Let's Talk Religion

In this episode, we explore whether or not we can find the conception of a single, absolute god in ancient Egyptian theology.

Sources/Suggested Reading:

• Assmann, Jan (2001). "The Seach for God in Ancient Egypt". Translated by David Lorton. Cornell University Press.
• Copenhaver, Brian P. (ed.) (1995). "Hermetica: The Greek Corpus Hermeticum and the Latin Asclepius in a New English Translation, with Notes and Introduction". Cambridge University Press.
• Hornung, Erik (1982). "Conceptions of God in Ancient Egypt: The One and the Many". Translated by John Baines. Cornell University Press.
• Hornung, Erik (2001). "Akhenaten and the Religion of Light". Translated by David Lorton. Cornell University Press.
• Simpson, William Kelley (ed.) (2003). "The Literature of Ancient Egypt: An Anthology of Stories, Instructions, Stelae, Autobiographies, and Poetry". Yale University Press.
• Teeter Emily (2011). "Religion and Ritual in Ancient Egypt". Cambridge University Press.

#Egypt #Antiquity #Religion

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In this episode, we explore the life and movement of Pythagoras and the Pythagoreans, and discover that the common image of him as an ancient mathematician isn't entirely supported by the evidence.

Sources/Suggested Reading:

• 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.
• Zhmud, Leonid (2012). "Pythagoras and the Early Pythagoreans". Translated by Kevin Windle & Rosh Ireland. OUP Oxford.

#Pythagoras #Pythagoreanism #Philosophy

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This episode explores the life, teachings and movement of Abraham Maimonides, the son of the much more famous Jewish philosopher Moses Maimonides (d. 1204).

Sources/Suggested Reading:

• Idel, Moshe (1987). "The Mystical Experience in Abraham Abulafia". State University of New York Press
• Kraemer, Joel L. (2010). "Maimonides: The Life and World of one of Civilization's Greatest Minds". Doubleday & Co Inc.
• Lobel, Diana (2021). "Moses and Abraham Maimonides: Encountering the Divine". Academic Studies Press.
• Russ-Fishbane, Elisha (2015). "Judaism, Sufism, and the Pietists of Medieval Egypt: A study of Abraham Maimonides and his times". Oxford University Press

#Judaism #Mysticism #Sufism

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In this episode, I attempt to give you an overview of the vast and complex Twelver school of Shi'ism across history.

Sources/Suggested Reading:

• Abdulsater, Hussein Ali (2017). "Shi'i Doctrine, Mu'tazili Theology: Al-Sharif al-Murtada and Imami Discourse". Edinburgh University Press.
• 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.
• Bayhoum-Daou, Tamima (2005). "Shaykh Mufid". Makers of the Muslim World Series. Oneworld Academic.
• Daftary, Farhad (2007). "The Isma'ilis: Their history and doctrines". Cambridge University Press.
• Knysh, Alexander (2017). "Sufism: A New History of Islamic Mysticism". Princeton University Press.
• Meisami, Sayeh (2013). "Mulla Sadra". Makers of the Muslim World Series. Oneworld Academic.
• Tabataba'i, Hossein Modarressi (1984). "An Introduction to Shi'i Law: a bibliographical study". Ithaca Press London.

#Shia #Islam #Religion

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WARNING: This episode contains depictions of violence, references to sexual acts and mild nudity.

In this episode, we explore the often misunderstood tradition of Tantra or Tantrism.

Sources/Suggested Reading:

• Bharati, Agehananda (1965). "The Tantric Tradition". B.I. Publications.
• Bhattacharyya, N.N. (2005). "History of the Tantric Religion". Second Revised Edition. Manohar.
• Dyczkowski, Mark S.G. (1987). "The Doctrine of Vibration: An Analysis of the Doctrines and Practices of Kashmir Shaivism". State University of New York Press.
• Einoo, Shingo (ed.) (2009). "Genesis and Development of Tantrism". University of Tokyo.
• Harper, Katherine Anne & Robert L. Brown (2002). "The Roots of Tantra". State University of New York Press.
• Muller-Ortega, Paul Eduardo (1989). "The Triadic Heart of Siva: Kaula Tantricism of Abhinavagupta in the Non-Dual Shaivism of Kashmir". State University of New York Press.
• Wallis, Christopher D. (2013). "Tantra Illuminated: The Philosophy, History and Practice of a Timeless Tradition". Mattamayura.
• White, David Gordon (2000). "Tantra in Practice". Princeton University Press.

#Tantra #Shaivism #Buddhism

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In this episode, we continue our explorations of Daoism by studying its later developments into organized movements and the fascinating practice of Neidan, or "Internal Alchemy".

Sources/Suggested Reading:

• Graham, A.C. (1999). "Disputers of the Tao: Philosophical Argument in Ancient China". Open Court.
• Kohn, Livia (1991). "Early Chinese Mysticism: Philosophy and Soteriology in the Taoist Tradition". Princeton University Press.
• Kohn, Livia (1993). "The Taoist Experience: An Anthology". State University of New York Press.
• Komjathy, Louis (2013). "The Daoist Tradition: An Introduction". Bloombury academic.
• Komjathy, Louis (2016). "Comtemplative Literature: A Comparative Sourcebook on Meditation and Contemplative Prayer". State University of New York Press.
• Ziporyn, Brook (Translated by) (2020). Zhuangzi: The Complete Writings". Hackett Publishing Company.

#Daoism #China #Alchemy

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In this episode, we explore the most (in)famous book of occult sciences in the history of the Islamicate World: the Shams al-Ma’arif (Sun of Knowledge).

WARNING: I am quoting from the book in this episode. Those concerned about its dangers might want to avoid listening to this episode.

Sources/Recomended Reading:

• Al-Buni, Ahmad ibn ‘Ali. “The Sun of Knowledge (Shams al-Ma’arif): An Arabic Grimoire in Selected Translation”. Translated by Amina Inloes & Illustrated by J.M. Hamade. Revelore Press, 2021.
• Coulon, Jean-Charles (2022). “Amulets and Talismans in the Earliest Works of the Corpus Bunianum”. In “Amulets and Talismans of the Middle East and North Africa in Context” (Edited by Marcela A. Garcia & Petra M. Sijpesteijn). Brill.
• Gardiner, Noah (2012). “Forbidden Knowledge? Notes on the production, transmission, and reception of the major works of Ahmad al-Buni”. Journal of Arabic and Islamic Studies 12 (2012). University of Michigan.
• Gardiner, Noah (2014). “Esotericism in a manuscript culture: Aḥmad al-Būnī and his readers through the Mamlūk period”. Doctoral dissertation, University of Michigan.
• Gardiner, Noah (2017). “Esotericist Reading Communities and the Early Circulation of the Sufi Occultist Aḥmad al-Būnī’s Works”. Arabica 64 (2017) 405-441. Brill.
• Gardiner, Noah (2017). “Stars and Saints: The Esotericist Astrology of the Sufi Occultist Ahmad al-Buni”. Magic, Ritual, and Witchcraft (Spring 2017). University of Pennsylvania Press.
• Melvin-Koushki, Matthew & Noah Gardner (2017). "Islamicate Occultism: New Perspectives". Brill.
• Saif, Liana (2015). "The Arabic Influences on Early Modern Occult Philosophy". Palgrave Macmillan.
• Saif, Liana; Francesca Leoni; Matthew Melvin-Koushki & Farouk Yahya (2021). "Islamicate Occult Sciences in Theory and Practice". Brill.
• Saif, Liana (2022). “Narratives of Danger: The Sun of Knowledge in Arabic Occulture”. Article: https://www.leidenislamblog.nl/articles/narratives-of-danger-the-sun-of-knowledge-in-arabic-occulture
• Savage-Smith, Emily (ed.) (2004). "Magic & Divination in Early Islam". Ashgate Publishing.
• Van Bladel, Kevin (2009). "The Arabic Hermes: From Pagan Sage to Prophet of Science". Oxford University Press.
• Varisco, Daniel Martin (2017). “Illuminating the Lunar Mansions (manazil al-qamar) in Sams al-Ma’arif”. Arabica 64 (2017), 487-530. Qatar University.
• "The Openings Revealed in Makka", al-Futuhat al-Makkiyya by Ibn 'Arabi. Translated by Eric Shu'ayb Winkel. Vol. 1. Pir Press.
• “Shams al-Ma’arif al-Kubra”. Arabic Printed Edition by Dar al-Mizan.

#occult #magic #middleeast

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We continue this year's Shocktober with an exploration of demons and exorcism in Ancient Mesopotamia.

Sources/Recomended Reading:

• Abusch, I. Tzvi (2020). "Babylonian witchcraft literature: case studies". Brown Judaic Studies. Scholars Press, Atlanta, Georgia.
• Abusch, I. Tzvi (2020). "Mesopotamian Religion". In Essays on Babylonian and Biblical Literature and Religion, Vol. 65: 5-23. Brill.
• Abusch, Tzvi & Daniel Schwemer (ed.) (2011). "Corpus of Mesopotamian Anti-Witchcraft Rituals". Brill.
• Bottéro, Jean (2004). "Religion in Ancient Mesopotamia". Translated by Teresa Lavender Fagan. University of Chicago Press.
• Johnston, Sarah Iles (ed.) (2004). "Religions of the Ancient World: a guide". The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press.
• Konstantopoulos, Gina (2020). "Demons and exorcism in ancient Mesopotamia". Article. Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences,
• University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan.
• Kotansky, Roy D. (2019). "Textual Amulets and Writing Traditions in the Ancient World". In "Guide to the Study of Ancient Magic" (edited by David Frankfurter). Brill.
• Van Buylaere, Greta; Mikko Luukko; Daniel Schwemer & Avigail Mertens-Wagschal (2018). "Sources of Evil: Studies in Mesopotamian Exorcistic Lore". Brill.
• Van De Mieroop, Marc (2015). A History of the Ancient Near East, ca. 3000-323 BC. Wiley-Blackwell.

#mesopotamia #demons #ghost

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In this episode of Shocktober 2022, we explore the creature(s) known as "Mare" in Northern European folklore.

#mare #folklore #halloween

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We continue our exploration of the Occult Sciences by taking a look at some of the earliest theories and practices surrounding astrology in the Islamicate World.

Sources/Suggested Reading:

• Adamson, Peter & Richard C. Taylor (ed) (2004). "The Cambridge Companion to Arabic Philosophy". Cambridge University Press.
• Adamson, Peter & Peter E. Pormann (ed) (2012). "The Philosophical Works of al-Kindi". Oxford University Press.
• Melvin-Koushki, Matthew & Noah Gardner (2017). "Islamicate Occultism: New Perspectives". Brill.
• Saif, Liana (2015). "The Arabic Influences on Early Modern Occult Philosophy". Palgrave Macmillan.
• Saif, Liana; Francesca Leoni; Matthew Melvin-Koushki & Farouk Yahya (2021). "Islamicate Occult Sciences in Theory and Practice". Brill.
• Savage-Smith, Emily (ed.) (2004). "Magic & Divination in Early Islam". Ashgate Publishing.
• Van Bladel, Kevin (2009). "The Arabic Hermes: From Pagan Sage to Prophet of Science". Oxford University Press.

#Astrology #Occultism #Esotericism

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