The Two Tongues Podcast

In this episode Chris and Kyle pow-wow with a former evangelist and friend of the show, Daniel Torridon, of the Onion Unlimited podcast, to see what we can make of Jesus as a teacher. What or who Jesus was remains hotly debated after over 2,000 years. Was he God or merely a man? Was he a prophet? A teacher? While we have no hope of consensus as to his godhood, we do have general agreement that he was a great teacher. Oh? So, what then did Jesus teach? Do you know? Could you summarize his teachings? Could your average Western Christian? It turns out, many cannot. This is a shame, but one we can remedy. Come! Pick up your cross and follow me down the rabbit hole of gospel of the Kingdom of God. Enjoy ;)

In this episode Chris brings us Opinion Scholarship, this time surrounding Christianity. We read through the gospels of Mark, Matthew, Luke, John and Thomas, searching for the teachings of Jesus. Here we find references to the 'gospel of the kingdom of God,' but without any clear description of what that means. So we seek, as Jesus suggested, until we find. And what did we find? A whole host of images and ideas surrounding the symbol of the 'Kingdom of God.' We put those images together like the pieces to a mystical puzzle and voila! We find the Kingdom of Heaven just might be an allegory of unity with the divine. Enjoy ;)

In this episode Kyle and Chris reunite after a few weeks apart to catch up on what's been going on--the presidential debate key among them. We begin with praise and criticism of the GOT series, which Kyle felt compelled to share after re-watching all 8 seasons in bed sick this past week. The theme of political upheaval then took us into a discussion of the Trump-Harris debate and the various conspiracy theories surrounding it. This leads us into a rabbit-hole of public mistrust, racial division and the existential anxiety of wondering just how all this gets resolved...if ever it does. Enjoy ;)

In this episode Chris delivers Opinion Scholarship on the idea of Nothingness and the Zero-Energy Universe Hypothesis in modern physics. He compares these ideas and their implications to humanity's oldest myths about the creation of the cosmos...and finds some striking parallels! In our myths we find a primordial mystery existing before existence from which 2 equal and opposing deities are formed. In physics we find the mystery of the quantum vacuum from which 2 equal and opposing particles are formed. In the case of myth, God created Ex Nihilo--from nothing. In the case of the Zero-Energy Universe, the whole of the cosmos was created Ex Nihilo--from a state of zero energy! Enjoy ;)

In this episode Chris brings Opinion Scholarship on the ancient Persian religion--Zoroastrianism. We discuss the Proto-Indo-European people, their culture and religion and how they came down through the Indo-Iranian tribes that became both Zoroastrianism in Iran and Hinduism in India. We discuss the influence Zoroastrian ideas had on both Judaism and Christianity and explore what Zoroaster meant when he claimed to be restoring monotheistic purity to their ancient, Indo-European faith. This brings us to the Christian idea of the Logos, which compare and contrast to the Zoroastrian idea of Vohu Mana. Enjoy ;)

In this episode Chris and Kyle interview Chris' former barber--John--to discuss the sacred confessional of the barbershop. We discuss why people feel so comfortable opening up to their barber, the secrets that get shared and the good-natured ribbing that takes place between a close-knit group of barbers and their regular customers. Chris admits that every conversation he ever had with John in the barber chair could have easily been an episode of the podcast. And to that end, we re-create a barbershop chat. We talk conspiracy theories, politics, the future of AI and psychedelic spirituality. Strap in! Enjoy ;)

In this episode Chris delivers Opinion Scholarship on the meaning of Plato's famous Cave Allegory. He shows through the words of Plato and the ancient Greek Poet Pindar that the secret goings-on of the Eleusinian Mysteries share a hell of a lot with the experience of the prisoner freed from Plato's cave. He then posits that the secrecy surrounding the Mysteries kept Plato from speaking about it directly, leading to the parables and allegories sprinkled throughout his dialogues. And to conclude, he samples accounts from the ancient world all the way through to the modern one of other people who had a mystical experience paralleling the one outlined by the Cave Allegory. We hear the same message from Plato to Plotinus and from Meister Eckhart to Alan Watts. From Jesus to Zoroaster and from Buddha to St. Paul. Enjoy ;)

In this episode Chris asks Kyle about the Indo-European influences on Judaism and Christianity and whether that impacts his personal faith. From there we pivot to a discussion of Chris' latest solo podcast entitled--Paleo Deo--on the subject of primitive monotheism. Then things get political. We discuss the libertarian and conservative revolutions occurring in Central and South America, the migration crisis and the fitness (or lack thereof) of Kamala Harris to right the ship. Enjoy ;)

In this episode Chris highlights the ideas of German Anthropologist--Wilhelm Schmidt--and makes the case for a form of Monotheism as the original expression of religious feeling and intuition. We explore Occam's Razor, look for evidence of any true historical polytheistic faiths and discuss the problem of Henotheism. We also explore the Supreme Beings or "High Gods" of tribal peoples to gain a better understanding of just what we mean by the word "god." And lastly, we review evidence from ancient myths, pre-Socratic philosophers and important religious reform movements, which point to a cross-cultural circumambulation around the symbol of divine unity. Enjoy ;)

In this episode we cross-over with friend of the show Daniel Torridon of the Onion Unlimited podcast to talk about praise and blame. We discuss the power of positive and negative reinforcement and reflect on those peculiar memories of praise and blame that showed us a mirror of our selves or others impacted our behavior or worldview. We don't conclude without throwing morality and religion in the mix...just to shake things up. Enjoy ;)

In this episode Chris brings some Opinion Scholarship on the Greco-Egyptian tradition of Hermes Trismegistus, who bestowed great and secret wisdom upon humanity. We compare Biblical verses to the famous Hermetic dictum "As Above, So Below," and explore why a group of early Christians in Egyptian would have hid away Hermetic writings along with dozens of early Christian and Gnostic codices. What possible relationship can Hermeticism have with early Christianity? Let's dive in! Enjoy ;)

In this episode Kyle and Chris discuss this past weeks' attempted assassination attempt on former President Donald J. Trump. We give our "first impressions" on the media's reaction as well as the reaction of ordinary people on Twitter. We discuss the many conspiracy theories already exploding from the left and point to the great hypocrisy of the double-standard surrounding "inciting violence." And to wrap up we discuss the PR value of political propaganda, comparing war-time propaganda images of Napoleon and Hitler to the still of Trump surrounded by Secret Service Agents with blood on his face, fearlessly raising his fist into the air. Enjoy ;)

In this episode Chris is brining you Opinion Scholarship on the myth of the Great Flood. While it's widely known that the deluge story appears all over the world, from every continent, very few people ever read the original sources to see just how similar they are. Today, I have remedied that! We read through the flood account from Ovid's Metamorphosis, compare the Indian account of the Flood of Manu, explore the Greek version through Apollodorus and Lucian and finally compare the Biblical version to the most ancient account in the Babylonian Tablets of Creation. When all is done, we recognize the common skeleton underlying each myth, but we also find some unexpected parallels. We talk Giants, vengeful gods and the motif of death and resurrection! Enjoy ;)

Have you ever wondered what is meant by the phrase "mystery religions"? Ever wonder, just what the hell this "mystery" is? Are you frustrated by the deafening silence of the ancient writers on this subject? Titillated by the hints left by Plato and the pre-Socratics? Yeah, you're not alone. While the mysteries of Eleusis and the cults of Mithras and Isis may remain in the shadows, the mysteries of Orpheus have been cracked wide open! Like the Rosetta Stone of the Orphic-Dionysian mysteries, an ancient papyrus has been found, which spills the proverbial beans. Join me in exploring the Derveni Papyrus. Enjoy ;)

In this episode Chris is bringing you Opinion Scholarship on the religion of the Omaha tribe, indigenous to the Ohio Valley in the United States. More specifically, on their conception of God, whom they call Wakonda and their Sioux cousins call Wakan Tanka. We explore the fascinating form of henotheism or even monotheism that the Omaha practice and dive deeply into the opening line of their creation story, which reads: "At the beginning all things were in the Mind of Wakonda." Enjoy ;)

In this episode Kyle and Chris discuss the first Presidential Debate of 2024--Trump v Biden. This was a difficult conversation, but we pulled no punches, calling it as we saw it. Was there a lack of substance in the debate? Yes. Did it devolve into ad hominems and name calling? Of course, it did. But did we learn anything we didn't already know? We'll let you be the judge. Enjoy ;)

In this episode Chris brings us Opinion Scholarship on the virgin prophetesses of Ancient Greece--the Sibyls. We discuss first-hand spiritual and mystical experiences versus communal one's like those embodied in organized religions, and how they fit together. From here we turn to shamanism and the mystery cults of the ancient world and describe the thread that runs through these and into the realm of the Sibyls. Lastly, we distinguish between the ancient Sibylline Book versus the more modern Sibylline Oracles and explore if either hold genuine foretellings of the coming of Christ. Enjoy ;)

This episode was inspired by Terrance Howard's recent conversation with Joe Rogan on the JRE podcast (episode 2152), where Terrance proposes a new understanding of science, which could resolve the mysteries of modern physics. He introduces the work of Walter Russell, American artist, author and mystic would wrote extensively on this new science. In this episode we discuss Walter Russell's 1926 work--The Universal One. Enjoy ;)

In this episode Kyle and Chris discuss The Crucible debate between Paleo-Conservative Andrew Wilson and Libertarian Dave Smith. We highlight the key arguments they tackle surrounding the meaning of "ownership," the application of the "non-aggression principle" and just how closely aligned Libertarian's are to Leftists. We suggest some alternate paths the debate might have taken, under different circumstances. Chris asks how different Jesus' instruction to "do unto others as you'd have them do unto you" is from the Libertarian ethos that "everything is permitted, so long as it doesn't harm someone else." Kyle fires back by asking how different "everything is permitted" is from the Satanist dictum "Do what thou wilt." Enjoy ;)

In this episode Kyle and Chris discuss an absolutely classic history podcast series entitled Fear and Loathing in the New Jerusalem by Darryl Cooper of the Martyr Made podcast. This one goes back to 2015, but given the actively raging Israeli-Gaza conflict circa 2024, it seems well worth a re-visit. We discuss the many historical facts about the history of this conflict that go under the radar of mainstream messaging and the orthodox American interpretation. Chris points the finger at the British, identifying them as the villain of the story, while Kyle--in typical Kyle-fashion--asks the uncomfortable questions about nationalism, race and culture. Strap in (and check out Martyr Made)? Enjoy ;)

In this episode Chris discusses an episode of the YouTube channel "Mr. Mythos" entitled "Evidence YHWH was a Dragon." We examine the prominent role dragons hold in world mythology and explore evidence in the Bible that describes God as a dragon. We then expand on Mr. Mythos' work to incorporate Jordan Peterson's discussion of the Babylonian "dragon of chaos"--the primordial goddess Tiamat--and it's relation to the Hebrew word Tehom in the book of Genesis. We wrap up with some speculation about the symbolic meaning of the dragon image and its implications for understanding human nature. Enjoy ;)

In this episode Chris explores Professor E.J. Michael Witzel's theory on the source and origin of all the mythologies of the world. A single explanation? Yes, indeed! Witzel uses a historical approach to comparative religion, aided by the latest in linguistic, archeological and DNA evidence to trace the myths of the world back to two distinct groups, an older one he calls Gondwana and a later one called Laurasian. Through this process he traces our myths back some 40,000 years and beyond, constructing a "family tree" of world myths and reconstructing their original form. What he finds is, not just common motifs and characters, but a single unifying story-line--a mythic history--which ties together the myths and religions of our ancient past. Enjoy ;)

In this episode Kyle and Chris reunite after a month of scheduling conflicts. We discuss the solo content each of us produced in the interim, including Kyle's episode with his Eastern Orthodox friends and Chris' piece on Jesus as a "shapeshifter." We catch-up on just about everything else: discussing HBO's latest season of "True Detective," whether women should be allowed in the military and the truth behind Disney's promotion of "woke" ideology and their very public participation in the Culture War. Enjoy ;)

In this episode Chris explores what it means to be a 'Shaman' and how the term relates to the great world religions of the modern day. He asks the questions: Is a priest, technically, a Shaman? What about a Prophet? What about Jesus Christ? And this last question takes us on a journey through long-lost Christian scriptures, folklore, Paleolithic cave paintings and back into the Bible, as we attempt to answer the question--Was Jesus a Shaman?

In this episode Chris riffs on whether or not angels and demons actually exist. He asks the question, just what the hell is an angel or a demon? How do these ideas from our monotheistic traditions compare to the older, classical idea of 'gods' with a lowercase 'g', or to the even older animistic idea of the 'spirits of nature'? Lastly he tries to explain the physical correlates of such spiritual entities in the realm of psychology, motivational forces and their forms as living Archetypes. Enjoy ;)

In this episode we examine a myth from the Basque people of Spain and France. Why? Because I love stories, but also because the Basque people are unique among the ethnicities, cultures and languages of Europe. They do not descend from the Indo-European migration, which so heavily influenced the rest of Europe and do not speak an Indo-European language. That said, their myths give us incredible insight into the development of spirituality in Europe and into those primordial ideas, which rest at the foundation of the human psyche. The myth discussed comes from the folklorist Mariana Monteiro's 1887 book Legends and Popular Tales of the Basque People. It explains the origin of a sacred mountain called--Aquelarre--which sits alone like a leper, isolated from the rest of the mountain chain. Why is it estranged so? What makes it sacred? Let's find out... Enjoy ;)

In this episode Chris and Kyle conduct a post-mortem on episode 2136 of the Joe Rogan Experience where Graham Hancock finally gets to defend his ideas of a forgotten civilization against a mainstream archeologist. Enjoy ;)

In this episode Kyle and Chris reunite after an extra week's hiatus...and they had lots to talk about! We cover Kyle's recent experience as a debate moderator on The Crucible and Chris' latest solo episode on the book Orthodoxy and the Religion of the Future. But we don't stop there. We hash out a theological disagreement about the origin of religion, discuss the "Neo Trad" movement, the existence or non-existence of demons and a video clip of Jewish men in Israel answering the question: If you had to pray in a mosque or a church, which would you choose?

In this episode Chris presents Opinion Scholarship on an influential book by a Christian Orthodox Father--Seraphim Rose--titled Orthodoxy and the Religion of the Future. This exploration was sparked by Kyle's interest in Eastern Orthodox Christianity and on the recommendation of an Orthodox friend of the show--Jason Mironchuck--of the 2Bit Podcast. I suspected this book was going to argue that Orthodox Christianity is poised to be the "religion of the future," but instead found Father Rose warning of the rise of an ecumenical, multi-faith, hybrid religion of anti-Christ. He warns against inter-faith dialog and the adoption of pagan ideas and practices into Christianity. He warns the seekers of spiritual experiences against seeking them outside of the Church of Christ. And most especially, he warns against the dilution and corruption of the tradition of the Christian church, which he believes risks the souls of the faithful as well as the rest of us. Enjoy ;)

In this episode Chris brings you Opinion Scholarship on a Hindu holy book called the Ashtavakra Gita, which expounds the non-dual philosophy of the Upanishads and Advaita Vedanta. This text is profound and poetic, but as good as it is in describing the nature of God, it fails in other ways to account for the realities of the world and our place in it. Chris outlines his objections and what he sees as shortcomings in its interpretation of mystic experience and, more importantly, in it's implications for human life. Enjoy ;)

This episode originally aired March, 24th on the Onion Unlimited Podcast. It was another classic chat between Chris and Daniel Torridon on the nature of God and of spirit. We discuss the mythological motif of the "Silver Cord" (Ecclesiastes 12:5-7) or "Silver Thread" (Greco-Roman Moirai), which is said to bind the divine spirit to the material body in life and is "loosed" or "cut" at the moment of our death. Daniel speaks to me in memoriam for his departed friend Pieter and we ask the question: Is there an in-between place between the living and eternity?

In this episode Kyle and Chris chat with Jason Mironchuck of the 2Bit Podcast about a shift in the societal zeitgeist. We all feel that change is in the air. It's both fearful and hopeful. We discuss the archetype that best describes the totalitarianism and warful nationalism of the 20th century--the Tyrannical Father--and our current age of both genuine and contrived compassion--the Devouring Mother. So what's the change that's coming? What archetype best characterizes it? The Vengeful Son commeth. Enjoy ;)

In this episode we attempt to redeem the ideas of the physicist Amit Goswami who made a strong impression on Chris (and even inspired the podcast's logo), but had a terrible showing on the Joe Rogan Experience back in 2013 (JRE 334), sabotaging his opportunity for broader appeal. His ideas may not have hit the mainstream, but his book The Self Aware Universe brings together an astonishing synthesis of quantum physics and religion. We discuss connections between the philosophical idea of the realm of forms and the religious idea of a transcendent realm with the no-mans-land of quantum superposition and quantum leaps. And, if that isn't enough, we solve the age-old question: How do you get the "many" from the "One"? Enjoy ;)

One part alternative history, one part social commentary, we kick off season 4 with an exploration of Asha Logos' YouTube channel entitled "Our Subverted History." This one is where common sense intersects with political correctness. We discuss Indo-European as a historical ethnic and linguistic family and how it's been maligned by modern notions of "whiteness." We get comfortable with being uncomfortable, asking why it's ok in some instances to be proud of and identify with the ethnic group to which you belong and not in others. We ask to what end history is continually re-written and re-interpreted, and ultimately attempt to answer the question: How can we know ourselves as individuals. Enjoy ;)

In this episode Chris explores Charles Darwin's great work "The Origin of Species" and asks the question: Was Darwin an atheist? We explore Charles Darwin's influences, including his infamous grandfather--Erasmus Darwin--and dig into unexpected quotes from the book. Did you know Charles Darwin used the term 'The Creator' in the book? Did you know he acknowledged the insufficiency of his theory to explain the origin of life and consciousness? Well strap in, because it's not at all what the atheist-materialists of the world believe it is. Enjoy ;)

In this episode Chris discusses a document from 1980's which exposed a U.S. Military program called "The Gateway Process," aimed at harnessing such extrasensory phenomena as "remote viewing." We all know the world of espionage is dark and cut-throat, but when it comes packaged up in the language of biochemistry and quantum physics, it's got my attention. As if this wasn't enough it explores its coherence with religious phenomena and uses mysticism to bolster it's legitimacy. Strap In, 'cause here we go... Enjoy ;)

In this episode Chris explores the mathematical patterns behind forms in nature. We discuss the Mandelbrot Set and Vortex Math and a strange phenomena that connects them--the Cartoid? What is a Cartoid? What does it represent? Are there mystical parallels? How about natural ones? You betcha! Strap in for a myth that describes how the infinite can be in the finite, how self-experience is a creative force and the whole damn thing might just be God experiencing itself. Enjoy ;)

In this episode Chris and Kyle reconnect after the holiday break. We reminisce about nearly 3 years of podcasting, discuss the strange realities of incorporating cannabis dispensaries in our towns and cities and ponder the meaning of the awe experience. Enjoy ;)

This episode concludes our exploration of the religious philosophy of Walter Stace. We discuss the difference between first-hand religious experience and the second-hand version we commonly call organized religion. We explore how religious symbols are used to evoke first-hand religious experience and thereby preserve the value of organized religion in society. Enjoy ;)

In this episode we continue exploring the philosopher Walter Stace's book "Time and Eternity." In this one we focus on the other half of the religious paradox; what Stace calls the Positive Divine. We discuss what it means to know the unknowable and how that can be achieved. We discuss the role of symbols and contemplate whether the world of our experience is representational...a world of symbols. What could this mean? And what does it imply about the meaning of the word "real"? Enjoy ;)

In this episode Chris introduces us to Walter Stace, Princeton professor of philosophy from the turn of the century who believed personal, mystic experience is the origin of all religions. We focus on what Stace calls the "Negative Divine," to understand how God must "be" and "not be" simultaneously; how God must be a paradox, a contradiction. How God must be " a Mystery even to Himself." Enjoy ;)

In this episode Kyle and Chris reunite after a month off. We compare various types of psychedelic experiences and their religious implications. Chris focuses on the "meaning" or "messages" these experiences are commonly held to provide. Then we pivot to a discussion of Jonathan Pageau's new show on The Daily Wire called "The End of The World" and Chris' excitement at the idea that Jonathan is exploring Carl Jung. We look forward to what comes of that. Enjoy ;)

In this episode we read the surviving fragments of the philosophy of Empedocles and explore the shamanistic and mystical foundations of Western thought. Empedocles carries on the Orphic and Pythagorean tradition in his quest for Ultimate Reality, for which Aristotle grants him the title of 'Natural Philosopher'. But a strange kind of natural philosopher indeed! He speaks of the union of opposites, of the thing that is paradoxically One and Many; he understands it to be eternal and uncreated; the source of the cosmos, the gods and men. And where did this information come from? From logic, rationality, deduction? Not a bit. It came directly from the divine, from the Great Goddess herself. Enjoy ;)

In this episode we explore the fragments of the works of Parmenides that survive to modern times, with a focus on the mystical, shamanistic tradition expressed in them. In Parmenides, like Pythagoras before him, we find a mystic seeking a personal experience of the divine; we also find an honest-to-God Shaman, who visits the divine realm, speaks to "the Goddess" and brings mystical insight back to the living. It is fascinating to see just how closely linked the classical world and Western philosophy are with the pre-historic religious ideas of traditional shamanism. Enjoy ;)

In this episode we take a break from religion and current events to reminisce with our old friend Matthew from "Ohio Toy Kick." We discuss old times, the state of art and creativity in modern America, music, professional wrestling, and, of course, Matthew's artistic expression in the form of toy photography. Don't knock it 'til you've seen it. The guys from Ohio Toy Kick create incredible stills using camera perspective, shadows and scale, fast-motion and all kinds of shit. As Kyle put it, "its like creating 3D versions of comic book scenes. Enjoy ;)

In this episode we tackle the second novel in C.S. Lewis' Space Trilogy. We explore Venus as a new and innocent paradise, meet the mirror or our primordial Mother--Eve--and get to watch as she's tempted by the Devil. But this time...this time, there's another presence in the garden, our hero--Elwin Ransom--and he's hungry for serpent! Lewis weaves theological concepts masterfully into the re-telling of the Eden myth. We explore the pros and cons of religious monism, the meaning of evil and contemplate if and how it can be conquered. Enjoy ;)

In this episode Chris reunites with good friend of the show--Daniel Torridon of the Onion Unlimited Podcast. We had a blast assuming a Robert Langdon persona and delivering the most epic exploration of religious symbols known to mankind. Enjoy ;)

In this episode Kyle and Chris host professional trauma counselor Ross Hyslop, all the way from across the pond and through the misty moors of Scotland. A long-time fan of the podcast, Ross, not only reached out to make our connection reciprocal, but journeyed to Cleveland to join us in our studio in-person. We talk about his background, Cognitive Behavior Therapy and the line between psychology and religion. It was an honor to host Ross and we hope this is only the start with much more to come. The two of us might be the Two Tongues, but the three of us are...The Dandelion Trust. Enjoy ;)

In this episode Kyle and Chris reconnect after 2 weeks. We catch up on current events, but not before reminiscing about the 2000s Pop Punk scene and exploring ethnic stereotypes. We then culminate with a discussion of the current Israeli-Gaza conflict, demonstrating the importance of history and the destructive power of revenge. Enjoy ;)

This episode rounds out our exploration of Ed Edinger's "Psyche in Antiquity." We cover 200 years of Greek thought from Anaxagoras to Zeno, focusing on their cosmological ideas and chasing the "arche." This chase becomes a Jungian circumambulation around the idea of incarnation. Mind, Form and Soul are all said to incarnate into matter or as matter. They are the divine, numinous element of reality...perhaps the only reality...and they form the bridge between the manifest cosmos and the world of the gods. Enjoy ;)