Intelligent religion

[DrZoidberg]

Here's an excellent interview with the amazing Justin Sledge, a serious academic on occultism. He's talking about why he's Jewish and what religion means to him, in spite of him, very much, being an atheist. He's super atheistic.

He's got a great quote on it. "You can play Dungeons and Dragons without thinking you're an elf".

Another good one, "When religion lack humour... RUN"

My view on religion is the same as him. Even though I've yet to find a religion that excites me. Unless Burning Man is a religion.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

Here's an excellent interview with the amazing Justin Sledge, a serious academic on occultism. He's talking about why he's Jewish and what religion means to him, in spite of him, very much, being an atheist. He's super atheistic.

He's got a great quote on it. "You can play Dungeons and Dragons without thinking you're an elf".

Isn't this just recognizing the difference between religion and culture? Being Jewish has a dual religious/nationalist meaning.

 

[steve_bank]

'Intelligent religion'?

From a post by a mod on a thread, when posting a link forum rules require a summary or paraphrasing in your own words.

In your own words what dies intelligent region mean?

Serious academic?

As Jimmy said being Jewish is both culture and religion. As well as a racial identity. Atheist or observant Jewish is an identity. Nothing new there.

Jews have always been able to laugh at themselves. There is a deep humor in Jewish culture. Self deprecating. Humorous stories.


In contrast Christians are unable to laugh at themselves in the mirror. Maybe that is why they are so onerous.

 

[ideologyhunter]

The video: TLDW. Mr. Sledge, from what I gather, is simultaneously secular, Jewish, Marxist, and a proponent of esotericism. I have to confess that esotericism is not a term I could define, and after visiting its page in wikipedia, I still can't. In fact, that page claims that philosophers cannot agree on the main components of esotericism. It seems to be one of the elusive eels in the lexicon of philosophy, perhaps in the same way that people say they are "spiritual", which in my experience means jack squat.
Perhaps Sledge's participation in religion is analogous to the Unitarian Universalist church -- with a pursuit of truth (wikipedia's esotericism page says inner truth and interconnectedness) and fellowship, but without dogmatic lists of required beliefs.
Speaking personally, there's too much craziness and slack-jawed belligerence in religion as one finds it in the USA. If Donald Trump and Hegseth and Mikey Johnson can crusade behind it, it's not for me. If it pushes mythology as fundamental truth, it's not me. For the touchstones of what makes life interesting and worth living, I'd rather turn to music, literature, film, the natural world, fun times with friends, good food, humor, and water aerobics. And my dog Bogie, who doesn't need an ounce of mystic googa-mooga to have one hell of a time.

 

[steve_bank]

Esoteric knowledge is specialized knowledge not generally accessible to the masses. The math of quantum mechanics is esoteric.

In mysticism I think esoteric means hidden or secret knowledge revealed to the few.

AI Overview
Jewish mysticism, widely known as Kabbalah, is a broad tradition of esoteric teachings that seek to understand the hidden nature of God and the universe. It bridges the gap between the infinite, unknowable Divine and the finite physical world, often interpreting sacred texts through hidden metaphors and spiritual practices.

Madonna became a Kabbalah-ist,