Podcasts by Conversations about Buddha, Jesus, and Mohammed
This podcast started when four friends at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte began meeting to learn about each other’s religions, sometimes while reading a common book—and found such discussions so interesting that they decided to record them. One member of the group, David Bashor, was a long-time Methodist (and a biology professor). Another, Mark Pizzato (a theatre professor), had grown up Roman Catholic but was gradually converting to Buddhism. Bill Chu (originally from China and a computer science professor) was more experienced in Buddhism, though also a convert to it. Mirsad Hadzikadic (originally from Bosnia and also a computer science professor) had been raised Muslim and recently increased his adherence to its principles. All four wanted to understand how they viewed Allah, God, or Ultimate Truth in similar and different ways. They started recording these podcast episodes in spring 2015 (with Mirsad leading on the technical side, also with the help of Mark Olson). Unfortunately, David Bashor died in August of that year, from a long-term illness that suddenly worsened. So these podcasts are dedicated to his memory and fueled by his spirit, while discovering connections between science, philosophy, and various religious ideals. (David was especially interested in the scientific possibilities of “Morphic Resonance” and “Akashic Field” theories.) We three continue, with David in mind, to explore what the teachings and actions of Buddha, Jesus, and Mohammed might mean today—as recorded by their followers and later generations, in various distinctive yet resonating ways. For further ideas and images see: www.cabjmblog.wordpress.com
Further podcasts by Bill Chu, Mirsad Hadzikadic, Mark Pizzato
Podcast on the topic Buddhismus
All episodes
The Nature of Belief from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What does it mean to have a belief? Where does it come from? Does it have evolutionary benefits? Other benefits? Mark Pizzato, Bill Chu, Mirsad Hadzikadic.
ListenAkashic Field from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Is Akashic Field all around us? Does it define the nature of reality? David Bashor, Mark Pizzato, Bill Chu, Mirsad Hadzikadic.
ListenIs There God? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Does God exist? What is the nature of God? How would we know? Mark Pizzato, Bill Chu, Mirsad Hadzikadic, Nirvana Pistoljevic, Elmedina Grobovic.
ListenBelieve It or Not from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Where does belief in God come from? God vs. religion? Mark Pizzato, Bill Chu, Mirsad Hadzikadic, David Penchansky.
ListenAfterlife? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What ideas and images of the afterlife do we have, and of the soul continuing after death, through Buddhism, Christianity, or Islam--and our experiences of transcendence in this li...
ListenScience and Religion from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Mirsad, Bill, and Mark discuss how Buddhism corresponds more to modern physics than to evolutionary biology--and how that compares with Christianity and Islam, in their fundamental...
ListenSuffering and Sacrifice from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
How are suffering and sacrifice related in the three major religions? Did the founders of those religions (and Abraham in Judaism) become models for sacrificial pain, and yet trans...
ListenFree Will and Fate from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Mirsad, Bill, and Mark discuss how free will and fate relate to neuroscience, computer science, and religion. What is the self (or soul) that chooses? Is it conscious or subconsc...
ListenGuiding Principles from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Along with moral rules (the Eightfold Path, Ten Commandments, or Shariah Law), what do the world's major religions offer as guiding principles for meaning and purpose in one's life...
ListenArtificial Intelligence and Religion from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
As A.I. evolves, through machine learning and creativity, will it gain human consciousness and a godlike power over us? Will computers become sentient beings and evoke our respect...
ListenSapiens and Collapse from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
In his 2014 book, Sapiens, Yuval Harari offers a meta-history of humankind that traces the evolution of "religion" from animism, polytheism, and monotheism (such as Islam and Chris...
ListenReligion and Nationalism from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Religious and national identities have helped people to build trust, cooperation, morality, and generosity--but have also led to conflicts between groups, many times in history. H...
ListenSimulations from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Is our world a simulation created by superior beings? How have simulations of the real and supernatural increased through new technologies--in relation to the traditions that star...
ListenHistorical Founders from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
With their guest, Professor James Tabor of UNC-Charlotte, a specialist on the historical Jesus, we compare the people at the origins of Christianity, including St. Paul, Mary (the ...
ListenInterpreting Scriptures from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
With special guest, Nathan Redick, a fundamentalist Evangelical Christian, Mirsad, Mark, and Bill discuss traditions of authority for interpreting sacred texts in the three world r...
ListenCreation Stories from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Mirsad, Bill, and Mark are joined by Jon Marks, Professor of Anthropology at UNC-Charlotte, to explore what is at stake in various creation stories, from science and the global rel...
ListenEthics and Morality from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
How do religious and secular ethics relate to moral intuitions and animal instincts? Bill, Mark, and Mirsad discuss the trajectories of human goodness or evil, reward or punishmen...
ListenExistentialism and Astronomy from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Special guest Mike Corwin, an existentialist, physicist, and astronomer, tells about his belief in becoming, rather than being, about individual responsibility without God, and abo...
ListenTechnology and Religion from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
How do the religious communities and teachings that started with Buddha, Jesus, and Mohammed relate to the current use of mechanical devices and social media? Does technology help...
ListenSexuality and Gender from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Kent Brintnall, professor of Religious Studies at UNC-Charlotte, joins Bill, Mirsad, and Mark to discuss how religions interpret sexuality and shape gender identities. Is God or t...
ListenSpirituality in a New Generation from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Luke and Peter Pizzato, sons of Mark, join with him, Bill, and Mirsad to discuss the three global religions in relation to moral philosophy, death metal music, meditation goals, an...
ListenA Religion of Humanity from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Mirsad reflects on his recent campaign to become President of Bosnia and his current building of a new political party, regarding the violent history of religious conflicts in that...
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