Read more: In this literature episode, we share in the plight of Job: a good man to whom bad things happened! As long as people have believed in a just universe or a loving, all-powerful God, they have been dogged by The Problem of Evil, or “Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?” Tune in... ()

Read more: In our first literature episode on “The Heritage Podcast,” we follow in the footsteps of history’s oldest hero: Gilgamesh of Uruk. Beginning with a discussion of the epic poem, we then read what is probably the oldest work of literary fiction: a story of adventure, friendship, death, and the meaning of life. We practice... ()

Read more: In episode 14 of “The Heritage Podcast,” we caravan to the Land Between the Rivers…or is it “The Cradle of Civilization”…what about “the Fertile Crescent”? Whatever you call it, it’s a land of important firsts, where unpredictable floods and capricious gods sustained a civilization whose legacy stands the test of time. From the Sumerian... ()

Read more: In this corrections and correspondence episode, we end our two month hiatus by catching up on old mail, honoring Memorial Day, and laying out the plan for the next few episodes. It’s good to be back!

Read more: In episode 13 of “The Heritage Podcast,” we sail along the banks of the Nile River to the land of pharaohs and pyramids. From the Old Kingdom to the New, we learn how an isolated desert valley played host to the first great African empire and founded a civilization that would captivate students of... ()

Read more: In episode 12 of “The Heritage Podcast,” we journey in the footsteps of Siddhartha Gautama–or the Buddha–on his quest for spiritual awakening and enlightenment. Considering the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, we discover what Buddhism and its major denominations have to say about life, suffering, and the nature of reality.

Read more: In episode 11 of “The Heritage Podcast,” we discover what the Hindu religion says about the nature of reality and the meaning of life. Exploring religious texts like the Ramayana and the Bhagavad-Gita, we learn about such concepts as the Brahman, the Atman, and the pantheon of Hindu gods and goddesses. Additionally, certain terminology... ()

Read more: In episode 10 of “The Heritage Podcast,” we travel West, crossing the Himalayas into the Indian subcontinent: a land of infinite diversity, but unmistakable unity. The Indus Valley Civilization, Vedic India, and the Mauryan Empire are explored, paying special attention the Aryan Migration theories that try to explain the origins of ancient India.

Read more: In this corrections and correspondence episode, we read our mail from previous weeks and then preface our study of the upcoming River Valley Civilizations with a word on the usage of “civilization.” An outline of what’s to come is provided, along with several announcements.