Athens and Jerusalem (in Education) cover art

Athens and Jerusalem (in Education)

Athens and Jerusalem (in Education)

By: Knut Ove Æsøy Steven Phelps Kamran Namdar
Listen for free

About this listen

 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.© 2025 Knut Ove Æsøy, Steven Phelps, Kamran Namdar Philosophy Social Sciences Spirituality
Episodes
  • Revelation

    Revelation
    Dec 16 2025

    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? How can we know this and how can we express what we know? These are some of the questions we address in this episode as an introduction to talking about prophets in the next episode.
    Show More Show Less
    45 mins
  • AI and Ethics

    AI and Ethics
    Nov 16 2025

    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 than humans and not least whether they can practice these choices in a better way than humans can. This applies both to individuals and to what is morally best for the community. We present many important questions that touch on the connection between ethical rationality and the limits of ethical rationality and where metaphysics or faith come into play.
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 8 mins
  • Pierre Teilhard de Chardin - Scientific writing on religion and nature

    Pierre Teilhard de Chardin - Scientific writing on religion and nature
    Oct 12 2025

    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 his works while he was alive, but they were published after his death. His works are unfortunately not that well known, but he has had a great influence both in art and science.
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 9 mins
No reviews yet
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.