Simran Jeet Singh is a professor of religious history at Union Theological Seminary in New York City. He is also a senior advisor at the Aspen Institute and host of the podcast Wisdom & Practice. Simran is the author of three books, including The Light We Give: How Sikh Wisdom Can Transform Your Life, which introduces readers to the religious tradition of Sikhism and its practical relevance for all of us today. Simran joins the podcast to share the history, beliefs, and practices of the Sikh faith. How do the people of India feel about other faiths? A survey shows interesting findings about the beliefs and perspectives of those who live near each other, yet belong to different religions. Read the survey results in India's Patchwork Pluralism. Join our growing community of 200,000+ listeners and be notified of new episodes of Templeton Ideas. Subscribe today. Follow us on social media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.
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David Bentley Hart (A Philosopher’s God)
David Bentley Hart is a scholar with wide-ranging interests in philosophy, theology, religions, and culture. He is the author of hundreds of literary essays and more than twenty books. Our conversation today focuses on two in particular; the first is The Experience of God: Being, Consciousness, and Bliss; and the second is David’s most recent work entitled All Things Are Full of Gods: The Mysteries of Mind and Life. This book is playfully written in the form of a Platonic dialogue in which the characters explore questions of ultimate reality. David is also an avid fan of baseball, a subject that he eloquently praises in his popular essay “A Perfect Game”. Can we actually see the divine in nature? Or do we project meaning onto reality? Learn how to tell the difference in On Seeing Divinity in The World: Ultrasound Scans and The Canals of Mars by Stephen Law. Join our growing community of 200,000+ listeners and be notified of new episodes of Templeton Ideas. Subscribe today. Follow us on social media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.
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Heather Templeton Dill (Legacy)
Heather is the President and CEO of the John Templeton Foundation, one of the world’s largest funders of research at the intersection of science, philosophy, and faith. Over the past decade, she has helped broaden the Foundation’s global reach while championing topics such as intellectual humility, the psychology of purpose, and human flourishing. She is also the granddaughter of Sir John Templeton, whose legacy continues to shape the Foundation’s mission. Learn more about Heather's key takeaways and initiatives in her article A Reflection on My Presidency of the John Templeton Foundation. Join our growing community of 140,000+ listeners and be notified of new episodes of Templeton Ideas. Subscribe today. Follow us on social media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.
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Agnes Callard (Socrates)
Agnes is a philosophy professor at the University of Chicago, where she specializes in ancient philosophy and ethics. Her early studies instilled in her a deep fascination with Socrates, which ultimately led to the publication of her newest book, Open Socrates: The Case for a Philosophical Life. In addition to her scholarly work, she also writes for popular outlets like The New Yorker, the Atlantic, New York Times, and Harpers. How can we "navigate a technical revolution" in an ever-evolving world? Read A Meaningful Life in the Age of AI by Richard Lopez to learn how to balance appreciation and practice of AI. Join our growing community of 140,000+ listeners and be notified of new episodes of Templeton Ideas. Subscribe today. Follow us on social media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.
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Robin Dunbar (Origins of Religion)
Robin is a British anthropologist and professor with a special interest in primate behavior and evolution. He is perhaps best known for formulating “Dunbar’s Number”, which states that among humans, there is an upper limit of about 150 people with whom we can maintain stable social relationships. Among his many books, he recently published How Religion Evolved And Why It Endures, in which he explores the deep history of human spirituality and its expression in both small-scale and large-scale societies. He joins the podcast to discuss the origins of religion and religion's purpose in our societies. "Science is known for progress and change; religion is less so." Learn how science and fascination are being used to teach monks and nuns in An Experiment to Enhance the Tibetan Monastic Tradition by Drew Rick-Miller. Join our growing community of 140,000+ listeners and be notified of new episodes of Templeton Ideas. Subscribe today. Follow us on social media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.
The Templeton Ideas Podcast is a show about the most awe-inspiring ideas in our world and the people who investigate them. We sit down with thinkers like Gretchen Rubin, Ethan Kross, and David Brooks to explore how their work has transformed their lives — and how it may transform yours. These thoughtful conversations will take listeners on a journey through psychology, philosophy, physics, and more.
The Templeton Ideas Podcast is a project of the John Templeton Foundation.
South Africa