Sacred Realms: Exploring the Nexus of Religion, Spirituality, Science Fiction and Fantasy

In this ninth episode of Sacred Realms, “Living in the Grey: Beyond Good and Evil,” Rabbis Andrew and Lindsey talk about the moral clarity of narratives that have stark contrasts between Good and Evil, and ones where the line is blurry and even non-existent. We begin with this month’s She’lah / The Question of the Month: “Who is your favorite morally ambiguous villain?” Then on to what we have been watching or reading lately. Then we delve into this episode’s main topic: “Living in the Grey: Beyond Good and Evil.” Lastly, we pull out some material From the Geniza, talking about Bill Pullman’s "His Dark Materials," and Piers Anthony’s "Incarnations of Immortality."

You can contact us with any questions, comments or suggestions at [email protected]

Segments of this episode:

• Introduction (0:00)
• She’elah / The Question of the Month (0:00:49)
• What we have been reading/watching lately (0:04:58)
• Our Main Topic: Living in the Great: Beyond Good and Evil (0:14:42)
• From the Geniza (1:17:49)
• Conclusion (1:26:27)

In this eighth episode of Sacred Realms, “At Journey’s End,” Rabbis Andrew and Lindsey talk about the classic motif of the journey, and how the Torah’s narratives and some sci-fi and fantasy subvert our expectations at the end of the “Hero’s Journey.” We begin with this month’s She’lah / The Question of the Month: “What has been an important journey in your life?” Then on to what we have been watching or reading lately, including Ahsoka (Disney+), Invasion (AppleTV), Foundation (AppleTV) and Dimension 20 (Drop Out), a role-playing series with some unconventional settings and stories. Then, we have some Jewish sci-fi and fantasy news, in particular about the upcoming portrayal of Sabra, an Israeli superhero, in the MCU. Then we delve into this episode’s main topic: “At Journey’s End.” Lastly, we pull out some material From the Genzia, talking about Terminator, The Matrix and Alien. You can contact us with any questions, comments or suggestions at [email protected]

Segments of this episode:

• Introduction (0:00)
• She’elah / The Question of the Month (0:00:43)
• What we have been reading/watching lately (00:11:50)
• Jewish Sci-fi Fantasy News (00:23:18)
• Our Main Topic: It’s All About the Journey (00:32:16)
• From the Geniza (1:21:00)
• Conclusion (01:30:05)

• Introduction (0:00)
• She’elah / The Question of the Week (0:01:05)
• What we have been reading/watching lately (00:13:00)
• Jewish Sci-fi Fantasy News (00:25:04)
• Our Main Topic: From Ruin to Renewal (00:33:55)
• From the Geniza (1:38:00)
• Conclusion (1:44:57)

• Introduction (0:00)
• She’elah / The Question of the Week (0:00:54)
• What we have been reading/watching lately (00:05:04)
• Jewish Sci-fi Fantasy News (00:15:14)
• Our Main Topic: TOPIC HERE (00:16:32)
• From the Geniza (1:05:00)
• Conclusion (1:12:00)

• Introduction (0:00)
• She’elah / The Question of the Week (1:14)
• What we have been reading/watching lately (5:00)
• Our Main Topic: The Limits of Technology (12:50)
• From the Geniza (01:07:00)
• Conclusion (01:10)

During out fourth episode on What if? Futurism and Speculative Fiction, we digressed into the topic of rational thought, mystical thought and psychedelics in Judaism and in Jewish thought. If that interests you, we hope you will have a listen.

• Introduction (0:00)
• She’elah / The Question of the Week (1:21)
• What we have been reading/watching lately (6:35)
• Our Main Topic: Altneuland (22:18)
• From the Geniza (1:00)
• Conclusion (1:10)

Show Notes:

In this second episode of Sacred Realms, Rabbis Andrew and Lindsey get to know each other a little better, talk about what they have been watching or reading as of late (Servant and Wednesday), and then delve into this episode’s main topic: Empires in Biblical and Rabbinic sources, and in science fiction and fantasy settings as well, specifically in two epic political sagas, Star Wars and Game of Thrones. Lastly, we pull out the great-but-short-lived series Firefly from the Geniza (the place where old material sits and ages).

You can find the Biblical and Rabbinic sources mentioned during this episode and more at Sefaria.com by clicking this link here.

https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/464931?lang=bi

You contact us with any questions, comments or suggestions at [email protected].

In the first episode of this podcast, Rabbis Lindsay and Andrew:

• Introduce themselves, their sci-fi and fantasy fan backgrounds and their Jewish and Rabbinic backgrounds, as well as the goals and aim for this podcast series;

• Talk about what we have been watching or reading lately;

• Delve into our main topic: Trees, Tu Bishvat, the Jewish New of Trees (which falls this year on Monday, February 6), and tree imagery in Biblical and Rabbinic sources and in several science fiction and fantasy settings.

• Pull out a couple of pieces "From the Geniza" (the place where old sacred material sits and ages, hopefully well). This time, we are looking at the original Matrix movie and Battlestar Galactica.

You contact us with any questions, comments or suggestions or topic requests at [email protected].