Athens and Jerusalem (in Education)

Knut Ove Æsøy, Steven Phelps, Kamran Namdar

English Philosophy Religion & Spirituality Society & Culture

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Episodes 37

Avg. Duration 56m

Activity Highly Active

Since Dec 2023

Latest Episode May 2026

Publishing Details

Schedule

Monthly

Format

Episodic

Consistency

77%

Hosting

feeds.transistor.fm

Contact & Outreach

About This Podcast

In this podcast we explore the relationship between a scientifically rational and a spiritual approach to reality. That is the relationship of Athens and Jerusalem. Our currently prevalent Western worldview is supposed to be based on rationality. If production of weapons of mass destruction, degradation of the natural environment, and increasing deterioration of mental well-being are signs of rationality, the term is to be considered a dangerous one. In all these, one can detect lack of ethical and existential considerations which renders this worldview essentially an irrational one. On the other hand, various forms of religious dogmatism and fundamentalism lack true spirituality, as they fail to create both a personal experience of serenity and upliftment and a social practice of empathy, solidarity, and equality. Essentially, both scientific and religious dogmatism seem to fail due to their disregard for a true and holistic view of human nature. Neither traditional Athens nor historical Jerusalem, alone, have been able to help our deepest human potential flourish, which we consider the task of our modern school system.

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Recent Episodes

Philosophy as the motive of action?

May 24, 2026 1h 7m

In this episode we start by discussing the development of philosophy. Or rather, our thesis is that there has actually been no particular development of philosophy. Rather, it seems as if there have…

Roe Fremstedal on Søren Kierkegaard

Apr 18, 2026 1h 8m

In this episode, we talk about the Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard. We have with us an expert on his philosophy, Professor Roe Fremstedal at NTNU, Norway. He presents his interpretation of…

Hitlers philosophers

Mar 12, 2026 59m

In this episode we talk about Hitler's philosophers and the book: Nils Gilje (2026). Hitlers filosofer - nasjonalsosialisme, filosofi og religion i mellomkrigstidens Tyskland. Solum Bokvennen.There…

AI and religion

Feb 14, 2026 54m

In this episode, we ask whether AI can have a religious function. Can AI synthesize all religions into one religion, or can AI itself become the new religious authority in the world? These are just…

Prophets

Jan 14, 2026 1h 8m

In this episode, we examine the phenomenon prophets. Much of the discussion is about understanding what a prophet is. We also touch on the question of whether there are modern prophets. After…

Revelation

Dec 16, 2025 44m

This episode is about revelation. Is it only some who can reveal the truth about the divinity of the world, or is this something everyone can recognize if we open ourselves to such demention of life?…

AI and Ethics

Nov 16, 2025 1h 7m

In this episode we explore the possibility of using AI as a moral helper or even agent. Our guest on the episode is Varqa Abyaneh. The fundamental question is whether AI can make better moral choices…

Pierre Teilhard de Chardin - Scientific writing on religion and nature

Oct 12, 2025 1h 8m

This episode is dedicated to Pierre Teilhard de Chardin. He was a French Jesuit, Catholic priest, scientist, paleontologist, philosopher, mystic, and teacher. The church refused to let him publish…

Bridging Creation and the Big Bang with Brian Cranley

Aug 31, 2025 55m

In this episode we try to bridge creation and the big bang with Brian Cranley. We get insight in his book The call of wonder, his inspiration and how he structured a book bridging the belief in a…

On different forms of argumentation

Aug 12, 2025 56m

In this episode, we discuss different ways to argue about the relationship between religion and science. The most typical approach is to use religious premises to prove scientific facts or to use…

Spirituality and action

Jul 14, 2025 1h 14m

In this episode, Natia Natsvlishvili is visiting our podcast and we discuss how spirituality motivates our actions. An important question is what we mean by spirituality. We also touch upon the…

AI

Jun 07, 2025 49m

In this episode we discuss AI. What is the future of existence related to AI, what is the difference between humanity and AI and is it possible to bring ethical values into the algorithms of AI?

The universe within human being

Jun 05, 2025 50m

In this episode Kamran and I discussed the universe within human being. What are we searching if we wants to know oneself? What is the essence of human existence and what and how could a curriculum…

Spinoza and human natur in school

Apr 26, 2025 1h 10m

In this episode we start discussing Spinoza's thoughts on God, universe and the human existence. In the end we discuss what kind of abilities human being have that should be unfold in school. Maybe…

Praying

Apr 05, 2025 42m

In this episode we explore the phenomenon of praying. What does it really mean to pray and what is the meaning of this kind of activity. We also touches upon love and the courage to risk loving…

The Holy

Mar 05, 2025 54m

In this episode we discuss the holy. Our starting point is Mircea Eliade and Rudolf Otto. The German theologian and philosopher Rudolf Otto in his influential 1917 German book The Idea of the Holy…

Faith and everyday life

Jan 19, 2025 1h 1m

In this episode we discuss the relation between faith and everyday life. How does faith motivate our action, or is our action the expression of our faith?

Leo Strauss on Athens and Jerusalem

Dec 24, 2024 1h 4m

In this episode we discuss Leo Strauss' lecture on Athens and Jerusalem. This is the first out of three lectures, delivered in the fall of 1950, investigate the agreement, disagreement, and conflict…

Meme and Archetype, comments on Dawkins and Peterson

Nov 24, 2024 1h 4m

In this episode we discuss a youtube video of Richard Dawkins and Jordan Peterson. Dawkins is a British evolutionary biologist known for being an atheist. Peterson is a Canadian psychologist known…

Fides et ratio

Oct 27, 2024 57m

In this episode we discuss the catholic encyclical letter "Fides et Ratio" written in 1998. This was the first encyclical since Pope Leo XIII's 1879 Aetern Patris to address the relationship between…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Athens and Jerusalem (in Education) have?

Athens and Jerusalem (in Education) has published 37 episodes since December 2023, covering topics in Philosophy, Religion & Spirituality.

Is Athens and Jerusalem (in Education) still active?

Athens and Jerusalem (in Education) is currently highly active with new episodes monthly. Average episode length is 56m.

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