Afleveringen
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The last podcast before a break over the Christmas!
More than delighted to be joined by Fr Columba Jordan for an unofficial Christmas special. Fr Columba is a Franciscan Friar of the renewal ( āØ@cfr_franciscansā© ), and a presenter at Call To More ( āØ@ctmcatholicā© ).In this conversation, shares his journey as a Franciscan priest, challenges faced by young people in connecting with their faith, entering the dance with God, St Maximilian Kolbe and sacrifice and love, practical steps for encountering God, and the role of the internet and artificial intelligence in the return to faith.
Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Father Columba02:56 Journey to the Priesthood05:51 Engaging the Youth: Addressing Boredom in Faith08:49 The Challenge of Familiarity in Faith12:02 The Proposal of Faith: A Call to Verify14:58 The Dance of Faith: Openness and Surrender17:53 The Role of Entertainment in Worship20:59 The Nature of Relationships and Vulnerability24:01 Shame and Its Impact on Faith26:55 The Journey of Growth and Transformation34:29 The Decline of Irish Catholicism36:19 Understanding God: Love and Justice39:39 The Image of God and Its Impact42:37 Living the Faith: A Personal Journey45:49 The Risk of Faith49:41 The Role of Doubt and Verification52:39 Surrendering to God56:12 The Power of Sacrifice01:00:06 Every Action Matters01:04:23 Practical Steps to Encounter God01:07:39 Entering the Dance of Faith01:10:24 The Role of Humility in Spiritual Growth01:11:42 The Impact of Prayer and Community01:12:10 The Intersection of Technology and Faith01:18:49 AI and the Future of Humanity01:25:06 The Internet as a Tool for Evangelization
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Hey There,
New podcast on deck šØ
This was an unbelievable conversation with Brendan Graham Dempsey on his new āevolution of meaningā series!!
Evolution of Meaning part 1: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Universal-Learning-Process-Evolution-Meaning/dp/B0D88CV4GP
Evolution of Meaning part 2:https://www.amazon.com/Psyche-Symbolic-Learning-Evolution-Meaning/dp/B0FPV8M3Z8/In this conversation, we explored the themes of meaning, the meaning crisis, and the evolution of meaning through various philosophical and cultural lenses. We discuss the impact of nihilism, the role of metamodernism, and the significance of complexity theory in providing a foundation for meaning. With a new foundation in place, we explore a modern path to transcendence, the heroās journey and the sacred! Check it out š
Chapters00:00 Introduction to the Evolution of Meaning02:18 Understanding the Meaning Crisis05:15 Philosophical Perspectives on Meaning08:34 The Role of Transcendence in Meaning11:31 Exploring Meaning in Life Literature14:26 The Journey Towards Meaning17:25 Complexity Theory and Meaning20:42 Active Inference and Meaning27:25 Understanding Surprise and World Models29:32 The Complexity of Human Models32:27 Cultural Evolution and Meaning Systems34:09 Moral Development and Complexity39:02 Human Learning as a Complexification Process44:48 The Role of Egocentrism in Meaning Making50:48 The Meaning Crisis and Anomie53:30 Breaking Frames: The Role of Technology and Social Media56:32 The Meta Frame: Embracing Chaos and Complexity59:40 Transcendence and Awe: The Sacred in Frame Breaking01:02:36 The Infinite Journey: Icons, Myths, and the Divine01:06:28 Faith and the Heroās Journey: Navigating Uncertainty01:09:34 Learning and Meaning: The Evolution of Understanding
My new book Waiting For The Offo will be out next Monday 1/12/25!!!!
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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David Quinn, is a columnist for the Sunday Independent/Irish Catholic and Commentator on society, religion and politics since 1994.
Iona Institute Poll: https://ionainstitute.ie/big-revival-of-interest-in-religion-among-many-young-people-in-northern-ireland-says-new-poll/
In this conversation, David Quinn discusses the current state of Irish Catholicism, reflecting on its historical context and the evolving perspectives of younger generations towards religion. He emphasises the importance of religion in providing meaning, purpose, and community, especially in a society facing increasing secularisation. Quinn highlights signs of hope among younger people who are becoming more open to religion, suggesting a potential resurgence in religious engagement as they seek answers to lifeās challenges.
Chapters:
00:00 The Evolution of Irish Catholicism
12:05 The Churchās Influence and Secularisation in Ireland
19:54 Generational Perspectives on Religion and Progress
24:40 Woke Ideology vs. Christianity: A Cultural Clash
32:25 The Crisis of Modernity and Mental Health
33:10 The Role of Religion in Society
34:11 Rediscovering the Great Tradition
35:01 Perceptions of Church vs. Christianity
37:53 Distinguishing Between Institution and Faith
40:12 Rationality and the Existence of God
42:31 The Shift from Default Theism to Atheism
44:40 The Changing Landscape of Belief
47:35 Materialism and Free Will
49:16 Transhumanism and the Future of Humanity
51:01 Demographic Shifts and Religionās Role
55:47 Signs of Hope Among Younger Generations
Waiting For The Offo is coming out on 1/12/25!!!
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Robert Freese converted to Catholicism in 2020 after 20 years of practicing and eventually teaching Vipassana meditation. He and his wife Gosia are volunteers in the Faustinium, the lay order of Saint Faustina who initiated the devotion to Divine Mercy.
In this conversation, Robert shares his profound journey from a secular upbringing in Texas to exploring Buddhism and eventually returning to Catholicism. He discusses the influence of his family background, the transformative power of meditation, and the importance of community in spiritual practices. Robert reflects on his experiences with Vipassana meditation, the challenges of balancing spiritual commitments with worldly responsibilities, and the ongoing quest for self-discovery and meaning in life. In this conversation, Robert Freese shares his profound journey of faith, detailing his experiences of encountering Jesus during meditation, the integration of his Buddhist practices with Catholicism, and the transformative power of suffering and grace. He reflects on the significance of communion, confession, and the importance of bringing oneās suffering to God, emphasising the deep connection between personal experiences and spiritual growth.
Chapters
00:00 Journey of Spiritual Exploration
10:11 The Shift to Buddhism
19:57 Deepening the Practice
29:49 Teaching and Transformation
39:57 Navigating Challenges in Spiritual Life
49:51 Encountering Jesus in Meditation
54:00 The Cross and Personal Suffering
58:08 Navigating Faith and Personal Crisis
01:01:22 The Journey to Catholicism
01:07:20 Integrating Buddhism and Catholicism
01:14:14 Desire, Suffering, and Spiritual Growth
01:20:50 The Role of Confession and Grace
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Martin McManus is a Lukewarm Catholic to anti-Catholic psychology postgrad to schismatic traditionalist to now a normal Catholic devoted to Our Lady and working to help others back to their home, the Catholic Church.
In this conversation, Martin shares his profound journey from a lukewarm Catholic upbringing in Longford to a period of atheism influenced by modern psychology and prominent atheists. He discusses his struggles with nihilism and the eventual rediscovery of faith, sparked by the works of Jordan Peterson and his experiences in the mental health field. Martin emphasizes the importance of community and tradition in his return to Catholicism, particularly through the Legion of Mary, and advocates for sharing faith with love and understanding.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Martinās Journey
02:39 Early Catholic Upbringing and Its Impact
05:34 Drifting Away from Faith and Academic Pursuits
08:27 Encountering Atheism and Intellectual Influences
11:12 The Shift Towards Seeking Meaning
13:56 Exploring Freedom and Reality
16:44 The Role of Jordan Peterson in Rediscovering Faith
19:42 The Paradox of Freedom and Responsibility
22:34 Finding Harmony in Faith and Reality
28:04 Awakening to Faith
30:20 Exploring Different Christian Denominations
32:04 The Search for Truth in Catholicism
35:09 Understanding the Magisterium
38:29 The Role of Doctrine and Tradition
40:49 Living Out the Faith in Modern Times
47:15 Engaging with the Legion of Mary
52:32 Encouragement for Faith Sharing
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In this lecture, we delve into the Good! Particularly Platoās analogy of the Sun, and the Divided Line from āThe Republicā to explain the un-hypothetical first principle of everything. After a quick re-cap of the Philosopher Kings, we discuss the change from politics to philosophy in the Republic book six. Platoās analogy of the ship for the state, and why Philosophers know appearance from Reality and the three roles of the Good in Platoās ethics, epistemology and ontology. Finally, the lecture summarises the dialectic process leading to the Form of the Good, emphasising its critical role in understanding reality and achieving a just society.
Chapters:
00:00 Platoās Good and the Divided Line
00:26 Philosophers as Kings
02:39 The Analogy of the Ship
04:13 Corruption and Education
07:17 The Form of the Good
09:18 The Sun and the Divided Line
17:21 The Nature of Ultimate Reality
19:23 Conclusion and Next Steps
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In this fifth installment of Mahon McCannās lecture series on Platoās Republic, we delve into Book Five to explore one of Platoās most influential and controversial ideas: philosopher kings. McCann, a philosophy PhD researcher and lecturer, breaks down the concepts of love of wisdom, the distinction between appearance and reality, and the significance of forms in understanding true knowledge. This episode specifically addresses why Plato argues that philosophers should be rulers and provides an in-depth analysis of the philosopher kingās characteristics and their ability to discern real justice from mere appearances.
Chapters:
00:00 Philosopher Kings in Book Five of Republic
00:17 Overview of Book Five
01:02 The Concept of Philosopher Kings
02:21 Philosophy vs. Politics
02:59 The Nature of Philosophical Love
05:04 Platoās Theory of Forms
13:48 Conclusion: Why Philosophers Should Be Kings
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In this conversation, Mahon McCann and Dom from @thelogosproject7 delve into the complexities of modernity, its impact on religion, and the Catholic response to contemporary challenges. They explore the historical context of modernity, the secular-religious divide, and the implications of the Renaissance on individualism and philosophy. The discussion highlights the need for a return to a relational ontology that integrates theology and philosophy, emphasizing the importance of tradition in addressing modern issues. Check out domās Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thelogosproject7
Chapters:
00:00 Exploring Modernity and Its Challenges
06:52 The Crisis of Religion in Modernity
14:03 The Renaissance and Its Impact on Philosophy
20:54 The Catholic Response to Modernity
33:41 Revisiting Nature and Supernature in Theology
33:59 The Nature of Supernature
37:42 The Second Vatican Council and Its Impact
42:17 Overcoming Dualisms in Modern Philosophy
46:51 The Role of Plato and Aquinas in Modern Thought
52:39 Blondel and Ulrich: Philosophical Giants
56:39 The Future of Theology and Philosophy
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This video explores the 'Meaning Crisis,' a profound cultural and historical phenomenon affecting mental health and existential stability in the West. Drawing inspiration from John Vervaeke's extensive lecture series and works, we delve into the scientific revolution, materialism, and their impacts on traditional cosmologies and personal worldviews. The discussion highlights key figures like Nicholas Copernicus, Galileo, and Jordan Peterson, analysing their contributions and effects on modern thought. The video also addresses the resurgence of interest in Christianity, proposing that a reclamation of the core Christian structure could solve the ongoing crisis. The conversation touches upon the role of online media in fostering new avenues for faith and community, suggesting a pivotal moment for re-evangelising secular spaces.
Talk was given at the Legion of Mary Young Adult Apologetics conference in Dublin, 2025.
Disclaimer: the views expressed in the talk are the speaker's own and do not represent any of the thinkers mentioned or John Verveake's original framing of the meaning crisis.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to the Meaning Crisis
00:20 John Verveake and the Historical Context
02:14 Scientific Revolution and Its Impact
03:57 Materialism and Its Consequences
05:20 The Mechanical Universe and Nihilism
11:27 Reconnecting Morality and Mythology
15:57 21st Century Revival and Online Influence
21:46 Challenges and Opportunities for Modern Evangelism
23:58 Q&A and Personal Reflections
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In the fourth part of our lecture series on Plato's Republic, we delve into Plato's concept of the tripartite psyche and the four cardinal virtues. We explore how the three parts of the psycheāthe appetite, the rational self, and Thymosāinteract and often conflict with one another, causing inner turmoil. Plato's model is foundational for many subsequent theories in psychology, from Freud to modern generative and predictive processing models. Learn how Plato's notion of justice as psychological integration provides a framework for reducing inner conflict and fostering alignment among the different parts of the psyche, ultimately leading to a more harmonious and connected existence.
A good deal of the content from this lecture is inspired by John Verveake's Awakening From the Meaning Crisis Part 5: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neDutbcedUY&ab_channel=JohnVervaeke
Introduction to the series: https://youtu.be/TZ8_rQNFfLU
Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Plato's Republic Lecture Series 00:56 The Appetite: Immediate Desires and Motivations 02:42 Thymos: The Social and Emotional Self 07:54 Consequences of Inner Conflict and Injustice 10:31 Conclusion: The Intrinsic and Consequential Good of Justice
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Jordan Hall is a philosopher, futurist, and recently, a Christian. He played a significant role in the digital media landscape at MP3.com and later as the founder and CEO of DivX, a company instrumental in the online digital video revolution. After this, Hall focused on stopping the āMeta-crisisā and co-founded the Game B movement, seeking alternative societal structures to address systemic challenges.
Summary
In this conversation, Mahon McCann and Jordan Hall explore the concept of the meta-crisis, emphasising its roots in spiritual warfare and the breakdown of modernity. They discuss the implications of digital culture on virtue, identity, and community, advocating for a return to the sacred and the importance of accountability in the digital realm. The dialogue highlights the need for reconciliation among Christians and the transformative power of faith in navigating contemporary challenges.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Context of the Meta Crisis
02:45 Understanding the Nature of the Meta Crisis
05:46 The Role of Spirituality in Crisis
08:49 Virtue vs. Virtue Signaling in the Digital Age
12:05 Transitioning from Modernity to Digital Age
15:01 Digital Identity and the Commons
18:01 The Need for Accountability in Digital Spaces
20:55 The Sacred and the Governance of Digital Identity
24:09 Reconnecting with the Sacred in a Digital World
27:00 The Foundation of Virtue and Relationship with God
31:33 The Nature of Virtue and Conviction
34:08 Grounding in Relationship with God
36:44 The Challenge of Modernity and Faith
39:36 Understanding Faith as Relationship
43:25 Restoring Meaning and Language
47:28 The Weight of Responsibility in Faith
51:13 The Process of Growth and Transformation
52:51 Navigating the Meta Crisis
56:15 The Spiritual Challenge of Growth
58:43 Listening to God and Mutual Commitment
01:00:05 The Dance of Relationships and Digital Encounters
01:03:00 The Challenge of Love and Presence
01:05:56 Hierarchy and Leadership in Crisis
01:08:55 The Universal Church and Reconciliation
01:12:10 The Role of Tradition and Interpretation
01:18:01 The Call to Action and Personal Mission
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Colin Deyoung is a personality psychologist, personality neuroscientist, the creator of the Cybernetic Big Five Personality theory and professor of psychology at the University of Minnesota.
Adam Safron, Ph. D., is a Cognitive Scientist and psychologist who studies the nature of preferences and motivation from mechanistic, developmental, and evolutionary perspectives. Recently, he has proposed a model of embodied agency and free will and is working on a unified mechanistic account of psychedelics.
This conversation delves into the complex nature of the self, exploring its psychological, philosophical, and practical implications. The discussion begins with the distinction between the 'I' and 'me' aspects of self, as articulated by William James, and extends to the illusory nature of self as viewed in Buddhist philosophy. The speakers examine how consciousness functions as a model that shapes our understanding of reality and the self. They also discuss the importance of values in defining identity and the challenges of integrating conflicting goals. The conversation concludes with reflections on the implications of selfhood in the context of artificial intelligence and future developments.
Check out the papers:
https://journals-sagepub-com.dcu.idm.oclc.org/doi/full/10.1177/10888683221083777
Timestamps:
00:00 Exploring the Concept of Self
07:07 The I and the Me: Understanding Selfhood
10:40 Epistemology vs. Ontology: The Nature of Consciousness
18:03 Illusions of Self and Consciousness
22:45 The Role of Consciousness in Action
34:28 Transformations of Self: Continuity and Change
36:36 The Nature of Self and Values
39:12 Core Values and Personality
41:03 Understanding Self Through Values
43:58 The Journey of Self-Discovery
46:32 Integration and Self-Realization
49:22 The Role of Goals in Self-Understanding
54:05 AI, Selfhood, and Alignment
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In this conversation, Father Benedict McGlinchey ( āØ@irishdominicansā© ) shares his journey to becoming a Dominican friar, reflecting on his upbringing in Northern Ireland, the impact of a positive Catholic experience, and the challenges posed by secularism and new atheism. He discusses the importance of intellectual rigor in faith, the revival of interest in spirituality among younger generations, and the need for creating spaces for divine encounters in modern life. The dialogue emphasizes the search for meaning and happiness in a world increasingly detached from traditional religious practices.
Chapters:
00:00 Journey to Faith: A Personal Background
11:06 The Role of Positive Experiences in Faith
13:50 Cracks in the Foundation: The Decline of Faith
17:29 Political Context and Its Impact on Faith
20:01 The Rise of Secularization and New Atheism
20:19 Materialism vs. Spirituality: The Celtic Tiger Effect
22:07 Transitioning from Law to Religious Life
23:40 A Journey of Faith and Illness
25:47 Reevaluating Life Choices
26:43 Discovering Dominican Spirituality
28:35 The Role of Preaching in Modern Faith
32:15 The Shift in Cultural Perception of Faith
35:05 The Revival of Faith in Contemporary Society
40:20 Experiencing the Divine in Modern Life
43:31 Creating Spaces for Spiritual Experience
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Jean-Philippe Marceau is a writer and podcaster with an academic background in mathematics, theoretical computer science and philosophy of mind. He is the author of "Post-reductionist Christianity: A Way Out of the Meaning Crisis" published with the Symbolic World Press. He is a regular contributor to the Symbolic World blog and acted as its editor-in-chief for many years since its conception.
Get the Book: https://store.thesymbolicworld.com/products/post-reductionist-christianity-a-way-out-of-the-meaning-crisis
In this conversation, Mahon McCann and JP explore the themes of reductive materialism, its critiques, and the implications for understanding consciousness, rationality, and the human condition. They discuss the emergence of higher-level properties in science, the role of classical metaphysics, and how these ideas relate to the meaning crisis in contemporary society. The discussion culminates in the assertion that Christianity, particularly through the lens of the Eucharist, provides a solution to the meaning crisis, offering a path back to community and meaning in a world increasingly dominated by materialism.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Reductive Materialism
04:48 Flaws of Reductive Materialism
10:13 Arguments Against Reductionism
20:35 Emergence in AI and Science
23:11 Philosophical Challenges to Materialism
28:08 Classical Metaphysics vs. Reductive Materialism
39:54 Anthropology and the Human Condition
43:32 Patterns of Existence and Higher Realities
46:13 The Role of Higher Patterns in Overcoming Sin
49:28 Classical Metaphysics and Its Relation to Christianity
52:28 The Limits of Philosophical Arguments for Christianity
56:21 Zombies as a Metaphor for Materialism
01:02:04 The Eucharist: A Solution to the Meaning Crisis
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Howiyeee,
Got to join Jacob Kishere of the Sensespace podcast and Resonant Man project on his Culture Pilgrim Substack. We discussed the continuing strange return of Christianity and my own conversion to Catholicism. We dive into some other topics including the Meta-Crisis and meaning crisis, psychedelics and transformative practises, the liminal web and performative Christianity!
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This is the third part of a series unpacking Plato's Republic. This episode dives into Book Three, focusing on the critique of Greek literature, the educational program divided into music and physical training, the introduction of the rulers from the warrior class, and the famous 'Noble Lie' that establishes the city's caste system. Discover how Plato criticises the Homeric myths, redefines moral standards, and proposes a structured society with an emphasis on ethical and harmonious living.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Plato's Republic Series
00:17 Overview of Book Three
04:06 The Role of Imitation in Education
09:55 Selection and Role of the Rulers
11:39 The Noble Lie and Caste System
Introduction:
Episode 1:
Episode 2:
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Best,
Mahon.
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Fr Conor McDonough (@thewhitestone) is a Dominican Friar and Phd Student in the national university of Galway on āThe Letters of St Paul in Early Irish Christianityā. He is an educator and communicator of the Catholic faith and frequently features in videos from the Irish Dominicans youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@irishdominicans
In this podcast we explore the current state of Irish Catholicism, highlighting its decline in practice and the alienation of many from the church. We discuss the lack of basic knowledge among self-identified Catholics, the impact of scandals on trust in the church, and the absence of beauty in liturgical practices. However, there is hope in the revival of the faith online and particularly among younger generations. We discuss the impact of modern thinkers like Jordan Peterson on the perception of religion, the spiritual awakening of Gen Z, and the search for truth, beauty, and goodness in a secular world.
Check it out š
Chapters:
00:00 The Current State of Irish Catholicism
02:53 Decline and Alienation from the Church
05:53 Cultural Conformity and Choreography Catholicism
08:52 The Intellectual Tradition and Lack of Curiosity
11:57 The Shift in Attitudes Towards Catholicism
14:49 Historical Context of Irish Catholicism
18:10 The Impact of Secularization on Faith
20:57 Personal Experiences and Conversations about Faith
24:05 The Search for Meaning in a Secular Age
27:54 The Crisis of Faith in Modern Society
29:51 Truth, Goodness, and Beauty in Catholicism
32:59 The Impact of Scandals on Faith
36:00 Personal Faith Amidst Institutional Failures
39:03 Spirituality Beyond Traditional Religion
41:50 The Role of Online Communities in Faith
44:54 Generational Shifts in Spirituality
48:02 Rediscovering Faith in a Digital Age
50:59 The Search for Truth, Beauty, and Goodness
53:54 The Importance of Community in Faith Practice
58:37 The Role of Religious Practices in Modern Society
01:00:41 Bridging Divides: The Importance of Community
01:02:07 Engaging the Youth: The Church's Response to New Interest
01:05:53 Navigating Challenges: The Journey Back to Faith
01:08:27 Cultural Reflections: Literature and the Search for Meaning
01:12:41 The Quest for Truth: Artistic Expressions of Faith
01:16:43 Overcoming Prejudices: The Journey Towards Acceptance
01:20:42 Building Community: Resources and Recommendations for Young Adults
Best,
Mahon.
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This easter Saturday I will be baptised as a Catholic in Dublin! This baptism is really the fruition of a spiritual journey which has taken my whole thirty years of life thus far, but in this talk I tried to condense that journey into a testimony to share some of the main points along the way.
Essentially, all the work on this Substack and the Youtube has been leading up to this decision: Charting the failure of the mechanistic philosophy, the resulting meaning crisis, and the variety of jigs and reels which vie as a replacement worldview to re-home people in the liminal web and beyond. I did for awhile buy into the idea we were going to make āsomething newā, a āreligion that is not a religionā. But when I finally understood Christianity and particularly itās neoplatonic underpinnings, this project seemed entirely unnecessary and to be honest, foolish. Hopefully this talk might be of some use to you on your own spiritual quest, or offer hope for those who worry about the declining fortunes of Christianity and Catholicism (although these seem to be reversing).
Unfortunately because the talk was only five minutes, I couldnāt really get into the philosophical nitty gritty of my decision and the rational behind the move. However, over the next few months, and throughout the Platoās Republic course, I will share a few essays explaining the logic behind my conversion and the many, MANY, blocks which I had to overcome to become a Catholic (and coming from an extreme atheism since birth, I probably had a lot more blocks than most of you!)
Iām not advocating a nostalgic return to a perceived christian empire, but rather a taking up of the cross, the profound transformation that is offered by christ, and that this transformation is the way of out of the meaning crisis (or the second fall as the Pageau brothers refer to it). Albeit like me, we all need a lot of explaining and practising and understanding to see how the ancients saw and get over the blocks of the modern mind to re-enter christendom, which I think is the main point of my online platform now - straddling the gap between modernity and christendom with some help from the Greeks.
In entering the church and Catholicism, my personal motto is St Augustineās Maxim of āfaith seeking understandingā. I need enough faith in the tradition to offer the time, attention and sacrifices to learn and transform enough to get the understanding. Itās a bit like going to the gym, you donāt get results immediately but if you have faith in the plan and process then the results will follow. But in my limited experience so far, if you look honestly and humbly, the treasures are there to be found:
āAsk, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.ā (Matthew 7:7-8)
Talk Transcript:
āGood morning, my name is Mahon and today Iām going to give you my story. By all rights I shouldnāt be here. I was born as an atheist, was never baptised or made communion or anything. I was a particularly vicious atheist and delighted in telling my friends that āGod isnāt realā and that religion is all made up nonsense. As a teenager I listened to the new atheists like Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens and parroted their arguments to anyone who would listen. One time in particular I remember sitting very smugly in religion class in school when the Gideons came with bibles and I was the only one in the class who refused to take one, even though they were free. I was an evangelist for atheism and yet here I am, at the age of thirty, becoming a Catholic? What happened?
I was pretty happy in my assumed atheism probably until college. Where I met Friedrich Nietzsche, the German philosopher who famously proclaimed that āGod is deadā. Nietzsche worried about the problem of nihilism after the death of God, that life would become meaningless and morality impossible because all would be permitted. Certainly in college my life took on that shape, drinking every weekend to escape the despair and alienation. Nietszcheās solution to the death of god was to become the āubermenschā, the person who was capable of creating their own values and laws. And I tried that briefly, but quickly ended up totally destroyed from binge-drinking and some life-threatening hangovers. I learned you can proclaim to be a Moral relativist but you canāt ignore the consequences of your actions forever. So Nietszcheās solution didnāt work out for me.
Modern philosophy had seemed to only make my problems worse so after college I turned to modern psychology in the hopes of something better, particularly the work of Swiss Psychologist Carl Jung. And Jung had a story about what happened in the west after the so-called death of God, that the scientific revolution had split the world in two, and that this split manifested in the minds of western people like me and you. That we had all become scientifically minded in a way but still acted out morality and rituals which we could no longer justify or understand. We had fallen into a profound cognitive dissonance in the west, and I could feel that in my own struggling journey - unable to believe in God, but not doing so well without him either?
It was one insight of Jung in particular that destroyed my lingering atheism for good. He described the Greek Polytheistic Gods as personification of emotions that could possess our minds. For example, Ares, the God of war, was a personification of anger, a powerful evolved sub-personality that could become activated and drive you to do terrible things if you werenāt careful. For some reason, it was like a key turning in a lock and suddenly I could see the meaning of these stories and myths clearly, I could translate them into things which I could understand and which I knew were real and which addressed problems which I was struggling with today. I wondered, if I could understand polytheism in this way, then what about Monotheism? And that one monotheism in particular, Iād say such terrible things aboutā¦
I like to think if I have one virtue itās the ability to admit when Iām wrong and the more I studied monotheism, the more I realised I was really wrong. The way I was taught, it was that a big guy with a beard lived in the sky and gave out if you didnāt eat your dinner - a kind of adult santa claus. But the more I studied monotheism through the Greeks in Plato, the Hebrews in the old testament and finally, begrudgingly, the church fathers like Saint Augustine and Aquinas, the more I became convinced this was the greatest philosophy humanity had ever come up with. Ironically, the philosophy of life which I was searching for was in the last place I wanted to look, the Christian traditionā¦the thought dawned on me, āoh no, maybe I was becoming a Christianā¦ā
But I still wasnāt willing to convert, even though I could intellectually justify monotheism now, there was still more to Christianity, like the church and the tradition and of course, Christ himself? How could I reconcile myself to Christ after all the terrible things I said about him? During the time when I was trying to avoid these thoughts, a certain global pandemic came along which didnāt leave room to avoid things anymore. Iāve heard of our confinement in covid described as being trapped in the āinvoluntary monasteryā, and for me that was quite literal. I quit drinking and it felt like a kind of death, a loss of my old self and a clearing away for something new. For the first time, I started to read the bible, which Iād rejected all those years ago, and finally started to connect to the characters like Moses and Job and Christ himself. I could finally feel these stories werenāt something foreign but relatable. In some way, they were my own story.
After covid myself and my fiance decided to do the Camino De Santiago, the full 800 km from France to the edge of Spain. Me because I was wrestling with this Christian spiritual journey and for her because she really likes walking. I guess in some ways on that journey I first starting to pretend to be a christian, listening to the New Testament, going to mass and blessings but finally being moved by Christianity and christians, that resistance I had, that critical atheistic voice, just got quieter and quieter until it was gone, and all that was left was joy and peace - I could feel love again, a love like Iād never known existed. A love that came like a friendly extended hand from the sky, one which I definitely didnāt deserve, but which came anyway. It was the first time I ever experienced the Grace of God.
As we walked I imagined Christ in front of us, moving between the trees, and Iād catch glimpses of him. I think I wanted to see him face to face always, thatās the atheist dream, to look god in the eye before saying āalright Iāll sign the contract!ā But recently I read St Gregory of Nyessaās book The Life of Moses, and he talks about Moses in Exodus 33:18 when he wants to see Godās face but God will only allow him to see his back. St Gregory said the reason we see Godās back and not his face is because we are meant to follow him. So I decided that I would follow him and he brought me here, to become a Catholic, and to tell people my story, to help them return home, like he did for me.ā
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In this conversation, Mahon McCann and Matthew David Segall (@footnotes2Plato) explore the ongoing metaphysical revolution in science, particularly in physics and biology. They discuss the evolving understanding of causality, the philosophical implications of Kant and Plato's ideas, and the significance of the good as a foundational principle for knowledge. The dialogue culminates in a discussion on truth as participation, emphasizing the interconnectedness of human understanding and the universe
Full video š
Chapters
00:00 The Metaphysical Revolution in Science
06:29 The Role of Causality in Biology
12:23 Kant vs. Plato: Epistemology and Reality
19:48 The Nature of Formal Causality
26:03 The Good as the Foundation of Knowledge
32:22 Truth as Participation in Reality
36:12 The Nature of Truth as an Event
39:06 Truth and Participation: A Transformative Journey
40:30 The Virtue of the Knower in Truth Seeking
44:06 Microcosm and Macrocosm: Understanding Our Place in the Universe
50:44 Causality: Efficient vs. Final Causes in Philosophy
01:06:34 Co-Creating Truth: Trust and Transformation
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Best,
Mahon.
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In this third instalment of the series on Plato's Republic, we will be diving into Book 2 of The Republic!
The lecture explores the foundational questions posed by Glaucon and Adeimantus about the nature of justice and its value compared to injustice, Glaucon's myth of 'the ring of Gyges' and its implications on human behaviour are discussed, along with the comparison to Tolkien's narrative in 'The Lord of the Rings'. The video also examines the formation of the ideal city, Kallipolis, as an analogy for justice and the psyche. It concludes with insights into the educational program for the guardian class and Plato's critique of poets like Homer.
Watch the video below for a deep dive into one of philosophy's most enduring texts š
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction and Course Overview
00:25 Main Themes of Book Two
01:12 Glaucon's Challenge and the Nature of Goods
03:10 The Ring of Gyges and Ethical Relativism
10:34 The Ideal City and the Role of Guardians
19:06 Education and the Role of Stories
23:34 Conclusion and Next Steps
Introduction episode:
Book One:
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