EP 45: Dead Sea Scrolls / No God but God
In this episode, we present audio from two rare televised lectures from Joseph Campbell’s early public-broadcast career — Dead Sea Scrolls and No God but God — originally aired on WNDT in New York in the early 1960s. In these archival recordings, Campbell traces humanity’s spiritual crossroads — from Paleolithic caves and Near Eastern temples to the Essene community at Qumran and the dawn of apocalyptic thought. He examines the Dead Sea Scrolls as the voice of a community bracing for the end of days, and explores how Greek philosophy, Persian dualism, Hebrew prophecy, and emerging Christian teachings collided and transformed one another. Broadcast decades before The Power of Myth, these talks capture Campbell in a more structured, scholarly television mode — yet still pulsing with the fire of myth, history, and spiritual imagination. A window into the mythic ferment before the birth of Western religious consciousness — and a glimpse of Campbell before he became a household name. Host Bradley Olson offers an introduction and commentary at the end of the lecture.
Pathways with Joseph Campbell · Joseph Campbell Foundation, Bradley Olson, Joseph Campbell
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Show Notes
In this episode, we present audio from two rare televised lectures from Joseph Campbell’s early public-broadcast career - Dead Sea Scrolls and No God but God - originally aired on WNDT in New York in the early 1960s.
In these archival recordings, Campbell traces humanity’s spiritual crossroads — from Paleolithic caves and Near Eastern temples to the Essene community at Qumran and the dawn of apocalyptic thought.
He examines the Dead Sea Scrolls as the voice of a community bracing for the end of days, and explores how Greek philosophy, Persian dualism, Hebrew prophecy, and emerging Christian teachings collided and transformed one another.
Broadcast decades before The Power of Myth, these talks capture Campbell in a more structured, scholarly television mode — yet still pulsing with the fire of myth, history, and spiritual imagination.
A window into the mythic ferment before the birth of Western religious consciousness — and a glimpse of Campbell before he became a household name.
Host Bradley Olson offers an introduction and commentary at the end of the lecture.
Pathways with Joseph Campbell is hosted by Brad Olson, PhD and is a production of the Joseph Campbell Foundation. It is produced by Tyler Lapkin. Executive Producer, John Bucher. Editing and audio services by Tristan Batt.
For more information on the MythMaker Podcast Network and Joseph Campbell, visit JCF.org.
All music exclusively provided by APM Music (apmmusic.com)