Advertise on podcast: Into The Abyss

An introduction to Hebrew binyanim and reading of Genesis chapters 1-2, with close attention to Hebrew grammar and vocabulary. These are some of the most memorable verses in scripture, with the creation of mankind, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and the creation of man and woman.

An introduction to Hebrew verbs and a reading of the first day of Creation in Genesis 1:1-5.

An overview of Hebrew vowels.

A quick run through the Hebrew alphabet. For both adults and kids. I'm trying to teach my daughters some Hebrew and they helped me make the recording.

Getting back into publishing after a long hiatus. I've been doing a lot of sciencing so just for fun I'll do something completely different and talk about Hebrew. Here's a list of great resources that I've found very useful.

The question “How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?” is typically used as a mocking retort to questions that are thought to be of little usefulness. It’s especially used in reference to philosopher theologians of the Middle Ages like the Scholastics or to theology in general. It’s not a question any of the Scholastics ever actually asked. But medieval philosophy did have plenty of talk about angels, and for good reason. They used angels as subjects for thought experiments to explore concepts like cognition and identity in the most generalized way possible, in the way modern philosophers talk about brains in a vat, brains separated from the body and sent to another planet, philosophical zombies, or people living in a black-and-whiteworld. Their topics are just as relevant today as we develop technologies like artificial intelligence and deepen our understanding of the brain and the mind.

Todd and Jared talk about behavioral science and decision science. We talk about Jared's interest and work in the field. We go through different approaches to decision science, including heuristics and biases, fast and frugal, and naturalistic decision making. Other topics include: what leads to behavioral change, ethics of behavioral change, "nudge" (and its limitations), expertise, intuition, and rationality.

Todd and Tyler talk about sola scriptura and related ideas. Sola scriptura is the position that Scripture is the only "inerrant, sufficient, and final authority for the Church" (Matthew Barrett, God's Word Alone). Another position is that "both Scripture and Tradition must be accepted and honored with equal sentiments of devotion and reverence.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church). And another position is the "open canon" of the Latter-day Saints that includes other scriptures in addition to the Bible. Related ideas discussed include inerrancy, church authority, and inspired non-canonical texts.

Todd and Tyler talk about free will. Do we have free will? One possible response is, "It depends," because free will can mean different things, from an absolute ability to have done otherwise to simply an ability to act in conformity with one's desires. We talk about Robert Sapolsky's recent book, Determined, arguing against both libertarian and compatibilist notions of free will. The thought of the late Daniel Dennett, who passed away the day before this recording, and who argued for a compatibilist sort of free will "worth wanting". Immanuel Kant's interesting defense of libertarian free will. Relevant scriptural passages from the Bible, like the hardening of Pharaoh's heart, God's choice of Jacob over Esau, God's foreknowledge of future events, and predestination. The concept of agency in the Book Mormon and Latter-day Saint understandings of Satan's plan to destroy agency. The opinions of various theologians like Augustine, Luther, and Calvin. And Jonathan Edwards in particular (revealing Todd's apparent man crush on Edwards).

Todd and Tyler talk about spiritual experiences. Scriptural accounts of rushing mighty wind and hearts burning within. Surrendering control to the Spirit. The physical aspect of spiritual experiences, particularly in the brain. What we can know from spiritual experiences? Who we can know from spiritual experiences? How to interpret them. What spiritual experiences are for. And Todd mixes up Micaiah and Elisha.

Todd and Tyler share personal reflections on Easter and Holy Week.

Todd and Tyler discuss temples. The functions of temples in different cultures and the temples of Ancient Israel in particular. The various offerings and sacrifices. The concepts of holiness and separation. Christian theologies of the way temple worship carried over into the body of Christ in the Church and the Eucharist. Margaret Barker’s provocative theories about Josiah’s reforms and Deuteronomistic influence on temple worship. And the place of secrets, mysteries, and parables in religious life.

Todd and Tyler talk about Catholicism and Latter-Day Saints (Mormonism), particularly as discussed in the writings of Stephen Webb (Catholic) and Alonzo Gaskill (LDS). Topics include authority, ecclesiology, general conference, catechism, canon, extra-canonical texts, and pseudepigrapha. We talk about Webb's special interest in the metaphysics of matter and how that features in both religions. Also the afterlife, Spirit Prison, Purgatory, the incorporeality or corporeality of the Father, and Christology.

Todd and Tyler conclude a four-part series on the Book of Revelation. Subjects discussed include eating the scroll, the woman clothed with the sun, the child, the dragon, the beasts from the sea and the earth, Babylon and its fall, the lament of the merchants of the earth, the testimony of Jesus as the spirit of prophecy, the new heaven and new earth, and making all things new. We end with a discussion about the power of the book as a testimony of Christ and how all its imagery inspires devotion, praise, and worship.

Todd and Tyler talk about the Two Powers in Heaven thesis, the idea that in Second Temple Judaism and earlier there was understood to be a secondary divine figure alongside the primary God, YHWH. We discuss the Angel of the Lord, the Word of the Lord, and the Son of Man. We go into texts from the Hebrew Bible as well as extra-Biblical texts like the Book of Enoch, Targums, and Talmudic texts. We talk about similarities between the divine beings in Israel and in Canaanite religion. One interesting implication of all this is that many features of Christianity sometimes thought to be innovations, with possible Greek influence or even corruption, were rather native to the milieu of Second Temple Judaism. These include an understanding of God as more than one person, the Messiah as a divine figure, the Logos or Word of the Lord, and the Son of Man.