In this episode, we explore the history and development of the Arabic language, as well as its connection to religion.

Check out this excellent lecture by Ahmad al-Jallad on the subject: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHRbuu8c8nw&t=2836s

Sources/Suggested Reading:

• Al-Jallad, Ahmad (2019). "Safaitic". Article.
• Al-Jallad, Ahmad (?). "The Earliest Stages of Arabic and its Linguitic Classification". Article.
• Al-Jallad, Ahmad (2019). "The Linguistic Landscape of Pre-Islamic Arabia: Context for the Qur'an". Article, first proof.
• Macdonald, Michael C.A. (2004). "Ancient North Arabian". In "the Cambridge Encyclopedia of the World's Ancient Languages". Cambridge University Press.
• Macdonald, Michael C.A. (2010). "The Development of Arabic as a Written Language". Seminar for Arabian Studies, v. 40. Archaeopress, Oxford.
• Macdonald, Michael C.A. (2003). "Languages, Scripts, and the uses of Language among the Nabataeans". In "Petra Rediscovered" (Edited by Elaine M. Stainton). Harry N. Abrams, Inc. Publishers.

#Arabic #Arabia #Language

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In this episode, we talk about the mystical tradition called "Hesychasm" in the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Sources/Suggested Reading:

• Lossky, Vladimir (1944). "The Mystical Theology of the Eastern Church". James Clarke & Co.
• Ware, Timothy (2015). "The Orthodox Church: An introduction to Eastern Christianity". New Edition. Penguin Books.
• "Gregory Palamas: The Triads". Translated by Nicholas Gendle. In the "Classics of Western Spirituality Series". 1982.

#Hesychasm #Mysticism #Christianity

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In this episode we talk about the fascinating writer & possibly beguine Marguerite Porete (d. 1310).

Sources/Suggested Reading:

• "The Mirror of Simple Souls (From the 15th century translation of the French manuscript)". Edited by C. Kirchberger. First printed in 1927. Soul Care Publishing, Vancover, Canada.
• (This is the primary source I used for the quotes in the video, it is a very old translation so I edited the quotes myself to make more sense in modern english).

For a more modern translation I suggest:

• "Marguerite Porete: The Mirror of Simple Souls". In the "Classics of Western Spirituality Series. Paulist Press.
• McGinn, Bernard (2001). "The Mystical Thought of Meister Eckhart". The Crossroad Publishing Company.
• Tobin, Frank (Tranlsated & edited by) (1989). "Henry Suso: The Exemplar, with two German Sermons". In the "Classics of Western Spirituality Series". Paulist Press.

#Mysticism #Christianity #Religion

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In this episode we discuss the Tayyibi Isma'ilis, including the Dawwodi Bohras, Alavi Bohras & Sulaymanis and their history.

Don't forget to check out Hikma History: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsaViv1SDQy2FcRFHrf_Dkw

Sources/Suggested Reading:

• Daftary, Farhad (2007). "The Isma'ilis: Their History and Doctrines". Cambridge University.
• Daftary, Farhad & Shainool Jiwa (ed.) (2017). "The Fatimid Caliphate: Diversity of Traditions". I.B. Tauris.

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Sources/Suggested Reading:

• al-Jallad, Ahmad (forthcoming) "The Religion and Rituals of the Nomads of Pre-Islamic Arabia: A reconstruction based on the Safaitic Inscriptions". Pre-Print Darft (Version 2: April 3, 2021).
• al-Jallad, Ahmad (2019). "The 'One' God in a Safaitic Inscription". Draft. The Ohio State University.
• al-Jallad, Ahmad (2020). "The pre-Islamic basmala: reflections on its first epigraphic attestation and its original significance". Draft. The Ohio State University.
• Bowersock, G.W. (2017) "The Crucible of Islam". Harvard University Press.
• Hoyland, Robert G. (2001). "Arabia and the Arabs: From the Bronze Age to the Coming of Islam". Routledge.

Also check out these two great resources for ancient Arabic inscriptions:

• DASI: http://dasi.cnr.it/
• Ociana: http://krcfm.orient.ox.ac.uk/fmi/webd/OCIANA

#Arabia #Religion #Paganism

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Today we talk about an often asked question - what is the relatioship between Sufism and Islam? Are they the same thing or is there some difference?

Sources/Suggested Reading:

• Karamustafa, Ahmet T. (2007). "Sufism: The Formative Period". Edinburgh University Press.
• Knysh, Alexander (2017). "Sufism : A New History of Islamic Mysticism". Princeton University Press.
• Malik, Jamal & John Hinnells (ed.) (2006). "Sufism in the West". Routledge.
• Ridgeon, Lloyd (ed.) (2014). "The Cambridge Companion to Sufism". Cambridge University Press.
• Van Bruinessen, Martin & Julia Day Howell (ed). (2007). "Sufism and the Modern in Islam". I.B. Tauris.

#Sufism #Islam #Mysticism

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Spinoza is one of the most controversial and debated philosophers in the last few centuries. This episode attempts to give a very general overview of his perspective on God as well as some ways that it can be interpreted.

Sources/Suggested Reading:

• Garrett, Don (1996). "The Cambridge Companion to Spinoza". Cambridge University Press.
• Nadler, Steven (2018). "Spinoza: A Life". Cambridge University Press.
• Wolfson, Harry Austryn (2014). "The Philosophy of Spinoza: Unfolding the Latent Processes of His Reasoning". Harvard University Press.

#Spinoza #Pantheism #Philosophy

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This episode explores the historical and religious context of the first Assassin's Creed Game.

The episode uses sound taken from gameplay footage from No Copyrightgfg Gameplaykj.

Link to their video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3k2CfOK74c&list=UUMcIQ4ZIKaYC6YescDoyw2w&index=663

Sources/Suggested Reading:

Daftary, Farhad (2007). "The Isma'ilis: Their History and Doctrines". Cambridge University Press.

#AssassinsCreed #Islam #History

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Abraham Abulafia (d. 1291) is one of the most fascinating jewish mystics of all time, who is credited with founding the "Ecstatic/Prophetic Kabbalah".

Sources/Suggested Reading:

• Hames, Harvey J. (2007). “Like Angels on Jacob’s Ladder”. State University of New York Press.
• Ide, Moshe (1988). “The Mystical Experience in Abraham Abulafia”. Translated from the Hebrew by Jonathan Chipman. State University of New York Press.
• Idel, Moshe (1988). “Studies in Ecstatic Kabbalah”. State University of New York Press.
• Wolfson, Eliot R. (2011). “Abraham ben Samuel Abulafia and the Prophetic Kabbalah”. In Jewish Mysticism & Kabbalah (ed. Frederick E. Greenspahn). New York University Press.

#Abulafia #Kabbalah #Mysticism

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In this episode we talk about Jesus, who is was and if he even existed.

Sources/Suggested Reading:

• Chilton, Bruce & Craig A. Evans (ed.) (1998). Studying the historical Jesus: Evaluations of the state of Current Research. Brill.
• Ehrman, Bart D. (2013). Did Jesus Exist?: The Historical Argument for Jesus of Nazareth. HarperOne.
• Holmén, Tom & Stanley E. Porter (ed.) (2011). Handbook for the study of the historical Jesus. Volume 1. Brill.
• Levine, Amy-Jill; Dale C. Allison Jr. & John Dominic Crossan (2006). The Historical Jesus in Context. Princeton University Press.

#Jesus #History #ProjectHistoricity

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