Thinking Ahead with Carter Phipps
Society & Culture
Jeffrey Kripal has carved out a unique place in American culture. He’s a professor of Religious Studies at Rice university, with an unparalleled range of knowledge in mysticism, philosophy, esoteric thought, gnosticicm, spirituality, human potential, and so much more. Kripal’s work extends beyond academia as well. He spent a number of years as chairman of the Board at the renowned Esalen Institute in California, birthplace of the human potential movement. He’s a prolific author who has written numerous books and essays, developing a body of work that is as impressive as it is groundbreaking and sometimes controversial. Two of his books that I’ve particularly enjoyed are his history of Esalen (Esalen: America and the Religion of No Religion) and the delightful and insightful Mystics and Mutants: Science Fiction, Superhero Comics, and the Paranormal. This last title touches on another of Jeff’s great contributions: his laudable efforts to bring the paranormal into the realm of authentic study. From the evolution of consciousness to the exploration of mysticism to the pursuit of the paranormal, Kripal’s work has made room for a new generation of scholars to branch out and study more dimensions of what lights up America’s spiritual and religious life. I honestly think he’s one of the most important figures in progressive spirituality today and I was delighted to have this opportunity to catch up with him on the latest episode of Thinking Ahead.
Bobby Azarian: The Beauty of Evolutionary Thinking
Amiel Handelsman: Race and Maturity in the American Experience
Brad DeLong: Are We Slouching Toward Utopia?
Steve McIntosh: Does Human Nature Evolve?
Integral Conversations: Culture Wars and Human Progress with Jeff Salzman
Edward Chancellor: Money, Financial Bubbles, and the Price of Time
Tom Mustill: How to Speak Whale
Diana Pasulka: Religion, UFOs, and the Experience of the Uncanny
Meredith Angwin: Energy, Carbon, and the Growing Fragility of our National Grid
Christopher Leonard: Did the Fed and Easy Money Break the American Economy?
Darryl Jones: Roads, Wildlife, and the Future of Conservation
Chris Bache: LSD and the Exploration of the Inner Cosmos
Steve McIntosh: Reconciling American Pride and Shame
Gary Lachman: The Esoteric Undercurrents of Putin's War on Ukraine
Gregg Easterbrook: Promises and Perils of the Blue Age
Mariana Bozesan: Integral Investing in a World of Abundance
Greg Thomas: How Jazz Can Help Us Think About Race
Ross Coulthart: UFOs—Is the Truth in Plain Sight?
Sergey Young: Are You Ready For Radical Longevity?
Steve McIntosh: Building a Post-Progressive Movement
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