Protect Your Noggin

In 1954, physician and psychonaut John C. Lilly invented a floatation tank that provided sensory attenuation and isolation. It involves a tub filled with loads of epsom salt, with water heated to skin temperature. This allows for an amazing entry into a meditative state. In our experience, an hour in a float tank is like sitting zazen for 8 hours. It might be a way for you to at least experience a quality meditative state to which you can return later in a simple seated position. It might, if you can afford it, become a regular part of your monthly wellness routine. Though some think floating ought to be considered fringe medicine, we aren’t interested in any wild claims about the health benefits but know first hand how helpful it can be for our emotional and mental wellbeing. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thepynp/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thepynp/support

Sometimes we fail to get into a rhythm with regular meditation because we think we have to perfect our practice from the very start. We believe it’s better to start with an imperfect practice than to never start at all. Moreover, we discuss various ways to jump into a state of mindfulness so you can taste and see how great it is to get centered and present in your life. By doing that, it’s easier to get motivated to not only dedicate the time needed for meditation, and it subsequently can inspire a person to find the most effective ways to benefit from such practices. We also discuss various forms of meditation in the history of Taoism. #mindfulness #meditation #spiritualbutnotreligious #entheogens #exvangelical #deconstruction #zen #zazen --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thepynp/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thepynp/support

A two-part conversation about why evangelical Christian higher education is a project all people of good will should abandon. We aren’t calling for heavy-handed measures from the state but for the voluntary societal decision to treat this project sort of like circuses: by refusing to patronize institutions that don’t align with our ethical values, they can change or go extinct on their own. Topics mentioned Colorado Christian University strategic priorities Trinity Lutheran College/Lutheran Bible Institute Council of Christian Colleges and Universities John Fluevog Shoes  Funko Headquarters Trouble Behind documentary about Corbin, Kentucky An older episode with Trinity alumnus Casey Tinnin Mark Noll, The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind Cotton Mather on spectral evidence in witch trials Richard Rohr Effective altruism Senator Bill Armstrong Dinesh D’Souza David Bentley Hall on universalism Hunter vs. The Department of Education Article on sexual violence on college campuses

A two-part conversation about why evangelical Christian higher education is a project all people of good will should abandon. We aren’t calling for heavy-handed measures from the state but for the voluntary societal decision to treat this project sort of like circuses: by refusing to patronize institutions that don’t align with our ethical values, they can change or go extinct on their own. Topics mentioned Colorado Christian University strategic priorities Trinity Lutheran College/Lutheran Bible Institute Council of Christian Colleges and Universities John Fluevog Shoes  Funko Headquarters Trouble Behind documentary about Corbin, Kentucky An older episode with Trinity alumnus Casey Tinnin Mark Noll, The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind Cotton Mather on spectral evidence in witch trials Richard Rohr Effective altruism Senator Bill Armstrong Dinesh D’Souza David Bentley Hall on universalism Hunter vs. The Department of Education Article on sexual violence on college campuses

A half hour of readings from our recent publication, Tao Te Ching: A Playfully Sincere Rendition with some nature sounds in the back. Take some time out from an anxious day to reflect on some ancient wisdom. We pulled out some of the grooviest selections for you this winter solstice. If you dig it, consider purchasing a copy for yourself or a loved one. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thepynp/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thepynp/support

With the rise of artificial intelligence, and its exponential development, might we think of this super intelligence as the consciousness of a pantheistic God. We use this language playfully but sincerely. But using this language helps us understand how the rise of AI might help us understand how best to think about education, spirituality, mythology, and economics. To help us think about the concept of judgment of humanity, we discuss the thought experiment called Roko’s Basilisk and Pierre Teilhard de Chardin’s concept of the Omega Point. We also address a listener voice message from Mike, who has a compelling take on Genesis 6:1-4. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thepynp/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thepynp/support

Stacie and Jeff discuss why they dedicated so much time to yet another rendition of the Tao Te Ching. They explain how their experiences deconstructing the dogmas of their church background, travel in overland vehicles, yoga instruction, philosophy and religion classes, political thought research, and confrontation of death affected their work. They explain why they avoided the definite article and gendered pronouns for “sage,” and other technical decisions they made in their work. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thepynp/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thepynp/support

"The cosmos is unbiased, treating living things like straw dogs. A sage is unbiased, treating people like straw dogs." Stacie, Sydnie, and Jeff reflect on a tough passage from the Tao Te Ching: Chapter 5, in light of the text itself and the family's experiences this difficult year of grief. Note that they were a bit tipsy with this impromptu episode, so consider it a holiday week bonus and forgive the frequent tangents. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thepynp/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thepynp/support

Even though they’ve been enjoying playing within New Age spaces, Jeff, Stacie and Sydnie reflect on ways in which New Age spirituality can go wrong in contemporary, capitalist society. In particular, they reflect on the phenomenon of “spiritual bypassing” as it relates to conversations surrounding grief. Topics include pseudoscience, cultural appropriation, equity within yoga, and spiritual narcissism. [Part two of two.] --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thepynp/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thepynp/support

Even though they’ve been enjoying playing within New Age spaces, Jeff, Stacie and Sydnie reflect on ways in which New Age spirituality can go wrong in contemporary, capitalist society. In particular, they reflect on the phenomenon of “spiritual bypassing” as it relates to conversations surrounding grief. Topics include pseudoscience, cultural appropriation, equity within yoga, and spiritual narcissism. [Part one of two.] --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thepynp/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thepynp/support

This chapter helps us understand difference between modern liberalism and the naturalness of Taoist anarchism. The Tao Te Ching expresses care for all beings, but it doesn’t express such care by advocating for a highly controlled society. States, even socialist states, cause everyday people harm when they become restrictive. We’ve seen this to some extent in China, but especially in Cuba. To be sure, part of the problem for anti-capitalist revolutions is the fact that the global economy has its tentacles wrapped around just about everything. Nonetheless, rules alone can’t change things. For another world to be possible, society needs to think less about finding ways to get people to appreciate naturalness, rather than force. Our rendition of the Tao Te Ching will be available online very soon, by the way. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thepynp/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thepynp/support

We discuss reasons why pastors, church workers, and professors at church-related universities might want to quit their positions for the sake of conscience. We also discuss four contexts in which it might be worth sticking it out. We conclude with our suggestions for how to operate if you are planning to ghost your scene. We aren’t trying to be patronizing to any group, but rather want to recognize our perspective that its time to “ghost church” uses “church” to mean predominantly white, affluent American evangelicalism and may not necessarily apply to other contexts. We don’t presume to know each person’s situation, but we wish we would have been able to hear some advice about the ethics of staying and the ethics of leaving a religious community. We offer our thoughts more as an answer to a bundle of inquiries, rather than a detailed thesis. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thepynp/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thepynp/support

We discuss the Drake equation, which helps us calculate the chances that there is intelligent extraterrestrial life in our galaxy, with whom we might communicate. We then reflect on the philosophical and religious implications of several of the variables. How likely is life to exist at all? How dangerous are human beings to other life? How long can a civilization last? And what do Hindus, Christians, Buddhists, and naturalistic scientists say about the end of the universe in general? This is sometimes a heavy show, maybe a bit scary, but it's that time of year.  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thepynp/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thepynp/support

"The wise aren’t preachy. The preachy aren’t wise. Sit in silence. Practice temperance. Smooth jagged edges. Release entanglements. Soften your gaze. Embrace oneness with the earth. This is called mystical union." After a long pause in reflection, Stacie's back with one that hits close to home. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thepynp/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thepynp/support

Stay tuned for the always fascinating takes from Rick Mallinson, Jeff's pop. He shares some interesting connections that happened recently, illustrating Carl Gustav Jung's concept of synchronicity. Stacie and Syd return and chat about dreams, nature hikes, and Rick's encounter with a guru in 1970. Come virtually join in on the casual conversation.  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thepynp/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thepynp/support

Jeff offers his final retractions episode, reflecting on his book Sexy: The Quest for Erotic Virtue in Perplexing Times. Topics include purity culture, ethical porn, monogamy, deconstruction, virtue theory, the Tao Te Ching, and mysticism. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thepynp/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thepynp/support

This is sort of a show about how a Christian university could save the world--if only a Christian university were possible--and if only the spirit of Molech handn't staged a hostile takeover of an otherwise radical movement. Jeff explains what he was up to when he presented a funded lecture on the topic of confessional Lutheran thought, yet started to unravel his entanglement in confessional Lutheran though through the generous support of confessional Lutheran donors. This is in response to the Trembath lecture which is available in several formats by checking out our show notes at protectyournoggin.org. The lecture in question was ironically pivotal for Jeff quitting churh-related higher education altogether, so enjoy the tragedy but be not afraid: it ultimately led him to a professional life he is finding joyful. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thepynp/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thepynp/support

Jeff discusses the reasons why he wrote an article about the Hebrew Bible's account of semi-divine beings making the Nephilim, giant god-human hybrids, and what it means for navigating life today in a postmodern world, run by a modern economy, informed by an ancient text. This article isn't rejected so much as identified as the first part of the unravelling of Jeff's confidence in the American evangelical interpretive tradtion. This isn't for everbybody, but if it is relevant to your background, it might help frame some of the dissonance many experience. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thepynp/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thepynp/support

This is part of a short series of episodes in which I look back on stuff I (Jeff) wrote in the past and reflect on ways my thinking might have changed, and what I might want to reject. In this episode, while I generally stand by my take on the history of thought within the Genevan Academy, under the rectorship of Theodore Beza (John Calvin’s right hand man), I explore ways in which I didn’t see how much the form or style of theology he propagated has had negative, unintended consequences on Western culture, especially that of American Christian culture. As always, feel free to skip this if it doesn’t interest you. We’ll be back with more playful stuff in weeks to come. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thepynp/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thepynp/support

As a couple of kids who grew up in American evangelicalism, Tarot cards were a taboo we never even considered violating in our youth. Now, we discuss the ways in which Jungian understanding of archetypes of the collective unconscious helped us make use of Tarot for personal healing and growth. Part 1: Our uneasy relationship with tarot, CG Jung’s idea of the archetypes of the collective unconscious, how we got into using these cards for self exploration rather than fortune telling, and why we think this all might be helpful for folks extracting themselves from unhealthy religious landscapes. Part 2: Exploration and demonstration of the newish phenomenon of Neo-shamanistic, New Age oracle cards, which tend to involve inspirational messages for transformation and growth. BTW: If you are an expert in tarot or oracle cards and think we’ve got something wrong, feel free to reach out and help us get it right. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thepynp/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/t