here - https://www.brianmuraresku.com https://linktr.ee/ImmortalityKey

The Immortality Key is Muraresku's debut book. In 2020, it became a New York Times bestseller. Audible named it "Best of 2020" in the History category.

This video also features a clip from Joseph Campbell - "The Power of Myth" ep.6 Follow the podcast for new episodes. We cannot change the world. But we can change ourselves...and that will change the world. The goal of this podcast is to empower the individual and deliver profound ideas through art. Find After Skool on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AfterSkool/videos Disclaimer: This podcast is an independent initiative inspired by the thought-provoking content of After Skool. It is created by a viewer who appreciates the depth of the ideas shared and wants to make them more accessible in an audio format. While every effort is made to preserve the essence of the original content, this is not an official After Skool production, nor is it affiliated with or endorsed by After Skool. All rights to the original material belong to After Skool. If you have any concerns regarding this podcast, please feel free to reach out.

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