Rejected Religion Podcast

In Part 2, Christian discusses the influential Discordian trilogy of books called "Illuminatus!" and we make a little sidestep into discussion about how 'Bill and Ted' may or may not fit into the picture as we move throughout the 80s and 90s. We also talk about Discordianism's links to science fiction and fanzines, and Christian starts interviewing me at a certain point due to the topic of Furries that comes up in our conversation. We then discuss how Discordianism became a type of cyberculture and how hacking relates to it. Christian shares his ideas about the scholarly side of researching this group, and why 'being in conversation in a spirit of generosity' is important for researchers. PROGRAM NOTESAcademia.edu website Christian Greer: (99+) J. Christian Greer | Harvard Divinity School - Academia.edu(99+) (PDF) Discordianism | J. Christian Greer - Academia.edu(99+) (PDF) Church of the SubGenius | J. Christian Greer - Academia.edu(99+) (PDF) "Discordians Stick Apart" : The Institutional Turn within Contemporary Discordianism | J. Christian Greer - Academia.edu(99+) (PDF) Religion Can't be a Joke, Right? | J. Christian Greer - Academia.edu(99+) (PDF) [book review] Carole M. Cusack. Invented Religions: Imagination, Fiction and Faith. | J. Christian Greer - Academia.eduCarole Cusack, Invented Religions: Imagination, Fiction and Faith: Invented Religions: Imagination, Fiction and Faith: Cusack, Carole M: Amazon.nlErik Davis, High Weirdness: Drugs, Esoterica, and Visionary Experience in the Seventies: High Weirdness: Drugs, Esoterica, and Visionary Experience in the Seventies (The MIT Press): Davis, Erik: 9781907222870: Amazon.com: BooksMichael Barkun, A Culture of Conspiracy: Apocalyptic Visions in Contemporary America: A Culture of Conspiracy: Apocalyptic Visions in Contemporary America (Volume 15) (Comparative Studies in Religion and Society): Barkun, Michael: 9780520276826: Amazon.com: BooksDavid Chidester, Authentic Fakes: Religion and American Popular Culture: Amazon.com: Authentic Fakes: Religion and American Popular Culture (9780520242807): Chidester, David: BooksJohan Huizinga, Homo Ludens: A Study of the Play Element in Culture Homo Ludens: A Study of the Play-Element in Culture: Huizinga, Johan: 9781621389996: Amazon.com: BooksMikhail Baktin, Rabelais and His World : Rabelais and His World: Bakhtin, Mikhail: Amazon.nlAldous Huxley, The Doors of Perception: The Doors of Perception and Heaven and Hell: Huxley, Aldous: Amazon.com: BooksAdam Gorightly, Historia Discordia: Historia Discordia: the origins of the discordian society: Gorightly, Adam: Amazon.nlHistoria Disordia website: Historia Discordia – Documenting the Origins, History, and Chaos of the Discordian SocietyPrincipia Discordia (online source): Principia Discordia | the book of Chaos, Discord and Confusion | Fnord!Gnosis Magazine (online): Gnosis MagazineRobert Shea & Robert Anton Wilson, The Illuminatus Trilogy: The Illuminatus! Trilogy: The Eye in the Pyramid, The Golden Apple, Leviathan: Robert Shea, Robert Anton Wilson: 9780440539810: Amazon.com: BooksTom Wolfe, The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test: The Electric Kool - Aid Acid Test: Tom Wolfe: 9780552993661: Amazon.com: BooksAdam Curtis article: Adam Curtis Explains It All | The New YorkerAdam Curtis, "Can't Get You Out of My Head" - YouTube: Can't Get You Out of My Head (2021) - YouTubeDr. Christian Greer's Instagram Page: JCG (@angelheadedhipstersarchive) • Instagram-foto's en -video's'Visions of the Occult' Summer School Online Course Information: Summer course: Visions of the Occult - Introduction to Western Esotericism - History of Hermetic Philosophy (amsterdamhermetica.nl)Podcast Theme: Daniel P. SheaOther Music: Stephanie Shea

In Part 1, Christian will go into the history of the concept of laughter found in American religion/spirituality, as well as talking about the term 'psychedelicism' and the ways that psychedelics were viewed with regard to spiritual growth. We then get into the Discordians, their history, their ideas about chaos and hoaxes, and how Lee Harvey Oswald fits into the picture.PROGRAM NOTESAcademia.edu website Christian Greer: (99+) J. Christian Greer | Harvard Divinity School - Academia.edu(99+) (PDF) Discordianism | J. Christian Greer - Academia.edu(99+) (PDF) Church of the SubGenius | J. Christian Greer - Academia.edu(99+) (PDF) "Discordians Stick Apart" : The Institutional Turn within Contemporary Discordianism | J. Christian Greer - Academia.edu(99+) (PDF) Religion Can't be a Joke, Right? | J. Christian Greer - Academia.edu(99+) (PDF) [book review] Carole M. Cusack. Invented Religions: Imagination, Fiction and Faith. | J. Christian Greer - Academia.eduCarole Cusack, Invented Religions: Imagination, Fiction and Faith: Invented Religions: Imagination, Fiction and Faith: Cusack, Carole M: Amazon.nlErik Davis, High Weirdness: Drugs, Esoterica, and Visionary Experience in the Seventies: High Weirdness: Drugs, Esoterica, and Visionary Experience in the Seventies (The MIT Press): Davis, Erik: 9781907222870: Amazon.com: BooksMichael Barkun, A Culture of Conspiracy: Apocalyptic Visions in Contemporary America: A Culture of Conspiracy: Apocalyptic Visions in Contemporary America (Volume 15) (Comparative Studies in Religion and Society): Barkun, Michael: 9780520276826: Amazon.com: BooksDavid Chidester, Authentic Fakes: Religion and American Popular Culture: Amazon.com: Authentic Fakes: Religion and American Popular Culture (9780520242807): Chidester, David: BooksJohan Huizinga, Homo Ludens: A Study of the Play Element in Culture Homo Ludens: A Study of the Play-Element in Culture: Huizinga, Johan: 9781621389996: Amazon.com: BooksMikhail Baktin, Rabelais and His World : Rabelais and His World: Bakhtin, Mikhail: Amazon.nlAldous Huxley, The Doors of Perception: The Doors of Perception and Heaven and Hell: Huxley, Aldous: Amazon.com: BooksAdam Gorightly, Historia Discordia: Historia Discordia: the origins of the discordian society: Gorightly, Adam: Amazon.nlHistoria Disordia website: Historia Discordia – Documenting the Origins, History, and Chaos of the Discordian SocietyPrincipia Discordia (online source): Principia Discordia | the book of Chaos, Discord and Confusion | Fnord!Gnosis Magazine (online): Gnosis MagazineRobert Shea & Robert Anton Wilson, The Illuminatus Trilogy: The Illuminatus! Trilogy: The Eye in the Pyramid, The Golden Apple, Leviathan: Robert Shea, Robert Anton Wilson: 9780440539810: Amazon.com: BooksTom Wolfe, The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test: The Electric Kool - Aid Acid Test: Tom Wolfe: 9780552993661: Amazon.com: BooksAdam Curtis article: Adam Curtis Explains It All | The New YorkerAdam Curtis, "Can't Get You Out of My Head" - YouTube: Can't Get You Out of My Head (2021) - YouTubeDr. Christian Greer's Instagram Page: JCG (@angelheadedhipstersarchive) • Instagram-foto's en -video's'Visions of the Occult' Summer School Online Course Information: Summer course: Visions of the Occult - Introduction to Western Esotericism - History of Hermetic Philosophy (amsterdamhermetica.nl)Podcast Theme: Daniel P. SheaOther Music: Stephanie Shea

In Part 2, we jump right back into the 'dangerous' and terryifying aspects of contemplating 'the Other,' and this leads to discussing gateways that allow entitites to come through (does this account for accounts of high strangeness)? Thomas notes how Crowley's writings seem to contradict the notion that there is an 'Other,' as there is no duality in Crowley's thought. This leads into a brief discussion about the entities that one may encounter in anomalous events (for example, tulpas)- are these subjective or objective? The latter part of the conversation centers on scholarly approaches to all of this, our appreciation for Hellier as a powerful occultural product, and whether or not scholars could perhaps lend any insights to reseachers as they conduct their own fieldwork. EPISODE NOTES:Rudolph Otto and The Numinous: (99+) (PDF) Rudolf Otto and the Concept of the Numinous | Stuart Ray Sarbacker - Academia.eduHenri Corbin and the Mundus Imaginalis: MUNDUS IMAGINALIS OR THE IMAGINARY AND THE IMAGINAL (bahaistudies.net)Bergson-Deleuze Encounters: Bergson-Deleuze Encounters: Transcendental Experience and the Thought of the Virtual: Moulard-Leonard, Valentine: Amazon.nlKenneth Grant and the Mauve Zone: Beyond the Mauve Zone: Grant, Kenneth: 9780952782452: Amazon.com: BooksJeff Kripal & Whitley Strieber's The Super Natural: The Super Natural: A New Vision of the Unexplained: Strieber, Whitley, Kripal, Jeffrey J.: 9781101982327: Amazon.com: BooksOtto and 'the numinous: pp. 45-46Myers and ‘the imaginal’: pp. 120-123Allen Greenfield & The Secret Cipher: The Complete SECRET CIPHER Of the UfOnauts: Greenfield, Allen H., Phillips, Olav: 9781718645356: Amazon.com: BooksRegarding Tulpas: [PDF] Tracking the Tulpa | Semantic Scholar(99+) (PDF) On Tulpas - An Analysis of Imagined Others | Arthur Juliani - Academia.eduDiego Escolar: Boundaries of Anthropology: Empirics and Ontological Relativism in a Field Experience with Anomalous Luminous Entities in Argentina - ESCOLAR - 2012 - Anthropology and Humanism - Wiley Online LibraryRick Strassman & DMT: Rick Strassman MD – DMT: The Spirit MoleculeRobert Cabrales & ‘Occultural Accelerationism’:(99+) (PDF) Aesthetaphysicks and the Anti-Dialectical Hyperoccultation of Disenchanted Representation: Hyperstitional Esoterrorism as Occultural Accelerationism | Robert Elio Cabrales - Academia.eduHellier Documentary: Hellier: A Planet Weird Original SeriesPenny Royal Podcast: Penny Royal Podcast – A New Podcast of Magic, Mystery and High Strangeness On The Penny Royal Plateau.Episode Art: Stefan KellerPodcast Theme: Daniel P. SheaOther Music: Stephanie Shea

Part 1 of our roundtable discussion starts out with trying to tackle some major philosophical questions, such as the nature of "the Other", and how we can view reality. We then delve into the Star Sapphire or Blue Star Ritual that was brought up in the Hellier documentary - what it is, why would it be important for the team, what it's possible purpose may be, etc., and end this first part with a discussion about chaos magick and why this may be interesting area of exploration for the Hellier team. EPISODE NOTES:Rudolph Otto and The Numinous: (99+) (PDF) Rudolf Otto and the Concept of the Numinous | Stuart Ray Sarbacker - Academia.eduHenri Corbin and the Mundus Imaginalis: MUNDUS IMAGINALIS OR THE IMAGINARY AND THE IMAGINAL (bahaistudies.net)Bergson-Deleuze Encounters: Bergson-Deleuze Encounters: Transcendental Experience and the Thought of the Virtual: Moulard-Leonard, Valentine: Amazon.nlKenneth Grant and the Mauve Zone: Beyond the Mauve Zone: Grant, Kenneth: 9780952782452: Amazon.com: BooksJeff Kripal & Whitley Strieber's The Super Natural: The Super Natural: A New Vision of the Unexplained: Strieber, Whitley, Kripal, Jeffrey J.: 9781101982327: Amazon.com: BooksOtto and 'the numinous: pp. 45-46Myers and ‘the imaginal’: pp. 120-123Allen Greenfield & The Secret Cipher: The Complete SECRET CIPHER Of the UfOnauts: Greenfield, Allen H., Phillips, Olav: 9781718645356: Amazon.com: BooksRegarding Tulpas: [PDF] Tracking the Tulpa | Semantic Scholar(99+) (PDF) On Tulpas - An Analysis of Imagined Others | Arthur Juliani - Academia.eduDiego Escolar: Boundaries of Anthropology: Empirics and Ontological Relativism in a Field Experience with Anomalous Luminous Entities in Argentina - ESCOLAR - 2012 - Anthropology and Humanism - Wiley Online LibraryRick Strassman & DMT: Rick Strassman MD – DMT: The Spirit MoleculeRobert Cabrales & ‘Occultural Accelerationism’:(99+) (PDF) Aesthetaphysicks and the Anti-Dialectical Hyperoccultation of Disenchanted Representation: Hyperstitional Esoterrorism as Occultural Accelerationism | Robert Elio Cabrales - Academia.eduHellier Documentary: Hellier: A Planet Weird Original SeriesPenny Royal Podcast: Penny Royal Podcast – A New Podcast of Magic, Mystery and High Strangeness On The Penny Royal Plateau.Episode Art: Stefan KellerPodcast Theme: Daniel P. SheaOther Music: Stephanie Shea

In preparation for next month's mini-roundtable discussion about' Hellier' and everything 'high strangeness', this episode will attempt to lay a foundation about the documentary 'Hellier,' the podcast 'Penny Royal,' and 'everything else' that seems to be connected to these phenomena - Secret Ciphers, magick rituals and gateways, the Mothman incident, Twin Peaks, and more.  RESOURCES'Hellier' Season 1: Hellier Season 1: Episode 1 | The Midnight Children - YouTube'Hellier' Season 2: Hellier Season 2: Episode 1 | Noise and Signal - YouTube'Penny Royal' Podcast: Penny Royal Podcast – A New Podcast of Magic, Mystery and High Strangeness On The Penny Royal Plateau.The Secret History of Twin Peaks by Mark Frost: Amazon.com: The Secret History of Twin Peaks: A Novel (9781250075581): Frost, Mark: BooksTwin Peaks: The Final Dossier by Mark Frost: Amazon.com: Twin Peaks: The Final Dossier (9781250163301): Frost, Mark: BooksThe Mothman Prophecies by John Keel: Amazon.com: The Mothman Prophecies: A True Story (9780765334985): Keel, John A.: BooksThe Complete Secret Cipher of the UFOnauts by Allen Greenfield: The Complete SECRET CIPHER Of the UfOnauts: Greenfield, Allen H., Phillips, Olav: 9781718645356: Amazon.com: BooksThe Super Natural: A New Vision of the Unexplained by Whitley Strieber and Jeffrey J. Kripal: The Super Natural: A New Vision of the Unexplained: Strieber, Whitley, Kripal, Jeffrey J.: 9781101982327: Amazon.com: BooksThe Morning of the Magicians by Louis Pauwels and Jacques Bergier: The Morning of the Magicians: Secret Societies, Conspiracies, and Vanished Civilizations: Pauwels, Louis, Bergier, Jacques: 9781594772313: Amazon.com: Books Cover image: Hellier: A Planet Weird Original Series  Theme music: Daniel P. SheaAdditional music: Stephanie Shea

In this Bonus Episode, Pat and I deep-dive into the workings of the Celtic Wheel, that Pat refers to as "a companion on the pilgrimage of life." This discussion is not so much about rituals, but more about the spiritual concepts that Pat has gleaned from her experiences with Celtic Spirituality. Our informal exchange focuses on each season, and the special gifts that each month brings.EPISODE NOTES:Website Mara Freeman: Chalice Centre | Celtic & Western Magical TraditionsThe Celtic Sacred Year: Celtic Sacred Year (chalicecentre.net)Website John O'Donohue: Works (johnodonohue.com) 

This month's special episode concerning inner, personal experiences in Celtic Spirituality is an interview with my aunt, Dr. Patricia Shea. She is Professor Emeritus of Education, and holds an MA in Religious Studies. Currently, she is a life coach, faciliator, and spiritual director. Patricia was also a Catholic nun in the Order of the School Sisters of Notre Dame for many years. At this stage of her life, however, she considers herself a Celtic Crone. What Patricia will be sharing in this interview is an integration of what she has learned from others within the area of Celtic Spirituality, combined with her own personal perspectives based upon her life experiences. This is not an academic discussion, but more a space for Patricia to share her own insights about her spiritual path, including her views about religion, and mysticism as well. We discuss what Celtic Spirituality is, the Celtic Wheel and how this is attuned to the Earth, the Winter Solstice, and even some opportunities a worldwide pandemic can offer to help us all explore deeper questions about life. Wishing you all a Happy Solstice!EPISODE REFERENCES - SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHYCahill, Thomas. How the Irish Saved Civilization. 1995  Conway, D.J. & Lisa Hung. A Guide to the Celtic Dragon Tarot.  2011Freedman, Mara.  Kindling the Celtic Spirit, Ancient Traditions to Illumine Your Life throughout the Seasons. 2001. Kindling the Celtic Spirit: Ancient Traditions to Illumine Your Life Through the Seasons: Freeman, Mara: 9780062516855: Amazon.com: Books~www.chalicecentre.net~Grail Alchemy, Initiation in the Celtic Mystery Tradition. 2014Greer, John Michael. The Druidry Handbook: Spiritual Practice Rooted in the Living Earth. 2006 The Druidry Handbook: Spiritual Practice Rooted in the Living Earth: Greer, John Michael, Carr-Gomm, Philip: 9781578633548: Amazon.com: BooksHamilton, Claire. The Celtic Book of Seasonal Mediations. 2003  ~Maiden, Mother, Crone; Voices of the Goddess. 2005MacEown, Frank. The Celtic Way of Seeing: Mediations on the Irish Spirit Wheel. 2007  ~The Spiral of Memory and Belonging, A Celtic Path of Soul and Kinship. 2004                                      Matthews, Caitlin. The Celtic Tradition. 1995  The Way of - The Celtic Tradition: Matthews, Caitlin: 9780007154333: Amazon.com: Books~The Celtic Spirit, Daily Meditations for the Turning Year. 1999~The Celtic Wisdom Tarot. 1999~Celtic Visions. 2013~Psychic Shield, The Personal Handbook of Psychic Protection. 2006~Singing the Soul Back Home, Shamanic Wisdom for Every Day. 2018Matthews, John. The Sidhe: Wisdom from the Celtic Otherworld.  2004.  ~Celtic Totem Animals: Meet your animal helpers on your own shamanic journey.  2002Matthews, John and Caitlin Matthews. Walkers Between the Worlds,  2003. Walkers Between the Worlds: The Western Mysteries from Shaman to Magus: Matthews, Caitlín, Matthews, John: 9780892810918: Amazon.com: BooksMomma White Cougar. The Sacred Wheel.  Published by publishmybookonkindle.comMonaghan, Patricia. The Goddess Path.  1999Newell, Phillip. Listening to the Heartbeat of God.: A Celtic Spirituality. 1997~A New Harmony: The Spirit, the Earth, and the Human Soul . 2012 A New Harmony: The Spirit, the Earth, and the Human Soul: Newell, J. Philip: 8589901111111: Amazon.com: Books~Celtic Prayers from Iona. 1997~Celtic Benediction: Morning and Night Prayer. 2000O’Donohue, John. Anam Cara, Spiritual Wisdom from the Celtic World. 1997 Anam Cara: A Book Of Celtic Wisdom: John O'Donohue: 9780060929435: Amazon.com: Books~Beauty, the Invisible Embrace. 2004~Eternal Echoes, Exploring Our Yearning to Belong. 1999~To Bless the Space Between Us, A Book of Blessings. 2008  ~Wisdom from the Celtic World. 9 CD’s from Sounds TrueTaylor, Joules. The Book of Celtic Symbols, Symbols, Stories & Blessings for Everyday Living.  2007  The Book of Celtic Symbols: Symbols, stories, and blessings for everyday living: Taylor, Joules: 9781782498247: Amazon.com: Books~Celtic Messages, Book and 52 cards for affirmation and divination.  2007  

In Part 2, Marco and I switch gears and talk about why Satan plays such a large role in heavy metal music by using Dr. Kennet Granholm's essay, "Why all that Satanist stuff in heavy metal?" We then shift the discussion to why some people think that occultism leads to fascist and Nazi ideologies with the help of Dr. Julian Strube's essay, "Doesn't occultism lead straight to fascism?" Lastly, we talk about Marco's own essay, "But what does esotericism have to do with sex?" that discusses how sex is actually a very important aspect for some esoteric practitioners. EPISODE NOTESDr. Kennet Granholm's Academia.edu page: https://independent.academia.edu/KennetGranholmWiki page about backmasking: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BackmaskingJudas Priest articles: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/judas-priests-subliminal-message-trial-rob-halford-looks-back-57552/https://www.nytimes.com/1990/07/17/arts/2-families-sue-heavy-metal-band-as-having-driven-sons-to-suicide.htmlLed Zeppelin articles/information: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/the-10-wildest-led-zeppelin-legends-fact-checked-153103/if-you-play-stairway-to-heaven-in-reverse-you-hear-satanic-messages-154807/https://jeffmilner.com/backmasking/stairway-to-heaven-backwards.htmlDr. Julian Strube's Academia.edu page: https://uni-hamburg.academia.edu/JulianStrubeDr. Julian Strube, "Nazism and the Occult", in The Occult World: https://www.academia.edu/20054488/Nazism_and_the_OccultDr. Nicolas Goodrick-Clarke, The Occult Roots of Nazism: Secret Aryan Cults and Their Influence on Nazi Ideology: https://www.amazon.com/Occult-Roots-Nazism-Influence-Ideology/dp/0814730604 Dr. Marco Pasi's Academia.edu page: https://uva.academia.edu/MarcoPasiDr. Marco Pasi, "The Modernity of Occultism: Reflections on Some Crucial Aspects" (in Hermes in the Academy): https://www.academia.edu/470659/The_Modernity_of_Occultism_Reflections_on_Some_Crucial_AspectsDr. Hugh Urban, " Magia Sexualis": https://www.academia.edu/8979724/Magia_Sexualis Wiki page about Morning of the Magicians: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Morning_of_the_MagiciansHermes Explains book: https://www.amazon.com/Hermes-Explains-Questions-Western-Esotericism/dp/9463720200/ref=sr_1_13?dchild=1&keywords=marco+pasi&qid=1593693803&sr=8-13 

Dr. Marco Pasi and I discuss the book, Hermes Explains: Thirty Questions About Western Esotericism. This episode is a mini-history lesson that covers several different subjects. Marco begins by giving some background about Hermes, why esotericism is confusing to try to explain to people, and also why it's an important area of study. We then go on to talk about one of the essays by Dr. Henrik Bodgan, titled "Is it true that secret societies are trying to control the world?" that discusses secret societies, and the Illuminati, in particular. EPISODE NOTES:Website HHP Centre: https://www.amsterdamhermetica.nl/ Website ESSWE: https://www.esswe.org/The Corpus Hermeticum: https://hermetic.com/texts/hermetica/indexHermes in the Academy (pdf): https://www.academia.edu/43196454/Hermes_in_the_AcademyZanoni by Edward  Bulwer Lytton: http://www.moup.org/Files/Edward_Bulwer_Lytton-Zanoni.pdfWiki page about Abbot Barruel: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augustin_BarruelWiki page about Adam Weishaupt/ Bavarian Illuminati: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_WeishauptWiki page about the Dreyfus Affair: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreyfus_affairMarco Pasi on Academia.edu: https://uva.academia.edu/MarcoPasiHenrik Bodgan on Academia.edu: https://gu-se.academia.edu/HenrikBogdan/Papers

Robert Cabrales, an insightful thinker on hyperstition and memes, dives deep into how narratives shape our reality. He unpacks feedback loops using 'The Sixth Sense' and examines memes like 'Pepe the Frog' as tools in political chaos. Their discussion reveals how virtual and actual realities intertwine, and how cultural artifacts gain unanticipated meanings. The conversation also touches on conspiracy theories and the impact of figures like Bob Lazar, highlighting the fluid nature of truth and identity in contemporary culture.