Shows
The New East Asian Studies Podcasts in the Age of AIRobert Ford Campany, "Making Transcendents: Ascetics and Social Memory in Early Medieval China," (University of Hawaii Press, 2009)By the middle of the third century B.C.E. in China there were individuals who sought to become transcendents (xian)―deathless, godlike beings endowed with supernormal powers. This quest for transcendence became a major form of religious expression and helped lay the foundation on which the first Daoist religion was built. Both xian and those who aspired to this exalted status in the centuries leading up to 350 C.E. have traditionally been portrayed as secretive and hermit-like figures. This groundbreaking study offers a very different view of xian-seekers in late classical and early medieval China. It suggests that transc...2024-11-2114 min
The New East Asian Studies Podcasts in the Age of AIRobert P Hymes, "Way and byway: Taoism, local religion, and models of divinity in Sung and modern China," (University of California Press, 2002)Using a combination of newly mined Sung sources and modern ethnography, Robert Hymes addresses questions that have perplexed China scholars in recent years. Were Chinese gods celestial officials, governing the fate and fortunes of their worshippers as China's own bureaucracy governed their worldly lives? Or were they personal beings, patrons or parents or guardians, offering protection in exchange for reverence and sacrifice? To answer these questions Hymes examines the professional exorcist sects and rising Immortals' cults of the Sung dynasty alongside ritual practices in contemporary Taiwan and Hong Kong, as well as miracle tales, liturgies, spirit law codes, devotional...2024-11-1027 min
Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership with Ruth Haley BartonS24 Ep 8 | Wrestling with the Cross: What does the Atonement Really Mean?In today’s episode, Ruth and guests Rev. Dr. Prince Rivers and Rev. Dr. David Hughes navigate the depths of the future of Christian spirituality through the lenses of the atonement. The discussion confronts traditional interpretations of the cross and atonement, addressing challenges posed by modern perspectives. Ruth, Prince, and David explore theories from historical and contemporary theologians, such as penal substitution, while highlighting how these interpretations impact real-life contexts, especially among marginalized communities and the oppressed. The conversation concludes with reflections on faith, suffering, and power, emphasizing transformation through love over wrath, with a heartfelt prayer for divine gu...2024-10-231h 00
Mind & MatterComparative Brain Evolution: Mammals, Primates & Humans | Robert Barton | 171Send us a textAbout the guest: Robert Barton, PhD is an evolutionary anthropologist and Professor at Durham University. He studies the evolution of the brain and behavior across species, including humans.Episode summary: Nick and Dr. Barton discuss: mammalian brain evolution; how brain and body size scale across mammals; how metabolism relates to brain size and function; the evolution of the neocortex & cerebellum in primates & humans; the concept of “intelligence” and whether it relates to brain size; and more.Related episodes:Evolution of Complex Behavior, Perc...2024-08-181h 38