Let's Talk Religion

This is the first episode in a two-part series on The Bahá'i Faith - one of the youngest and fastest growing religions in the world.Sources/Further Reading:Smith, Peter (2008). "An Introduction to the Baha'i Faith". Cambridge University Press. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Delve into the mysterious world of the Alawites in Syria, tracing their origins from Shia Islam and diverse religious influences. Explore their beliefs in reincarnation, divine incarnations, and unique festivals. Uncover their complex history and identity, from being perceived as heretics to wielding political power in Syria. Discover the diversity within the Alawite faith, with sects like mourshidis and khammare's, and ongoing debates about their Muslim identity.

Explore the origins and beliefs of the secretive Druze group, including their unique theology and persecution. Delve into their sacred scripture interpretation and influences from Neoplatonism. Learn about the key beliefs, practices, and history of the Druze community, known for their secretive nature and interactions with other religious groups.

Explore the complexities of Yazidism, a unique faith with rich oral traditions and a monotheistic belief system centered around Malek Taus and seven angels. Learn about the Yazidi connection to Kurdish identity, historical oppression, and efforts towards education and integration in diaspora communities.

Explore the rich history and unique beliefs of Mandaeism, a religious group connected to Gnosticism, Early Judaism, and John the Baptist. Discover their spiritual goals, practices, and challenges faced by Mandaeans throughout history and in the modern world.

Exploring the multifaceted nature of religion and belief, delving into sociological perspectives on belief and religion, analyzing belief as a social identity influenced by relationships, and showcasing belief as a means of creating identity and fostering social connections.

This episode is on the scholarly academic side. We discuss the very commonly recurring problems of essentializing, generalizing and the "No True Scotsman Fallacy" in discussions about religion.References:Coleman, Simon (2010). “Recent Developments in the Anthropology of Religion”. I The New Blackwell Companion to the Sociology of Religion (red. Bryan S. Turner). Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.Marranci, Gabrielle (2010). ”Sociology and Anthropology of Islam – a critical debate”. I The New Blackwell Companion to the Sociology of Religion (red. Bryan S. Turner). Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A quick introduction to the podcast and what "Let's talk Religion" is about.We also explore the difficult question "What is Religion" from a scholarly perspective. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.