Into The Abyss

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.

Todd and Tyler continue in the Book of Revelation, with chapters 6 and 7. We cover the Seven Seals, the Four Horsemen, the 144,000 sealed of Israel, and the multitude from the great tribulation. Concluding with the opening of the seventh seal.

Todd and Tyler return to the Book of Revelation, this time moving into the visions in chapters 4 and 5. The throne, the 24 elders, the 4 living creatures, the scroll with 7 seals, the Lion of Judah who is also a Lamb, and the new song. We also begin to look at the opening of the seals in chapter 6 but mostly leave the 4 horsemen waiting in the wings until next time.

Todd and Tyler talk about the Book of Revelation. Or is it Revelations? Revelationses perhaps? We talk about the genre of apocalyptic literature and the vivid imagery taken from Exodus, Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel. The apocalyptic and supernatural worldview. The letters of John to the Seven churches. And the value of the book for spiritual insight as an “unveiling” of Christ's mission and identity. In this first part we get through chapters 1-3. Later chapters will be taken up in future episodes.

Todd and Rick talk about Garak, one of the most fascinating characters from Stark Trek: Deep Space Nine. At the end of the occupation of Bajor all Cardassians abandon their former station Terok Nor, now Deep Space Nine. Almost all. One Cardassian remains, a gregarious and mysterious tailor named Garak. No one really knows what he is up to. And with Garak there's never only one story but several contradictory stories. In fact, there was so much that we decided to split our discussion into to two parts. In Part 1 we begin a deep dive into the many stories of Garak, all of them true… especially the lies!

Todd and Tyler talk about the Song of Songs. The unusual presence of love poetry in Bible. The history of allegorical interpretation with examples from Origen, Gregory of Nyssa, and Bernard of Clairvaux. How passion can be enflamed for God.

Todd and Tyler talk about the Dead. What happens to people who died without knowing Christ? Do sinners get any more opportunity to repent after they die? Christian practices and doctrines like prayer for the dead and Purgatory. Latter-day Saint practices of baptism for the dead and other vicarious ordinances. The Harrowing of Hell. And the use of money for religious purposes.

Todd and Tyler talk about the Trinity. The doctrine as taught in traditional Christianity and the Nicene Creed. Differences and similarities with the understanding of Latter-day Saints. Some history and Saint Nicholas (allegedly) slapping Arius.

Todd and Tyler talk about the Epistle to the Hebrews, a magnificent section of sacred scripture. The exalted status of Jesus Christ. His role as high priest after the order of Melchizedek. The way that doctrinal meat builds upon the foundations of doctrinal milk.

Todd and Daniel talk about some significant ancient texts: Targum Onkelos, Targum Jonathan, Targum Pseudo-Jonathan, Tosefta, Mishnah, Talmud, Midrash, and other Second Temple texts.

Christian culture is not always subdued or ascetic. It is often polychromatic, extravagant, and excessive. Saints and sinners mingle in a culture of piety and transgression, a culture that believes in forgiveness because it knows how much it needs it. Seasons of Lenten fasting cycle with seasons of sumptuous and sensuous feasting in a way that generates an emotionally replete cosmology.

Todd and Tyler continue their discussion about the Septuagint, an ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible. Important Septuagint passages that show up in the New Testament like “a virgin shall conceive” (Isaiah 7:14) and “recovering of sight to the blind” (Isaiah 61:1). Paul's deep roots in the Septuagint text. The ways that scriptures can accrue meaning and significance, like Christological meaning. And the ways the Septuagint can give us insight into how Second Temple Jews understood the Hebrew Bible.

Todd and Tyler talk about the Septuagint, an ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible. The Hellenistic character of Diaspora Judaism and early Christianity. The importance of the Septuagint to our understanding of the development of the Hebrew Bible texts. The ways that the Septuagint was used by New Testament authors. And ways that Septuagint translators sometimes shifted the meaning of certain passages with their translation choices. We really just got started so we expect to pick up the topic again next week!

Todd and Daniel talk about Bible translations. Translation approaches ranging from word-for-word to thought-for-thought. How different translations handle idioms. The vast number of Bible translations. And the different preferences that people and groups have.

Todd and Tyler talk about Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians. Among other things. "Is Christ divided?" Diversity of spiritual gifts. Ecumenism. Modern equivalents to eating meat sacrificed to idols. Heretical lawlessness (antinomianism) that presumes to transcend morality. The nature of resurrected bodies.

On arguments for the existence of God from the principle of sufficient reason. The principle of sufficient reason is the principle that everything must have a reason, cause, or ground. This principle has been applied to argue for the existence of God as the ultimate reason behind all things.

The recent developments in AI are quite impressive. If someone had told me a couple years ago about the capabilities of something like ChatGPT I wouldn't have believed them. AI certainly has enormous practical benefit. But since artificial neural networks were inspired by biological neural networks they can also be useful models for them. In this episode I share some recent studies investigating the behavior of the brain using AI models and evaluating their possible underlying computational similarities.

Jared, Mike, and Todd talk about ChatGPT and the AI revolution, particularly the remarkable developments of the last year and 6 months (2022-2023). We talk briefly about how neural networks and large language models work. Then we get into the possible social, economic, aesthetic, and even existential implications for humanity. We talk about the possibility of this being a major positive breakthrough of the first order, with revolutionary implications for human prosperity and standard of living. But we also talk about the risks, ranging from an eclipsing of human distinctiveness and creativity to a threat to humanity's very survival. Overall, we have a hunch that something big is happening and we want to talk about it!

There is a condition of looking for something without knowing what we are looking for, or even that we are looking for anything at all. Augustine called it restlessness. Jesus described it as a thing that we would ask for if we knew to ask for it. It is a thirst for living water that will quench all thirst. All religions give witness to this act of reaching out. Jesus taught us to reach out by calling upon God in prayer. Prayer is not just one act among many. It works directly on that essential thirst that can only be satisfied in God.

A brief history of secular thought from the Enlightenment to the present, looking at how it has been shaped by culture and events. We start in the Enlightenment with Voltaire, Edward Gibbon, David Hume, and Thomas Paine. Moving into the nineteenth century we look at literary influences like Percy Bysshe Shelley and Thomas Carlyle, then social critics like Ludwig Feuerbach and Karl Marx. Charles Darwin takes a central position in the nineteenth century, followed by expositors like Thomas Huxley and Herbert Spencer. And we conclude the nineteenth century with Friedrich Nietzsche and the death of God. We start the twentieth century with Sigmund Freud and Bertrand Russell and look at satirical writers at the turn of the century like like Mark Twain and H.L. Mencken. We conclude the twentieth century with Stephen Hawking and Carl Sagan and start off the twenty-first century with the New Atheists.

A reflection on the idea that “The world comes from reason, and this reason is a Person.” (Joseph Ratzinger). The intelligibility of the world and the personal nature of the Logos.

I think that there are certain ideas – like in mathematics and logic – that are necessarily true in a way that is separate from space, time, and material things. Such ideas must exist in a way that is very different from material things. We could suppose that these ideas are products of our minds; and there does seem to be something mental about them. But these ideas also seem to have real effects in the material world. All matter in the universe behaves in consistently mathematical ways that don't depend on our minds. Still, I think we're right to understand these ideas as mental. They just have to be features of a very different kind of mind, a mind that is eternal and that has effects on all the matter in the universe.

The statutes and judgments given to Israel were a mark of their special wisdom and understanding: “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.” (Deuteronomy 4:6) Such wisdom and understanding are valuable to us not only for understanding the way things are but also for knowing how to live. The laws and statutes given by God are worth continual study and bring great reward: “O how I love thy law! It is my meditation all the day.” (Psalm 119:97)

The doctrine of the Trinity is very important in Christianity. But people who are not Trinitarians, even non-Trinitarians who believe in the Bible and in Jesus, might wonder, what's the reason for believing in the Trinity? Is the idea of the Trinity motivated from Biblical texts or was it something that came out of Greek philosophy or Greek culture in early Christianity? How did Christians come to understand things in this way? And why has this understanding persisted in Christian history?

Entropy is an important property in science but it can be somewhat challenging. It is commonly understood as "disorder", which is fine as an analogy but there are better ways to think about it. As with many concepts, especially complex ones, better understanding comes with repeated use and application. Here we look at how to use and quantify entropy in applications with steam and chemical reactions.

Could anything truly exist in such a fashion that it could never be either perceived or thought of, even if only in principle? How would such a reality be distinct from absolute nothingness? A look into the philosophical issues of being and knowing with John Locke, Immanuel Kant, Martin Heidegger, Joseph Ratzinger, and David Bentley Hart.

A brief introduction to classical theism. Classical theism is a systematic understanding of God shared among many Christian, Jewish, Pagan, Muslim, and Hindu thinkers throughout history. It is primarily philosophical rather than scriptural in origin, but it also opens up an intellectual space for understanding theism as a plausible and reasonable way to see reality. And so it makes for a useful point of entry into the world of scripture and religious experience.

Rick and Todd discuss the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode "Rapture" in which Captain Sisko, Emissary to the Bajoran Prophets, receives a series of dramatic visions. We discuss the interpretive frameworks of spiritual and secular worldviews, the high costs of prophecy, the reliability or trustworthiness of powerful entities, the interaction of spiritual experiences and the brain, and the importance of the visions in the Deep Space Nine narrative arc.

Evolutionary biology benefits from a non-reductionist focus on real biological systems at the macroscopic level of their natural and historical contexts. This high-level approach makes sense since selection pressures operate at the level of phenotypes, the observed physical traits of organisms. Still, it is understood that these traits are inherited in the form of molecular gene sequences, the purview of molecular biology. The approach of molecular biology is more reductionist, focusing at the level of precise molecular structures. Molecular biology thereby benefits from a rigorous standard of evidence-based inference by isolating variables in controlled experiments. But it necessarily sets aside much of the complexity of nature. A combination of these two, in the form of evolutionary biochemistry, targets a functional synthesis of evolutionary biology and molecular biology, using techniques such as ancestral protein reconstruction to physically ‘resurrect' ancestral proteins with precise molecular structures and to observe their resulting expressed traits experimentally.

When Jesus taught that we must eat his flesh and drink his blood many of his disciples walked with him no more. Many of his teachings and actions were strange and unsettling. In a word, uncanny. Rudolf Otto similarly described the Holy as a numinous mysterium tremendum et fascinans. Something radically other. Flannery O'Connor evoked dramatic responses to the uncanny in her fiction through narratives of shocking violence. As much as it unsettles and disturbs, the uncanny also has remarkable power to provoke new ways of thinking and conversion.

Jared and Todd talk about ontological pluralism: What exists? How do we categorize what exists? Are those categories intrinsic or man-made? A related idea is perspectival realism. We discuss the ideas of William Wimsatt and Scott Page, among others. Is reality monistic, dualist, pluralistic? Is the question even meaningful? And what (if any) practical implications would there be?

I love the Apostles' Creed. If you ask me for a one-paragraph statement of what I believe, most fundamentally, this is it. Not just what I believe about religion, but what I believe most fundamentally about everything; about life, existence, and all of reality.

Rick and Todd discuss first contacts in Star Trek. The first contact of Vulcans coming to Earth and first contacts of Federation humans with other species in the galaxy. We discuss the Prime Directive and other Federation policies. We discuss contacts with the Malcorians, the Prophets of the Wormhole, and Species 10-C. What different reactions do species have at contact? What kinds of challenges might arise from differences in language and ways of perceiving reality?

Noether's theorem is an important theorem that relates invariance of space-time transformations to the laws of conservation: space-translation invariance to the conservation of linear momentum, space-rotation invariance to the conservation of angular momentum, and time-translation invariance to the conservation of energy. The models of physics are point-of-view invariant: physical models cannot depend on any particular position in space or moment in time.

Christianity has many unknowns, which makes possible many differing beliefs. This can be discouraging. There are limits in the extent of our reasoning, something Immanuel Kant explored in his theory of antinomies. And there are limits in the answers resolvable in scripture, in response to which Pseudo-Dionysius admonished that theology must remain within the bounds of revelation. But the unknowns need not stop us from knowing God. Key is to persist in way of holiness and nurture a life with the Holy Spirit.

"There went out a sower to sow." In his parable of the sower Jesus gives various active and passive roles: sower, seed, good soil, soil among thorns, stony ground, and waysides. This meditation on Mark 4 considers the seed as the word and the Word Christ, our receptivity to Christ, how he can enter, germinate, grow, and transform us into new creatures.

Rick and Todd talk about the series Star Trek: Picard. The continuing story of the Picard character and the introduction of new crew members Raffi, Rios, Agnes, Elnor, and Soji.

An infinite series is a sum of infinitely many numbers or terms, related in a given way and listed in a given order. They can be used to calculate the values of irrational numbers, like pi, out to trillions of decimal places. Or to calculate values of trigonometric and exponential functions. And of greatest interest, they can be used to see non-obvious relations between different areas of mathematics like integers, fractions, irrational numbers, complex numbers, geometry, trigonometric functions, and exponential functions.

An introduction to eight of the Early Church Fathers: Clement, Ignatius of Antioch, Polycarp, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Tertullian, Clement of Alexandria, and Origen of Alexandria. Important witnesses to the Christian faith in its earliest days who everyone should know about.

Mike and Todd discuss Mormon, the man who compiled and narrated the Book of Mormon. Who was Mormon and what clues about his life and character are hidden in the text? We consider the Book of Mormon text with the hermeneutic of Mormon's biography as an important Nephite leader, even ruler, who had responsibility for the righteousness and security of his people, in light of the ultimate corruption and destruction of his people. How might that have influenced the stories from Nephite history that he chose to tell and in what ways did he frame the record “that ye may learn to be more wise than we have been”?

On having a personal "collection" of beautiful things. And making beautiful things. The Transcendentals: beauty, truth, and goodness. The theology of icons, physical objects that direct us toward higher things. The way beautiful things seize us and stop us in our tracks. On attending to beauty in life's vocations in marriage and family.

Rick and Todd talk about the Ferengi and their development in the Star Trek canon, especially in Deep Space Nine. We go through all 285 Rules of Acquisition (OK not really, but we talk about them). We talk about Ferengi characters like Quark, Rom, Nog, Grand Nagus Zek ("Inconceivable") and female Ferengi characters Pel and Ishka, who fight the misogyny of Ferengi society.