Let's Talk Religion

In this episode, I share some thoughts about the month of Ramdan, its basic features and some perspectives from scholars on the philosophy behind it.

#Ramdan #Islam #Fasting

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We continue our exploration of Pythagoreanism by diving into the music of the spheres, and how this idea has influenced thinkers across history.

Sources/Recomended Reading:

• Cooper, John M. (ed.) (1997). "Plato: Complete Works". Hackett Publishing Company.
• Huffman, Carl A. (2008). "Philolaus of Croton: A Commentary on the Fragments and Testimonia with Interprative Essays". Cambridge University Press.
• Huffman, Carl A. (ed.) (2017). "A History of Pythagoreanism". Cambridge University Press.
• Kirk, G.S., J.E. Raven & M. Schofield (1983). "The Presocratic Philosophers". Second Edition. Cambridge University Press.
• Klavan, Spencer A. (2020). "Music in Ancient Greece: Melody, Rhythm and Life". Bloomsbury Academic.
• Zhmud, Leonid (2012). "Pythagoras and the Early Pythagoreans". Translated by Kevin Windle & Rosh Ireland. OUP Oxford.

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It's time to talk about a few ways that Neoplatonic ideas have shown up in the history of Islamic thought.

Sources/Recomended Reading:

• Adamson, Peter (ed.) (2005). "The Cambridge Companion to Arabic Philosophy". Cambridge University Press.
• al-Ghazali - "The Niche of Lights". Translated by David Buchman. Islamic Translations Series. University of Chicago Press.
• Daftary, Farhad (2007). "The Isma'ilis: Their history and doctrines". Cambridge University Press.
• Chittick, William (2005). "Ibn Arabi: Heir to the Prophets". OneWorld Publications.
• Chittick, William (1989). "The Sufi Path of Knowledge: Ibn 'Arabi's Metaphysics of Imagination".
• Chittick, William (1998). "The Self-Disclosure of God: Principles of Ibn al-'Arabi's Cosmology". State University of New York Press.
• Chittick, William (2005). "The Sufi Doctrine of Rumi". World Wisdom, inc.
• Dillon, John (1996). "The Middle Platonists". Bristol Classical Press.
• Gerson, Loyd P. (ed.) (2019). "Plotinus: The Enneads". Cambridge University Press. (This is the translation of the Enneads I have been using in this episode).
• Gerson, Loyd P (2008). "Cambridge Companion to Plotinus". Cambridge University Press.
• Ibn Sina - "A Treatise on Love". Translated by Emil L. Fackenheim. Medieval Studies.
• Ibn 'Arabi - "The Ringstones of Wisdom (Fusus al-Hikam)". Translation by Caner K. Dagli. Great Books of the Islamic World.
• Ibn Arabi - "The Universal Tree and the Four Birds (al-ittihad al-kawni). Translated by Angela Jaffray. Oxford: Anqa Publishing.
• Ibn 'Arabi - "The Openings Revealed in Makkah: al-futuhat al-makkiyya". Translated by Eric Winkel. Volumes 1-4. Pir Press.
• Morewedge, Parviz (1992). "Neoplatonism and Islamic Thought". State University of New York Press.
• Ormsby, Eric (Translated by) (2012). "Between Reason and Revelation: Twin wisdoms reconciled". An annotated English translation of Nasir-i Khusraw's Kitab-i Jami al-hikmatayn. The Institute of Isma'ili Studies. I.B. Tauris.
• Proclus "The Elements of Theology: A Revised Text with Translation, Introduction, and Commentary". Translated by E.R. Dodds. Second Edition. Oxford University Press.
• O'Meara, Dominic J. (1999). "Plotinus: An Introduction to the Enneads". Oxford University Press.
• Wallis, R.T. (1998). "Neoplatonism". Second Edition. Bristol Classical Paperbacks. Hackett Publishing Company.

#neoplatonism #islam #philosophy

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Sources/Recomended Reading:

• Cooper, John M. (ed.) (1997). "Plato: Complete Works". Hackett Publishing Company.
• Dillon, John (1996). "The Middle Platonists". Bristol Classical Press.
• Gerson, Loyd P. (ed.) (2019). "Plotinus: The Enneads". Cambridge University Press. (This is the translation of the Enneads I have been using in this episode).
• Gerson, Loyd P (2008). "Cambridge Companion to Plotinus". Cambridge University Press.
• Gregory, John (ed.) (1998). "The Neoplatonists: a reader". Routledge.
• Iamblichus "On the Mysteries". Tranlsated by Emma C. Clarke, John M. Dillon & Jackson P. Hershell. Writings from the Graeco-Roman World. Society of Biblical Literature.
• Proclus "The Elements of Theology: A Revised Text with Translation, Introduction, and Commentary". Translated by E.R. Dodds. Second Edition. Oxford University Press.
• O'Meara, Dominic J. (1999). "Plotinus: An Introduction to the Enneads". Oxford University Press.
• Shaw, Gregory (2014). "Theurgy and the Soul: The Neoplatonism of Iamblichus". Angelico Press/Sophia Perennis.
• Wallis, R.T. (1998). "Neoplatonism". Second Edition. Bristol Classical Paperbacks. Hackett Publishing Company.

Also check out the excellent episodes about Plotinus on the "Secret History of Western Esotericism" pocast: https://shwep.net/

#neoplatonism #philosophy #plotinus

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Sources/Recomended Reading:

• Asgeirsson, Jon (2005). "Thomasine Traditions in Antiquity The Social and Cultural World of the Gospel of Thomas". Brill.
• Brakke, David (2012). "Gnostics: Myth, Ritual, and Diversity in Early Christianity". Harvard University Press.
• Carlson, Stephen C. (2014). "Origen's use of the Gospel of Thomas". Uppsala University.
• 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.
• Meyer, Marvin & Harold Bloom (1993). "The Gospel of St Thomas: The hidden sayings of Jesus". Bravo Ltd.

#gospelofjudas #gnosticism #christianity

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In this second part in our series about Shia Islam, we explore the esoteric Isma'ilis, their history and Neoplatonist-influenced theology.

Thanks to Dr. Khalil Andani for the help. Check out his channel here:

https://www.youtube.com/@KhalilAndani

Sources/Recomended Reading:

• Amir-Moezzi, Mohammad Ali (1994). "The Divine Guide in Early Shi'ism: The Sources of Esotericism in Islam". Translated by David Streight. State University of New York Press.
• Amir-Moezzi, Mohammad Ali (2011). "The Spirituality of Shi'i Islam: Beliefs and Practices". I.B. Tauris.
• Andani, Khalil (Forthcoming). "The Moden Resurrection of Nizari Ismaili Islam: The Reforms of the Aga Khans". In "The Oxford Handbook of Islamic Reform" (ed. Emad Hamdeh & Natana Delong-Bas). Forthcoming.
• Badakhchani, S. Jalal (Edited and Translated by) (2005). "The Paradise of Submission: A Medieval Treatise on Ismaili Thought". A New Persian Edition and English Translation of Tusi's Rawda-yi Taslim". The Institute of Isma'ili Studies. I.B. Tauris.
• Daftary, Farhad (2007). "The Isma'ilis: Their history and doctrines". Cambridge University Press.
• Haider, Najam (2014). "Shi'i Islam: An Introduction". Cambridge University Press.
• Ormsby, Eric (Translated by) (2012). "Between Reason and Revelation: Twin wisdoms reconciled". An annotated English translation of Nasir-i Khusraw's Kitab-i Jami al-hikmatayn. The Institute of Isma'ili Studies. I.B. Tauris.
• Virani, Shafique N. (2020). "Hierohistory in Qadi l-Nu'man's Foundation of Symbolic Interpretation (Asas al-Taw'il): the Birth of Jesus". In "Studies in Islamic Historiography (Edited by Sami G. Massoud). Brill.

A good source for Isma'ilism is also Isma'ili Gnosis: https://ismailignosis.com/

#Islam #ismaili #esoteric

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Sources/Recomended Reading:

• Asgeirsson, Jon (2005). "Thomasine Traditions in Antiquity The Social and Cultural World of the Gospel of Thomas". Brill.
• Brakke, David (2012). "Gnostics: Myth, Ritual, and Diversity in Early Christianity". Harvard University Press.
• Carlson, Stephen C. (2014). "Origen's use of the Gospel of Thomas". Uppsala University.
• 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.
• Meyer, Marvin & Harold Bloom (1993). "The Gospel of St Thomas: The hidden sayings of Jesus". Bravo Ltd.

#gospelofthomas #gnosticism #christianity

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In this episode, we explore the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Qumran community and ask the question whether or not this group can be identified as the Essenes.

Sources/Recomended Reading:

• Klawans, Jonathan (2016). "The Essene Hypothesis: Insights from Religion 101". Brill.
• Magness, Jodi (2021). "The Archaeology of Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls". Second Edition. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.
• Vermes, Geza (Trans.) (2004). "The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls in English". Revised Edition. Penguin Books.

#essenes #archeology #deadseascrolls

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In this episode, we explore the fascinating life of Apollonius of Tyana, a Neopythagorean philosopher whose life in many ways mirror that of Jesus.

Sources/Suggested Reading:

• Dzielska, Maria (1986). "Apollonius of Tyana in Legend and History". L'Erma Di Bretschneider.
• Kirk, G.S., J.E. Raven & M. Schofield (1983). "The Presocratic Philosophers". Second Edition. Cambridge University Press.
• Huffman, Carl A. (ed.) (2017). "A History of Pythagoreanism". Cambridge University Press.

#Apollonius #jesus #ancient

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This has been one of the most requested subjects, it is finally time to talk about Mulla Sadra.

Sources/Recommended Reading:

• Adamson, Peter (ed.) (2005). “The Cambridge Companion to Arabic Philosophy”. Cambridge University Press.
• Chittick, William (1998). "The Self-Disclosure of God: Principles of Ibn al-'Arabi's Cosmology". State University of New York Press.
• Kalin, Ibrahim (2005). “Knowledge in later Islamic Philosophy: Mulla Sadra on Existence, Intellect and Intuition”. Oxford University Press.
• Meisami, Sayeh (2013). “Mulla Sadra”. Makers of the Muslim World Series. OneWorld Academic.
• Sadr al-din al-Shirazi (2014). “Metaphysical Penetrations: A Parallel English-Arabic text”. Translated by Seyyed Hossein Nasr. Edited by Ibrahim Kalin. Islamic Translation Series. University of Chicago Press.
• Sadr al-din al-Shirazi (Mulla Sadra) (2003). “The Elixir of the Gnostics: A Parallel English-Arabic text”. Translated by William Chittick. Islamic Translation Series. University of Chicago Press.
• Sadr al-din al-Shirazi (Mulla Sadra) (1981). “The Wisdom of the Throne: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Mulla Sadra”. Translated by James W. Morris. Princeton University Press.
• Rizvi, Sajjad H. (2009). “Mulla Sadra and Metaphysics: Modulation of Being”. Routledge.
• Rustom, Mohammed (2013). “The Triumph of Mercy: Philosophy and Scripture in Mulla Sadra”. State University of New York Press.

#Philosophy #Islam #Mysicism

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