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PODCAST

Philosophy and Faith

Welcome to Philosophy and Faith, where our goal is to help you navigate your intellectual and spiritual journey, especially in regards to topics like God, doubt, faith, meaning and purpose. Your hosts are Nathan Beasley and Daniel Jepsen And together they discuss the big questions that humans have wrestled with for thousands of years.

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All Episodes

15:12

Plato's Creation Myth and Christian Thought

Philosophy and Faith ·

2024/12/03

In this episode, the Daniel and Nathan delve into Plato's creation myth and the concept of dualism, discussing how it has influenced both ancient and modern philosophical and theological thought. They explore the role of the Demiurge in shaping the physical world, contrasting it with Christian theology's understanding of creation. The conversation also touches on the effects of dualism in Neoplatonism and its impact on Christian practices, such as asceticism and views on the physical body. Finally,

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30:21

Plato, Dualism and Christianity

Philosophy and Faith ·

2024/11/27

We may be surprised to learn that our concepts of spirituality and the spirit realm (and even Heaven) are formed as much by Plato as by the Bible. In this episode, Nathan and Daniel dive into one of Plato's most significant philosophical ideas, and the idea that has deeply influenced Christian thought: dualism. The discussion centers around understanding what dualism is, how it contrasts with monism, and also how it is similar to yet also very different from the dualism taught in the

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24:57

Plato: Life and Influence (the History of Philosophy,...

Philosophy and Faith ·

2024/11/06

Plato's Influence on Western Thought and Christian TheologyIn this episode, Nathan and Daniel dive into the life and legacy of Plato, one of history’s most influential philosophers. They discuss why Plato's ideas have had a profound impact on Western thought and Christian theology, outline the structure of upcoming episodes, and explain concepts like Platonism, Middle Platonism, and Neoplatonism. Additionally, they touch on the intertwining of Greek philosophy with early Christian thought and the

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33:11

Understanding Socrates (The History of Philosophy,...

Philosophy and Faith ·

2024/10/22

Socrates, Plato, and the Legacy of Greek PhilosophyIn this episode, the Daniel and Nathan return after a brief hiatus to explore the life and philosophy of Socrates and his profound impact on his pupil Plato. They discuss the Socratic method of questioning, its influence on Western thought, and how it shaped Plato's works and ideas, particularly in his early dialogues. The dialogue also delves into the historical context of Socrates' life, his opposition to the Sophists, concepts like absolute

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37:02

The Sophists: Foundations of Skepticism and...

Philosophy and Faith ·

2024/09/19

Understanding Sophism: Background, Impact, and CritiquesIn this episode, the discussion focuses on the Sophists, their role in ancient philosophy, and their impact on subsequent thought. We delve into their characteristics, methodologies, and goals, exploring how they served as both a culmination and a reaction to earlier philosophical ideas. Daniel summarizes their teaching under the three headings of: skepticism, relativism, and pragmatism. The conversation ultimately highlights the critical role

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59:47

Physics and God: Exploring the Fine-Tuning Argument...

Philosophy and Faith ·

2024/09/06

Exploring the Fine-Tuning Argument with Physicists and Rabbis Elie Feder and Aaron ZimmerIn this episode of Philosophy and Faith, the hosts welcome Rabbis Elie Feder and Aaron Zimmer, hosts of the podcast Physics to God, to discuss arguments for the existence of God, specifically focusing on the teleological and fine-tuning arguments. Elie, an orthodox rabbi and mathematician, and Aaron, a modern Orthodox rabbi with a background in physics and commodities trading, detail their journeys in faith and

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22:59

The First Materialists (The History of Philosophy,...

Philosophy and Faith ·

2024/09/03

Exploring the Roots of Materialism: The AtomistsIn this episode, Daniel and Nathan delve into the philosophy of materialism by exploring the early atomists, Leucippus and Democritus. They discuss the historical context of these philosophers, their main ideas about atoms and the void, and how these concepts form the basis of materialism. The conversation also touches on the implications of materialistic determinism, the challenges it poses for ethics and rationality, and its lasting impact on modern

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26:36

Mind over Matter (The History of Philosophy, part 8)

Philosophy and Faith ·

2024/08/15

In this episode, Daniel and Nathan dive into the lives and philosophies of Empedocles and Anaxagoras, who serve as stepping stones to understanding Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. They explore Empedocles' idea that all things are composed of four elements and two forces, love and strife. Meanwhile, Anaxagoras introduces the concept of 'mind' as a guiding force over matter, sparking deeper philosophical questions.The discussion ends by discussing why Socrates and Aristotle were excited but then

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28:30

The Beginning of Idealism (History of Philosophy,...

Philosophy and Faith ·

2024/07/29

Exploring Parmenides and the Origins of IdealismIn this episode we delve into the philosophical contributions of Parmenides. We examine his impact on idealism, distinguishing between ordinary and philosophical uses of the term. The discussion covers Parmenides' ideas about the nature of reality, including his belief that change and plurality are illusions and that true reality is unchanging and indivisible. We also tackle how Parmenides influenced later philosophers like Plato and the challenges his

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48:22

History of Philosophy part 6: Heraclitus, Legos and...

Philosophy and Faith ·

2024/07/18

In this episode, Nathan and Daniel delve into the life and philosophy of Heraclitus, one of the most influential philosophers of the pre-Socratic era. Known as 'Heraclitus the Obscure' or 'The Riddler', Heraclitus is famous for his notion of the continuous change in the universe, encapsulated in phrases like 'everything is in flux' and 'you cannot step into the same river twice'. His use of the concepts of fire and logos to explain change and order in the universe set the foundations for later

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46:04

History of Philosophy 5: Pythagoras and the Invention...

Philosophy and Faith ·

2024/07/05

The Philosophy of Pythagoras: From Music to SoulIn this episode we discuss the teachings of Pythagoras, a major figure in ancient philosophy. The conversation covers his influence, particularly in mathematics, music, and his lasting impact on Western thought and Christian theology. Pythagoras's notion of the soul, especially the concept of the soul's transmigration and its contrast with Hebraic understanding, is explored in depth. The episode delves deeply into the philosophical and religious ideas

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24:32

The History of Philosophy, part 4: Xenophanes Against...

Philosophy and Faith ·

2024/06/26

In this episode, we delve into the life and philosophy of Xenophanes, an early Greek thinker who significantly advanced philosophical thought. Beginning with a review of previous episodes' discussions on early Greek philosophy and the pre-Socratic thinkers like Thales, Anaximander, and Anaximenes, the conversation shifts to focus on Xenophanes' unique contributions. Notably, Xenophanes was the first to reject the traditional portrayal of Greek gods by Homer and Hesiod, arguing instead for a

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38:40

The History of Philosophy, part 3: The Supposed...

Philosophy and Faith ·

2024/06/19

In this episode, we delve into the early history of Greek philosophy, focusing on the Milesian school. The discussion covers Thales, Anaximander, and Anaximenes, examining their metaphysical inquiries about the fundamental nature of reality. We also discuss the broader implications of their thinking, such as assumptions about the eternity of matter, the rational comprehensibility of the universe, and the capacity of the human mind to understand it. These foundational ideas are tied to later

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25:19

History of Philosophy, part 2: Thales and Early Greek...

Philosophy and Faith ·

2024/06/11

Exploring the Foundations: The Role of Thales in the Birth of Greek PhilosophyIn this episode, we delve into the history and philosophy, focusing on Thales of Miletus, who is often considered the first philosopher. We review the importance of understanding historical and intellectual contexts and explore Thales' groundbreaking idea that water is the fundamental substance of everything. The discussion touches on critical concepts such as the shapeless stream, fate, and the significance of autonomous

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50:36

History of Philosophy, part 1: Before Philosophy

Philosophy and Faith ·

2024/06/05

"We study history not to remember the past but to understand the present". That is the reason for this series. In this episode we discuss the intellectual seed-bed of the ancient world, especially that of Greece. We begin in Crete, whose Minoan civilization predated and heavily influenced the Grecian culture on the mainland. More specifically we talk about:Who "counts" as philosophersThe philosophy and thought of the Minoan civilizationThe meaning of monismMysticism in the ancient worldThe mystery

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36:03

The Moral Argument for God‘s Existence (with Dr....

Philosophy and Faith ·

2024/05/30

What does our notions of right and wrong tell us about the existence of God?In this episode Dr. Justin Gash of Franklin College joins us to tackle this fascinating question. We discuss the moral argument for God's existence, describe how it is usually countered, and then analyze those counter-arguments. In the end we each give our take on how effective this argument is in achieving various goals.

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30:46

Guest: Justin Gash

Philosophy and Faith ·

2024/05/08

Today we have our first guest: Dr. Justin Gash of Franklin College.Justin is a professor in the math department, and also assistant Dean of the college. He occasionally teaches a class on Reasonable Faith, as well as guiding independent studies of that material.Our conversation is about his own intellectual/spiritual journey, what he has learned from teaching these classes, and what he thinks about the arguments for God's existence.In our next episode, Dr. Gash will walk us through his favorite

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39:10

What the Universe says about God's Existence

Philosophy and Faith ·

2024/04/24

Can we prove God's existence by the fact or features of the universe? To tackle this issue we will discuss:The difference between proofs and signsThe meaning of the cosmological argument, and its various formsThe meaning of the argument from design (also known as the teleological argument)The resurrection of the argument from design in the last 50 yearsThe curious case of Anthony Flew

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32:31

Why Did God Create the Universe, part 2

Philosophy and Faith ·

2024/04/16

If love is the meaning of creation, then how exactly does that play out in our individual lives? What is MY purpose? What will my future life be like?That is what we tackle in this episode.

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31:13

Why did God Create the Universe, part 1

Philosophy and Faith ·

2024/04/10

The great philosopher Martin Heidegger said the most fundamental question in philosophy is this: Why is there something rather than nothing?Christianity, unlike naturalism, gives an answer to the question, and it is both satisfying and stimulating.

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