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Naked Humanity — Philosophy
Naked Humanity

Existentialist philosophers such as Albert Camus and Hannah Arendt once said the modern world has rendered us naked: we are stripped of traditional beliefs, grasping for truths constantly out of reach, and devastatingly aware of our finitude. Is this true? Where do we go from here? Who are we? Who COULD we be? For Season I of this podcast (all currently posted episodes) I ask historians, psychologists, sociologists, and biologists: what does it mean to be human in the modern world?

Latest Episodes:

20: The Problem with an All-Powerful God with Michael Hogue Mar 11, 2019

Show notes

How much do our beliefs--both conscious and subconscious--influence our society and politics? Today Stefani chats with Dr Michael Hogue about some fundamental beliefs we’ve inherited in the West: that humans are separate from nature, that God is separate from Creation, and especially that God is an all-powerful being. Hogue argues that these beliefs are the cause of our current political and environmental crises. What do we need to overcome them? New kinds of gods.

19x: Homo Salvificus: The Species that's Dying to be Saved Mar 07, 2019

Show notes

What does it mean to be saved? Who can be saved? In today’s episode, Stefani shares one of the innovations she is contributing to the study of religion: a completely new theory of salvation.

19: Capitalism, Race, and the Resurrection of Tupac Shakur with James Hill Jr. Mar 04, 2019

Show notes

Join Stefani in a smart, fast-paced, and passionate conversation with James Hill Jr., who studies the industry of creating holographic images of deceased black recording artists. Learn all about the world of bringing musicians back from the dead, and also Colin Kaepernick, black culture in America, censorship, and more.

18x: The Problem with Political Correctness Feb 14, 2019

Show notes

Frustrated with the debate on political correctness, I discuss what I perceive to be common blind spots on both the right and the left. I take the common ‘left’ view that taking care of others and deconstructing discriminatory norms is important but argue A) that care must be understood in context and B) that the policing of language is not always productive.

18: Free Speech and WINNING in the Age of Trump with Finbarr Curtis Feb 11, 2019

Show notes

Today’s topics: free speech, religious freedom, the decline of civility, and the culture of WINNING in the age of the Trump. What’s wrong with American political discourse today? How did we end up like this? I chat with expert in American religion and politics Finbarr Curtis to get to the bottom of it.

17x: Do you have a Purpose? Feb 07, 2019

Show notes

Do you have a purpose in life? Maybe! In today’s episode I take a look at the history of cultural factors that make Westerners feel like we need to find a “purpose” -- and why it might all be wrong.

17: Can Contemplative Practice Change the World? Feb 04, 2019

Show notes

Can anyone become less racist? Can we teach people how to treat each other better? I was amazed to learn about the uniquely effective way of tackling racism and various injustices my guests Christopher Carter and Seth Schoen have created. Have they found the secret to something that actually works?

16x: Narcissism and Social Media Jan 31, 2019

Show notes

They often call us “Generation Me.” We are the generation that is selfish, narcissistic, and obsessed with getting Facebook likes. But why? Why are we this way? In this brief episode, I talk about the history of the West and the deep underlying fears that cause us to be so obsessed with our own image. (Note: narcissism here is used in the colloquial and not clinical sense.)

16: The Toxic Whiteness of Western Religion with Christopher Driscoll Jan 27, 2019

Show notes

We usually think of religion as something that makes us good--but what happens when religion is something that enables us to be bad? In this eye-opening episode Professor Christopher Driscoll makes the unusual and important observation that the Western God acts as a buffer against limitations for white people. That is, it makes it easier for white people to marginalize and commit violence against everybody else. Tune in to take a hard look at yourself and your neighbors. We discuss lynching, drone strikes, Trump, Kendrick Lamar, and more.

15x: Mystery in Christian History Jan 24, 2019

Show notes

We tend to radically over-simplify religions. This is especially the case with Christianity, which we often think of as being about irrational faith in a supernatural God. But it really isn’t--at least the majority of it isn’t--and it never has been. In this episode I trace some of the long lineage of Christian thinkers in history who thought it was actually impossible to understand anything about God.

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