Let's Talk Religion

A deep dive into the Hebrew Bible, exploring its collection of various books, including the Torah, and the significance of its stories. The mystery surrounding the authorship and historicity of the Torah. The documentary hypothesis proposing the composition of the Torah by different sources over time. The development of the D and P-Sources during the exile in Babylon, leading to changes in Judaism and theological shifts. Variations in the names and portrayal of God in the biblical story of creation, reflecting the evolution of religious ideas.

In this episode, we finally explore the fifth largest religion in the world - Sikhism (more properly called "Sikhi").Sources/Suggested Reading:Mandair, Arvind-Pal Singh (2013). "Sikhism: A guide for the Perplexed". Bloomsbury Academic. Singh, Patwant (1999). "The Sikhs". John Murray.Also try to get ahold of the Adi Granth (Guru Granth Sahib". You can find translations of the scriptures online, or in published form translated by Ernest Trumpp or Gurbachan Singh Talib. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Hasidic movement is pretty famous. But few are aware of its deep mystical teachings and connections with Kabbalah. In this episode, we explore the early history of the Hasidim.This episode was written by Seth Weprin and co-written by me (Filip Holm).Sources/Suggested Reading:Idel, Moshe (1995). "Hasidism: Between Ecstacy and Magic". SUNY Press.Idel, Moshe. “Modes of Cleaving to the Letters in the Teachings of Israel BaalShem Tov: A Sample Analysis.” Jewish History 27 (2013): 299-317.Jacobson-Maisels, James. “My Aid Will Come from Nothingness: The Practice of Negative Theology in Maggid Devarav Le-Ya’akov.” In Michael Fagenblat Negative Theology As Jewish Modernity. New Jewish Philosophy and Thought. Bloomington and Indianapolis: Indiana University Press, 2017.Krassen, Mosheh Aaron. “Introduction: Rabbi Israel Ba’al Shem Tov: Prophet of a NewParadigm.” In Israel ben Eliezer. Pillar of Prayer. Translated by Menachem Kallus. Louisville, KY: Fons Vitae, 2010.Magid, Shaul. “The Intolerance of Tolerance: Mahaloket (Controversy) and Redemption in EarlyHasidism.” Jewish Studies Quarterly 8, no. 4 (2001): 326-368.Nadler, Allan. The Faith of the Mithnagdim: Rabbinic Responses to Hasidic Rapture. Baltimore:Johns Hopkins University Press, 1997.Scholem, Gershom. “The Neutralization of the Messianic Element in Early Hasidism.” In TheMessianic Idea in Judaism. New York: Schocken Books, 1995 [1971]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode gives an overview of the so-called "Gnostics", particularly the group that is often otherwise known as the 'Sethians'.Sources/Suggested Reading:Brakke, David (2012). "Gnostics: Myth, Ritual, and Diversity in Early Christianity". Harvard University Press.King, Karen (2003). "What is Gnosticism?". Harvard University Press.Van den Broek, Roelof (2013). "Gnostic Religion in Antiquity". Cambridge University Press.Meyer, Marvin (ed.) (2009). "The Nag Hammadi Scriptures: The Revised and Updated Translation of Sacred Gnostic Texts Complete in One Volume ". HarperOne. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A topic hat comes up a lot in the comments. Let's set the record straight. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Finally, we talk about the complex tradition known as Hermeticism and its mysterious namesake Hermes Trismegistus.Sources/Suggested Reading:Copenhaver, Brian P. (Translation & Introduction by) (1992). "Hermetica: The Greek Corpus Hermeticum and the Latin Asclepius in a new English Translation with notes and introduction". Cambridge University Press.Fowden, Garth (1986). "The Egyptian Hermes: A Historical Approach to the Late Pagan Mind". Princeton University Press.Meyer, Marvin (ed.) (2007). "The Nag Hammadi Scriptures: The Revised and Updated Translation of Sacred Gnostic Texts". HarperOne.Van Bladel, Kevin (2009). "The Arabic Hermes: From Pagan Sage to Prophet of Science". Oxford University Press. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We continue to explore the religions of India by looking at the ancient tradition of Jainism.Sources/Suggested Reading:Dundas, Paul (2002). "The Jains". Routledge.Long, Jeffrey D. (2009). "Jainism: An Introduction". IB Tauris. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Manichaeism is an ancient religion that is relatively unknown. In this episode, I give you everything you need to know as a introduction to this fascinating faith.Sources/Further Reading:Lieu, Samuel N. (1993). "Manichaeism in Mesopotamia and the Roman East: 118 (Religions in the Graeco-Roman World)". Brill.Lieu, Samuel N. (1998). "Manichaeism in Central Asia and China: Collected Studies (Nag Hammadi and Manichaean Studies)". Brill.Magnusson, Jörgen (2013). "Mat och manikeism". In "Religion och Mat", Edited by Lena Roos & Leif Nordenstorm. Natan Söderblom-sällskapet. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the main religious traditions in China - Daoism - is the subject of this episode. We go deep into the origins, main writings and later development of the religion, and its connection to other traditions.Sources/Further Reading:Komjathy, Louis (2013). "The Daoist Tradition: An Introduction". Bloomsbury Academic.Lao Tzu (2013). "Tao Te Ching - A New Translation. Translated by William Scott Wilson. Shambala Publications. Hackett Publishing Co, Inc.Zhuangzi (2008). "Zhuangzi - The Essential Texts: With Translations from Traditional Commentaries". Translated by Brook Ziporyn. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is the second and last part in a series on the Bahá'i Faith.Sources/Further Reading:Smith, Peter (2008). "An Introduction to the Baha'i Faith". Cambridge University Press.Maceoin, Denis (2012). "Making the invisible visible: Introductory books on the Baha'i religion. Routledge. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.