Charles Stang, a Harvard professor specializing in ancient wisdom, dives deep into the concept of 'daimon' in this engaging conversation. He and John Vervaeke discuss the daimon's historical significance and its evolution within Socratic and Platonic thought. They explore how personal experiences intertwine with ancient philosophies, emphasizing the daimon's role as a guiding force in human consciousness. The dialogue also touches on modern implications, linking cognitive science, creativity, and the self amid today's technological landscape. Prepare for a thought-provoking journey through knowledge and spirituality!

Religion in America is undergoing a revolution. In 1972, 90% of Americans were self-professed Christians. Now, that number is about 64%. There are now large and growing populations of non-Christians, as well as many who have no particular religious beliefs. Such a time of change has made it an exciting time to be a scholar of religion, charged with making sense of the shifting landscape of American religious experience. For today’s conversation, Zach Davis sat down with one of those scholars, Charles Stang, the Director of the Center for the Study of World Religions at Harvard Divinity School. Zach went to grad school at HDS and Charlie was one of his very favorite professors. In the conversation, Charlie discusses his life as a scholar of religion, the path his own spiritual life has taken and shares details about the exciting new research initiative he is leading at Harvard called Transcendence and Transformation. Charles M. Stang is Professor of Early Christian Thought at Harvard Divinity School and the Director of the Center for the Study of World Religions. His research and teaching focus on the history and theology of Christianity, in particular asceticism, monasticism, and mysticism in Eastern Christianity. His most recent book, Our Divine Double, was published in 2016 by Harvard University Press.