The Two Tongues Podcast

S3E39 - C.S. Lewis in Space - Out of the Silent Planet

In this episode we discuss the first book in C.S. Lewis' little-known "Space Trilogy" titled--Out of the Silent Planet. We discuss Lewis' relationship with JRR Tolkien and their united effort to publish powerful myths for the modern age. I treat this book as a fairytale and analysis it Von Franz-style to uncloak the religious and mythological symbols Lewis hid, as he's known to do, in the story, plot and characters. Is this sci-fi story archetypal? Does it provide insights to Lewis' understanding of Christianity? You tell me.

Enjoy ;)

S3E38 - Dualism and Free Will with Daniel Torridon

This episode was a livestream interview on the Onion Unlimited Podcast from 9/10. Daniel Torridon, host of Onion Unlimited, is a long-time friend of the show and a regular guest. In this one we catch up after many months and discuss what we've explored since our last discussion. I choose the topic of "Dualism" and speak about body and soul; Daniel chooses "free will"...and it's a doozy. 

Enjoy ;)

S3E37 - The Alchemy of Individuation

In this episode we round out our Return to Edinger series and his book Ego and Archetype with a discussion of blood and alchemy. We talk about blood as a symbol for life and the carrier of consciousness. We explore the connections to religious sacrifice, the cult of Dionysus and, of course, the blood of Christ. From here we pivot to the mysteries of Alchemy, the Philosophers' Stone and the Prima Materia and relate each to the process of individuation; the union of God and Man.

Enjoy :)

S3E36 - 1, 2, Trinity, Wholeness

This episode is Part 3 of our "Return to Edinger" series on his book Ego and Archetype. In this one we discuss what it means to be an "individual" and explore the age-old philosophical paradox of "the One and the many." We cover Pythagorean number symbolism, the Christian Trinity and how they tie in to Carl Jung's psychology of the Unconscious. 

Enjoy :)

S3E35 - Living Symbols, Christ and Psychology

This is part 2 in the "Return to Edinger" series where we discuss his book Ego and Archetype. In this one, we discuss the difference between 'signs' and 'symbols' in order to understand what an 'Archetype' is. With this accomplished, we go on to show how Jesus' words from the Gospels can be understood psychologically...and how Jesus himself can be understood as an Archetype.

Enjoy :)

S3E34 - Bollingen Stone Mystery

In this episode Chris discusses a mysterious stone monument that was erected in Zurich, Switzerland with strange and cryptic inscriptions carved into it. While older, this monument shares several features in common with another mysterious monument called the Georgia Guidestones. Both contain strange messages, written in both ancient and modern languages. So what makes the Bollingen Stone special? It was designed and erected by the great mystic of our modern age--Dr. Carl Jung! What does it say? What does it mean? Let's find out together.

 

Enjoy ;)

S3E33 - Ego and Archetype - Return to Edinger

As the title suggests, we're returning to Edward Edinger for this episode, exploring his book "Ego & Archetype." We explore natural psychological development and how the stages of development influence our understanding of God and its expression in religion and myth. We explore the possibility of encountering the "Self," the fullness of our psyche above and beyond just the ego and in so doing encounter God for the first time consciously. 

Enjoy :)

S3E32 - Hume on Natural Religion

In this episode Chris brings us Opinion Scholarship on the philosopher David Hume thorough his "Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion". Just as Hume famously asked "can we derive an ought from an is?" here he asks: Is there anything about the facts of the world that can tell us anything about God? Does God exist? If so, how? What does God want? Does it want anything? Etcetera and so on. In exploring this question, God is conceptualized as the God of Monotheism, of Pantheism, of Idealism and even of Panpsychism. 

(Forgive the crying child in the background during my conclusion monologue. This podcast is unedited for authenticity, but authenticity has a price from time to time)

Enjoy ;)  

S3E31 - Are We What We Do?

In this episode Chris explores 2 questions, which have been haunting him. The first: Is there a difference between what we ARE and what we Do? The second: Is there a difference between WHAT we are and WHO we are? We squeeze mysticism, theology, quantum mechanics and logic all into this 20 minute monologue. What could go wrong?

Enjoy ;)

S3E30 - Cloud of Unknowing

In this episode we bring you more Opinion Scholarship...this time on one of the primary and most mysterious works of Christian Mysticism--The Cloud of Unknowing. Its mystery comes from the fact that its author is unknown and that, while borderline heretical, it has survived in Catholic and Orthodox Christianity to this day. This work is unique in that it offers an explicitly Christian path to an explicitly unchristian goal...unity with God. The anonymous author provides a framework of meditation and contemplation that prepares one for having a mystical experience and becoming one spirit with God. This framework is suspiciously Eastern, calling for deep meditation, the use of mantras and the loss of Self.

Enjoy ;)