How much is it our choice to belong, versus the situation being right? An interesting topic, especially for two Fools who, growing up, didn’t feel they belonged. A discussion of fate, destiny, karma, and the story of Oedipus Rex follow as we explore aspects of belonging, autonomy, the relationship between religion and mysticism, and other aspects and implications of being in the very human predicament of experiencing existence as both an individual, and a part of a collective. Thanks for listening!

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See the Fools and Sages show notes: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1GVCVW1h2_-4JOU22KREzTO0lVDiN3icg?usp=drive_link

Dr. Michael Wolfe, tutor at St. John’s College and leader of the Middle Eastern studies program there, joins these Fools for a great discussion. Since discovering him in graduate school, Dr. Wolfe was and remains captivated by the great 12th-century Sufi mystic Ibn-al-Arabi, and we go pretty deep into his views on the nature of God, consciousness, and reality (is it a dream? Could synchronicity exist if the universe is essentially material?) These fools loved this conversation and can’t wait to have Dr. Wolfe back - hope you enjoy it as well!

Patreon: patreon.com/FoolsandSagesPodcast

X: https://x.com/sagetimepodcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foolsandsagespodcast/

See the Fools and Sages show notes: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1GVCVW1h2_-4JOU22KREzTO0lVDiN3icg?usp=drive_link

Professor Steven Nadler of the University of Wisconsin joins these Fools to talk about the life and work of Baruch Spinoza, who was expelled from Judaism in the 1600s for his radical views on God and Nature. We discuss Spinoza’s view on living a successful life, the ideas of Freedom and Passion, whether Free Will can exist, and also other areas in Nadler’s realm of expertise such as medieval Jewish philosophy and its relationship to theology. It was a pleasure hosting Dr. Nadler and we hope you enjoy listening to this episode as much as we enjoyed the conversation!

Patreon: patreon.com/FoolsandSagesPodcast

X: https://x.com/sagetimepodcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foolsandsagespodcast/

See the Fools and Sages Show Notes: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1GVCVW1h2_-4JOU22KREzTO0lVDiN3icg?usp=drive_link