Deep Talks: Exploring Theology and Meaning Making

In today's episode, Sam Tideman and I discuss all things science and faith in one of the most profound discussions I've had on the subject of evolution, science, and Christianity in the six-year history of this podcast.   Sam Tideman is a Harvard-trained biostatistical data scientist and the host of the Transfigured podcast/YouTube channel.   ——————  Become a patron on Patreon and get bonus Q&A Episodes, resources, opportunities for live discussions on Zoom, and access to our community Discord server: www.patreon.com/deeptalkstheologypodcast

Steph Curry experiences it when he’s “in the zone” and hitting 35-foot three pointers with ease. John Coltrane experienced it when he was recording his saxaphone performance on A Love Supreme. Psychologists have come to call this experience “the flow state.” But how might the flow state be related to  what a monk experiences when he is deep in contemplative prayer or what a revival preacher feels in a tent meeting? In this series, we’ll explore the science of the flow state through the groundbreaking work of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s in his 'Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience' and offer theological reflections on possible points of intersection with historic Christian spirituality.   ——————  Become a patron on Patreon and get bonus Q&A Episodes, resources, opportunities for live discussions on Zoom, and access to our community Discord server: www.patreon.com/deeptalkstheologypodcast

In this week's episode, we'll engage with the work of philosopher Byung-Chul Han to discuss how the constant consumption of information can contribute to a sense of meaninglessness and what role narrative and a reorientation of our relationship to God and the world plays in re-enchanting the world.   Become a patron on Patreon and get bonus Q&A Episodes, resources, opportunities for live discussions on Zoom, and access to our community Discord server: www.patreon.com/deeptalkstheologypodcast

Joe Rogan, once a vocal evangelist of New Atheist talking points on religion, recently expressed how he yearns for the "just and righteous" Kingdom of God and believes the world "needs Jesus...for real." That's quite a change for Rogan, but his journey is emblematic of a broader shift in attitudes towards religion. In this episode, I'll explain why this cultural shift is happening, and we'll engage with the work of Charles Taylor, Jonathan Haidt, Paul Tillich, and others to help us better understand what religion actually is.

Kaz Hayashi is a biblical scholar, archeologist, and theologian from Japan. He is currently an associate professor of Old Testament at Bethel Seminary and has written on the theology and anime.   Check out his work in: Anime Philosophy and Religion  https://a.co/d/auLDmUN   And watch his lecture on "Yahweh the Tyrant!?: The Depiction and Role of Yahweh in BLEACH and other Japanese Anime and Manga" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeUQy...     In this episode of Deep Talks, Paul and Dr. Kaz Hayashi discuss the intersection of theology and anime.  They explore the surge of popularity and acceptance of anime in American culture, as well as the potential impact of American Empire and Christianity on Japanese culture. Dr. Hayashi emphasizes the importance of engaging with anime from a theological perspective and recommends several anime series for beginners. He also discusses the potential long-term impact of anime consumption in American culture and highlights the need to be aware of potential dangers and warnings when consuming anime. The conversation explores the influence of anime on popular culture, the psychological and social effects of anime, the visionary escape it provides, and the presence of religious and theological themes in anime.

Justin Wells teaches documentary filmmaking at Biola Unversity and is the author of How to Film Truth. He has several graduate degrees, including a Master's in Philosophy from California State University- Long Beach, a Master of Theology and Art from Fuller Theological Seminary, and a Master's in Art and Documentary Film from the Art Center College of Design. In today's episode, we discuss his work on the patterns and shapes of stories in film, television, and literature and how those guiding stories shape us. Is there a Christ-shaped story above all of our most compelling stories? https://justinwellsfilms.com/

Sam Tideman is a Harvard-trained biostatistical data scientist and the host of the Transfigured podcast/YouTube channel. In this episode, we continue our discussion from Part 1 on what happens when AI is put in positions where its "decisions" have life-and-death implications (like in an emergency room or battlefield). What ethical framework will guide it? Is it possible to teach artificial intelligence to be Christian?To access the full unedited video podcast of this conversation, become a supporter this podcast on Patreon. www.patreon.com/deeptalkstheologypodcast Become a patron on Patreon and get bonus Q&A Episodes, resources, opportunities for live discussions on Zoom, and access to our community Discord server.

Sam Tideman is a Harvard-trained biostatistical data scientist and the host of the Transfigured podcast/YouTube channel. In this episode, we discuss what happens when AI is put in positions where its "decisions" have life-and-death implications (like in an emergency room or battlefield). What ethical framework will guide it? Is it possible to teach artificial intelligence to be Christian?To access the full unedited conversation and not wait for part 2 next week, become a supporter of this podcast on Patreon. www.patreon.com/deeptalkstheologypodcast Become a patron on Patreon and get bonus Q&A Episodes, resources, opportunities for live discussions on Zoom, and access to our community Discord server.

Brendan Graham Dempsey is a writer who's work focuses on the meaning crisis and the reconstruction of spirituality after postmodernism. He holds a BA in religious studies from the University of Vermont and a master's in religion and art from Yale University. He is the author of the 7-volume Metamodern Spirituality Series and, most recently, Metamodernism: Or, The Cultural Logic of Cultural Logics. In this episode, we discuss metamodernism. What is it? How did it emerge? What will religion look like in the metamodern era? https://www.youtube.com/@BrendanGrahamDempseyExclusive access to the full, unedited 2-hour conversation is available to patrons: https://www.patreon.com/posts/exclusive-access-94836558?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link Become a patron on Patreon and get bonus Q&A Episodes, resources, opportunities for live discussions on Zoom, and access to our community Discord server: www.patreon.com/deeptalkstheologypodcast

Rafe Kelley, founder of Evolve Move Play, discusses the transformative benefits of physical fitness and embodied spiritual disciplines. He shares about his unique upbringing in the counterculture and how it has shaped his current interest in ancient Christian ideas and the intersection of myth and science. Rafe's work explores the value of physical discipline in character transformation.He's been featured on  Paul VanderKlay, John Vervaeke,  Jordan B. Peterson,  Jonathan Pageau,  and many other podcasts. Find out more about Rafe Kelley at:https://www.evolvemoveplay.com/rafe-kelley/ Become a patron on Patreon and get bonus Q&A Episodes, resources, opportunities for live discussions on Zoom, and access to our community Discord server: www.patreon.com/deeptalkstheologypodcast Timestamps:00:00  - Intro02:27 - Rafe's unique upbringing17:01 - Wrestling with our pictures of Christ21:40 - Modern Gnosticism & the Proper Valuing of our Bodies33:52 - Physical Participation in Pentecostal & Charismatic Christianity39:20 - Navigating Sexual Ethics in Counterculture & Religious Communities44:37 - Original Sin, Religious Myth, and our Evolutionary "Hardware"54:26 - Finding a Shared Pursuit in a Religiously Pluralistic Society59:44 - Christianity, Group Selection, and Empire01:12:31 - Pagan Resurgence plays on the Sex & Violence Hardware01:21:58 - Rafe Kelley reflects on  @JordanBPeterson  ARC project 01:29:30 - Sin is Pursuing a Mistaken Good01:35:29 - Becoming Christ-like without Orthodox Beliefs?01:46:50 - Young Men Yearn for Courageous Practices