Podcasts about Polytheism

Happy Going! We're all getting punchy heading into the weekend, as if the weekend will be a breather for any of us. David Waldman effectuates our weekending KITM, and I facilitate that with this summary, I hope. Donald K. Trump pardoned a corporation, yet has not appointed a horse to Senate, which might be more of a late term thing. Polytheism seems to be wearing thin in Trump/Musk circles, with Elon Musk's pride goething before his fall. Thou shalt bow down thyself only onto Trump in Cabinet meetings. (Graven images available at the door.) Two people guilty of not praising Donald enough are being investigated for treason, while Trump shops for his presidential Luger. Marco Rubio is punishing the country of South Sudan for not accepting the Democratic Republic of the Congo citizen he sent there by mistake. The commander of a Greenland military base was ousted when she failed to rattle her saber loudly enough for JD Vance. US tells Greenland “I see you have Injuns! We have Injuns!” Kennedy Center president Richard Grenell believes people boycotting the Kennedy Center hate Republicans, when mostly they hate Richard Grenell. What happens when the courts can't trust the Executive Branch? Well, we are about to find out, because the courts can't trust the Executive Branch. Learn more about courts of equity, such as the Court of Chancery. Kash Patel plans to work remotely in his FBI position but wasn't remotely working in his ATF job. Hey now… there's no proof that Marjorie Taylor Green participated in insider trading this week, or placed pipe bombs prior to Jan 6… It just looks like that. RFK Jr. will discover the cause of autism by this fall, but if you have cancer, you'll need to wait a little longer.   It's only TLDR if you don't take the time to read it! How did the President lose and when did he lose it in the SCOTUS Alien Enemy Act case? Curtis Yarvin always wanted to destroy the United States and the global economy, yet somehow still feels empty inside.

(0:00) morning routine, chit chat, cozy games + burnout(8:17) aphrodite, persephone and hekate offerings + journaling(21:17) yoga, showing up for yourself + spiritual advice(28:35) the truth about the worship of king hades(32:28) my vision board, evil eyes(34:43) filming styx and bones podcast(35:53) mediumship reading + lighting candles to the chthonicbook a reading with me (mediumship, tarot, and more)https://tinyurl.com/4c399c9smy tarot and oracle decks, books recs and more:https://tinyurl.com/yw8rtrxdmy store:styx and bones temple (greek gods, mythology)https://tinyurl.com/ywn7h2uffollow me on socials:https://www.instagram.com/highpriestesschelseahttps://www.tiktok.com/@highpriestesschelseabusiness inquiries:chelseatheghostwhisperer@gmail.com

Greeting's heathens and witches, Welcome to Pub Chat! These episodes are for us to have a more free-form way to discuss listener questions, shorter subjects, as well as magical happenings, musings, and of course, go off on tangents. In this week's Pub Chat we answer a question from one of our Patrons! Did ancient peoples worship gods from different pantheons at the same time? So grab up your favorite bev and join us for a fun discussion on worship and practice throughout history. ===== Social Links ===== Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/NerdJive Website: https://www.nerdjive.com/ Etsy Shop: https://norgroveenterprises.etsy.com Other Channels: https://www.nerdjive.com/links Jon's Social: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@NerdJive Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/NerdJive Twitter: https://twitter.com/NerdJive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NerdJive Julie's Social: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@goddessjuless Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goddessjules/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/goddessjuless

ஏகத்துவமும் இணைவைப்பும்மவ்லவி S.H.M. இஸ்மாயில் ஸலஃபி | Ismail Salafi21-02-2025, Jummaமுஹம்மதிய்யா ஜும்மா மஸ்ஜித், கல்முனைhttps://www.facebook.com/share/v/1As7ZJZGof/

Support Midgard Musings By Clicking Here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/MidgardMusings⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠Click here to visit Fjallvaettir Workshop:⁠https://fjallvaettir.com/⁠⁠Here is the link to Eric's video:https://youtu.be/akkzERyvnL4?si=jq5aLu4batHnMwLFHere is the link to my video with Bradley. Check the comments section of that video to see what one viewer thinks:https://youtu.be/rbnjAj7QkwgFind a copy of the book "A World Full of Gods: An Inquiry into Polytheism" by John Michael Greer at the below Amazon link.https://www.amazon.com/World-Full-Gods-Inquiry-Polytheism/dp/1801520801/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1O3ZH423DAUV&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.2g1EnjTGOGC-y3Fo8wmoUx_WiQxjjTwdaRfHJskqg8A8vivLZl3kPZ1rPzivDqTRrGxxN8BYsJmWtD2TNpOleZdV6PPlfit5CnI9lBM-BiE.oiQ1iD9g1Co3SqQyvIU4RsL9wAw4iOf-kYvgFH9XI88&dib_tag=se&keywords=a+world+full+of+gods+john+michael+greer&qid=1739294845&sprefix=a+world+full+of+gods%2Caps%2C341&sr=8-1

Yahweh: The Evolution of the God of Solomon's Temple | History of the PapacyIn this episode, we delve into the historical and theological journey of the God who was worshipped in Solomon's Temple, Yahweh. We'll explore the evolution from polytheism to monotheism in ancient Israelite religion, the significance of Yahweh, and the cultural and historical contexts that shaped this transformation. We also touch on the Mesha Stele, Ugaritic texts, and the role of Yahweh in the Canaanite pantheon. Join us as we unravel the complex history and speculations surrounding the God of the First Temple period in Jerusalem.00:00 Introduction to the First Temple of Jerusalem02:25 Yahweh: The God of Israel04:04 Polytheism to Monotheism: The Evolution of Israelite Religion10:38 Historical and Archaeological Evidence of Yahweh19:18 The Baal Cycle and Canaanite Influence24:03 The United Kingdom and the Temple of Solomon26:33 Iconoclasm in Israelite ReligionYou can learn more about the History of Papacy and subscribe at all these great places:https://atozhistorypage.start.pageTo Subscribe: https://www.spreaker.com/show/history-of-the-papacy-podcast_1Email Us: steve@atozhistorypage.comSupport Us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/historyofthepapacyParthenon Podcast Network: parthenonpodcast.comThe History of the Papacy on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@atozhistoryHelp out the show by ordering these books from Amazon!https://smile.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1MUPNYEU65NTFMusic Provided by:"Sonatina in C Minor" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)"Funeral March for Brass" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)"Crusade Heavy Perfect Loop" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Agnus Dei X - Bitter Suite Kevin MacLeaod (incomptech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Southeast Baptist Podcast features the preaching and teaching of Pastor John Ray, the senior pastor of Southeast Baptist Tabernacle in Indianapolis, IN. His preaching is biblical, conversational, and encouraging as you pursue a Christlike walk.

The Big Picture of the King and His Kingdom I want you to recall the five meta-narratives of the entire Bible from my previous sermon: God is completely unique; God gave us dominion of the Earth; we have rebelled against God and are in exile; God has been and will continue to repair the fix we are in; God will reestablish our place in Eden and on Earth. I also want you to think about how the Kingdom of God stretches out into eternity past and eternity future. In our own human history, the Kingdom of God started in a garden that resided in the land of Eden. The Garden of Eden was a real and specific location on Earth where Heaven and Earth co-existed. Isaiah and Ezekiel talk about this location being not only a garden but also a mountain (Isaiah 14:13-14 and Ezekiel 28:13-14). In Eastern and Mesopotamian cultures, a garden was where the king would spend leisure time with his family. It was also where kings met with their cabinet members. The garden inside the land of Eden then was a place created by God where Adam and Eve had fellowship with their heavenly Father. This is also where God met with His council members. These were angelic authorities, celestial beings, who were administrative rulers in God's kingdom. No doubt, Adam and Eve would have had multiple interactions with these beings while they lived in the Garden of God. This is why Eve did not freak out when the serpent spoke to her in Genesis 3. She had seen these beings before. Remember, there is no snake mentioned in the text of Genesis 3. In Hebrew, he is called the nachash [1]. The being that talked with Eve was a supernatural, ancient, super intelligent, celestial being, probably a seraph.  A seraph was one of the highest orders of throne guardians that surrounded God's throne. He may have been one of God's council members in the past. Once Adam and Eve agreed to follow the nachash, they sabotaged their relationship with God and their ability to spread the dominion of Eden to the rest of the globe. Nonetheless, God has been moving forward to correct this dilemma for thousands of years. He is still using His heavenly and earthly councils to redeem the earth. The King and His Council All nations have kings or some sort of leadership that resembles kingship. Even our own Democratic Republic has fallen under the rule of people acting like kings. All kings have council members to help them administer their rule over the affairs of their kingdom. Human leaders did not make this concept up. It existed long before the Earth was created. The first council is the one that God established before the creation week of Earth. It's called the Divine Council. Now, even though God does not need help ruling over His universe, He insists on sharing responsibilities with the beings that He has made. Whether they are human or celestial. The problem is that among the celestial beings, certain council members rebelled against God. You may want to call them the infernal council. They absolutely hate God's human children and all righteous celestial beings who have remained loyal to God. Just as the Divine Council existed before the creation week, so too do I believe this rebellion occurred before the creation week. Others believe that it occurred possibly on Day 2 or 4 of the creation or soon after. Which ever position you take, it was a horrendous betrayal towards God and His remaining loyal family members. The King Delegates Responsibilities to His Divine Council Consider this: although Yahweh is supreme over His council, He allows them to discuss solutions. He then delegates to them authority for particular assignments. However, Yahweh is unique and superior to His council members. Scripture is full of examples where Yahweh is shown to rule among His council members. One example is Psalm 89:5-7: Let the heavens praise your wonders, O LORD (Yahweh), your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones! For who in the skies can be compared to the LORD (Yahweh)? Who among the heavenly beings [2] is like the LORD (Yahweh), God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones, and awesome above all who are around him?   Some argue that the “holy ones” are human leaders, human “saints.” But the context proves otherwise because the residence of these council members is “in the skies.” Another example is in Daniel 4:17. Although Yahweh is supreme over His council members, He allows them to form and implement their own solutions: The sentence is by the decree of the watchers (council members), the decision by the word of the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men. The council formed the solution for Nebuchadnezzar's arrogance and then they carried out the sentence. This resulted in the humbling of Nebuchadnezzar and the declaration of God's ultimate power over all nations. This is similar to 1Kings 22. A heavenly council meeting was called to determine the fate of Ahab, the wicked king of Israel. God allowed His divine council to deliberate Ahab's demise. Here are verses 19-23: And Micaiah said, “Therefore hear the word of the Lord (Yahweh): I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven (council members) standing beside him on his right hand and on his left; and the Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?'And one said one thing, and another said another. Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord, saying, ‘I will entice him.' And the Lord said to him, ‘By what means?'And he said, ‘I will go out, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.'And he said, ‘You are to entice him, and you shall succeed; go out and do so.' Now therefore behold, the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; the Lord has declared disaster for you.” Both stories are about kings who have ignored warnings from Yahweh. Notice also that in both cases God allowed His celestial council members to deliberate the solution and then implement the punishment.   The Infernal Council Moses warned Israel not to worship the “host of heaven” in Deuteronomy 4:19 because of the Tower of Babel affair. After the Tower of Babel event occurred, celestial authorities were assigned to govern the nations and then shepherd them back into a right relationship with God. This is Moses' point in Deuteronomy 32:8-9: When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when he divided mankind, he fixed the borders of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God [3] (angelic authorities). But the LORD's portion is his people, Jacob his allotted heritage. At some point, these heavenly shepherds became corrupt and received the worship of men. This is the point Moses is making in all of Deuteronomy 32: worship belongs to Yahweh only; do not worship the gods of the nations because they are rebel council members. This relates to Psalm 82, where Yahweh crashes a council meeting among the fallen heavenly shepherds and rebukes them for their rebellion. Verses 1 through 4 say: God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment: “How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” Psalm 58:1-2 captures this same idea: Do you indeed decree what is right, you gods? Do you judge the children of man uprightly? No, in your hearts you devise wrongs; your hands deal out violence on earth. Some argue that these passages do not support the Divine Council worldview. They see Psalm 82 as an event where God enters a council meeting of earthly kings and judges. I would respectfully push back – verse 7 proves that God is not angry at mere humans in this scene. He is rebuking fallen entities when He says that they will die like mere men. This would not be a punishment if God were rebuking human rebels. Again, it is important to understand that this passage is not talking about humans who have offended God; it is talking about fallen angelic authorities. These beings were once righteous participants of Yahweh's council. Everything God creates is good and perfect. They began their journey in agreement with the plans and purposes of God. I don't accept the theological concept, as some do, that Yahweh created them as evil entities to begin with; or that He created them with the idea that they would one day rebel in order to advance His own glory. Nevertheless, they did rebel. And since they had once been part of God's kingdom, they naturally formed their own authority structures based off of the kingdom they rejected. So, I believe that the infernal council is an imitation of what they once experienced in the Kingdom of God.   This is not Polytheism, This is not Mormonism In the last sermon, I covered several attributes that prove that Yahweh is completely different than all other elohim, or the “sons of God” that He created to operate in His council. God is omnipresent, omnipotent, omniscient, eternal, and immutable. He is the creator of all other heavenly beings; He existed before them. He can strip them of their immortality, and no heavenly being can outmaneuver Him. This is important to know because of the resistance you will get from those who are unfamiliar with this subject. People will want to categorize you as a polytheist or a Mormon. Neither of these are true. Most ancient cultures were polytheistic in nature. They believed in many gods. Often there was a chief god ruling the lesser gods and demigods. They often incorporated succession stories where one chief god was defeated in battle by a lesser god, who then became the leader. But what I am teaching is that our God is different. He is not a leader among a group of gods who are similar in nature; He is infinitely higher in supremacy. Again, He is the uncreated Creator. There is no being equal to Him. However, as I have already outlined, He assigns authority and responsibility to the heavenly sons of God, which He created. He also expects us to occupy our territory while expanding His kingdom.   I am also not teaching Mormonism. Mormons teach that you can become a god; in fact, they claim that God was once like us. Joseph Smith said: “It is the first principle of the Gospel to know for a certainty the Character of God. . . . He was once a man like us; . . . God himself, the Father of us all, dwelt on an earth, the same as Jesus Christ himself did” [4]   But I insist that Mormonism is incorrect. I teach that God was never a created being. John 4:24 says, God is spirit (not a man), and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” Again, as I outlined in the last sermon, there are unique attributes that belong only to Yahweh and no other being. Conclusion The Divine Council worldview has solid biblical backing. First, we see in several places that God is supreme yet also delegates His authority to a celestial council of lesser beings. These council members are called the “sons of God” in the Old Testament. Second, we see that certain members of this council rebelled against God and formed their own wicked authority structures. The Divine Council worldview that I am advocating is not a salvation issue. Those who disagree are not my enemies; however, without it, I believe you will have a truncated understanding of the spiritual realm. Some simply see the spiritual realm as more of a fairy tale than a reality. To them, heaven is nothing more than an eternal vacation spot where you sit on clouds and play harps. This kind of thinking is childish; there is so much more going on. One of my biggest complaints about modern Christianity is that it refuses to leave elementary school, so to speak. Many churches teach superficial concepts, and as a result, their congregations are withering in the shallow soil of mediocrity. And so, over the last several generations, the church has raised a gaggle of believers who barely understand their Bible and their God. The Divine Council worldview has helped me back up and look at the whole tapestry of Scripture. When I read a passage, I find threads that move in multiple directions and create larger ideas. For me, understanding the Bible through the Divine Council worldview has been as stunning as going from a black and white TV to the brilliant colors of plasma TV. It's like watching an action movie with a pair of good 3-D glasses. JCN 7/24 [1] In the Hebrew text, this rebel being is called han nachash, the nachash (Gen.3:1,2,4,13,14). As a noun, nachash means serpent (think more of a dragon rather than a snake); as a verb, it means a deceiver or a diviner; as an adjective, it means bronze or an object that is brazen or a radiant being that glows from within. All three meanings are at play here. The ideas of luminosity, serpentine features, and divine wisdom all relate to a divine throne guardian being. Both Hebrew and Gentile readers would have instantly understood this concept. Both seraphim and cherubim are known as guardians around God's throne. The Hebrew word seraph (Is. 6:2) especially relates here because its meaning derives from a burning, fiery serpentine being.   [2] In Hebrew: ben el the “sons of God,” the celestial beings of heaven.  [3]Some translations render the phrase as “sons of Israel,” while others render it “sons of God.” I believe that translations like KJV, NIV, and NASB are misinformed to render the phrase as “sons of Israel.” The phrase “sons of Israel” follows the Masoretic Texts, which were edited by Jewish scholars in the middle ages who were hostile to Christianity, and the supernatural appearances of the 2nd person of the Trinity (Jesus) throughout Old Testament passages. The Septuagint and the Dead Sea Scrolls uphold the phrase “sons of God.” Both of these sources were penned by Jewish scholars about 1000 years before the Masoretic Texts were collated. [4]Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith, 1976, pp. 345 –46.

The Big Picture of the King and His Kingdom I want you to recall the five meta-narratives of the entire Bible from my previous sermon: God is completely unique; God gave us dominion of the Earth; we have rebelled against God and are in exile; God has been and will continue to repair the fix we are in; God will reestablish our place in Eden and on Earth. I also want you to think about how the Kingdom of God stretches out into eternity past and eternity future. In our own human history, the Kingdom of God started in a garden that resided in the land of Eden. The Garden of Eden was a real and specific location on Earth where Heaven and Earth co-existed. Isaiah and Ezekiel talk about this location being not only a garden but also a mountain (Isaiah 14:13-14 and Ezekiel 28:13-14). In Eastern and Mesopotamian cultures, a garden was where the king would spend leisure time with his family. It was also where kings met with their cabinet members. The garden inside the land of Eden then was a place created by God where Adam and Eve had fellowship with their heavenly Father. This is also where God met with His council members. These were angelic authorities, celestial beings, who were administrative rulers in God's kingdom. No doubt, Adam and Eve would have had multiple interactions with these beings while they lived in the Garden of God. This is why Eve did not freak out when the serpent spoke to her in Genesis 3. She had seen these beings before. Remember, there is no snake mentioned in the text of Genesis 3. In Hebrew, he is called the nachash [1]. The being that talked with Eve was a supernatural, ancient, super intelligent, celestial being, probably a seraph.  A seraph was one of the highest orders of throne guardians that surrounded God's throne. He may have been one of God's council members in the past. Once Adam and Eve agreed to follow the nachash, they sabotaged their relationship with God and their ability to spread the dominion of Eden to the rest of the globe. Nonetheless, God has been moving forward to correct this dilemma for thousands of years. He is still using His heavenly and earthly councils to redeem the earth. The King and His Council All nations have kings or some sort of leadership that resembles kingship. Even our own Democratic Republic has fallen under the rule of people acting like kings. All kings have council members to help them administer their rule over the affairs of their kingdom. Human leaders did not make this concept up. It existed long before the Earth was created. The first council is the one that God established before the creation week of Earth. It's called the Divine Council. Now, even though God does not need help ruling over His universe, He insists on sharing responsibilities with the beings that He has made. Whether they are human or celestial. The problem is that among the celestial beings, certain council members rebelled against God. You may want to call them the infernal council. They absolutely hate God's human children and all righteous celestial beings who have remained loyal to God. Just as the Divine Council existed before the creation week, so too do I believe this rebellion occurred before the creation week. Others believe that it occurred possibly on Day 2 or 4 of the creation or soon after. Which ever position you take, it was a horrendous betrayal towards God and His remaining loyal family members. The King Delegates Responsibilities to His Divine Council Consider this: although Yahweh is supreme over His council, He allows them to discuss solutions. He then delegates to them authority for particular assignments. However, Yahweh is unique and superior to His council members. Scripture is full of examples where Yahweh is shown to rule among His council members. One example is Psalm 89:5-7: Let the heavens praise your wonders, O LORD (Yahweh), your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones! For who in the skies can be compared to the LORD (Yahweh)? Who among the heavenly beings [2] is like the LORD (Yahweh), God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones, and awesome above all who are around him?   Some argue that the “holy ones” are human leaders, human “saints.” But the context proves otherwise because the residence of these council members is “in the skies.” Another example is in Daniel 4:17. Although Yahweh is supreme over His council members, He allows them to form and implement their own solutions: The sentence is by the decree of the watchers (council members), the decision by the word of the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men. The council formed the solution for Nebuchadnezzar's arrogance and then they carried out the sentence. This resulted in the humbling of Nebuchadnezzar and the declaration of God's ultimate power over all nations. This is similar to 1Kings 22. A heavenly council meeting was called to determine the fate of Ahab, the wicked king of Israel. God allowed His divine council to deliberate Ahab's demise. Here are verses 19-23: And Micaiah said, “Therefore hear the word of the Lord (Yahweh): I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven (council members) standing beside him on his right hand and on his left; and the Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?'And one said one thing, and another said another. Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord, saying, ‘I will entice him.' And the Lord said to him, ‘By what means?'And he said, ‘I will go out, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.'And he said, ‘You are to entice him, and you shall succeed; go out and do so.' Now therefore behold, the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; the Lord has declared disaster for you.” Both stories are about kings who have ignored warnings from Yahweh. Notice also that in both cases God allowed His celestial council members to deliberate the solution and then implement the punishment.   The Infernal Council Moses warned Israel not to worship the “host of heaven” in Deuteronomy 4:19 because of the Tower of Babel affair. After the Tower of Babel event occurred, celestial authorities were assigned to govern the nations and then shepherd them back into a right relationship with God. This is Moses' point in Deuteronomy 32:8-9: When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when he divided mankind, he fixed the borders of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God [3] (angelic authorities). But the LORD's portion is his people, Jacob his allotted heritage. At some point, these heavenly shepherds became corrupt and received the worship of men. This is the point Moses is making in all of Deuteronomy 32: worship belongs to Yahweh only; do not worship the gods of the nations because they are rebel council members. This relates to Psalm 82, where Yahweh crashes a council meeting among the fallen heavenly shepherds and rebukes them for their rebellion. Verses 1 through 4 say: God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment: “How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” Psalm 58:1-2 captures this same idea: Do you indeed decree what is right, you gods? Do you judge the children of man uprightly? No, in your hearts you devise wrongs; your hands deal out violence on earth. Some argue that these passages do not support the Divine Council worldview. They see Psalm 82 as an event where God enters a council meeting of earthly kings and judges. I would respectfully push back – verse 7 proves that God is not angry at mere humans in this scene. He is rebuking fallen entities when He says that they will die like mere men. This would not be a punishment if God were rebuking human rebels. Again, it is important to understand that this passage is not talking about humans who have offended God; it is talking about fallen angelic authorities. These beings were once righteous participants of Yahweh's council. Everything God creates is good and perfect. They began their journey in agreement with the plans and purposes of God. I don't accept the theological concept, as some do, that Yahweh created them as evil entities to begin with; or that He created them with the idea that they would one day rebel in order to advance His own glory. Nevertheless, they did rebel. And since they had once been part of God's kingdom, they naturally formed their own authority structures based off of the kingdom they rejected. So, I believe that the infernal council is an imitation of what they once experienced in the Kingdom of God.   This is not Polytheism, This is not Mormonism In the last sermon, I covered several attributes that prove that Yahweh is completely different than all other elohim, or the “sons of God” that He created to operate in His council. God is omnipresent, omnipotent, omniscient, eternal, and immutable. He is the creator of all other heavenly beings; He existed before them. He can strip them of their immortality, and no heavenly being can outmaneuver Him. This is important to know because of the resistance you will get from those who are unfamiliar with this subject. People will want to categorize you as a polytheist or a Mormon. Neither of these are true. Most ancient cultures were polytheistic in nature. They believed in many gods. Often there was a chief god ruling the lesser gods and demigods. They often incorporated succession stories where one chief god was defeated in battle by a lesser god, who then became the leader. But what I am teaching is that our God is different. He is not a leader among a group of gods who are similar in nature; He is infinitely higher in supremacy. Again, He is the uncreated Creator. There is no being equal to Him. However, as I have already outlined, He assigns authority and responsibility to the heavenly sons of God, which He created. He also expects us to occupy our territory while expanding His kingdom.   I am also not teaching Mormonism. Mormons teach that you can become a god; in fact, they claim that God was once like us. Joseph Smith said: “It is the first principle of the Gospel to know for a certainty the Character of God. . . . He was once a man like us; . . . God himself, the Father of us all, dwelt on an earth, the same as Jesus Christ himself did” [4]   But I insist that Mormonism is incorrect. I teach that God was never a created being. John 4:24 says, God is spirit (not a man), and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” Again, as I outlined in the last sermon, there are unique attributes that belong only to Yahweh and no other being. Conclusion The Divine Council worldview has solid biblical backing. First, we see in several places that God is supreme yet also delegates His authority to a celestial council of lesser beings. These council members are called the “sons of God” in the Old Testament. Second, we see that certain members of this council rebelled against God and formed their own wicked authority structures. The Divine Council worldview that I am advocating is not a salvation issue. Those who disagree are not my enemies; however, without it, I believe you will have a truncated understanding of the spiritual realm. Some simply see the spiritual realm as more of a fairy tale than a reality. To them, heaven is nothing more than an eternal vacation spot where you sit on clouds and play harps. This kind of thinking is childish; there is so much more going on. One of my biggest complaints about modern Christianity is that it refuses to leave elementary school, so to speak. Many churches teach superficial concepts, and as a result, their congregations are withering in the shallow soil of mediocrity. And so, over the last several generations, the church has raised a gaggle of believers who barely understand their Bible and their God. The Divine Council worldview has helped me back up and look at the whole tapestry of Scripture. When I read a passage, I find threads that move in multiple directions and create larger ideas. For me, understanding the Bible through the Divine Council worldview has been as stunning as going from a black and white TV to the brilliant colors of plasma TV. It's like watching an action movie with a pair of good 3-D glasses. JCN 7/24 [1] In the Hebrew text, this rebel being is called han nachash, the nachash (Gen.3:1,2,4,13,14). As a noun, nachash means serpent (think more of a dragon rather than a snake); as a verb, it means a deceiver or a diviner; as an adjective, it means bronze or an object that is brazen or a radiant being that glows from within. All three meanings are at play here. The ideas of luminosity, serpentine features, and divine wisdom all relate to a divine throne guardian being. Both Hebrew and Gentile readers would have instantly understood this concept. Both seraphim and cherubim are known as guardians around God's throne. The Hebrew word seraph (Is. 6:2) especially relates here because its meaning derives from a burning, fiery serpentine being.   [2] In Hebrew: ben el the “sons of God,” the celestial beings of heaven.  [3]Some translations render the phrase as “sons of Israel,” while others render it “sons of God.” I believe that translations like KJV, NIV, and NASB are misinformed to render the phrase as “sons of Israel.” The phrase “sons of Israel” follows the Masoretic Texts, which were edited by Jewish scholars in the middle ages who were hostile to Christianity, and the supernatural appearances of the 2nd person of the Trinity (Jesus) throughout Old Testament passages. The Septuagint and the Dead Sea Scrolls uphold the phrase “sons of God.” Both of these sources were penned by Jewish scholars about 1000 years before the Masoretic Texts were collated. [4]Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith, 1976, pp. 345 –46.  

Pastor Dru discusses how early Christians faced persecution for boldly proclaiming Jesus as Lord over all, despite the Roman Empire's polytheistic beliefs. He emphasizes the significance of this claim, as it challenged the established religious hierarchy and worldview.

Dust off your halo and flap your wings, dearest ravens, as today we're rejoicing in the absolutely bonkers history of Angels, following up on last year's "Haunting Season" episode about Demons.Part of the "Three Ravens Bestiary" series, we start by discussing how words for things like "angels" and "God" in ancient texts have created a mess of confusions across the ages. Then we leap straight down from heaven (or out of a hidden dimension, at the very least) to discuss how ancient ideas like Animism and Polytheism laid the foundations that enabled the introduction of Angels into early Abrahamic religious texts.Through discussions of Zoroastrianism, Yahwism, and ancient apocryphal mystic writings, we dig into some fascinating stuff, including 'Guardian Angels' in general, specific Angels, like Michael, Gabriel, Samael, and Metatron, and chat about how a proliferation of esoteric writings throughout the Dark Ages and Medieval Era spun 'Angelologies' out in some pretty weird directions.From the mysteries of Gnosticism and the Kabbalah to descriptions of what Cherubum, Seraphim and Elohim actually look like (which is not as you might expect) it's an episode of big ideas and bizarre truths that might just change how you think about Angels. And likely modify how you describe your loved ones. Because if your children or significant other really are "angels" then, frankly, you should be cowering in terror!The Three Ravens is an English Myth and Folklore podcast hosted by award-winning writers Martin Vaux and Eleanor Conlon.Released on Mondays, each weekly episode focuses on one of England's 39 historic counties, exploring the history, folklore and traditions of the area, from ghosts and mermaids to mythical monsters, half-forgotten heroes, bloody legends, and much, much more. Then, and most importantly, the pair take turns to tell a new version of an ancient story from that county - all before discussing what that tale might mean, where it might have come from, and the truths it reveals about England's hidden past...Bonus Episodes are released on Thursdays (Magic and Medicines about folk remedies and arcane spells, Three Ravens Bestiary about cryptids and mythical creatures, Dying Arts about endangered heritage crafts, and Something Wicked about folkloric true crime from across history) plus Local Legends episodes on Saturdays - interviews with acclaimed authors, folklorists, podcasters and historians with unique perspectives on that week's county.With a range of exclusive content on Patreon, too, including audio ghost tours, the Three Ravens Newsletter, and monthly Three Ravens Film Club episodes about folk horror films from across the decades, why not join us around the campfire and listen in?Learn more at www.threeravenspodcast.com, join our Patreon at www.patreon.com/threeravenspodcast, and find links to our social media channels here: https://linktr.ee/threeravenspodcast Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We discuss how Platonist philosophical teaching played out at Alexandria before Justinian's edict of 529 and in its aftermath. Featuring cameo appearances from the fall of the western Roman empire and Horapollo's Hieroglyphika.

Today my guest is Frank Kenny, an esteemed researcher and author in the field of religious history, who brings a unique perspective to the understanding of historical religious conflicts and their impacts on modern society.We discuss here the true origins of Christianity, it's impact on the world and how much of the Bible is original and how much is fantasy or a retelling of a retelling. Where to find Frank: Book: https://frankkennyjinhuapublishers.com/Where to find the Tribe of the Greyhorn Pagans:https://www.greyhornpagans.com/https://linktr.ee/greyhornpagans https://linktr.ee/firefae Support the Greyhorn Pagans on Kofi and Patreon! -https://www.patreon.com/Greyhornpagans -https://ko-fi.com/greyhornpagansViking/Medieval Theme by M-Murray -- https://freesound.org/s/723202/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0Introsong used: Witchhouse Requiem by Humanfobia https://humanfobia-official.bandcamp.com/album/epitafio-fantasmal-2021

Ralston College Humanities MA   Dr Paul Epstein is a distinguished classicist and Professor Emeritus of Classics at Oklahoma State University, renowned for his extensive knowledge of Greek and Latin literature.  In this lecture and discussion—delivered in Savannah during the x term of the inaugural year of Ralston College's MA in the Humanities program—classicist Dr Paul Epstein considers how Sophocles's tragedy Women of Trachis and Aristophanes's comedy Frogs arise from—and reflect upon—the polis-centered polytheism of ancient Greece as it appeared during the Athenian flourishing of the fifth century BC. Professor Epstein explores how these Greek dramas articulate the relationship between human beings, the gods, and the community. Tragedy, in Professor Epstein's account, is about the overall structure of the community, while comedy starts with the individual's exploration of that community. Yet both forms ultimately reveal an understanding of the individual that is inseparable from the polis in which he or she lives. Professor Epstein argues that our contemporary notion of the self as an entity fundamentally separate from context would be entirely alien to the ancient Greeks. Grasping this ancient understanding of the individual is vitally necessary if we are to correctly interpret the literary and philosophical texts of Hellenic antiquity. *In this lecture and discussion, classicist Dr. Paul Epstein considers how Sophocles's tragedy Women of Trachis and Aristophanes's comedy Frogs arise from—and reflect upon—the polis-centered polytheism of ancient Greece during the Athenian flourishing of the fifth century BC. Professor Epstein explores how these Greek dramas articulate the relationship between human beings, the gods, and the community. Tragedy, in Professor Epstein's account, is about the overall structure of the community, while comedy starts with the individual's exploration of that community. Yet both forms ultimately reveal an understanding of the individual that is inseparable from the polis in which he or she lives. Professor Epstein argues that our contemporary notion of the self as an entity fundamentally separate from context would be entirely alien to the ancient Greeks. Grasping this ancient understanding of the individual is vitally necessary if we are to correctly interpret the literary and philosophical texts of Hellenic antiquity.   —   0:00 Introduction of Professor Epstein by President Blackwood 6:25 The Polytheistic World of the Polis 01:09:35 Dialogue with Students on Polytheism and the Polis 01:22:40 Sophocles's Women of Trachis 01:44:10 Dialogue with Students About Women of Trachis 01:56:10 Introduction to Aristophanes' Frogs 02:24:40 Dialogue with Students About Frogs  02:49:45 Closing Remarks for Professor Epstein's Lecture   —   Authors, Ideas, and Works Mentioned in This Episode:    Athenian flourishing of the fifth century BC  Sophocles, Women of Trachis  Aristophanes, Frogs William Shakespeare Plato, Symposium Aristophanes, Lysistrata Homer, Odyssey  Aristotle, Poetics Peloponnesian War   Plato, Apology nomizó (νομίζω)—translated in the talk as “acknowledge” nous (νοῦς) binein (Βινέω)  Johann Joachim Winkelman  Nicene Creed  Titanic v. Olympian gods  Hesiod  Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility  Sigmund Freud  Existentialism  techne (τέχνη) logos (λόγος) eros (Ἔρως)  hubris (ὕβρις) Philip Larkin, “Annus Mirabilis”  Athansian Creed psuche (ψυχή)—translated in the talk as “soul” thelo (θέλω)—translated in the talk as “wishes”  Aristophanes, Clouds mimesis (μίμησις)  —   Additional Resources    Dr Stephen Blackwood    Ralston College (including newsletter)   Support a New Beginning    —   Thank you for listening!  

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Did Muhammad initially allow for the intercession of pagan idols in Mecca? Islamic sources say yes. Michael Lofton examines these sources and then considers various Islamic responses that are made to confirm the reliability of Muhammad – despite this incident.

Send us a Text Message.Grab your broomsticks and join Laylla and Chelle for an enlightening conversation with special guest George Lizos, spiritual teacher, intuitive healer, and author of "Secrets of Greek Mysticism: A Modern Guide to Daily Practice with the Greek Gods and Goddesses" and "Be The Guru".In this episode, we dive deep into the realm of personal deity and divine connections. George, a priest of Greek Paganism, shares his unique insights on why having a personal relationship with the Gods is vital, as well as:The recent legalization of Greek polytheism in Greece (2017) and its implicationsUnderstanding gods and goddesses as extensions of universal lawsMoving beyond gender in our perception of deityThe purpose and power of prayer in connecting with divine energiesHow to discover and connect with your guardian god or goddessHis idea of a Greek Polytheist Wheel of the YearHow Xena: Warrior Princess got things wrong about Hellenic Polytheism but was still a fabulous show!We also explore fascinating topics like past life regression, finding spiritual balance, and nurturing your connection with the divine feminine.Whether you're a seasoned practitioner or just beginning your spiritual journey, this episode offers a fresh perspective on personal deity and how to fearlessly follow your purpose.So light a candle, settle in, and let's embark on this illuminating journey with George Lizos. It's time to elevate your spiritual toolkit!Grab George's FREE Life Purpose Workbook at http://georgelizos.com/lifepurposeWebsite: www.georgelizos.comFacebook Group: www.yourspiritualtoolkit.comInstagram @georgelizosTikTok: @iamgeorgelizosYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/GeorgeLizosTVSupport the Show.Email: backonthebroomstick@gmail.comYoutube FacebookInstagramBack on the Broomstick Website

Questions? Comments? Text Us!Embark on a profound journey with God: An Autobiography, The Podcast in the newest What's On Your Mind series episode.Dig into themes of divine communication, the essence of prayer, and living authentically. Discover the transformative power of integrity and discernment. Learn of the liberating freedom of surrendering to God's will while uncovering spirituality and self-discovery.Join us on a journey through God: An Autobiography as we explore faith, embrace a deeper connection with purpose and personal growth, and discover insights that will encourage your spiritual journey and living in tune with God.Relevant Episodes:[What's On Your Mind] God's Autobiography: Revealing Life's Dramas Through Faith[Life Wisdom Project] Polytheism and Living Honestly | Special Guest: Dr. Abigail L. Rosenthal[Special Episode] Revisiting God Explains Polytheism in a Way I Understand[From God to Jerry to You] God-Centered PrayerOther Series:The podcast began with the Dramatic Adaptation of the book and now has several series:Life Wisdom Project: How to live a wiser, happier, and more meaningful life with special guests.From God To Jerry To You: Calling for the attention of spiritual seekers everywhere, featuring breakthroughs, pathways, and illuminations.Two Philosophers Wrestle With God: Sit in on a dialogue between philosophers about God and the questions we all have.What's On Our Mind- Connect the dots with Jerry and Scott over the most recent series of episodes.What's On Your Mind: What are readers and listeners saying? What is God saying?Resources:READ: “Death and the Hope of Immortality . . .”WHAT'S ON OUR MIND EPISODE PLAYLISTYOUTUBE CHANNEL: NEW VIDEOS#whatsonourmind #godanautobiography #experiencegodWould you like to be featured on the show or have questions about spirituality or divine communicShare Your Story | Site | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

Questions? Comments? Text Us!Can noticing the divine in everyday life transform reality?This journey enriches the understanding of the divine in everyday life. Dr. Abigail L. Rosenthal, author of the upcoming book "Confessions of a Young Philosopher," returns to discuss the philosophical and theological implications and polytheism with Jerry from "God: An Autobiography, As Told To A Philosopher."The coexistence of monotheism and polytheism today, the divine in Andrew Wyeth's art, and the metaphor of fire embodying both creation and destruction are explored. Through nature, art, or music, these experiences resonate deeply, enriching daily lives outside rigid theological structures.Abigail and Jerry discuss the God of Israel and how God accepts all flaws, just as biblical figures like David were flawed yet significant. The human condition, marked by imperfections, makes life's journey meaningful and challenging.Embrace contradictions, live in concert with God, and attend to life's rhythms and the spirit within with honesty and sincerity.Dr. Abigail L. Rosenthal is the author of A Good Look at Evil, and Dear Abbie: The Non-Advice Column.Relevant Episodes:[Dramatic Adaptation] God Explains Polytheism In A Way I Understand[The Life Wisdom Project] Situational Attention with Special Guest: Dr. Ray SilvermanOther Series:Life Wisdom Project- How to live a wiser, happier, and more meaningful life with special guests.From God To Jerry To You- A series calling for the attention of spiritual seekers everywhere, featuring breakthroughs, pathways, and illuminations.Two Philosophers Wrestle With God- Sit in on a dialogue between philosophers about God and the questions we all have.What's On Our Mind- Connect the dots with Jerry and Scott over the most recent series of episodes.What's On Your Mind- What are readers and listeners saying? What is God saying?Resources:READ: "Putting Me First Rather than Last."THE LIFE WISDOM PROJECT PLAYLISTHashtags: #lifewisdomproject #godanautobiography #experiencegod #polytheism #yogaandmeditationShare your story or experience with God! Share Your Story | Site | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube |

Questions? Comments? Text Us!Join Jerry as he converses with God to explore how the divine manifests in polytheistic beliefs. Welcome to God: An Autobiography, The Podcast. This week Dr. Jerry L. Martin and Scott Langdon revisit the dramatic adaptation of " God Explains Polytheism in a Way I Understand," exploring polytheism and its reflection of an ever-evolving divine presence.God reveals that polytheistic beliefs reflect the diverse ways He presents Himself across cultures and times, emphasizing a single spiritual reality uniting these manifestations.Discover how Jerry's experience with Andrew Wyeth's paintings inspired his understanding of civilizations' perception of God in natural phenomena. From experiencing the divine in art and nature to understanding its significance in different cultures, Jerry wrestles with complex theological insights, learning that polytheistic elements capture genuine responses to divine manifestations.Join us for this enlightening conversation, and prepare for next week's discussion with Abigail Rosenthal and Jerry in the Life Wisdom Project. Tune in for an insightful journey through theology, philosophy, and personal revelation- bridging ancient wisdom with contemporary reflections.Relevant Episodes:[Dramatic Adaptation] God Explains Polytheism In A Way I UnderstandOther Series:The podcast began with the Dramatic Adaptation of the book and now has several series:The Life Wisdom Project- How to live a wiser, happier, and more meaningful life with special guests.From God To Jerry To You- a brand-new series calling for the attention of spiritual seekers everywhere, featuring breakthroughs, pathways, and illuminations.Two Philosophers Wrestle With God- sit in on a dialogue between philosophers about God and the questions we all have. What's On Our Mind- Connect the dots with Jerry and Scott over the most recent series episodes. What's On Your Mind- What are readers and listeners saying? What is God sayingResources:READ "Putting Me first Rather than Last"DRAMATIC ADAPTATION PLAYLISTLIFE WISDOM PROJECT PLAYLISTHashtags: #godanautobiography #experiencegodWould you like to be featured on the show or have questions about spirituality or divine communication? Share your story or experience with God! Share Your Story | Site | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube |

Episode 25: Folk Horror Part Two This episode was recorded on March 24, 2024 and posted on May 4, 2024.  Content Warning: Light vulgarity. Introduction Welcome to No Bodies Episode 25 Introductions to your Ghosts Hosts with the Most - Lonely of Lonely Horror Club and Projectile Varmint aka Suzie Introductions to our guests Emily & Niamh of Rowan & Pine Today's Topic: Folk Horror Film Discussion European Folklore Hagazussa (2017) Moloch (2022) Dark Song (2017) East Asian Folklore Impetigore (2019) Teke Teke (2009) North American Folklore Eyes of Fire (1983) Antlers (2021) Worst & Best Representations of Folk Horror Worst Blood Born (2021) - Suzie A Dark Song (2016) & Hagazussa (2017) - Lonely Teke Teke (2009) - Niamh Best The Ritual (2017) - Niamh Apostle (2018), The Witch (2015), Men (2022), Midsommar (2019), Blood on Satan's Claw (1971) - Lonely  It Follows (2014), Sleepy Hollow (1999), Pet Sematary (1989), Darkness Falls (2003), The Mothman Prophecies (2002), Boogeyman (2005), Kill List (2011), The Wind (2018), The Dark & The Wicked (2020), A Field in England (2013) - Suzie Suzie's Deep Cuts Includes movies with under 5k ratings on IMDB.  November (2017) Butterfly Kisses (2018) Little Otik (2000) The Feast (2021) The Droving (2020) The Twin (2022) A Wounded Fawn (2022) The Maus (2017) (Editor's Note: Lonely mentions that The Maus is based on the fall of the Soviet Union, but this film actually focuses on the aftermath of the fall of Yugoslavia in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Thank to our listener Kannan for correcting this!) Closing Thoughts Is there a piece of folklore from your own culture you'd like to see in a folk horror film? Thank you to our guest! Follow Emily & Niamh's show Rowan and Pine, whenever you get your podcasts. Emily & Niamh on Instagram at @rowanandpine.  Keep Up with Your Hosts Check out our instagram antics and drop a follow @nobodieshorrorpodcast.  Take part in our new audience engagement challenge - The Coroner's Report! Comment, share, or interact with any Coroner's Report post on our socials to be featured in an upcoming episode.  Projectile Varmint - keep up with Suzie's film musings on Instagram @projectile__varmint Lonely - read more from Lonely and keep up with her filmstagram chaos @lonelyhorrorclub on Instagram and www.lonelyhorrorclub.com. Original No Bodies Theme music by Jacob Pini. Need music? Find Jacob on Instagram at @jacob.pini for rates and tell him No Bodies sent you!  Leave us a message at (617) 431-4322‬ and we just might answer you on the show! Sources Berndt, R. M., & Tonkinson, R. (2024, April 9). Australian Aboriginal peoples | History, Facts, &  Culture. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Australian-Aboriginal Bernott, K. (2023, February 2). The Elder Futhark runes and their meanings —  SHIELDMAIDEN'S SANCTUM. SHIELDMAIDEN'S SANCTUM.  https://www.shieldmaidenssanctum.com/blog/2019/3/12/the-elder-futhark-runes-and-their-meanings Celtic religion | Druidism, Mythology & Rituals. (1998, September 19). Encyclopedia Britannica.  https://www.britannica.com/topic/Celtic-religion/Beliefs-practices-and-institutions Folk Horror: An Introduction. (2021, September 16). Folk Horror Revival & Urban Wyrd Project.  https://folkhorrorrevival.com/from-the-forests-fields-furrows-and-further-an-introduction-by-andy-paciorek/ Groeneveld, E., & Doepler, E. (2024). Norse Mythology. World History Encyclopedia.  https://www.worldhistory.org/Norse_Mythology/ Hirai, N. (2024, April 2). Shinto | Beliefs, Gods, Origins, Symbols, Rituals, & Facts. Encyclopedia  Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Shinto Javanese Religion | Encyclopedia.com. (n.d.). https://www.encyclopedia.com/environment/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/java nese-religion Johnson, R. (2024, March 17). ENCYCLOBLEEDIA of folk horror. FANGORIA.  https://www.fangoria.com/original/encyclobleedia-of-folk-horror/ Maison, J. (2022, October 29). Everything there is to know about the folk horror genre.  Videomaker. https://www.videomaker.com/how-to/directing/film-history/everything-there-is-to-know-about-the-folk-horror-genre/ Mohsin, M. (2022, December 22). The legend of Teke Teke. The Business Standard.  https://www.tbsnews.net/splash/legend-teke-teke-111208 Ostberg, R. (2024, March 28). Wendigo | Description, Legend, Creature, Until Dawn, & Facts.  Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/wendigo Scott, J. (2021, October 17). Who are the Jötnar in Norse Mythology? Life in Norway.  https://www.lifeinnorway.net/jotnar-norse-mythology-giants/ Seaver, C., & Seaver, C. (2022, November 7). Biblically accurate angels would actually be pretty  scary. History Defined -.  https://www.historydefined.net/biblically-accurate-angels-would-actually-be-pretty-scary/ Staff, W. (2021, August 23). Erasing Native American culture. Theweek.  https://theweek.com/us/1003904/erasing-native-american-culture The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (1998a, July 20). Algonquin | Native American, Great  Lakes, Woodland. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Algonquin The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (1998b, July 20). Canaanite religion | Polytheism,  Rituals, Sacrifices. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Canaanite-religion The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2024a, March 26). Kabbala | Definition, Beliefs, &  Facts. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Kabbala The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2024b, March 26). Moloch | Definition & Facts.  Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Moloch-ancient-god Turville-Petre, E., & Polomé, E. C. (2024, March 19). Germanic religion and mythology | Gods,  Norse, Map, Polytheism, & Christianity. Encyclopedia Britannica.  https://www.britannica.com/topic/Germanic-religion-and-mythology Wikipedia contributors. (2024a, February 1). The Book of Abramelin. Wikipedia.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Book_of_Abramelin Wikipedia contributors. (2024b, March 22). Enochian magic. Wikipedia.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enochian_magic Winick, S. (2021, February 17). What was the Green Man? | FolkLife Today. The Library of  Congress. https://blogs.loc.gov/folklife/2021/02/what-was-the-green-man/

Angelica @angelicascresci talks to George Lizos @georgelizos about greek mysticism and paganism, working with the greek pantheon and so much more. Find George on Instagram at @georgelizos to learn more about their new book Secrets of Greek Mysticism and other offerings. GEORGE'S LINKS Find Angelica @angelicascresci on Instagram.  Join the Palace Coven, Angelica's membership group for all upcoming events and classes including the Beltane Group Ritual class - held tomorrow May 2nd in the Stars tier.  JOIN THE PALACE COVEN - HERE angelicacresci.com

Show Notes and Transcript A warm welcome for the return of Anni Cyrus, host of "Live Up to Freedom" to provide a detailed analysis of Iran's history and its impact on the Middle East.  She traces Iran's journey from Zoroastrianism to the Islamic Revolution of 1979, highlighting the societal changes and challenges faced under the Islamic regime.  Anni explores Iran's relationships with neighbouring countries like Saudi Arabia and Turkey, shedding light on power struggles and religious divisions in the region.  She also discusses Iran's media censorship, political landscape, and foreign policy towards Israel, emphasizing the use of proxies for influence.  We end with reflections on the possibilities for change in Iran and its implications for regional stability. Aynaz “Anni” Cyrus is the founder of ‘Live Up To Freedom', she was born in 1983 into an Islamic family in Iran, after the Islamic Revolution removed the Shah and turned the “mini-America” of the Middle East into an Islamic tyranny. Given no choice, Aynaz was labeled as a Muslim by birth. Under Sharia (Islamic Law) she grew up under total Islamic dominance by her father, a Sheikh, and her mother, a Quran teacher. At age nine, Aynaz rejected Islam completely in her heart and mind. It happened on her 9th birthday when the Islamic state, in a public ceremony, declared the absurdity that she would be, from that day forward by law, an adult woman. Over the next six years, Aynaz suffered terrible, but legal by Islamic Law, abuses and punishments at the hands of many Islamic males of Iran. After being forcibly sold by her own father into an extremely violent marriage, Aynaz desperately sought escape from her hell as a child bride. Even after being visibly battered one last time, the Islamic courts denied her a divorce from the man who was clearly bound to beat her to death. So at age 15, facing death by one way or the other, Aynaz got herself smuggled out of Iran, to save her own life. Knowing nothing of the life of freedom for women and girls outside of Iran or Islam, she ran into what she calls “The Unknown.” But her running was a crime, for which, to this day, she stands condemned to death by stoning under Sharia. Aynaz then gained asylum in Turkey through the United Nations. But, as an unaccompanied minor, she was obligated to wait three more years. Finally, at age 18 her petition to become an American citizen was approved. After a further delay following 9/11, Anyaz was allowed entry into the United States on August 8, 2002. She became a naturalized and proud American citizen in 2010. Since 2011, Aynaz has produced the popular Internet video series, “The Glazov Gang”, hosted by renowned author in the counter-jihad movement, Dr. Jamie Glazov. Aynaz also appears in many of the show's hundreds of segments. Years of her media appearances are found in public speaking venues, interviews, videos, and articles, published in affiliation with The David Horowitz Freedom Center, Jihad Watch, Breitbart, American Thinker, Worldview Weekend, and American Truth Project, to mention a few. Connect with Anni….. WEBSITE            liveuptofreedom.com GETTR:               gettr.com/user/AnniCyrus X                          x.com/LiveUpToFreedom INSTAGRAM       instagram.com/aynazcyrus TELEGRAM         t.me/Liveuptofreedom Interview recorded 19.4.24 Connect with Hearts of Oak... WEBSITE            heartsofoak.org PODCASTS        heartsofoak.podbean.com SOCIAL MEDIA  heartsofoak.org/connect SHOP                  heartsofoak.org/shop *Special thanks to Bosch Fawstin for recording our intro/outro on this podcast. Check out his art theboschfawstinstore.blogspot.com and follow him on X twitter.com/TheBoschFawstin Transcript  (Hearts of Oak) And I'm delighted to have Anni Cyrus back with us again. Anni, thank you so much for your time today. (Anni Cyrus) Absolutely. My pleasure. It's been a while. It has. That's exactly what I was thinking. It has been a while. And current events bring us together with the madness and chaos over in the Middle East. And who better, I thought, than asking on is Anni Cyrus. But first, people can find you @LiveUpToFreedom. Tell us about your show. Just give people, give the viewers, if they don't follow you, give them a taster of what they can find and what you put out. Absolutely. So Live Up to Freedom, which is also the name of my show, we produce two shows a week at the moment, hoping to somehow get to five days a week. But the majority of information that is produced on Live Up to Freedom is related to Middle East, Islamization, Sharia, and the dangers of red-green axis. 90% of the time, this is the type of educational programming. I mean, I don't force my opinion, but I will give you evidence from the Quran, from the Sira, from the Sura, every single one evidence coming from their own word, proving the fact that the possibility of us coexisting, not really possible. I'm with you 100%. And I do want your opinion, full force. So, yeah, I'm looking forward to getting your thoughts. But maybe I can ask you, we have watched what has happened with Israel, obviously, and then watched what has happened with Iran responding. Most of the viewers, whether they're US-based or UK-based, have zero concept of how Iran fits in the Middle East. They may have an understanding of, if they know history, of the Persian Empire. So it is a history that stretches back thousands of years. But today, few people in the West have an idea, I guess, of how Iran fits in. But obviously, you're Iranian-born. You live in the States at the moment. Maybe just touch on that about Iran and how it fits in with that, I guess, illustrious history over the thousands of years? How does Iran kind of fit in to the Middle East jigsaw? Sure. So let me start from here. Since you brought up the Persian Empire, let me just set the record straight about Persians versus Persian Empire. There's this thing going on lately that Persians don't exist because Persia doesn't exist. I want to make it very clear. Iran, as you know it today, is what was of Persia. So by nationality, we are Iranians. By race, we are Persians. Why is this important? Because there's a difference between nationality and race. And that's where actually we get all confused between racism, if you're criticized Islam, because a lot of nations now carry Islam. If you say something against Islam, they're racism Islam. Their race could be Persian, could be Indian, could be Arab. Now, Arab race has a breakdown. Again, Syrian Arabs have their own DNA. Saudi Arabian Arabs have their own DNA. However, there's one group of Arabs that don't have DNA, Peter, and that is Palestinians. The reason it's important to say we're Persians, nationality Iranian, is because we can make the point of there is no such a race as Palestinians. If you would do a DNA test on anyone in Palestine claiming to be Palestinian, you would find the DNAs of Syrian Arabs. You would find Iraqi Arabs. You would find even Egyptian blood. But you wouldn't find a Palestinian race blood because it doesn't exist. Now, I'm going to pull a leftist here and say, if you're willing to call them Palestinian by race, well, I identify as a Persian, so you're going to call me a Persian. That being said, Persian Empire down to a smaller size, down to a smaller size to today, which is a tiny bit of Islamic Republic of Iran, has always been the heart of Middle East. Literally the heart. Depending on how Iran beats, Middle East operates. That's why it's the heart. You go back, we're not going to even go 2,700 years ago. Let's not do that. We could. Cyrus the Great, king of Persia, freed the Jews in Babylon, told them you're free, and there you go. Temple Mount is there. That's how much Persia or Iran has been the heart. But recent, 45 years ago, 47, 50 years ago, when Iran was under the kingdom of Shah Pahlavi, you look at Middle East, there was peace. Prosperity, lots and lots of import and export financially, economy of Middle East was in good shape. Every neighbour country was also in good shape as far as culture, freedom, education goes. Islamic regime took over in a matter of 45 years. Not only Iran itself with all the resources Iran has, and I'm just going to name a few. Iran is number one land of making saffron. We have the second top quality pistachio. I'm not going to even go into the oil industry because everybody's aware of that. And then considering between Afghanistan and Iran, you have the two only countries producing opium. Well, I know some people misuse it, but it still is important material we need. So with all the resources, Iranian people, more than 82% are living life under the line of poverty by international standards. Same thing with the neighbours. You got the Turkey, you got Pakistan, you got Afghanistan, Azerbaijan. That is how much Iran's operation has affected not only Middle East, but over here with Western countries. I hope that answered the question. Oh, it does. I want to go back because we look at Islamic connection with Iran. But if you go, I mean, long time prior to the Islamic revolution in, it was 79, you've got from different breakups of the kingdom. And before that, you had from, I think, from the 20s, the Iranian state. So Islam was not in it. Tell us kind of how Iran kind of fits into that, where it's now known as the Islamic Republic of Iran. But before that, Islam wasn't in the name. Does that mean Islam was not part of the culture? Sure. Yes. So if we go back way back, way back, about 2,700 years ago, all the way to about 1,800 years ago, that period of time, majority of Iranians were known as Zoroastrians. There were some other atheists, there were Jews, there were Christians, all that. But then the Battle of Mohammed started 1,400 years ago. Now, what was the Battle of Muhammad? Muhammad started from Mecca, then went to Medina, then conquered Saudi Arabia. Now, who was the competition? Who was the biggest challenge? Persian Empire. Persia was standing up. They even sent messengers to the king of that time saying, have your people convert to Islam and we'll leave you alone. The king was like, no, we're good. We're not going to force anybody. So the very first time, the very first attack of Islamic attack, which in history books, you read them as Arab attacks. Yes, there were Saudi Arabians, but the attack wasn't about race. It had nothing to do with land versus land or people versus people. It was Mohammed continuing to conquer of Islamization to basically, you know, the global caliphate, which then global was just that area. The first attack happened. They couldn't conquer. The second one couldn't conquer on and on and on and on for a long time. In meantime, some of the Iranians or Persians decided to convert by choice, by choice, until one of the Iranians who by choice converted decided to become a traitor and basically start cooperating with the Arabs. That was the first time I want to say about probably 800, 700 years ago is when the first time of conquering people of Persia happened. A lot of Zoroastrians escaped. They went to India. That's why you see somewhat the biggest population of Zoroastrians are found in India. They took refuge in India. Some converted, some were killed, some became dhimmis and gradually either converted or died and fast forward all the way to almost, I want to say, 90, 92 years ago, when one of the kingdoms of Iran on the Qajar, or you guys pronounce it Qajar dynasty, they actually ruled under Islam. The king in the kingdom decided we will rule under, the full hijab came to the country. The full mosque building started. And then Pahlavi dynasty returned that. They didn't get rid of Islam, but they did return the country into America, freedom of religion. If you want to be a Muslim, be a Muslim. If you want to be Christian, be a Christian, anything. Until the first king, Pahlavi, decided to actually ban Sharia in Iran. Nobody was allowed to wear hijab, mosques were shut down. And surprise, surprise, England and France got involved and told him that you're going to lose power if you don't give them their freedom back. So the decision was the father will step down, the son will take over. And they will allow Sharia to continue. On top of that, they will allow one representative of Islam or Muslim community of Iran to step into Congress. The rest is history. Literally 20 years later, Islamic revolution happened and it has never gone back. But it's not just Iran, I guess, has a history. Think Egypt having a long history. Lebanon, I know, reading the Bible and you hear about the cedars of Lebanon. And then you think of Saudi Arabia and you think of the House of Saud. But a long time before that, there were different emirates in that area. And some of those countries have been artificially created, maybe like Jordan. But other countries actually have got a history of thousands of years. How does that work? Because as a Brit, I think of Europe and the struggle with the nations in Europe for dominance with France, Spain, with the UK. What is that kind of struggle like in the Middle East with those countries that have a long history? Well, another country we can name is Afghanistan. If you look, Afghanistan is a pretty recent conqueror of Islamization. Right around 1979 when Iran was conquered, very shortly before that, Afghanistan was conquered. Afghanistan has a long history of battling back and forth and by the way I sometimes feel like people of Afghanistan are not getting the credit they deserve they have such a long and pure history, cultural music involved in art involved they have some of the most unique musical instrument you find out there that is now westernized and used but nobody knows because everybody thinks Afghanistan was, you know, Islamic country from day one, and Afghans were all Muslim. That is not what it is. Now, that battle, with Saudi Arabia, you need to realize when Mohammed, you know, came up and said, I am the prophet, the majority of people in Saudi Arabia were. I can't pronounce the English, when you believe in more than one god, polygamous? Is that the word? Polytheism? There you go, polytheism. So with Saudi Arabia, there is a much deeper root of Islam. It was literally the first introduced religion that unified the country. It did, or nation. But the rest of Middle Eastern countries those who are not as you said artificial those that existed they were none of them has any roots, none of them, that's the thing sometimes we have this saying in Middle East is like, oh you're just a Muslim born, meaning you're not really Muslim and I'm like, that doesn't exist, it doesn't because nobody the root, except of Saudi Arabia, there is no other race or nation that was the start. So that the struggle for every single Middle Eastern country back and forth between this. Now, again, I even during the Pahlavi kingdom, Peter, nobody minded Muslims. Nobody did because it wasn't the constitution. You wanted to be a Muslim, be a Muslim. But then on the other end of the city, you would find, you know, restaurants and bars and concerts. And women with short skirts. The struggle in Middle East even as recent as two years ago in Afghanistan. It's the matter of literally forcing this Islam into the country rather than allowing it, which is one of my main arguments. if this religion is such a religion of peace, why is it that wherever it goes it's forced, feared, blood involved. If it's so peaceful why can't they get people to convert on their own, but rather have to force them to do it. So that has been the struggle of last literally 1400 years. Today, you find people from Saudi Arabia who reject Sharia. They don't want their constitution to be Sharia anymore. Now, do we have Sharia-based constitution in Western countries? No. But are many of them already living life under Sharia? I would say, for example, London is a great city to name. I have not been to London because they won't let me come to England. But the last time I left London was January of 2011. And sometimes when I look at some of the videos or live feeds coming from London, like that's not where I was. That's not what I remember of London. So not to make it even longer than I did, if Western countries don't realize that there needs to be an absolute cap and limitation, the struggle of Middle East will start coming here, where you constantly have the battle of Islamization, de-Islamization, Islamization, de-Islamization, and gradually the culture will disappear. I hate to say it, when I look at my fellow Iranians today, there isn't much of Persian culture left anymore. it's something of a confused Arab versus Persian, versus Sharia, versus Western. It's a very mixed up where, sadly, you can't really pinpoint anything left of that land or country or culture and behaviour of the people. Half of the Farsi they speak, I don't even understand. I'm like, what is that? Any of the leaders, they started talking. I'm like, okay, you're not a speaking Farsi. It's full on Arabic at this point. Tell me, when I talk, and I want to get up to the current day where we are, but I'm curious because I talk to a lot of my African friends, especially in church, and you realize that African nations are tribal-based and there is more allegiance to the tribe than there is to the nation. We look at Nigeria and it's completely separated on tribal lines. What is it like for a country like Iran? Iran is a large country, nearly 90 million, so it has influence in that regard. How does it work when people call themselves Iranian or me? How has it worked prior to the Islamic Revolution in 1979? Where is that kind of identity and connection for Iranians who lived there prior to the revolution? That's actually an interesting question. One of the top things I did a few years ago, one of the things I mentioned about Iran that many people are not aware of is the majority of Iranians are actually bilingual by about age 9 or 10. Because Iran, as of today still, it has, if you look at the map, the south versus northeast versus west. They are tribes, not the African style of tribe, but they do have their own tribes where you have the Kurds who are still within their own culture. Their customs are still the old school, traditional Kurdish. They speak the Kurdish language at home and then they speak the Farsi language, which is the country's language. And then you have the Turks in Tabriz and some of those areas. Again, the food and the music and the language is the Turkish. And again, this is because you shrunk this huge empire down into the small size of the country. A lot of tribes are still in there. You have the Fars, literally, who are the pure Persians, the only non-bilingual people of Iran who only speak Farsi, have the traditional customs of Persia, the way they do their Norse versus the rest of the provinces. Says it's different however somehow for some reason it has always been united regardless of who's from which side or which background, doesn't matter if you're the Arab of the south or if you're the Kurd or you're the Turk or you're the Fars it has always been united until the Islamic revolution, where the country became divided based on Muslims versus non-Muslims. And when I say non-Muslim, Peter, I don't mean Christian or Jew. No, I mean non-Muslims in eyes of the government. Those like Mahsa Amini, who don't wear the proper hijab. Those who don't do the prayer the right way. Those who wear the makeup. Those who have boyfriend or girlfriends, which is against Sharia. Those are the secondary group of people. Tell me about when you think 45 years ago, the revolution, what does that mean for freedom within the country? I know it's claimed to be 99% Muslim, but not just religious, but general freedom within the country. What is it like to live in the current, I guess regime or government in Iran? I'm so glad you asked that I was having a discussion with a friend of mine literally yesterday about this, that it has come to a point where the the lack of freedom isn't, isn't just about your, what you say or what you wear or what you eat anymore. The lack of freedom has gotten to a point where a majority of Iranians, especially the younger generation have lost absolute motivation, that the answer always is, well, so what? Like, why don't you go get a job? It's like, then what? Why don't you go to school? Do what with it? You literally have Uber drivers it's not Uber, it's called a snap I think in Iran, when they pick you up snap, you sit in the car and by the way for those of you, yes I have not been back to Iran but I do have people who are in Iran or just came back from Iran so the information comes from there, now I'm not smuggling myself back. You start talking to the driver and he will tell you that he holds a darn PhD, Peter, but there's no job for him, either because he doesn't belong to IRGC or SEPA or this group of Islam or that group of Islam, or it's the fact that somewhere somehow when he was younger, got arrested and has some sort of morality police stamp on his resume. So he won't be hired or it's the matter of, he is not a Muslim. He's a Baha'i. He can't admit he's a Baha'i. They're going to kill him, so he'd rather drive his own taxi than go get killed. It's just literally there is zero motivation to do anything with your life because one way or another, you'll be blocked by this regime. Genuinely, they wake up in the morning, change their mind about the latest law, and there's nothing to stop them. There is nothing that could stop them from changing the laws every hour. Every house supreme leader can literally wake up this morning and say colour red is forbidden for women, I dare you wear red, They will arrest you. They will probably put you in detention centre. They will drag you to Sharia court and then probably, I don't know, lash you a couple of lashes and you home. Make an example out of you. Nobody else can avoid a wreck. Now, I'm making this up as an example, but to that, the small detail of life is being controlled. Tell us how, within the country, what does it mean for the media? What does it mean for, I mean, some countries like Dubai want to be outward. Focused but still want to be Islamic where other countries like Saudi it's maybe less, so it's wanting to have that pure Islam and there is a less focus on being outward looking, when you think of Iran you think of something which is a closed box because of the devotion to Islam and that cuts off the West so what does that mean within, for education, for media? Okay, so we need to explain something before we even answer that question. By we, I mean me. I identify as... Media in Iran. There is no... private or alternative media. There's just one type of media, which is owned by government, ran by government, approved by government, everything government. There are, I believe six channels of cable, only six. One is dedicated to news. One is dedicated to sports. And the other three, one is dedicated to religion actually. Most of the time, it's like some Mullah sitting there dissecting and fat buzz and Corona and stuff. And then there are two, that is a combination movies, TV series, commercial news, a little bit, things like that. Now, why am I breaking it down is because it is so extremely controlled that it's only six, Only six. For example, the sport channel, you'll never find any kind of female competition inside or outside of Iran out there. You just don't. They cover all of the European leagues, right? The soccer leagues. And you literally see that if they pass by a female audience in a stadium who is wearing makeup or open hair, you literally see them blurred out and then you come back to zoom back in. To that extent what is being aired inside the country's control You can make a movie in Iran, but before you make a movie you got to take your script and your crew names to this department that's going to read the script, either approve it or tweak it then approve it or reject it, if you get approved on your script then you go make the movie, but before you air the movie Peter they will watch how you make this script. If they find one scene, just one scene that they don't like, they'll have you go either redo it, edit it, come back again. A movie can take seven years to be released or two minutes to be rejected. Doesn't matter how much you spend on your movie. It's done. Won't never come out. So that's the internal. Now, they have one, Tenseem is the name of it. I actually report from it a lot. They have one, let's say, kind of like an article or text formatting website that is tied to the regime. And then they have their own Islamic Republic of Iran's broadcasting website. Those are the ones that are being fed propaganda and lies to be published because we outside have access to that. We read that where it makes it look like the country is flawless and people are super happy and the elections are going fantastic, that is the one for external use that is mainly filled with propaganda And how does politics work? How does, are there elections, were there elections before, how does that work in the country? Yes there are, there are selections. There are selection election however it's in your best interest to show up for this election, because one they can create a lot of propaganda video and put it out, number two, now in Iran when you vote they actually stamp like you use your index on a stamp and they you put it on your birth certificate which Iranian birth certificates are like a lot of booklets, now if you have that a printer means you voted. And for example, at the end of the year, when they're giving away coupon for chicken or egg or oil or whatever it is, if you have that fingerprint, you get your coupon. If you don't, well, good luck, go buy it out of your own pocket. So it's a selection coordinated to look like an election. And if you don't show up, well, there are consequences. [Hmm tell me how it, is the focus with Iran with the leadership, is it for dominance within the region and then you're clashing with the other Islamic nations or is it with the destruction of Israel because Iran and Israel don't border, think isn't Iraq between them if I my middle eastern geography is bad so feel free to correct me, but how does it fit in, what is the goal? Is it regional stability and power within the region, or is it focused on hatred towards Israel? Can I go with all of the above? Is that an option? Internally, the regime or the mullahs, internally, main focus is to re-establish a stability. Because literally from 2009 and the Green Movement, on and on and on, they have lost that stability. Every time there's an uprising, it's becoming a stronger, longer, stronger, more planned. So they're trying to gain that stability they had for the first, I don't know, 27 years of their power. That's number one internally. Now, how do they gain that is by creating some sort of dilemma or war for the people of Iran to stand down because they're, at the end of the day, if you look at the history of Iran-Iraq war for eight years, eight years, people of Iran fought. And I can tell you, I have heard directly from the soldiers or from children of those soldiers that they have always said, we didn't fight for the mullahs. We fought for our country. Okay. So with that, if there is a war going on, even if it's a small, even if it's not a major, it doesn't have to be an eight years war, but the regime can reestablish that stability inside. They do have hatred for Israel. I repeat, when Khomeini arrived in Tehran in 1979, he was driven from the plane airport to the biggest and most, I don't know why it's famous, but famous cemetery in Tehran. They put a chair, he sat on it, and he started talking. The very first thing that came out of his mouth was, let the plan begin. We're going to take down the great Satan and wipe Israel off the map. Now, 47 years ago, they already said what they're planning to do. So that's that. They want to wipe Israel off the map. Is it mainly religious beliefs? Yes. But also, it's the fact that they know that as long as Israel exists, Iran will not be able, in any shape or form, or the government of Iran, rest easy knowing they have the land forever. But you've got a, I mean, you could have countries coming together with a focus on a common enemy, which is Israel for everyone. But then you've got, you've got obviously Lebanon and Syria basically failed states, but then you've got Turkey and Saudi and Egypt and the Emirate, Dubai wanting to assert themselves. So is there no coming together against a common enemy? Because Iran seems to be very much still out in the cold in regards to relations with other nations around it. That's a good question. I highly doubt that Iran and Saudi Arabia would ever come together. Again, going back to 1400 years ago, this battle didn't start yesterday and it's not going to end tomorrow. That Saudi Arabia versus Iran, or better yet, Arabs versus Persians war, a battle has been going on for a long time. And is Saudi Arabia targeting Israel enough to put themselves in this scenario? I doubt it. As far as Turkey is concerned, right now, Erdogan is doing a lot of talking. But remember, Erdogan needs to be very careful because they don't want to be kicked out of EU. This much of the country is in Europe. The rest is in Middle East. They worked so hard to squeeze themselves into EU. He's going to have to be very careful because he won't have the allies he has today. If he's kicked back into full on Middle East, that's when Iran is going to come after him. Iran and Turkey on paper, it might seem all good, but Iran and Turkey don't get along either. All the way from the Caliph of Sunnis until today, the Sunni versus Shia scenario has been going on between Turkey and Iran. So I know Erdogan does a lot of talking. I don't believe unless Russia gets involved, Turkey won't get involved. That's the only time Turkey will get involved because now Turkey has the approval of Russia to get involved and back Iran. So let me jump up to the present day. And if my research serves me correct, I don't think Iran has actually struck at Israel since the revolution. And this seems to be from what I've understood knowing little about Iranian politics but it seems to be the the first attack on Israel. Is that correct and how does what Iran have done, the attack on Israel, how does that change things in the region? You are correct. Yes since 79 until today there has never been a direct, a strike or attack from Iran toward Israel. But I go back to the fact that we need to acknowledge they are playing it this way, but we need to remember this attack directly was by IRGC. IRGC is Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. It is not Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Were they put together by Khomeini? Absolutely. Do they belong to the government of Iran? No, there are their own entity freely guarding all Islamic nations. That's why you have their children such as Hezbollah and Houthis and Hamas out there. That being said, I don't, this is not going to be pleasant to a lot of your audience, but I'll say it. Iran's strike or IRGC's strike or Israel's airstrike. Neither one of them were strikes. This just doesn't look like anybody's planning to do anything major. Both Iran and Israel have the military needs, means, sorry, wrong word. To do real damage if they wanted to, This whole, in Farsi, we laugh and say, you know, they knock at each other's door and run and hide. Seems like that's what they're doing. They send a couple of missiles, yeah, 300, lots of missiles and drones, but then they call and say, heads up, in about an hour, hour and a half, fix up your iron dome so we're about to arrive. When was the last time Hamas gave a heads up? Right? October 7th happened, catching everybody off guard. And they left a mark. You know what I mean? This Iran Saturday strike and this Israel striking back, which by the way, Iran is absolutely denying the existence of this attack back. And that's what you need to look at. Iran goes saying, okay, we attack, this is it. If you attack back, we're going to be in a split second, we're going to destroy Israel. Israel attack back and Iran denies it. It ignores it, never happened. Does that look like something is about to change in the Middle East? No. This is all tied back to Western countries. In America, we're in election year. We're in election year. Whatever happens over there can definitely help Biden over here. Europe is in pretty much a lot of chaos. The tests run up. Are they going to sit back and let us do whatever we want to do? Or are they going to dare try to rescue and get attacked in their own countries with our sleeper cells? That's all there is to this I'm not downplaying anything but I know both countries, I've heard and I've seen the capability of both ends, this doesn't look like something that's going to turn into world war three, that's not going to happen No you're right when I read the reports a day before, 100 rockets are going to be fired over and talking to people and they said seriously who gives their enemy that much notice and then the next day 100 came over to the number. So you've got that a show of strength and I get that as a show of strength, especially drones taking three to four hours and it shows you what you can do, but with Iran having so many proxies, I mean Hezbollah are a serious threat to the region and seemingly much more dangerous than Hamas are and they're embedded in Lebanon and Syria. How does that play and does Iran not just use a proxy like Hezbollah to attack Israel instead of firing over what, drones that take four hours? That's not a serious attack, but Hezbollah do seem to be serious. Yes, exactly. And that's where I put my thought process. I'm like, OK, you have Hezbollah and you have Hamas. And again, I go back to October 7. It shocked all of us. Not because we weren't expecting Hamas to be so barbaric. No, it was the fact that nobody called anybody to say, okay, so tomorrow at your music festival, we're coming. That's how you do serious damage. You have Hezbollah, you have Hamas. And I'll go back to what I've said many times, and I've been accused of many things. Israel is not going to take on Iran. You know why? Israel has what it takes to take on Hamas, and they never did. They haven't. I was looking on my Facebook page, and last year, this week, is exactly when this Hamas-Israeli situation was going on, and Biden was on the phone asking for a ceasefire, which Israel ended up doing the ceasefire. Every year. It's a pattern. It just happens. But for anybody to either get excited or get nervous that something's going to come out of this, no. Hezbollah is regrouping, yes. Israel is talking about possibly going into Lebanon, yes. Is any of this going to put an end to this back and forth? I highly doubt it. I do. In no shape or form is it in benefit of anyone involved with globalist groups or elite or deep state. None of whom have any interest in ending this conflict in Middle East. So it's not going to end one way or another, and it's not going to even start. Again, it's that time of the year where everybody needs to get a little dusty in Middle East, and then everybody's going to go home and next year we'll repeat. That's just the way things go. Unfortunately, as much as I wish somebody would finally put their foot down and say enough is enough, nobody's going to do that. They are just giving a break to Hamas for now. While Hezbollah is regrouping IRGC is doing a lot of manoeuvring, And that's it. Now, why is Israel not standing up? Well, that one is a question for Netanyahu. It's interesting watching because, obviously, Israel didn't deal with Hamas before. It's now been forced to deal with Hamas. And Israel are going to do what it takes. That's how it seems. And whatever force is needed for them to secure their security, they will go for. But I guess the Islamic nations have been happy for Hamas to be a thorn in the side and for the Palestinians to be a thorn in the side of Israel because that keeps Israel's defence spending high, it keeps their a threat level high, it keeps that fear, it's perfect to kind of keep Israel nervous and not let them kind of relax a constant state of war I guess. What does it mean if Hamas are removed to a degree? Does it then, do those nations around think, what's next? Does Hezbollah then have to come in and provide that? What does that mean for stability? Because it does seem the country has been happy to sit back and let Hamas do the, let's piss off Israel role. Well actually to emphasize on your point, Hamas and Palestinians were put there exactly for that purpose, now I brought this up a couple of times that we call, I don't, but Western countries you call them Palestinians but if you talk to them, talk to Rashida Talib, for example, and listen to their chants on the streets of UK, France, US, Canada, anywhere, you don't hear Palestine, you hear Philistine. It's Philistine. The enemies of Jews, Philistine. They were picked. This name wasn't specifically picked. Their location wasn't specifically picked. That's one of the reasons when it comes to the argument of Palestinians versus Israel or the Gaza border. I just opened this up. First of all, you don't find an Arab-speaking person who can say Palestine. Again, my mother tongue of Farsi was not Farsi. It's Parsi. Parsi, the language of the Pars people of Persia. It turned into Farsi because in Arabic language there is no character as P they don't say Pepsi they say Bepsi, how do you expect them to say Palestine, no we have turned that into Palestine so we hide the fact that they are the Philistinians the enemies of Jews, so they are put in place and named specifically for that reason. Now, if Israel for any reason would finally come to realize that let's just take him out once and for all, and yes, taking out Hamas is very much doable. And that way, they will force the hands of IRGC and Hezbollah of Lebanon to actually take action. That's when Israel will have what they need legally by international law to actually overthrow the regime of Iran. But they won't. Yeah, and with the Palestinian, we've had Robert Spencer on maybe a month or six weeks ago, and I enjoyed his Palestinian myth book. So 100% with you that it is a made-up terminology. Can I just finish off on Iran and you've been great at giving us a broad sweep I think to help us understand, because many of us are completely unaware of not only where the countries fit in together but where Iran fits in, but what does it mean for Iran and freedom because you want individuals to be able to choose where they live, how they live and to decide they don't want the constant state of tension with their neighbours. What does it mean for Iran going forward? Is there a chance of a revolution in Iran from the people to overthrow the regime and have something which cares about people's rights and freedoms? Or do you not have any great hope for that happening in the near future? This might come as a surprise if... Lord willing, comes November, and we get President Trump back in the office. Within months, there will be an uprising in Iran. The last two times people of Iran tried, unfortunately, once was during Hussein Obama, once was Biden, they couldn't get the help they needed. They couldn't get the Biden regime or Obama regime to put sanctions and pressure on the regime. So they ended up losing a lot of lives, either by being killed or being imprisoned and tortured daily. So they went home. I know for a fact, if President Trump is back in office, people of Iran will try again. Will they be successful? That's when the Israeli government comes to picture. Again, Iran by itself, people of Iran, first of all, remember, they don't have a Second Amendment. Not only that, there are no illegal guns to be bought either. The borders are extremely protected in Iran. You can't even smuggle them into the country. So they're always empty handed. Secondly, the very first thing that happened is the regime cut down, cuts off the internet access to the people, which adds the agony of now what? How do we get the message out? How do we get the people to put pressure on the government? So Israel and America's government play a huge role of what will happen internally in Islamic Republic of Iran next. We need all these sanctions back. We need a lot of economic pressure back on Iran, and we need Israel to keep pushing back. Then people of Iran will have what it takes to finally overthrow these people. Am I hopeful? Always. There's always hope. As Robert Spencer said, it's not over until it's over, and it's not over yet.

Episode 24: Folk Horror Part One This episode was recorded on March 24, 2024 and posted on April 20, 2024.  Content Warning: Light vulgarity. Introduction Welcome to No Bodies Episode 24 Introductions to your Ghosts Hosts with the Most - Lonely of Lonely Horror Club and Projectile Varmint aka Suzie Introductions to our guests Emily & Niamh of Rowan & Pine Today's Topic: Folk Horror Defining Folk Horror What is folk horror? The Unholy Trinity of Folk Horror Experiences with Folklore & Urban Legends This Week's Coroner's Report How do you define folk horror? What is the scariest piece of folklore you've ever been told? Film Discussion Folk Horror Greats The Wickerman (1973) Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975) European Folklore The Ritual (2017) Apostle (2018) Thank you to our guests! Follow Emily & Niamh's show Rowan and Pine, whenever you get your podcasts. Emily & Niamh on Instagram at @rowanandpine.  Keep Up with Your Hosts Check out our instagram antics and drop a follow @nobodieshorrorpodcast.  Take part in our new audience engagement challenge - The Coroner's Report! Comment, share, or interact with any Coroner's Report post on our socials to be featured in an upcoming episode.  Projectile Varmint - keep up with Suzie's film musings on Instagram @projectile__varmint Lonely - read more from Lonely and keep up with her filmstagram chaos @lonelyhorrorclub on Instagram and www.lonelyhorrorclub.com. Original No Bodies Theme music by Jacob Pini. Need music? Find Jacob on Instagram at @jacob.pini for rates and tell him No Bodies sent you!  Leave us a message at (617) 431-4322‬ and we just might answer you on the show.  Sources Berndt, R. M., & Tonkinson, R. (2024, April 9). Australian Aboriginal peoples | History, Facts, &  Culture. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Australian-Aboriginal Bernott, K. (2023, February 2). The Elder Futhark runes and their meanings —  SHIELDMAIDEN'S SANCTUM. SHIELDMAIDEN'S SANCTUM.  https://www.shieldmaidenssanctum.com/blog/2019/3/12/the-elder-futhark-runes-and-their-meanings Celtic religion | Druidism, Mythology & Rituals. (1998, September 19). Encyclopedia Britannica.  https://www.britannica.com/topic/Celtic-religion/Beliefs-practices-and-institutions Folk Horror: An Introduction. (2021, September 16). Folk Horror Revival & Urban Wyrd Project.  https://folkhorrorrevival.com/from-the-forests-fields-furrows-and-further-an-introduction-by-andy-paciorek/ Groeneveld, E., & Doepler, E. (2024). Norse Mythology. World History Encyclopedia.  https://www.worldhistory.org/Norse_Mythology/ Hirai, N. (2024, April 2). Shinto | Beliefs, Gods, Origins, Symbols, Rituals, & Facts. Encyclopedia  Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Shinto Javanese Religion | Encyclopedia.com. (n.d.). https://www.encyclopedia.com/environment/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/java nese-religion Johnson, R. (2024, March 17). ENCYCLOBLEEDIA of folk horror. FANGORIA.  https://www.fangoria.com/original/encyclobleedia-of-folk-horror/ Maison, J. (2022, October 29). Everything there is to know about the folk horror genre.  Videomaker. https://www.videomaker.com/how-to/directing/film-history/everything-there-is-to-know-about-the-folk-horror-genre/ Mohsin, M. (2022, December 22). The legend of Teke Teke. The Business Standard.  https://www.tbsnews.net/splash/legend-teke-teke-111208 Ostberg, R. (2024, March 28). Wendigo | Description, Legend, Creature, Until Dawn, & Facts.  Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/wendigo Scott, J. (2021, October 17). Who are the Jötnar in Norse Mythology? Life in Norway.  https://www.lifeinnorway.net/jotnar-norse-mythology-giants/ Seaver, C., & Seaver, C. (2022, November 7). Biblically accurate angels would actually be pretty  scary. History Defined -.  https://www.historydefined.net/biblically-accurate-angels-would-actually-be-pretty-scary/ Staff, W. (2021, August 23). Erasing Native American culture. Theweek.  https://theweek.com/us/1003904/erasing-native-american-culture The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (1998a, July 20). Algonquin | Native American, Great  Lakes, Woodland. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Algonquin The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (1998b, July 20). Canaanite religion | Polytheism,  Rituals, Sacrifices. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Canaanite-religion The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2024a, March 26). Kabbala | Definition, Beliefs, &  Facts. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Kabbala The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2024b, March 26). Moloch | Definition & Facts.  Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Moloch-ancient-god Turville-Petre, E., & Polomé, E. C. (2024, March 19). Germanic religion and mythology | Gods,  Norse, Map, Polytheism, & Christianity. Encyclopedia Britannica.  https://www.britannica.com/topic/Germanic-religion-and-mythology Wikipedia contributors. (2024a, February 1). The Book of Abramelin. Wikipedia.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Book_of_Abramelin Wikipedia contributors. (2024b, March 22). Enochian magic. Wikipedia.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enochian_magic Winick, S. (2021, February 17). What was the Green Man? | FolkLife Today. The Library of  Congress. https://blogs.loc.gov/folklife/2021/02/what-was-the-green-man/  

Christ Covenant Presbyterian Church's Sunday Sermons Colossians: The Preeminence of Christ - "Cultural & Religious Challenges, Mysticism & Polytheism" Colossians 2:6-23 Pastor Young Choi

Welcome to the Aesir episode.  Join Ryan for a short journey through the Aesir's roles as Gods of society, humanity, and community.  Highlights of this episode include naming some of the more well-known Aesir and what they are associated with, the Aesir and war, and the Aesir's place in the grand cosmic drama of Ragnarok.

Decoding the Biblical References to Cannabis with Author Chris BennettJustin Benton and Janet Benton-Gaillard had the privilege of hosting Chris Bennett, an authority on the historical and religious aspects of cannabis, and the author of "Cannabis, the Lost Sacrament of the Ancient World."Chris has dedicated over 35 years to researching the role of cannabis in various religions and magical rituals. His journey began with a profound spiritual experience with cannabis, which led him to explore its historical significance. He has since authored five comprehensive books on the subject.Chris shared his insights on the term "Cannabosum," a word found in the Hebrew Bible, which he believes refers to cannabis. He discussed the mistranslation of this term into Greek as "Calamus" and how recent archaeological evidence supports his theory that Cannabosum is indeed cannabis. This evidence includes the discovery of cannabis resins used in a Hebrew temple dating back to the 8th century BCE.Chris explained the historical context of cannabis use in religious rituals, highlighting its presence in the holy anointing oil described in Exodus and its significance in the Tent of the Meeting, where it was used to facilitate communication with God. He also touched on the rejection of cannabis offerings in later texts, such as Jeremiah, which he believes is linked to the rise of monotheism and the consolidation of religious power and wealth.The conversation also covered the broader historical use of cannabis, from its psychoactive properties to its role as a medicine and a textile. Chris emphasized the plant's deep roots in human history, predating many religions and possibly being one of our oldest medicines.Justin also shared his perspective on the recent advancements in cannabis legalization and acceptance, particularly in the United States. He expressed optimism about the future of cannabis and its potential to heal, especially given its mention in religious texts and its historical use as a healing agent.They concluded the episode with a call to action for activists to continue their efforts in promoting the benefits of cannabis. Chris's work is a testament to the plant's enduring legacy and its potential to contribute to a greener, more sustainable future.Cannabis Lost Sacrament Of The Ancient World TIMESTAMPS:00:00:07 - Isaiah's Cleansing by Coal00:00:43 - Introduction to the Miracle Plant Podcast00:01:02 - Chris Bennett's Expertise on Cannabis in Religion00:02:09 - Chris Bennett's Personal Cannabis Journey00:03:13 - Historical Use of Cannabis in Religion00:04:02 - Cannabosum in the Hebrew Bible00:05:15 - Rejection of Cannabis in Jeremiah00:06:10 - Translation of Cannabosum and Historical Context00:07:49 - Archaeological Evidence of Cannabis Use00:09:02 - Discovery at Tell Arad and Historical Significance00:10:05 - Yahweh and Asherah Worship00:11:09 - Cannabis and Frankincense in Temple Rituals00:12:12 - Biblical Reforms and Monotheism00:13:06 - Polytheism and the Rise of Monotheism00:14:09 - The Role of Cannabis in Ancient Healing00:15:13 - Isaiah's Experience with the Altar Coal00:17:20 - Chris Bennett's Vision for Cannabis Awareness00:18:02 - The Evolution of Cannabis Perception00:19:06 - The Holy Anointing Oil and Modern Recognition00:20:04 - Misinterpretation and Translation of Biblical Texts00:21:09 - Medical Evidence of Cannabis in Ancient Times00:22:47 - Jesus and the Use of Anointing Oil00:23:58 - The Chosen TV Series and Anointing Oil00:26:22 - Janet's Inquiry on Ancient Hemp Use00:27:46 - The Differentiation Between Hemp and Marijuana00:29:22 - Historical Evidence of Cannabis Use00:30:47 - The Future of Cannabis Research and Acceptance00:32:56 - The Stigmatization and Legal History of Cannabis00:34:08 - The Importance of Hemp in History00:35:10 - Chris Bennett's Legacy and Vision for Cannabis00:36:21 - The Role of Doctors and Cannabis Education00:37:02 - Ancient Use of Cannabis for Food and Medicine00:38:08 - The Cultural and Historical Significance of Cannabis00:39:47 - Chris Bennett's Hope for Cannabis's Future00:41:10 - The Impact of Cannabis Legalization and Research00:42:09 - Chris Bennett's Aspirations for Cannabis Awareness00:43:17 - Final Thoughts and Where to Find Chris Bennett's Work00:44:16 - Janet's Appreciation for the Book's Depth00:45:30 - Closing Remarks and "Heal the World" Message   Thank you for tuning in to the Miracle Plant Podcast. Remember, our mission is to heal the world with the power of this miracle plant. Join us next time for more inspiring stories and insights into the world of cannabis. Produced by PodConx 101cbd - https://101cbd.org/

Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 8:4-6 In his discussion of the issue of eating food that had been offered to idols and then sold in the marketplace, Paul responds to the notion that there are many gods.  In 1 Corinthians 4:6, we have a declaration that proclaims at least three massive truths. "For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth . . . yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist" (1 Cor 8:5-6).  First, we have the declaration that there is only one God.  This truth flies in the face of the common polytheism of the first century or the twenty-first century.  Polytheism is as old as the human race … whether it was the pantheon of Egyptian gods or the proliferation of Hindu gods. Second, we have the declaration that this unique God is the source of everything that exists … "from whom are all things."  This truth disallows any idea of the origin of the universe that excludes a Maker.  If there is a Creator, then we are responsible to Him. Third, we have the declaration that this unique God is the purpose for life … "for whom we exist."  We exist for God … not in the sense that we meet some unfulfilled needs He has, but to put His pre-eminence on display (cf. Col 1:16-18).

Happy 2024! While the show is still on a break, I'll be releasing bonus episodes speaking with devotees of various deities and spirits. Today, I share what led me to become a devotee of the Filipino (Visayan) goddess Dalikamata, and I speak with Angelica Cresci, a devotee of Hades, King of the Underworld in the Greek pantheon.Angelica Cresci: https://www.angelicacresci.com/

Today we'll be looking at the basic premise of Paganism – why Polytheism, animism, spiritualism, even if they have been at times very popular in history, and seem to be trendy now, simply don't make sense to the reasonable person. We'll see how, based on logic, the ideas inherent in Hinduism, Buddhism, and native or aboriginal spiritualities simply won't match up to reality.

Polytheism. It is easily one of the most well-known defining characteristics of Heathen and Pagan spirituality. So what is it and why do modern people find it to be so appealing? Join your host for a deep dive into what polytheism is and why it holds meaning for modern practitioners.

Pastors Bryan Wolfmueller and Andrew Packer answer your theological and Biblical questions. In this episode we take up questions about:  Jewish Polytheism? Paul vs Peter? How can a bound will be guilty? Submit your questions here: http://www.wolfmueller.co/contact.  Also, don't forget to sign up for the free weekly email, Wednesday What-Not, http://www.wolfmueller.co/wednesday  Pastor Wolfmueller serves St Paul and Jesus Deaf Lutheran Churches in Austin, TX.  Pastor Packer serves Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Collinsville, IL. Upcoming events: http://www.wolfmueller.co/events --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sunday-drive-home/message

DAY 293 CHALLENGE “If monotheism is true, why have most people historically been polytheists?” DEFENSE Several factors play a role in this. First, the relationship between monotheism and polytheism is more complex than often assumed. As we cover elsewhere (see Day 153), many classical polytheists acknowledged the existence of an ultimate Creator, who was not typically worshipped. Instead, they worshipped lesser supernatural beings (Zeus, Apollos, Hera, and so on.). The Judeo-Christian view agrees there is a single Creator and a multiplicity of lesser beings (angels). It disagrees whe…

One of the most common components of any TTRPG Fantasy world is a vast and varied pantheon of gods, that grant favor and magic to those who venerate them. Rarely, however, does their worship mirror real life. This week, Sara & Rob examine polytheism in TTRPGs. Listen to us live, every Wednesday night at 7pm EST, at http://www.mixlr.com/storyteller-conclave. Listen to us on your favorite device! Or Amazon Audible Find us on Twitter (@st_conclave) – Instagram (st_conclave) Support the show by joining our Patreon : https://www.patreon.com/StorytellerConclave Please join us on Discord, to submit questions for the show, chat with Rob, Sara, and other Storytellers, and read over the detailed show-notes for more information and links to stuff we may not have been able to detail during the show! Discord : https://t.co/7H8p1lGYqG Or find our older episodes at Https://Storytellerconclave.com

#pagan #paganism #polytheism What are the different polytheistic views of the deities in Paganism? How do Pagans worship the God and the Goddess? Heathenry, Druidry, Wicca, Polytheistic Reconstructionism and eclectic Pagan witchcraft and how they work with the divine, CONNECT & SUPPORT

Darklings, this week your favorite goths are taking a bit of a break - but still remaining adjacent - to their travels in the Hail Hekate series being offered by The Blackthorne School and Jack Grayle.  They've written a ritual to a very powerful hypercosmic goddess together, and Blackbird has written and performed some baneful magic that she can't wait to share with you.  Learn about some ancient Egyptian deities, travel to faraway lands, hear some blood-curdling words of malevolence...this episode has it all!  Grab a sack full of olives and enjoy!

Episode 2: The Emperor's 6 QuestionsThe second episode in this series of presentations discusses the 3rd Hesychast Council of 1351, with St. Gregory championing the Orthodox Faith against the philosophical theology of Nicephorus Gregoras, the Christian Roman Empire's leading intellectual of this period. Gregoras is the third and most formidable theological opponent of Palamas.Themes covered in this 2nd Episode include bishops' confession of faith at consecration, iconography, the distinction between “God” and “Godhead”, and the six questions posed by Emperor John VI Cantacuzenus at the Council of 1351.Q&As related to Episode 2 available in The Professor's Blog: https://mountthabor.com/blogs/the-professors-blogRecommended background reading: Christopher Veniamin, ed., Saint Gregory Palamas: The Homilies (Dalton PA: 2022).TIMESTAMPS00:00 The Council of 135100:44 Nicephorus Gregoras 01:15 Two Issues: Addition to Bishops' Confession and Iconoclasm of the Hesychasts06:07 Iconography 06:41 Theophanes the Greek 11:45 Main topic of Council “God” and “Godhead” or “Divinity”13:34 Accusation of Ditheism and Polytheism 13:44 Tomos and Synodicon 15:09 “Antilogia” and “Homologia”17:50 “Another Synod”, 5th Session 19:43 The Emperor's 6 Questions20:13 Question 1: Validity of Distinction 20:28 Question 2: Divine Energy created / uncreated20:51 Question 3: Simplicity of God22:00 Question 4: Meaning of “Theotes”23:35 Question 5: Divine Energy is God Himself25:25 Question 6: Our Participation in God26:02 Conclusion It is hoped that these presentations will help the enquireThe Happy Writer with Marissa MeyerAuthors, from debuts to bestsellers, chat about books, writing, publishing, and joy. Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the Show.Dr. Christopher VeniaminSupport The Mount Thabor Academyhttps://www.buzzsprout.com/2232462/support THE MOUNT THABOR ACADEMYPrint Books by MOUNT THABOR PUBLISHING The Professor's BlogeBooks Amazon Google Apple KoboB&NMembership OptionsJoin our Bookclub, Bible Study, John Damascene's Christology or Greek Philosophy here:Patreon for Membership TiersClick on the Join button below our YouTube videos, and become a Friend or Reader of The Mount Thabor Academy! Click here: YouTube Membership Level...

This episode I'm joined once again by writer and occultist John Michael Greer, to discuss his book A World Full of Gods: An Inquiry into Polytheism. Book link: https://spirit.aeonbooks.co.uk/product/world-full-of-gods/95189 --- Become part of the Hermitix community: Hermitix Twitter - https://twitter.com/Hermitixpodcast Support Hermitix: Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/hermitix Donations: - https://www.paypal.me/hermitixpod Hermitix Merchandise - http://teespring.com/stores/hermitix-2 Bitcoin Donation Address: 3LAGEKBXEuE2pgc4oubExGTWtrKPuXDDLK Ethereum Donation Address: 0x31e2a4a31B8563B8d238eC086daE9B75a00D9E74 You can now find all your podcast and episode analytics in one place. Episode analytics

Many weeks ago now, I saw an article on Patheos called "Remembering the Witch in Witchcraft" that really took off on social media. John Beckett, a Druid Priest and author in our community, jumped into the conversation and wrote a response blog to that original article (linked in the episode notes) and, well, I was still in a quandary about it all.And so, I asked him onto the podcast. I respect John and wanted to think this out with him, especially as a Witch from the Deep South (John also has Southern roots). He was more than open to that and the resulting wonderful conversation gave me quite a bit of fodder to think through for the future. It was a chat worth having! Thank you, John.Sometimes, camouflage is a necessary part of of the Craft. But, as John points out: there are risks in shrouding ourselves for too long, too deeply. Join us on the porch as we navigate these murky waters.Sometimes, camouflage is a necessary part of of the Craft. But there are risks in shrouding ourselves for too long, too deeply, as well. Join John and I on the porch as we navigate these murky waters. (My apologies that this wasn't released in time for Lughnasagh. John and I recorded this before that holiday, and life on a farm does get out of hand. Still, good stuff for next year!)Episode Notes: The original article by Ian Chambers, "Remembering the Witch in Witchcraft," is here: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/bythepalemoonlight/2023/07/remembering-the-witch-in-witchcraft/John's article, "The Witch Stands in Opposition" is here: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbeckett/2023/07/the-witch-stands-in-opposition.htmlUnder the Ancient Oaks – Paganism, Polytheism, Magic, and More (John's Teaching Website)https://undertheancientoaks.com/The Book of Cernunnos: https://www.amazon.com/Book-Cernunnos-John-Beckett/dp/0988900971John Beckett on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JohnBeckett-UTAO

In today's episode, Rick shares a paper he wrote called The Soul in Conflict, which uses archetypal psychology to look at the pagan / Christian divide that tends to unconsciously exist in the Western psyche. For more from Rick Alexander, visit www.rickalexander.com To register for the upcoming psychology of Cannabis workshop, click here - - Intro Music: Royals, by Vitamin String Quartet Outro Music: I am, by Satsang Sources used in today's show: Eknath, Easwaran. The Bhagavad Gita. Nilgiri Press, 2019. Emerson, Ralph Waldo, and Stanley Appelbaum. Self-Reliance, and Other Essays. DoverPublications, 2016.  Frantz, Alison. From Paganism to Christianity in the Temples of Athens.  Hillman, James. Re-Visioning Psychology. HarperCollins, 1975.  Hillman, James. Mythic Figures. Spring Publications, 2021.  History Today. “The Dream of Constantine.” History Today, Volume 69 Issue 3 March 2019 www.historytoday.com/archive/foundations/dream-constantine.   López-Pedraza, Rafael. Cultural Anxiety. Daimon Verlag, 1994.  Paris, Ginette, and Gwendolyn Moore. Pagan Meditations: The Worlds of Aphrodite, Artemis, and Hestia. Spring Publications, 1991.  

We discuss the dynamics of Julian's esoteric religious/political formulation of Hellenism, and reflect on some of the very strange things that happen when esoteric religions like Iamblichean theurgy (and Christianity) are taken out of the small conclave and projected onto the corridors of power.

Psalm 99 (ESV)Andrew and Edwin discover a connection between Psalm 99 and Isaiah 6. In both places, we find the holiness of God declared in triplicate. Our hosts discuss the fundamental character of God: His holiness. This means more than just ethical morality. It is about the very essence of His being and existence.Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here.    Let us know what you are learning or any questions you have. Email us at TextTalk@ChristiansMeetHere.org.    Join the Facebook community and join the conversation by clicking here. We'd love to meet you. Be a guest among the Christians who meet on Livingston Avenue. Click here to find out more. Michael Eldridge sang all four parts of our theme song. Find more from him by clicking here.   Thanks for talking about the text with us today.________________________________________________If the hyperlinks do not work, copy the following addresses and paste them into the URL bar of your web browser: Daily Written Devo: https://readthebiblemakedisciples.wordpress.com/?p=13484The Christians Who Meet on Livingston Avenue: http://www.christiansmeethere.org/Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TalkAboutTheTextFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/texttalkMichael Eldridge: https://acapeldridge.com/ 

Psalm 96 (Peterson)Our hosts examine the notion of henotheism, polytheism, and monotheism. Only YHWH is God. Everything else is a worthless idol.Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here.    Let us know what you are learning or any questions you have. Email us at TextTalk@ChristiansMeetHere.org.    Join the Facebook community and join the conversation by clicking here. We'd love to meet you. Be a guest among the Christians who meet on Livingston Avenue. Click here to find out more. Michael Eldridge sang all four parts of our theme song. Find more from him by clicking here.   Thanks for talking about the text with us today.________________________________________________If the hyperlinks do not work, copy the following addresses and paste them into the URL bar of your web browser: Daily Written Devo: https://readthebiblemakedisciples.wordpress.com/?p=13299The Christians Who Meet on Livingston Avenue: http://www.christiansmeethere.org/Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TalkAboutTheTextFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/texttalkMichael Eldridge: https://acapeldridge.com/ 

The term Paganism is used today (for the most part) to refer to contemporary religious and spiritual traditions which take their influences from historically pre-Christian beliefs. While many of these are fairly different from each other, there are some distinctions which these sorts of Paganism all seem to share for the most part. Many are Polytheist, see spirit and the sacred as being imminent, and hold the natural world in high regard. Taking us through some of the broader strokes of contemporary Paganism is the scholar of Magic, Witchcraft, and Paganism- Dr. Angela Puca!