Rejected Religion Podcast

Stephanie Shea
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Feb 2, 2025 • 32min

RR Patreon Tier 3 Free Content Dr. Dean Radin: Science, Magick & the SIGIL Experiment

Dean Radin is Chief Scientist at the Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS), Associated Distinguished Professor at the California Institute of Integral Studies, and cofounder and chairman of the biotech company, Cognigenics. He earned an MS (electrical engineering) and a PhD (psychology) from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and in 2022 was awarded an Honorary DSc (doctor of science) from the Swami Vivekananda University in Bangalore, India.Before joining the IONS research staff in 2001, Radin worked at AT&T Bell Labs, Princeton University, University of Edinburgh, and SRI International. He has given over 750 talks and interviews worldwide, and he is author or coauthor of some 7 patents, 300 scientific and popular articles, four dozen book chapters, and nine books, four of which have been translated into 15 foreign languages: The Conscious Universe (1997), Entangled Minds (2006), Supernormal (2013), and Real Magic (2018).  In this interview, Dean opens the conversation by talking about why the scientific community is slow to emerge with theoretical explanations as to why anomalous phenomena occur, even with the empirical evidence. He then explains how the three main classes of magickal practice (Divination, Enchantment, and Theurgy) coincide with the three main of psychic phenomena that have been studied over the years by scientists (Clairvoyance, Psychokinesis, and Survival after death). First explaining the three most notable types of tests that have been developed over the years (tossed dice, random number generator outputs, and photon interference), Dean then explains in more detail the last test and the mystery of the ‘wave-particle duality’ that ‘violates the commonsense doctrine of realism, which assumes that the physical world is completely independent of observation.’ We then move on to the SIGIL (scientific investigation of gazing with intention/intuition at light) experiment that Dean performed with the funding of the Bial Foundation and RENSEP, involving practicing magicians and mediators, and the results of this experiment. Dean talks a bit about further experiments that could be created on the foundation of the SIGIL experiment, and also how all of this ties into the larger discussions about the nature of consciousness and interconnectedness.  https://www.deanradin.com/https://www.cognigenics.io/https://noetic.org/https://www.youtube.com/@InstituteofNoeticScienceshttps://www.rensep.org/https://www.youtube.com/@rensephttps://www.instagram.com/ionsonline/ https://www.instagram.com/rensep_official/Photo Credit: Jordan Engle @ Lens & SoulTheme Music & Editing: Daniel P. SheaEnd Production: Stephanie SheaThe full episode can be found at my Patreon page; it can also be purchased for a one-time fee: www.patreon.com/RejectedReligion 
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Jan 21, 2025 • 29min

RR Patreon Tier 2 Free Content- Dr. Tara Smith: Ecology, Zen Buddhism & The Anthropocene in Frank Herbert's _Dune Trilogy_

Dr. Tara B. M. Smith is an early career interdisciplinary academic that works in the fields of science fiction, literature, religion and popular culture. Tara is currently a research affiliate at the University of Sydney. In 2024 Tara was a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Center for the Study of World Religions at the Harvard Divinity School, Boston, writing on religious ideas and experiences of people that paint and play within the science fiction “grimdark” universe of Warhammer 40,000. Tara is a passionate educator who holds a Graduate Certificate of Higher Education and has taught in academic settings for over 5 years across a variety of units including media studies, religious studies, writing skills and composition. When Tara is not studying, she spends time with her two cats Thomas and Momo and her fiancé Luke in Sydney, Australia.While most people who talk and think about the story of Dune focus on the political and religious aspects of the series [for example, the Bene Geserit with their genetic breeding program and the Kwisatz Haderach, or the Butlerian Jihad -the war against thinking machines = technology and AI], Tara's article, “The Anthropocene in Frank Herbert’s Dune Series” from 2021 takes a different approach and explores the ecological/philosophical aspects of the story. As she notes, Frank Herbert was warning his readers about their anthropocentric tendencies and urging people instead to think about ecological conservation, or at least he appears to be planting a seed in the minds of the readers to be more aware of their place or role on the Earth.Poem mentioned in this interview:“I drove my feet through a desertWhose mirage fluttered like a host.Voracious for glory, greedy for danger,I roamed the horizons of al-Kulab,Watching time level mountainsIn its search and its hunger for me.And I saw the sparrows swiftly approach,Bolder than the onrushing wolf.They spread in the tree of my youth.I heard the flock in my branchesAnd was caught on their beaks and claws!”– from Arrakis Awakening by the Princess Irulan (Herbert 1978, 228)Dr. Tara Smith:https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-b-m-smith-phd-fhea-306418192/“The Anthropocene in Frank Herbert’s Dune Series”, Foundation 140, 50.3 (2021): 62-74. The_Anthropocene_in_Frank_Herberts_Dune.docTheme Music and Editing: Daniel P. SheaEnd Production: Stephanie SheaThe full episode can be heard at my Patreon page: www.patreon.com/RejectedReligion, or can be purchased for a one-time fee. 
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Jan 13, 2025 • 3min

Rejected Religion Special Announcements 2025

Happy New Year to you all! For those who may not be following me on Patreon or social media, I have some important announcements for 2025.   The first being that I’m offering a special 75% discount on the first month’s membership for all Patreon tiers! This offer lasts until the end of February. Use the code RRDINER75 for the discount. And on the topic of the RR Diner, there’s also news about a change to my Patreon Tiers 3 and 4:  The content of Tiers 3 and 4 has merged, and Tier 4 is now the RR Diner Book Club! The Club will meet 4 times per year (February, May, August & November) and the price for Tier 4 has been lowered to $17.50 as of January 1st. This price includes all the content from Tiers 1-3 plus the Live Zoom meetings for the Book Club. I’ve already announced the first book over at my Patreon, which is The Super Natural:  A New Vision of the Unexplained by Whitley Strieber and Dr. Jeff Kripal!!Plus, I'm overjoyed to announce that both authors have agreed to join me for the Live Zoom Meet in February!! We are in the process of finding three potential dates that will be listed via a poll on the Patreon page for Tier 4 members to vote on. That information will be following soon. For now, you can start reading! Additionally, you can view two free content videos – one about Sidereal Astrology & How to Understand Natal Charts, the other about a new book called _Void Machines_ by Dr. Christian Greer and Dr. Michelle Oing. This art collage book is about 'Talismanic Frequencies of Peak Experiences.' Those videos are free to watch at my Patreon page, my website or my Vimeo channel.   I’m also excited to announce that I will be collaborating with the Research Network for the Study of Esoteric Practices, otherwise known RENSEP. I will be hosting and moderating some very special conversations between scholars and practitioners throughout the year, called “Spotlight with RENSEP -- Esoteric Crossroads: Scholars Meet Practitioners.”  This content will be available for everyone, and we hope this will promote engagement between the two platforms, as well as offering new topics and opportunities for learning and discussion.Stay tuned for the announcement of the first Scholar-Practitioner Conversation in early 2025! Lastly, the new content for January has been delayed due to unexpected internet stability issues that are preventing me from recording interviews. However, I’m hoping to have things fixed well enough so I can get back to work at the end of this week, and start posting again soon.  Thanks for your patience!I’m looking forward to an excellent new year!  www.rejectedreligion.com www.patreon.com/RejectedReligionDiscount code:  RRDINER75https://vimeo.com/user220298192Music: Daniel P. Shea 
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Dec 15, 2024 • 52min

RR Pod E33 [Free Content] Brennan Kettelle- P2 Monster Theory: Psychoanalysis, Foucault, 'Stigmatized Alignment,' & Hauntology

This month’s guest on the Rejected Religion Podcast is Brennan Kettelle. Brennan returns for Part 2 of our discussion on Monster Theory, this time looking at the applications of Monster Theory, as well as a more in-depth look at how Brennan is using this theory, along with other related concepts and theories. Brennan is a PhD researcher at the Centre for History of Hermetic Philosophy and Related Currents (HHP), University of Amsterdam. Brennan holds an MA in Gender and Cultural studies (2016) and a research MA in Religious Studies, specializing in Western esotericism (2021). She is currenting writing her doctoral dissertation, investigating historical associations between the religiomythic demoness Lilith and queerness within artistic, literary, and occult discourses. Brennan also teaches an 8-week online course on Lilith - focusing on Lilith’s origins and cultural receptions within Western esotericism - for the Brooklyn-based organization Morbid Anatomy. Utilizing monster theory and queer theory in her research, Brennan is more broadly interested in investigating themes of the ‘monstrous-queer’ within esoteric literature, orders, and figures, as well as esoteric themes within queer subcultures, politics, and histories.Some highlights:Brennan’s areas of exploration are primarily located in Gender Studies, Queer Theory, Religious Studies, Horror Theory, and Esotericism. In addition, as Monster Theory has a foundation in psychoanalysis and postmodern theories, Brennan expands on this in greater detail. This leads us into a conversation about the recent film, The Substance, as well as theories found in Foucault’s works. Shifting the focus to Religious Studies, Brennan notes how monsters are most often aligned with evil; however, there are exceptions to this when it comes to werewolves in the Bible, for example. [Note: the text that I am reading from regarding werewolves in the Bible as well as the Werewolf Renaissance is taken from my own Research Master thesis.] Religion and Horror Studies intersect in films such as Longlegs, where we can see themes such as “monstrous infection” or a returning sickness.As Brennan states, “the monster is the illumination of everything a society oppresses or represses.”Speaking on the working term of ‘stigmatized alignment,’  Brennan uses the examples of poet Renee Vivien, and “The Witch of Kings Cross” Rosaleen Norton to explain this concept in more detail. In closing, Brennan touches upon the adjacent theory of Hauntology, where past ‘monsters’ linger in the present and haunt us. Time, in this instance, could be seen as a monster as well. This is the Free Content version of Episode 33; you can find the full episode at my Patreon page: https://patreon.com/RejectedReligion?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLinkThis episode is also available for a one-time purchase.PROGRAM NOTESFind Brennan:https://uva.academia.edu/SBrennanKettellehttps://www.instagram.com/_restingwitchface/ Monster Theory Resources:https://ieas-szeged.hu/downtherabbithole/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Barbara-Creed-The-Monstrous-Feminine-2007.pdfhttps://archive.org/details/monstersincloset0000benshttps://www.amazon.com/Celluloid-Closet-Arthur-Laurents/dp/B001NI5C6Uhttps://archive.org/details/religionitsmonst0000bealhttps://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/mono/10.4324/9780203361894/philosophy-horror-noel-carrollhttps://revisesociology.com/2016/09/21/foucault-surveillance-crime-control/https://medium.com/deterritorialization/jacques-derridas-specter-s-of-marx-and-the-concept-of-hauntology-reflections-on-deconstruction-2eb687322a69https://academic.oup.com/fs/article/59/3/373/638853 Films and Shows Mentioned (Selection):https://www.imdb.com/title/tt17526714/ The Substancehttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt23468450/?ref_=ttfc_fc_tt  Longlegshttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt14966898/ Late Night with the Devilhttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt4574334/  Stranger Things https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5040012/ Nosferatu 2024Renee Vivien:https://allpoetry.com/Renee-Vivien https://youtu.be/3dUc17ut3as?si=KJ9ZDCBFct00eQuj Spotlight with Brennan Kettelle 2021Rosaleen Norton:https://www.witchofkingscross.com/about-new/ Theme Music and Editing: Daniel P. SheaEnd Production: Stephanie Shea
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Dec 12, 2024 • 42min

RR Patreon Tier 2 Groves of Orpheus with Peg Aloi: Contemporary Reception of Witchcraft and 'The Occult' in the USA

This month’s Patreon Tier 2 guest is Peg Aloi. Peg is a freelance film and TV critic, a former professor of media studies, and co-editor (with Hannah Sanders) of The New Generation Witches: Teenage Witchcraft in Contemporary Culture (Routledge) and Carnivale and the American Grotesque: Critical Essays on the HBO Series (Macfarland). With Hannah she also co-organized two scholarly conferences at Harvard University on paganism, witchcraft and media. Peg's forthcoming book The Witching Hour: How Witches Enchanted the World is a cultural analysis of the witch in contemporary media. Peg was also one of the co-founders of The Witches' Voice and wrote about film and TV for the site for over a decade. Her long-running blog "The Witching Hour" can now be found on Substack. This conversation was inspired by a lecture in April of 2024 by Peg for The Last Tuesday Society called “The Satanic Panic: Its Roots and Branches,” that explored a number of disparate but often-related elements that converged to create the Satanic Panic of the 1980s and 90s, including Satanic-themed horror films. In this discussion, we pick up were Peg left off and explore how viewpoints surrounding Witchcraft and ‘The Occult’ have changed since that time until our present day. Peg talks about various instances within popular culture that have shown a shift in the ‘negative’ paradigm. This conversation spans several different areas, ranging from politics and society, education and scholarship, entertainment media, films and series, to magic and other ‘occult’ practices.I hope you enjoy this as much as I did!You can find the Full Episode with Peg Aloi at my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/RejectedReligion The episode is also available for a one-time purchase. PROGRAM NOTESMentioned by Peg:Documentary Hail, Satan? https://youtu.be/27RtJp-rhHk?si=1IEizfm8d4xCVvV5 (trailer)Agatha, All Along https://youtu.be/R9pXbNz6Vbw?si=WDEc8Q3Lb-92pNlB (trailer)AHS: Coven  https://youtu.be/ra8aQ-CfKVw?si=J9W74jUct4dNJcPm (trailer)Film Realm of Satan https://youtu.be/7ANZCk97F7Y?si=L7rC4VStmYo_NkrL (trailer)Find Peg Aloi here:https://x.com/themediawitchhttps://themediawitch.substack.com/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7lfIuXsQmI (Podcast)Works:https://www.amazon.com/New-Generation-Witches-Witchcraft-Contemporary/dp/0754657841https://www.amazon.com/Carnivale-American-Grotesque-Critical-Essays/dp/0786448164The Witching Hour: How Witches Enchanted the World (forthcoming)Theme Music and Editing: Daniel P. SheaEnd Production: Stephanie Shea
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Oct 24, 2024 • 40min

Rejected Religion Spotlight - Dr. Bernd-Christian Otto & Andrea Centore from RENSEP + SPECIAL OFFER TO VIEWERS

My guests this month are Dr. Bernd-Christian Otto and Andrea Centore, co-founders of the Research Network for the Study of Esoteric Practices, otherwise known as RENSEP. In this discussion, Bernd and Andrea talk about how this network came to be, why it was created, and the exciting work that they are doing. As the name suggests, RENESP is focused on working with practitioners in all areas of esotericism, and fostering the relationships between academic research and real-life practitioners. RENSEP is still in its early stages, having officially launched in 2023, and is a unique resource for both researchers and those outside of academia who are interested to interact with scholars, as well as to help educate the public about esoteric practices. Bernd-Christian Otto (b. 1976) is a scholar of religion. After gaining his PhD in 2009 at the university of Heidelberg (Germany) with an extensive study on the conceptual history of magic, Otto pursued his academic career at various universities, among them Heidelberg, Erfurt, Bochum, Leipzig, Erlangen (Germany) and Bergen (Norway). Otto is co-founder and permanent fellow at the Center for Advanced Studies ‘Alternative Rationalities and Esoteric Practices from a Global Perspective’ at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (www.cas-e.de); he is a board member of the European Society for the Study of Western Esotericism (www.esswe.org); and he is co-founder, trustee and scientific director of the Research Network for the Study of Esoteric Practices (www.rensep.org). Otto's research focuses on magic and esotericism, where he combines different methodologies such as conceptual history, discourse analysis, social theory, ritual studies, qualitative interviews, participant observation, and practitioner-scholarship. His book publications include "Defining Magic: A Reader" (Routledge 2013), co-edited with Michael Stausberg; the duograph "Magical Manuscripts in Early Modern Europe: The Clandestine Trade in Illegal Book Collections" (Palgrave MacMillan 2017), co-authored with Daniel Bellingradt; and the anthology "Fictional Practice: Magic, Narration and the Power of Imagination" (Brill 2021), co-edited with Dirk Johannsen. Andrea Centore holds a master's degree in Translation Studies from the University of Mons-Hainaut (Belgium), and a master's degree in Religious Studies from the University of Amsterdam. His research explores the intersection of Jewish and Islamic esotericism through the perspectives of intellectual and global history, with a particular focus on Kabbalah and Sufi lettrism. In addition, Andrea has engaged with texts from a wide range of esoteric traditions including Islamicate occultism, strands of Western esotericism, and Nāth Tantric Yoga. He is the co-founder and managing director of the Research Network for the Study of Esoteric Practices (RENSEP), where one of his key aims is to foster a more systematic dialogue between the academic community and esoteric practitioners. Andrea is also an entrepreneur in the professional services sector.  We take a look at the website, and the different options available to the members. Not only are there blog posts and research updates available, but members can also take part in study groups and take part in livestreams with scholars and practitioners alike (titled “ask a scholar” and “ask a practitioner”). Another great opportunity is the ability to meet new people, forming connections with other members to foster communication and learning, growing one’s own network of contacts in the process. RENSEP has also just launched an open-access, peer-review journal, too, called Praxis-Knowledge! RENSEP is a fantastic place to share and learn with other people with similar interests, and is one-of-a-kind with regard to online communities that offer grounded, interdisciplinary, peer-reviewed research and a wonderful platform for practitioners to engage with scholars and others who share the same interests. Bernd and Andrea have also very generously offered a 50% discount on membership for all viewers/listeners of Rejected Religion! Use the promo code RR50 when signing up at www.rensep.org! Patreon members also receive special discounts -- Tiers 1& 2 get 70% off on membership, and Tiers 3 & 4 get a FREE membership!This is a fabulous opportunity to join and start learning about esoteric practices, with access to information and resources that usually only are available to those within academia! Members can find their promo codes on the Patreon page. Rejected Religion | Illuminating the Obscure | Patreon My thanks to RENSEP for making this possible!  Theme music & video production: Stephanie Shea of Rejected Religion
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Oct 23, 2024 • 41min

Rejected Religion Bonus - Forbidden Knowledge Winter Course with Dr. Christian Greer & Brennan Kettelle RMA

Hi Friends!As promised, here is the impromptu discussion I just had with Dr. Christian Greer and Brennan Kettelle RMA about the new online winter school course, offered by the University of Amsterdam, called Forbidden Knowledge: Introduction to Esotericism.Christian and Brennan talk a bit about the changes that have been made in the summer and winter intensives, and how the desire for 'Forbidden Knowledge' has been in the works for some time. They both explain their vision for this course, how it's set up, who will be teaching, and most importantly, the fact that anyone who's passionate about esotericism is welcome to join.They both stress the opinion that esotericism studies is entering a new 'era,' so to speak, and that alongside the traditional historical and empirical approaches, they aim to branch out to include interdisciplinary approaches, together with a focus on art, music, film, and other media. The goal is to create new discussions and paths for those who are interested in this exciting field of study.For those who are interested to join, please follow this link for all information and how to register: https://www.uva.nl/en/programmes/winter-courses/introduction-to-western-esotericism/introduction-to-western-esotericism.htmlThe deadline to apply is 8 December 2024.Theme music and outro music: Daniel P. SheaEnd production: Stephanie Shea
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Oct 20, 2024 • 1h 28min

Patreon Tier 3 FREE Content- Dr. Jonathon O’Donnell Research Updates – Modern Demonology, Spiritual Warfare & Politics, Technology & the Environment

You can find the full episode at: Patreon Tier 3 - Dr. Jonathon O’Donnell Research Updates – Modern Demonology, Spiritual Warfare & Politics, Technology & the EnvironmentMy guest this month is Dr. Jonathon O’Donnell.  Jonathon is a Visiting Scholar in the School of Natural and Built Environment at Queen’s University Belfast. They are the author of Passing Orders: Demonology and Sovereignty in American Spiritual Warfare (Fordham University Press, 2021). Their research focuses on the intersections of sociopolitical demonisation and religious demonologies in contemporary America, with specific attention paid to Islamophobia, antiblackness, queerphobic and transphobic ideologies. Their latest publication, in the Journal of the American Academy of Religion (JAAR), explores the relationship between contemporary evangelical demonologies of the Nephilim and their connection to wider Christian nationalist, anti-Black, and anti-Palestinian politics. Links to their research and contact details can be found at their website, www.drsjodonnell.com.PROGRAM NOTESS. Jonathon O'Donnell, PhD (drsjodonnell.com)Publications – S. Jonathon O'Donnell, PhD (drsjodonnell.com)(99+) S. Jonathon O'Donnell | University College Dublin - Academia.eduModern demonology: the discernment of spirits in the theatre of colonial modernity: Journal of Contemporary Religion: Vol 38 , No 3 - Get Access (tandfonline.com)Nova Religio - University of Pennsylvania Press (pennpress.org)Damned Ecologies | Environmental Humanities | Duke University Press (dukeupress.edu)Biosoteriology and the Postsecular (In)Human: The Religio-Racializing Assemblages of Evangelical Nephilim Demonology | Journal of the American Academy of Religion | Oxford Academic (oup.com)Previous appearances on Rejected Religion:https://rejected-religion-introductory-episode-1-what-do-i-mean-by.simplecast.com/episodes/spotlight-midnight-mass-discussion-panel(Roundtable discussion about the Netflix show Midnight Mass)https://rejected-religion-introductory-episode-1-what-do-i-mean-by.simplecast.com/episodes/rr-pod-e13-p1-dr-s-jonathon-odonnell-demons-the-demonized-power-and-spiritual-warfare-in-the-usa (Podcast Episode 13 P1)https://rejected-religion-introductory-episode-1-what-do-i-mean-by.simplecast.com/episodes/rr-pod-e13-p2-dr-s-jonathon-odonnell-demons-the-demonized-power-spiritual-warfare-in-the-usa (E13 P2)Social MediaJonathon O'Donnell (@demonologian) • Instagram photos and videosFacebookS. Jonathon O'Donnell; demonologian on 🦋/🧵 (@demonologian) / XTheme Music and Editing: Daniel P. SheaEnd Production: Stephanie Shea
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Oct 15, 2024 • 50min

RR Patreon Tier 2 Groves of Orpheus Free Content- Dell Rose RMA Ornamental Hermits: A Different Kind of Spirituality

My guest this month is Dell Rose. Dell is working on a project for his PhD dissertation on Charles Augustus Tulk and the role that Swedenborgianism played in the reforming societies of 19th century Britain. Though Tulk is often only known as the artistic patron of William Blake, he was also one of the earliest advocates of "public science" and his quest to show the spiritual nature of the material world based on Swedenborg's revelations would be widely acclaimed during the period.In addition to his PhD work, Dell is currently researching the medical theory and physicalism of Franz von Baader. Baader was one of the most important thinkers of 19th century Germany and was instrumental in establishing academic interest in the theosophy of Jakob Boehme, a very important figure in Esotericism.Dell has a lifelong interest in Christian theosophy, and millenarianism; he is interested as well in understanding the role and influence that national mythologies have played in Western esotericism, as well as esoteric currents in Germany during WW1; and also the inter-religious dialogue between Protestantism and Jewish sectarianism.This discussion, however, concerns 'ornamental' hermits. We explore this in the context of cultural history and significance of the garden and the esoteric influences that were built around this idea. The hermit and the hermitage were seen as a 'living experiment" of both esoteric wisdom with regard to the significance of plants and also the atmosphere that they created.As you will hear, this is a complex and nuanced topic, and we consider an array of influences that might have played a part in the obscure phenomenon known as 'eremitism.'PROGRAM NOTESDell Rose Research: Dell J. Rose - HHP | History of Hermetic Philosophy and related currents (amsterdamhermetica.nl)Dell Joseph Rose – Swedenborg SocietyThe curious phenomenon of the ornamental hermit (youtube.com)The Hermit in the Garden: From Imperial Rome to Ornamental Gnome: Amazon.co.uk: Campbell, Gordon: 9780199696994: BooksGordon Campbell. The Hermit in the Garden: From Imperial Rome to Ornamental Gnome - Lore - HermitaryFrancis of Assisi's "Rule for Hermitages" - Articles - HermitaryBefore the Garden Gnome, the Ornamental Hermit: A Real Person Paid to Dress like a Druid - Atlas Obscura(99+) RENAISSANCE GARDEN (symbolism, culture, philosophy and phenomenology of Garden) | Lorna McNeur - Academia.eduThe Story | Mother Shipton's CaveDell's former visit to Rejected Religion: RR Pod E27 Dell Rose - Cultural Receptions of Emanuel Swedenborg (youtube.com)Theme Music and Editing: Daniel P. SheaEnd Production: Stephanie Shea
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Oct 4, 2024 • 1h 6min

RR Pod E32 Dr. Joel Bordeaux: Zeena's 'Left-Hand' Path from Satanism to Buddhism

Full Episode NotesMy guest this month is Dr. Joel Bordeaux.Joel is a specialist in South Asian religions with a PhD from Columbia University (2015). He has published on East Indian Śākta traditions, early modern Hindu statecraft, Nath Yogi literature from Bengal, and Tibetan Buddhism in Anglophone popular culture. He is a Research Fellow at the International Institute for Asian Studies in Leiden, The Netherlands,  and a member of the research group Body and Embodiment in the Middle Bengali Imaginary based at Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland.As Zeena Schreck, the famous daughter of Anton LaVey of the Church of Satan, was recently interviewed by Jordan Peterson, I immediately thought of Joel and a presentation he gave three years ago about Zeena and her then-husband Nikolas as they relate to Tibetan Buddhism, Tantra and Left-Hand Path practices. I asked Joel if he’d like to re-visit this topic and to flesh it out, further expanding on this, in light of the recent media attention that Zeena has had. He graciously agreed.In this discussion, Joel first gives a background of Anton LaVey & the environment of the Church of Satan wherein Zeena grew up, leading to Zeena taking the role of spokesperson for the Church during the Satanic Panic years, and then the circumstances that led to Zeena leaving the Church to forge her own path.This takes us to other projects that Zeena and Nikolas were involved in, such as Radio Werewolf and the Temple of Set, their break from that group to form their own group called the Sethian Liberation Movement or ‘The Storm’.  Joel discusses in more detail the concepts of tantra and left-hand path traditions that are used in their practices and beliefs. Another important factor that is discussed is the role of Traditionalism within all of Zeena’s work.In closing we discuss our takeaways from Zeena’s interview with Jordan Peterson. I hope you enjoy this conversation!This content is educational in nature. Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research.PROGRAM NOTESJoel Bordeaux | Instagram, Facebook | LinktreeTaking the Left Hand Path to Tibet, by Dr. Joel Bordeaux || HHP Student Association (youtube.com)Spotlight Dr. Joel Bordeaux - Batman, Buddhism & Bricolage: Grant Morrison & The Dark Knight (youtube.com)(99+) Joel Bordeaux | Utrecht University - Academia.edu(99+) From Bauddha Deśa to Śākta Pīṭha: Re/Locating the Hindu Goddess Tārā | Joel Bordeaux - Academia.eduA Cultural History of Hinduism: Volumes 1-6: The Cultural Histories Series Karen Pechilis Bloomsbury Academic- Volume 4: A Cultural History of Hinduism in the Age of EmpiresEdited by Valerie Stoker, Wright State University, USA--Politics and Power in the Age of Empires, Joel Bordeaux (Leiden University, The Netherlands)View of #BuddhistCultureWars: BuddhaBros, Alt-Right Dharma, and Snowflake Sanghas (globalbuddhism.org)Abrahamic Religions: On the Uses and Abuses of History | Oxford Academic (oup.com)Unmasking Buddhism | WileySatanis 1969 Anton Szandor LaVey - YouTubeFull Interview: Zeena Schreck Interviewed by Dr. Jordan B. Peterson Podcast EP471 (youtube.com)All Music and first edit: Daniel P. SheaEnd Production: Stephanie Shea

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