Is the modern world really secular, or just differently enchanted? In this episode of It's a Theological World After All, Joshua Farris explains why the cultural fascination with events like Burning Man reveals a deep, ongoing human hunger for transcendence, ritual, beauty, and meaning.

We discuss how every attempt to construct meaning apart from God actually highlights our innate design as image-bearers made for communion with Him. As part of the "Why Souls" series, we explore the ultimate question that sits underneath every cultural debate regarding AI, consciousness, and ethics: What is a human being? If we want to navigate the future, we must recover a richer, more compelling Christian vision of the human person.

SUBSCRIBE for more deep dives into theology, philosophy, and the soul.

📘 Check out my book here: https://shorturl.at/u3MGp

IN THIS EPISODE:

The Search for Transcendence: Why humans have not stopped longing for meaning, belonging, and experiences that lift us beyond the ordinary.

Differently Enchanted: How the modern world has not become disenchanted, but has simply redirected its spirituality.

Created for Communion: Why our restlessness points back to the reality that men and women are created in the image of God.

The Core Question: Why understanding what it means to be human must come before we can answer questions about artificial intelligence, identity, and politics.

CHAPTERS:

0:00 Intro: Why this conversation was never merely about Burning Man

0:25 A differently enchanted world and the hunger for meaning

0:40 Created in the image of God and our search for home

0:55 The ultimate question: What is a human being?

1:10 Upcoming topics: AI, neuroscience, and the return of spirituality

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Why Souls series by Joshua Farris

Take the Next Step in Your EducationIf this conversation has sparked a desire to go deeper into the intersection of theology, science, and the soul, I want to invite you to explore our advanced programs. Equip yourself to engage the modern world with intellectual rigour and spiritual depth. Explore Our Degree Programs Here: https://degrees.soulscienceministries.com/

#BurningMan #Transcendence #Theology #JoshuaFarris #ChristianWorldview #Anthropology #TheSoul

If materialism has successfully explained the universe, why is everyone suddenly searching for the soul again? In this episode of It's a Theological World After All, Joshua Farris explores the unprecedented, renewed cultural obsession with consciousness. From Silicon Valley tech elites pouring billions into consciousness research to the cultural rise of the occult, psychedelic experimentation, and near-death experiences, society is desperately trying to rediscover the unseen realm.

We discuss why the materialistic, secular worldview has failed to answer our deepest questions and how the rapid rise of Artificial Intelligence is forcing humanity to ask an ancient question: What actually makes us human? At the root of every major cultural debate today, from abortion and gender to transhumanism and AI, is a battle over anthropology. If we want to navigate the future and reclaim human dignity, we must reclaim the Christian doctrine of the human soul.

SUBSCRIBE for more deep dives into theology, philosophy, and the soul.

📘 Check out my book here: https://shorturl.at/u3MGp

IN THIS EPISODE:

The Failure of Materialism: Why the idea that humans are merely biological machines is crumbling, leaving a "thin world" devoid of mystery.

The AI Identity Crisis: How artificial intelligence is forcing society to reconsider what truly sets humans apart from machines.

Follow the Money: Why tech leaders, billionaires, and Silicon Valley are heavily funding fringe consciousness research.

The Return of the Occult: How the loss of transcendence has fueled an explosion of interest in astrology, near-death experiences, and neopaganism.

Anthropology is Everything: Why debates about AI, euthanasia, and gender are ultimately arguments about human nature.

CHAPTERS:

0:00 Intro: Why are billionaires obsessed with consciousness?

4:21 The story we've been told by secular materialism

8:02 Follow the money: funding consciousness and AI

9:28 The rise of near-death experiences and psychedelic research

13:20 How AI is forcing us to ask: What makes us human?

21:33 The "hard problem" of consciousness in philosophy

25:09 Silicon Valley's fascination with the occult and neopaganism

32:15 The ancient questions of the soul and meaning

38:57 Christianity's greatest gift: the image of God

41:28 Why every cultural debate is an argument about anthropology

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Why Souls by Joshua Farris

Encountering Mystery by Dale Allison

Charles Taylor on "buffered selves"

Take the Next Step in Your Education

If this conversation has sparked a desire to go deeper into the intersection of theology, science, and the soul, I want to invite you to explore our advanced programs. Equip yourself to engage the modern world with intellectual rigour and spiritual depth. Explore Our Degree Programs Here: https://degrees.soulscienceministries.com/

#Consciousness #ArtificialIntelligence #Theology #JoshuaFarris #ChristianWorldview #Anthropology #Transhumanism

While Christians spend a great deal of time talking about Jesus and the Holy Spirit, the doctrine of God the Father often remains in the background. What happens when the Father becomes little more than a name in our creeds? In this episode of It's a Theological World After All, host Joshua Farris sits down with pastor and theologian Ryan Rippee to explore this deeply neglected doctrine.

We discuss why the Father has been overlooked in modern theology, how our culture's crisis of fatherhood connects to theological forgetfulness, and what it truly means to receive our identity from Him rather than inventing it ourselves. From the alluring but empty promises of transhumanism to the beauty of experiencing the church as a true family, this conversation reveals why recovering the doctrine of God the Father is vital for the church today. If you want a richer understanding of the Trinity, human identity, and the heart of God, this conversation is for you.

SUBSCRIBE for more deep dives into theology, philosophy, and the soul.

📘 Check out my book here: https://shorturl.at/u3MGp

IN THIS EPISODE:

The Neglected Doctrine: Why historical controversies focused on the Son and Spirit, leaving the Father assumed but largely unexamined.

More Than a Metaphor: Why reducing "Father" to just a human metaphor risks dangerous Trinitarian errors.

The Identity Crisis: How modern culture elevates self created identity to an idol, and how finding our identity as children of God solves this crisis.

Fatherhood and the Church: Healing the cultural crisis of fatherlessness by reflecting God's fatherhood within the community of the church.

Transhumanism and Technology: How the pursuit of autonomous, self created communities through technology is the ultimate rejection of transcendence.

Isaiah 9:6 Explained: Unpacking why the Messiah is called "Everlasting Father" and what it means for the Davidic covenant.

CHAPTERS:

0:00 Intro: The forgotten doctrine of God the Father

2:11 Introducing Ryan Rippee and his upcoming work

4:12 Why is God the Father neglected in modern theology?

8:50 Why Jesus constantly directs our attention to the Father

14:39 Is "Father" just a metaphor?

19:23 Human identity and receiving life from the Father

25:12 The modern idol of self created identity

31:24 Fatherless culture and theological forgetfulness

42:48 The church as a family with refrigerator rights

49:29 Consumerism in the church vs. genuine community

55:33 Transhumanism, technology, and artificial communities

1:13:37 How rejecting the Father distorts freedom and authority

1:20:25 The loss of transcendence and cultural orphanhood

1:26:42 Why is Jesus called "Everlasting Father" in Isaiah 9:6?

1:31:30 One vital thing to remember about God the Father

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Upcoming books on God the Father by Ryan Rippee (Baker Books and T&T Clark)

Two Ways to Live presentation by Matthias Media

God, Human, Animal, Machine by Meghan O'Gieblyn

Take the Next Step in Your EducationIf this conversation has sparked a desire to go deeper into the intersection of theology, science, and the soul, I want to invite you to explore our advanced programs. Equip yourself to engage the modern world with intellectual rigour and spiritual depth. Explore Our Degree Programs Here: https://degrees.soulscienceministries.com/

#GodTheFather #Trinity #Theology #ChristianIdentity #Transhumanism #Apologetics #ChurchCommunity

One of the great assumptions of the modern age is that we are simply our brains, and that consciousness ceases at death. But what if the experiences of the dying tell a profoundly different story? In this episode of It's a Theological World After All, host Joshua Farris sits down with Professor Stephen Miller to explore the fascinating, heavily researched world of near-death experiences (NDEs) and deathbed visions.

We dive into what the medical and historical data actually reveals about out-of-body phenomena, terminal lucidity, and visions of the afterlife. Are these just the hallucinations of a dying brain, or is God providing a glimpse beyond the veil? From the profound impact these experiences have on the grieving to the deep theological implications for the soul and apologetics, this conversation challenges us to rethink our assumptions about death and consciousness. If you want to understand how scientific research on the end of life points to a spiritual reality, this conversation is for you.

SUBSCRIBE for more deep dives into theology, philosophy, and the soul.

📘 Check out my book here: https://shorturl.at/u3MGp

IN THIS EPISODE:

Defining the Phenomena: The difference between near-death experiences, deathbed visions, and terminal lucidity.

The Medical Evidence: Examining research from cardiologists, nurses, and peer-reviewed journals corroborating out-of-body experiences.

Visions vs. Hallucinations: Why the consistent, lucid nature of deathbed visions defies the "dying brain" hypothesis.

The Problem of Distressing NDEs: Acknowledging the reality of hellish or demonic encounters and the need for biblical discernment.

A Call to the Church: Why Christians and theologians must stop ignoring this robust data and learn to minister to those having these experiences.

Apologetics of the Soul: How NDEs and deathbed visions offer powerful evidence for God's existence and the reality of the afterlife.

CHAPTERS:

0:00 - Intro: Are we more than our brains?

2:19 - Introducing Stephen Miller and his research on deathbed experiences

4:16 - What exactly is a near-death experience (NDE) vs. a deathbed vision?

12:09 - Terminal lucidity and shared death experiences

18:50 - Evidence for the afterlife over the dying brain hypothesis

26:52 - Survey data: How common are visionary experiences?

30:36 - The history of NDE research (Raymond Moody, Dr. Sabom, and more)

39:33 - Why the church often ignores or dismisses these spiritual encounters

47:07 - Discernment, psychedelic drugs, and the danger of seeking out visions

51:52 - The reality of distressing or hellish near-death experiences

58:11 - Biblical examples of visionary experiences and the afterlife

1:01:10 - Do NDEs prove the reality of the resurrection and the soul?

1:08:54 - How theologians and philosophers should approach this research

1:21:40 - Conclusion: A call for humility and awe regarding human consciousness

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Life After Life by Raymond Moody

Faith That's Not Blind by Stephen Miller

Demonic Foes by Richard Gallagher

Encountering Mystery by Dale Allison

Works by Dr. Michael Sabom, Pim van Lommel, and Michael Egnor

The movie After Death

Take the Next Step in Your EducationIf this conversation has sparked a desire to go deeper into the intersection of theology, science, and the soul, I want to invite you to explore our advanced programs. Equip yourself to engage the modern world with intellectual rigour and spiritual depth. Explore Our Degree Programs Here: https://degrees.soulscienceministries.com/

#NearDeathExperiences #Theology #Apologetics #Afterlife #Philosophy #Consciousness #Christianity

Are systems like ChatGPT really destroying the truth, or are they just reflecting our own deeply flawed human nature? In this episode of It's a Theological World After All, host Joshua Farris sits down with Professor Jimmy Alfonso Licon to explore his provocative paper, ChatGPT is bullshit partly because people are bullshitters. We dive into Harry Frankfurt’s famous concept of "bullshit" and ask a difficult question: is the problem with AI's lack of truth-telling a technological flaw, or does it stem from the fact that it’s trained on human language? From the utility of self-deception in our relationships to the philosophical pursuit of plausibility over truth, we unpack what AI reveals about the fragility of the human ego.

If you want to understand how artificial intelligence mirrors our deepest social and spiritual struggles, this conversation is for you.

SUBSCRIBE for more deep dives into theology, philosophy, and the soul.

📘 Check out my book here: https://shorturl.at/u3MGp

IN THIS EPISODE:

The Definition of Bullshit: Unpacking Harry Frankfurt's philosophy and how it applies to predictive AI language models. Architecture vs. Data: Is ChatGPT a "bullshitter" because of its predictive design, or because it's trained on the internet? The Evolution of Deception: How social media has created an evolutionary competition for attention, accelerating our culture's "bullshit." Self-Deception and Society: Why a little bit of "bullshit" might actually be necessary for human cooperation and healthy relationships. Plausibility as a Proxy: Do philosophers really seek the truth, or just the most plausible arguments? Theological Reflections: Connecting the human tendency to deceive with classical concepts of pride, humility, and our search for ultimate meaning.

CHAPTERS:

0:00 - Intro: Is AI producing truth or just "bullshit"?

2:24 - Introducing Jimmy Alfonso Licon and the philosophy of cooperation

4:13 - The core claim: ChatGPT as a bullshit generator

9:43 - Defining Frankfurt's concept of "bullshit"

13:44 - Architecture vs. Training Data: Why does AI bullshit?

22:19 - Are humans actually incentivized to tell the truth?

26:52 - Self-deception and the utility of bullshit in relationships

31:40 - Can bullshit serve a social purpose?

40:53 - Plausibility as a proxy for truth in philosophy

55:53 - The internet as an accelerator for bullshit ("Bullshit Playoffs")

1:15:27 - Theological reflections: Pride, humility, and the human ego

1:31:02 - Finding ultimate meaning and grounding ourselves in reality

1:35:36 - Conclusion: AI as a mirror of human nature

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

ChatGPT is bullshit partly because people are bullshitters by Jimmy Alfonso Licon

ChatGPT is bullshit by Michael Townsen Hicks, James Humphreys, and Joe Slater

On Bullshit by Harry Frankfurt Better Not to Know: Why Knowing Less Is Sometimes Best by Jimmy Alfonso Licon

The works of Dan Sperber and Hugo Mercier on epistemic vigilance

Technopoly by Neil Postman

Take the Next Step in Your EducationIf this conversation has sparked a desire to go deeper into the intersection of theology, science, and the soul, I want to invite you to explore our advanced programs. Equip yourself to engage the modern world with intellectual rigour and spiritual depth. Explore Our Degree Programs Here: https://degrees.soulscienceministries.com/

#AI #Philosophy #ChatGPT #Theology #HumanNature #TechEthics

Are we witnessing the rise of a neo-pagan culture? In this episode, Dr. Joshua R. Farris sits down with Carl and Anthony to explore how pantheism and ancient pagan worldviews are actively reshaping modern society and politics. From the intensely polarized rhetoric of Christian Nationalism to Dr. Michael Heiser's "Deuteronomy 32 worldview," we unpack the unseen spiritual realities driving today's cultural shifts. We also dive deep into the theology of "sacred space," highlighted by Carl's chilling firsthand account of witnessing a dark Luciferian ritual.

If you want to understand how to maintain a robust, biblical response to a world increasingly hungry for the supernatural, this conversation is for you.

SUBSCRIBE for more deep dives into theology, philosophy, and the soul.

📘 Check out my book here: https://shorturl.at/u3MGp

IN THIS EPISODE:

- The Return of Paganism: How modern culture has moved past secularism and is embracing pantheistic and neo-pagan spiritualities.

- Politics as Spiritual Warfare: Why political rhetoric is shifting toward cosmic battles and what that reveals about our metaphysical decline.

- The Deuteronomy 32 Worldview: Understanding the biblical framework that the nations are ruled by lesser, created gods (elohim).

- Paul at the Areopagus: Unpacking the intense spiritual and political reality of Acts 17, where Paul stood before a pagan court.

- A Luciferian Ritual: Carl recounts a disturbing double ritual involving a Luciferian and a "Christian" mystic, and the spiritual lessons learned.

- The Theology of Sacred Space: Should Christians treat physical locations as spiritually neutral, or can spaces hold demonic presence and require consecration?.

CHAPTERS:

0:00 - Intro: Culture's openness to Paganism

2:43 - Are Christians equipped to respond today?

4:01 - The rise of explicit religious rhetoric in politics

10:31 - How entertainment and the attention economy led to moral decline

14:57 - Is the political right reacting to a pagan left?

22:04 - Michael Heiser and the Deuteronomy 32 Worldview

30:56 - Acts 17: Paul before the Pagan Court of the Areopagus

37:53 - Desacralization vs. the Sacramental view of nature

47:02 - Carl’s experience witnessing a Luciferian ritual

52:52 - Defining "Sacred Space" and spiritual intentionality

1:02:20 - Conclusion: The importance of a robust biblical response

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Witchcraft Goes Mainstream by Brooks Alexander

Pagan America by John Daniel Davidson

God's Rivals by Gerald McDermott

The Unseen Realm (Deuteronomy 32 Worldview) by Michael Heiser

Clinton Arnold's work on spiritual powers and Ephesians

Take the Next Step in Your Education

If this conversation has sparked a desire to go deeper into the intersection of theology, science, and the soul, I want to invite you to explore our advanced programs. Equip yourself to engage the modern world with intellectual rigour and spiritual depth. Explore Our Degree Programs Here: https://degrees.soulscienceministries.com/

#Theology #NeoPaganism #SpiritualWarfare #Apologetics #ChristianPhilosophy #SacredSpace

Can the doctrine of the Trinity explain the very structure of human consciousness and the natural world? In this episode, I sit down with Fr. Andrew Hollingsworth to explore why the Trinity isn't just an abstract theological puzzle—it’s the "grammar" of reality itself. From the "triadic" philosophy of Charles Sanders Peirce to a scathing critique of AI and materialism, we dive deep into how the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit shape how we know truth, experience science, and inhabit the world.

If you’ve ever wondered how ancient theology survives in the age of machines, this conversation is for you.

SUBSCRIBE for more deep dives into theology, philosophy, and the soul.

📘 Check out my book here: https://shorturl.at/u3MGp

IN THIS EPISODE:

The Philosophy of Signs: How Charles Sanders Peirce’s "Firstness, Secondness, and Thirdness" mirrors the Triune God.

The Failure of AI: Why machines can process data but lack the "phenomenology" of a living soul.

A Defense of the Soul: Why physicalism (the idea that we are just brains) is inconsistent with the Christian faith.

Liturgy as Knowledge: How the Anglican Book of Common Prayer "teaches" us the Trinity through participation.

CHAPTERS:

0:00 - Intro: Dragon Ball Z & Icons

1:45 - Does the Trinity shape how we think about Truth?

3:40 - Charles Sanders Peirce & The "Phaneron"

6:00 - The Triadic Sign: Object, Representamen, Interpretant

11:45 - Substance Dualism vs. Materialism

16:30 - Can a machine actually "know" anything?

25:30 - Biosemiotics: The Trinity in Biology

36:00 - How Liturgy does the "Heavy Lifting" of Theology

41:00 - Why Anglicanism? (Suprema Scriptura)

44:30 - Conclusion: Doctrine is a Grammar to be Inhabited

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

God and the World of Signs by Andrew Robinson

The Doctrine of the Knowledge of God by John Frame

Spirit Word Community by Amos Yong

Take the Next Step in Your Education

If this conversation has sparked a desire to go deeper into the intersection of theology, science, and the soul, I want to invite you to explore our advanced programs. Equip yourself to engage the modern world with intellectual rigour and spiritual depth. Explore Our Degree Programs Here: https://degrees.soulscienceministries.com/

#Theology #Philosophy #Trinity #AI #Christianity #Apologetics #Anglicanism #Dualism #Peirce #StAugustine

As materialism fails to explain human consciousness, a new and ancient "Liturgy of Self-Making" is rising. In this deep-dive, Anthony Costello, Carl Teichrib and myself, Joshua Farris, explore how AI, Neo-Paganism, and the sexual revolution are converging to redefine what it means to be human.

Is the world becoming more technological, or more theological? In this episode, we go behind the scenes of SXSW and Paganicon to witness the birth of a new cultural era. We move beyond surface-level politics to examine the "Sexual Monism" and "Radical Individualism" driving today’s headlines.

From the failure of physicalism in AI labs to the "bestial ethics" of modern fantasy literature, our speakers provide a chilling diagnosis of a society that has detached sex from creation and the self from the Logos.

What you will learn in this episode:

The Failure of Materialism: Why top scientists are abandoning physicalism for mysticism.

The AI Mirror: How technology is becoming a tool for modern divination and "Digital Animism."

The Pagan Ethic: Why a worldview without a transcendent standard inevitably leads to a "Might Makes Right" power dynamic.

The Narcissism of Modern Sex: How the detachment of gender and sexuality from the body is impacting the future of civilization.

📘 Check out my book here: https://shorturl.at/u3MGp

Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro: It’s a Theological World After All

12:15 – SXSW Report: Why AI Experts are Desperate for Humanity

24:30 – Paganicon 2026: Using AI for Tarot and Rituals

36:45 – The Aesthetic Ethic: Beauty vs. Ugliness in Neo-Paganism

48:20 – Sexual Monism: The Goal of "Gender Alchemy"

01:05:10 – The Power Trap: Why Paganism Can't Condemn "The Hawk vs. The Squirrel"

01:18:30 – Stoicism & The Logos: Is There a Rational Alternative?

01:32:45 – The Marketing of the Occult: Fantasy Fiction and Young Women

01:45:10 – Conclusion: The Deconstruction of the Sexual Narrative

Connect with the Kirkwood Center:

Website: https://www.kirkwoodcenter.org/

Take the Next Step in Your Education

If this conversation has sparked a desire to go deeper into the intersection of theology, science, and the soul, I want to invite you to explore our advanced programs. Equip yourself to engage the modern world with intellectual rigour and spiritual depth. Explore Our Degree Programs Here: https://degrees.soulscienceministries.com/

#Theology #ArtificialIntelligence #NeoPaganism #Worldview #ChristianApologetics #CultureWar #Ethics #Philosophy