The Socratic Sessions
The Socratic Sessions explores humanity’s biggest questions—delving into philosophy, theology, history, science, and the enduring mysteries of religion.
Latest episodes
Jun 29, 2025 • 20min
God: Moral Ideal or Active Agent? ⚖️🔥
✍️ Substack: If you'd rather read than listen, you can do so over on Substack!🔍 Overview: Does Christianity reveal a knowable deity, or is it merely a powerful story?🤝 Support The Show 🤘LocalsPayPalBitcoin👀 Previous Videos Essays:YouTube Playlist🌐 ConnectLinktreeSubstackTwitterFacebook PageInstagramGoodreadsBlueskyThreadsLinkedIn Page📺 Subscribe - Video PlatformsYouTubeRumble📷 Gear (affiliate links - thanks!)Camera (Sony A6400)Lens (Sigma 16mm)Audio Interface (Focusrite Scarlett 4i4)Microphone Amplifier (Cloudlifter CL-1)Mic (RØDE PodMic)Lights (Elgato Key Light Air)Colour Back Lighting (Govee LED Floor Lamp)Recording Software (Riverside.FM)👍 Support: Like, subscribe, and share to fuel the quest for understanding.🔔 Stay Tuned: Tap the bell for instant notifications.📣 Join the Talk: Share your thoughts using #TheSocraticSessions.🚀 Thanks for Tuning In! Let's keep the conversation going.#god #theism #atheism #christianity #biblicalstudies #philosophy
Jun 27, 2025 • 1h 12min
Jesus, Memory, and the Nature of the Gospels | Dale C. Allison Jr. | The Socratic Sessions | Ep #37
🔍 Overview: In this episode of The Socratic Sessions, Samuel Devis speaks with Dale C. Allison Jr. about his book The Historical Christ and the Theological Jesus. Together, they explore how memory, legend, oral tradition, and theology shaped the Gospels, and why the historical quest for Jesus may reveal more about us than it does about him.🤝 Support The Show 🤘LocalsPayPalBitcoin🗣️ Highlights[Highlight 1]: Too Many Jesuses: Why Every Scholar Finds a Different One[Highlight 2]: Can you separate the Historical Jesus from Legend?[Highlight 3]: Jesus Thought the World Was Ending — Was He Wrong?📚 Episode Resources (affiliate links where possible - thanks!)The Historical Christ and the Theological Jesus by Dale C. Allison Jr.The Resurrection of Jesus: Apologetics, Polemics, History by Dale C. Allison Jr.Interpreting Jesus by Dale C. Allison Jr.University Website🌐 ConnectLinktreeSubstackTwitterFacebook PageInstagramGoodreadsBlueskyThreadsLinkedIn Page📺 Subscribe - Video PlatformsYouTubeRumble📷 Gear (affiliate links - thanks!)Camera (Sony A6400)Lens (Sigma 16mm)Audio Interface (Focusrite Scarlett 4i4)Microphone Amplifier (Cloudlifter CL-1)Mic (RØDE PodMic)Lights (Elgato Key Light Air)Colour Back Lighting (Govee LED Floor Lamp)Recording Software (Riverside.FM)👍 Support: Like, subscribe, and share to fuel the quest for understanding.🔔 Stay Tuned: Tap the bell for instant notifications.📣 Join the Talk: Share your thoughts using #TheSocraticSessions.🚀 Thanks for Tuning In! Let's keep the conversation going.#secularism #religion #faith #society #god #godless #sociology #scandinavia
Jun 24, 2025 • 6min
Jesus, the Apocalypse, and Ancient Literal Belief w/ Dale C. Allison Jr.
🔍 Overview: Dale C. Allison Jr. argues that Jesus took his end-times beliefs literally. We explore how ancient views placed heaven above and hell below—and how early science pushed these ideas out of the physical world.🤝 Support The Show 🤘LocalsPayPalBitcoin📚 Episode Resources (affiliate links where possible - thanks!)The Historical Christ and the Theological Jesus by Dale C. Allison Jr.The Resurrection of Jesus: Apologetics, Polemics, History by Dale C. Allison Jr.Interpreting Jesus by Dale C. Allison Jr.University Website🌐 ConnectLinktreeSubstackTwitterFacebook PageInstagramGoodreadsBlueskyThreadsLinkedIn Page📺 Subscribe - Video PlatformsYouTubeRumble📷 Gear (affiliate links - thanks!)Camera (Sony A6400)Lens (Sigma 16mm)Audio Interface (Focusrite Scarlett 4i4)Microphone Amplifier (Cloudlifter CL-1)Mic (RØDE PodMic)Lights (Elgato Key Light Air)Colour Back Lighting (Govee LED Floor Lamp)Recording Software (Riverside.FM)👍 Support: Like, subscribe, and share to fuel the quest for understanding.🔔 Stay Tuned: Tap the bell for instant notifications.📣 Join the Talk: Share your thoughts using #TheSocraticSessions.🚀 Thanks for Tuning In! Let's keep the conversation going.#history #gospels #jesus #memory #apocalypse #eschatology #daleallison #scholarship
Jun 20, 2025 • 7min
The Gospels: History or Memory? w/ Dale C. Allison Jr.
🔍 Overview: Dale C. Allison Jr. casts doubt on efforts to extract a “pure” historical Jesus from the Gospels. Instead of hard facts, he argues we should treat them as memory-shaped impressions—inseparable from interpretation and legend.🤝 Support The Show 🤘LocalsPayPalBitcoin📚 Episode Resources (affiliate links where possible - thanks!)The Historical Christ and the Theological Jesus by Dale C. Allison Jr.The Resurrection of Jesus: Apologetics, Polemics, History by Dale C. Allison Jr.Interpreting Jesus by Dale C. Allison Jr.University Website🌐 ConnectLinktreeSubstackTwitterFacebook PageInstagramGoodreadsBlueskyThreadsLinkedIn Page📺 Subscribe - Video PlatformsYouTubeRumble📷 Gear (affiliate links - thanks!)Camera (Sony A6400)Lens (Sigma 16mm)Audio Interface (Focusrite Scarlett 4i4)Microphone Amplifier (Cloudlifter CL-1)Mic (RØDE PodMic)Lights (Elgato Key Light Air)Colour Back Lighting (Govee LED Floor Lamp)Recording Software (Riverside.FM)👍 Support: Like, subscribe, and share to fuel the quest for understanding.🔔 Stay Tuned: Tap the bell for instant notifications.📣 Join the Talk: Share your thoughts using #TheSocraticSessions.🚀 Thanks for Tuning In! Let's keep the conversation going.#history #gospels #jesus #memory #biblicalstudies #newtestament #daleallison #scholarship
Jun 17, 2025 • 6min
Which Jesus? Why Scholars Can’t Agree w/ Dale C. Allison Jr.
🔍 Overview: Dale C. Allison Jr. explains why scholars keep producing conflicting portraits of Jesus. With contradictory Gospel accounts and diverse reactions during his lifetime, Jesus was never just one thing to all people.🤝 Support The Show 🤘LocalsPayPalBitcoin📚 Episode Resources (affiliate links where possible - thanks!)The Historical Christ and the Theological Jesus by Dale C. Allison Jr.The Resurrection of Jesus: Apologetics, Polemics, History by Dale C. Allison Jr.Interpreting Jesus by Dale C. Allison Jr.University Website🌐 ConnectLinktreeSubstackTwitterFacebook PageInstagramGoodreadsBlueskyThreadsLinkedIn Page📺 Subscribe - Video PlatformsYouTubeRumble📷 Gear (affiliate links - thanks!)Camera (Sony A6400)Lens (Sigma 16mm)Audio Interface (Focusrite Scarlett 4i4)Microphone Amplifier (Cloudlifter CL-1)Mic (RØDE PodMic)Lights (Elgato Key Light Air)Colour Back Lighting (Govee LED Floor Lamp)Recording Software (Riverside.FM)👍 Support: Like, subscribe, and share to fuel the quest for understanding.🔔 Stay Tuned: Tap the bell for instant notifications.📣 Join the Talk: Share your thoughts using #TheSocraticSessions.🚀 Thanks for Tuning In! Let's keep the conversation going.#history #gospels #jesus #memory #biblicalstudies #newtestament #daleallison #scholarship
Jun 13, 2025 • 1h 17min
No Religion, No Chaos: Debunking the Godless Myth | Phil Zuckerman | The Socratic Sessions | Ep #36
🔍 Overview: In this episode of The Socratic Sessions, Samuel Devis speaks with sociologist Phil Zuckerman about the myths surrounding secularism. Drawing from his book Society Without God, Zuckerman explores how godless societies function—often outperforming religious ones in measures of health, happiness, and social wellbeing.🤝 Support The Show 🤘LocalsPayPalBitcoin🗣️ Highlights[Highlight 1]: Are secular societies really in moral decline[Highlight 2]: Why do godless nations often outperform religious ones?[Highlight 3]: Can life without religion still be meaningful?📚 Episode Resources (affiliate links where possible - thanks!)Society without God (Second Edition) by Phil ZuckermanWebsiteUniversity PageINTENSE Debate: Which is Better for Humanity? Christianity OR Secularism?🌐 ConnectLinktreeSubstackTwitterFacebook PageInstagramGoodreadsBlueskyThreadsLinkedIn Page📺 Subscribe - Video PlatformsYouTubeRumble📷 Gear (affiliate links - thanks!)Camera (Sony A6400)Lens (Sigma 16mm)Audio Interface (Focusrite Scarlett 4i4)Microphone Amplifier (Cloudlifter CL-1)Mic (RØDE PodMic)Lights (Elgato Key Light Air)Colour Back Lighting (Govee LED Floor Lamp)Recording Software (Riverside.FM)👍 Support: Like, subscribe, and share to fuel the quest for understanding.🔔 Stay Tuned: Tap the bell for instant notifications.📣 Join the Talk: Share your thoughts using #TheSocraticSessions.🚀 Thanks for Tuning In! Let's keep the conversation going.#secularism #religion #faith #society #god #godless #sociology #scandinavia
Jun 10, 2025 • 7min
Godless Lives Still Have Meaning — Most People Prove It w/ Phil Zuckerman
🔍 Overview: Phil Zuckerman explores how most people—outside of philosophy departments—don’t struggle to find meaning without religion. Meaning, he argues, is something we create.🤝 Support The Show 🤘LocalsPayPalBitcoin📚 Episode Resources (affiliate links where possible - thanks!)Society without God (Second Edition) by Phil ZuckermanWebsiteUniversity PageINTENSE Debate: Which is Better for Humanity? Christianity OR Secularism?🌐 ConnectLinktreeSubstackTwitterFacebook PageInstagramGoodreadsBlueskyThreadsLinkedIn Page📺 Subscribe - Video PlatformsYouTubeRumble📷 Gear (affiliate links - thanks!)Camera (Sony A6400)Lens (Sigma 16mm)Audio Interface (Focusrite Scarlett 4i4)Microphone Amplifier (Cloudlifter CL-1)Mic (RØDE PodMic)Lights (Elgato Key Light Air)Colour Back Lighting (Govee LED Floor Lamp)Recording Software (Riverside.FM)👍 Support: Like, subscribe, and share to fuel the quest for understanding.🔔 Stay Tuned: Tap the bell for instant notifications.📣 Join the Talk: Share your thoughts using #TheSocraticSessions.🚀 Thanks for Tuning In! Let's keep the conversation going.#secularism #morality #meaning #faith #society #god #philosophy #scandinavia
Jun 6, 2025 • 6min
Is Christianity Making a Comeback? w/ Phil Zuckerman
🔍 Overview: Phil Zuckerman critiques the idea of a Christian resurgence, showing how long-term data contradicts the hype around a so-called religious revival in the West.🤝 Support The Show 🤘LocalsPayPalBitcoin📚 Episode Resources (affiliate links where possible - thanks!)Society without God (Second Edition) by Phil ZuckermanWebsiteUniversity PageINTENSE Debate: Which is Better for Humanity? Christianity OR Secularism?🌐 ConnectLinktreeSubstackTwitterFacebook PageInstagramGoodreadsBlueskyThreadsLinkedIn Page📺 Subscribe - Video PlatformsYouTubeRumble📷 Gear (affiliate links - thanks!)Camera (Sony A6400)Lens (Sigma 16mm)Audio Interface (Focusrite Scarlett 4i4)Microphone Amplifier (Cloudlifter CL-1)Mic (RØDE PodMic)Lights (Elgato Key Light Air)Colour Back Lighting (Govee LED Floor Lamp)Recording Software (Riverside.FM)👍 Support: Like, subscribe, and share to fuel the quest for understanding.🔔 Stay Tuned: Tap the bell for instant notifications.📣 Join the Talk: Share your thoughts using #TheSocraticSessions.🚀 Thanks for Tuning In! Let's keep the conversation going.#christianity #religion #comeback #data #west #society #god #godless #sociology #scandinavia
Jun 3, 2025 • 10min
Morality Comes from People, Not Religion w/ Phil Zuckerman
🔍 Overview: Phil Zuckerman challenges the claim that secular values are just borrowed Christian ones, arguing that human morality evolves from humanity itself—not religion.🤝 Support The Show 🤘LocalsPayPalBitcoin📚 Episode Resources (affiliate links where possible - thanks!)Society without God (Second Edition) by Phil ZuckermanWebsiteUniversity PageINTENSE Debate: Which is Better for Humanity? Christianity OR Secularism?🌐 ConnectLinktreeSubstackTwitterFacebook PageInstagramGoodreadsBlueskyThreadsLinkedIn Page📺 Subscribe - Video PlatformsYouTubeRumble📷 Gear (affiliate links - thanks!)Camera (Sony A6400)Lens (Sigma 16mm)Audio Interface (Focusrite Scarlett 4i4)Microphone Amplifier (Cloudlifter CL-1)Mic (RØDE PodMic)Lights (Elgato Key Light Air)Colour Back Lighting (Govee LED Floor Lamp)Recording Software (Riverside.FM)👍 Support: Like, subscribe, and share to fuel the quest for understanding.🔔 Stay Tuned: Tap the bell for instant notifications.📣 Join the Talk: Share your thoughts using #TheSocraticSessions.🚀 Thanks for Tuning In! Let's keep the conversation going.#secularism #values #christianity #morality #society #god #scandinavia
May 30, 2025 • 1h 23min
The Self-Made Soul: Objectivism, Ethics, and Ayn Rand | Don Watkins | The Socratic Sessions | Ep #35
🔍 Overview: In this episode of The Socratic Sessions, Samuel Devis speaks with Don Watkins, author of Effective Egoism, about Objectivism, Ayn Rand’s ethics, and the moral case for rational self-interest. Don explains how Rand’s philosophy challenges conventional morality and redefines happiness as a life built on values, reason, and purpose.🤝 Support The Show 🤘LocalsPayPalBitcoin🗣️ Highlights[Highlight 1]: Can self-interest be the foundation for a meaningful life?[Highlight 2]: Why does Ayn Rand oppose altruism, and what does it mean for ethical living?[Highlight 3]: How can Objectivism shape the way we approach capitalism and personal happiness?📚 Episode Resources (affiliate links where possible - thanks!)Effective Egoism by Don WatkinsWebsiteTwitterSubstackAtlas Shrugged by Ayn RandThe Fountainhead by Ayn RandAnthem by Ayn RandWe the Living by Ayn Rand🌐 ConnectLinktreeSubstackTwitterFacebook PageInstagramGoodreadsBlueskyThreadsLinkedIn Page📺 Subscribe - Video PlatformsYouTubeRumble📷 Gear (affiliate links - thanks!)Camera (Sony A6400)Lens (Sigma 16mm)Audio Interface (Focusrite Scarlett 4i4)Microphone Amplifier (Cloudlifter CL-1)Mic (RØDE PodMic)Lights (Elgato Key Light Air)Colour Back Lighting (Govee LED Floor Lamp)Recording Software (Riverside.FM)👍 Support: Like, subscribe, and share to fuel the quest for understanding.🔔 Stay Tuned: Tap the bell for instant notifications.📣 Join the Talk: Share your thoughts using #TheSocraticSessions.🚀 Thanks for Tuning In! Let's keep the conversation going.#objectivism #aynrand #ethics #egoism #atlasshrugged #howardroark #dagnytaggart #johngalt #rand #fountainhead #philosophy
