Can science succeed where politics fails?

In this episode of Feasts of Reason, I speak with Dr. Zafra Lerman — chemist, educator, human rights advocate, and founder of the Malta Conferences Foundation.

For more than two decades, Zafra has brought together scientists from across the Middle East — including Israelis, Palestinians, Iranians, Jordanians, Egyptians, and others — to collaborate across some of the world’s deepest political, religious, and cultural divides.

Her work has earned multiple nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize and offers a powerful answer to one of the central questions of our time:

How do we rebuild trust in a world driven by tribalism, propaganda, and polarization?

We discuss:

• Why science creates trust where politics often fails
• The hidden social architecture of peacebuilding
• Why “people who know each other cannot be enemies”
• Human rights, Cold War Soviet dissidents, and risking arrest by the KGB
• Why scientists have moral responsibilities beyond the lab
• Creating a “critical mass” of scientists for peace

#ScienceDiplomacy #MiddleEastPeace #Reason #HumanRights #NewAtenism #FeastsOfReason #ZafraLerman #MaltaConferences #Peacebuilding #CriticalThinking

For more information about New Atenism: https://newatenism.org/
Dr. Lerman’s book: https://www.amazon.com/Human-Rights-Peace-Zafra-Lerman/dp/9815129724/ref=sr_1_2?crid=138IJLD4LJH0I&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.TW6NIoQQRh7nmBN7xksItuGuUMZm_Svk1Hkxi6EL0N6BHqnwVYdW9Xq1jIxxvNM1gjPHXmAyPgGEdqW4onL7CDPe7YQ-ue9w2QpfM4Bwe1znOD9W7nxZTBftZwnW_SI1xTu9RquFN5cbzQVBbjqHlp2kHVEpNG7Jzf7-Tp767hgwlj0Q2xgfUTDeJMUWzuFuPaegfkfxVZYw6eMkkmtwafjWNMMiOpVrvR9W346st30.2gJ53H5NxAkML75KDPW-EYQLf9tJhxExuxTurQ8h5Fo&dib_tag=se&keywords=zafea+lerman&qid=1777468899&s=books&sbo=RZvfv%2F%2FHxDF%2BO5021pAnSA%3D%3D&sprefix=%2Cstripbooks%2C145&sr=1-2

To support the Malta Conferences Foundation: https://www.maltaconferencesfoundation.org/

Can reason bring us to religion—or does it lead somewhere else entirely?

In this episode of Feasts of Reason, Matt sits down with Daniel Bookman, a lawyer and lifelong student of Jewish thought who has spent over four decades navigating the fault lines between religion, law, and modern society.

Drawing on his experience in Israel and the United States, Bookman explores whether deeply divided societies can hold together—and what role religion might play in that effort.

At the center of the conversation is a provocative idea from his book Fundamentally Rational: that belief in morality, religion, and even a creator might be grounded not just in faith, but in reason itself.

Along the way, the discussion turns to one of the most contentious topics of all—evolution.
Can evolutionary theory fully explain human existence and morality? Or does it leave something essential unanswered?

This is a respectful but unflinching conversation about truth, belief, and the limits of reason in a divided world.

Topics covered:

• Can reason justify religious belief?
• Religion vs. secularism in modern societies
• Evolution and the origins of morality
• Israel as a case study in ideological tension
• What holds societies together when values clash?

Canadian Disability Activist (and wheelchair hockey star) Hollis Peirce describes how evolving technology and social attitudes have led to disabled people not only being able to get around better, but to become more involved and integrated into society. He also relates his experiences living in a facility run by the Catholic Church, and the close relationship he's developed with a Chaplin there, despite being an atheist.

To learn more about Hollis Peirce: https://www.21stcenturydisability.com/
To learn more about Sielo Robotics: https://www.sielorobotics.com/
To lean more about New Atenism: https://newatenism.org/

Author Anne Riley discusses her latest book "The Human Idea: Earth's Newest Ecosystem." The conversation delves into the evolution of human understanding and the exploration of the human idea, highlighting the collaboration and competition observed in nature. It further explores the concept of humans in the universe, survival and collaboration, government and nature, taxation and nature, coordinating institutions, intrinsic morality, and progress. The conversation delves into the impact of wealth accumulation as a human goal and its potential consequences. It also explores the role of reason and emotion in decision-making and societal progress.

Takeaways

• Evolution of human understanding
• Collaboration and competition in nature Wealth accumulation as a human goal
• The impact of reason and emotion on decision-making

Chapters

• 00:00 Exploring the Human Idea
• 09:10 Survival and Collaboration
• 18:45 Taxation and Nature
• 30:17 Intrinsic Morality and Progress
• 36:11 The Impact of Wealth Accumulation
• 41:21 The Role of Reason and Emotion

New Atenism presents Feasts of Reason. In this episode, Professor Raphael Cohen Almagor, a British Israeli political theorist, discusses his background, interest in conflict resolution, and the research behind his forthcoming book on resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He emphasizes the importance of justice, empathy, and leadership in achieving sustainable peace. The conversation covers a wide range of topics, including the preconditions for peace between Israel and Palestine, the concept of justice as explored by John Rawls, the importance of listening in negotiations, and the current situation with Iran. The themes of peace, justice, negotiation, and conflict resolution are central to the discussion.

Takeaways

• Conflict resolution requires understanding, empathy, and recognition of the other side's wishes.
• The most important value in conflict resolution is justice, and sustainable peace requires leadership, empathy, and recognition of both sides' aspirations. Preconditions for peace between Israel and Palestine
• The importance of listening in negotiations

Chapters

• 00:00 The Importance of Justice in Conflict Resolution
• 01:08:26 The Current Situation with Iran

This first Feasts of Reason episode will tell you a bit about where this podcast came from and where it's going. You can find the Feasts of Reason kits on The Thomas Jefferson Foundation's website