Religion Reconsidered

Professor Ann Taves has spent her career studying religious experiences trying to understand what it means when someone says that they have spoken with God or they have seen an angel or had non-ordinary experiences. In this episode we talk about her work on visions and trances as well as her deep study on the similarities and differences between Mormonism, Alcoholics Anonymous and A Course In Miracles. We also look at Ann’s recent study into people in both America and India and how they view their own ‘non ordinary’ experiences. It is a fascinating look at one of the fundamental aspects of religious belief and how we can better understand it in the modern world.

This episode looks at the religious history and context of the ongoing conflict in Israel/Palestine. 

With the recent attacks by Hamas on 7 October, we take a look at why this small piece of land on the Eastern Mediterranean is so religiously significant and why it continues to be so hotly contested. 

We look at the origins of the Abrahamic faiths and their associations with the land of Israel/Palestine and how the Zionist movement was imbued with religious significance from the very beginning.

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Dr Claire Gilbert joins the Religion Reconsidered podcast to discuss the work of the Westminster Abbey Institute and I, Julian. The episode looks at how The Institute aims to bring a level of moral discernment to the UK public sector, and how Claire brought years of work in medical and environmental ethics to the role. Claire then provides a recount of her religious journey and how Julian of Norwich went from being a subject of study to Claire's closest spiritual confidant that led her to write the fictional autobiography, I, Julian. Throughout Claire discusses her ideas of porosity and how we can learn from Julian to engage with the world and each other with a greater level of compassion. 

In 1373, a lay woman in the town of Norwich received a number of revelations from Christ Jesus that would change her world.

650 years later, we are still pondering and celebrating the words that Julian of Norwich wrote down on reflection of her revelations.

In this podcast we talk with Veronica Mary Rolf who is a world renown expert on Julian of Norwich having written two bestsellers that consider Julian's life and revelations: Julian's Gospel: Illuminating the Life and Revelations of Julian of Norwich (IVP Academic, 2013) and An Explorer's Guide to Julian of Norwich (Orbis Books, 2018). She has also published her own podcast Life, Love & Light which includes a deep dive into Julian's revelations. 

Veronica tells us how she came to know and love Julian, we discuss her life and times, and then we consider the revelations and what they mean for us in the present day.

For more information on Veronica Mary Rolf you can visit her website: https://www.veronicamaryrolf.com/

Veronica's books can be ordered through the following links or through Amazon:

https://orbisbooks.com/products/julians-gospel-paperback?_pos=1&_sid=a37aead76&_ss=r

https://www.ivpress.com/an-explorer-s-guide-to-julian-of-norwich

To celebrate 650 of Julian of Norwich's Revelations of Divine Love, we are running a three part series on her life and revelations.

In this first episode, we journey to Norwich to see where Julian spent the last years of her life as an anchoress and where she spent time in deep meditation on her shewings from Christ.

Check out our instagram page for photos and videos of our time in Norwich. 

John Butler has been meditating for over 60 years. In this conversation he talks about his story, how he came to find meditation, and how his practice developed. John also discusses his trips around the world, in particular Russia. We finish with a brief guided meditation.

Introducing the new iteration of the podcast: Religion Reconsidered.

Having had a hiatus following the ripple that was Covid-19, the podcast is now getting back into action and Exploring Existence is now becoming Religion Reconsidered.

In the new podcast we will continue to talk to religious practitioners about their beliefs and their spiritual journeys but we will also be branching out to consider religion in a broader perspective. We will look at historical figures, events, practices, and religious sites to come to a more fuller understanding of what religion is, what is has been, and how it continues to shape our society and daily life.

Thank you for joining us and I hope you enjoy the podcast. 

In this episode, we look at the theology and history of iconography and iconoclasm in the Abrahamic faiths. With recent events in France, this podcast provides a background of the issue that often results in destruction, violence and death. 

You can find a transcript of the episode at www.exploringexistence.org.

Thanks for listening.

Ely Cathedral is located in England's East Anglia and began as an abbey in the 7th Century before the Cathedral was built in the 11th Century. Throughout its history, Ely Cathedral has seen turmoil and destruction but has always remained a site of spiritual devotion and today is home to a welcoming and vibrant community.

My guide for the podcast was Rebecca Mundy and in the episode we spoke about the story of Etheldreda, the founder and first abbess of Ely, the magnificent structure of the Cathedral including its famous Lantern, the destruction that occurred in the Cathedral during the English Reformation, and how the modern-day community operates with its commitment to worship and public outreach.

Fr Michael Kelly is a member of the Society of Jesus, better known as the Jesuits. He has spent his career as a journalist, bringing to the interested reader a deeper understanding of the position of the Catholic Church in the world and its message after the Second Vatican Council. We spoke about the Jesuits, their experiential yet intellectual spirituality, and what Fr Kelly sees as living a good Catholic life.