Rethinking Divinity: The Limited God and the Fine-Tuned Universe
Release Date: 01/31/2025
A Thorough Critique of Popular and Psychological Accounts of Meaning of Life
Dr. John Vervaeke
This is John’s second video essay, and it delivers a thorough critique of contemporary theories of meaning in life. With his student Arjun Arora assisting, John dismantles the standard psychological and folk categories — purpose, coherence, significance, and mattering — showing why they fall short of capturing the depth of what “meaning” actually is. Arjun Arora is a cognitive science and physics scholar whose work bridges science, philosophy, and the search for meaning. As a student collaborator of Dr. John Vervaeke at the University of Toronto, Arora explores questions at the...
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Silk Road Seminar - Jonathan Pageau
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Silk Road Seminar - Elizabeth Oldfield
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Thank you for joining us for our monthly Silk Road Seminar! Today’s guest is Elizabeth Oldfield. Elizabeth Oldfield is an experienced leader, writer, consultant and podcast host with a passion for intelligent public engagement on issues of reconciliation, identity, and healing our common life. She is currently working with a range of organisations and individuals as a coach and consultant focused on building clarity, courage and connection. Elizabeth appears regularly in the media, including BBC One, Sky News, the World Service, and writing in Prospect Magazine, UnHerd and The...
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Exploring Jewish Neoplatonism: The Life and Philosophy of Solomon Ibn Gabirol
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Watch the first episode of our new season of Lectern Dialogues! This season’s guest is Zevi Slavin. Zevi Slavin is a philosopher, educator, and public scholar whose work explores the intersections of mysticism and philosophy across traditions. As the creator of Seekers of Unity, he is dedicated to reviving and reinterpreting the voices of philosophical mystics, with a focus on Jewish thought and its dialogue with Greek and Islamic philosophy. A leading voice in the study of Jewish Neoplatonism, Slavin highlights figures such as Solomon Ibn Gabirol, whose integration of poetry, metaphysics,...
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Why Reason Needs Spirit | John Vervaeke
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Silk Road Seminar - Rick Repetti
Dr. John Vervaeke
Thank you for joining us LIVE for our monthly Silk Road Seminar! Today’s guest is Rick Repetti. Silk Road Seminars are a live event where John weaves together threads from his various theoretical conversations along with a distinguished guest. These hour-long conversations are live on YouTube followed by an exclusive Q&A, where you can ask questions directly to John and his guest. To be entered onto the guest list for these Q&As, you can sign up at the Gamma Tier (and above) on The Lectern at . Currently enrolled university students at all levels up to doctoral studies get free...
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Silk Road Seminar - Bishop Maximus
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The Philosophical Silk Road: A Journey to Rediscovering Theosis and Sacred Pluralism
Dr. John Vervaeke
The Calling to Reorient the Self How can the sacred be recovered in a world fractured by autonomy and fragmentation? In this deeply personal episode of Kainos on The Lectern, recorded during a session hosted by Alexander Beiner on Kainos, John Vervaeke shares reflections from his recent pilgrimage across Europe—what he calls the Philosophical Silk Road. Weaving through sacred conversations and historic locations, he explores profound ideas like theosis, theoria, and voluntary necessity, inviting listeners into a lived philosophy of sacred participation. From Istanbul to Rome to Amsterdam,...
info_outline"How does the concept of a 'limited God' differ from traditional theistic views, and what implications does this have for understanding the purpose of the universe and human existence?"
John Vervaeke is joined by Phillip Goff to discuss his influential book, Why? The Purpose of the Universe, and his unique perspective on panpsychism. The duo discuss the intricate philosophical questions concerning the nature of consciousness, the purpose of the universe, and the existential meaning that interweaves with our fundamental worldview. Goff elucidates his nuanced yet respected stance on panpsychism, highlighting his academic contributions at Durham University. Goff introduces the concept of a "goddish" entity, explaining that the universe may have a sense of purpose or goal-directedness without adhering to traditional theistic views. Goff and John examine the commonalities between Goff's ideas and Neoplatonism, as well as Whitehead's process theology, noting the importance of a unifying principle in the universe. The dialogue also touches on holistic perspectives on health, highlighting the interconnectedness of physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.
Phillip Goff is a philosophy professor at Durham University, UK, who dedicates most of his time to unraveling the ultimate nature of reality. In his recent book, Why? The Purpose of the Universe (Oxford University Press, 2023), he explores the middle ground between traditional belief in God and secular atheism. Goff recently converted to a form of 'heretical Christianity,' which he discusses in this article and this interview. Some of the big themes of his research include the nature of consciousness, panpsychism, and the purpose of the universe. He also actively engages in philosophical debates on X and Bluesky and co-hosts the podcast Mind Chat with Keith Frankish, a philosopher who holds polar opposite views.
Connect with a community dedicated to self-discovery and purpose, and gain deeper insights by joining our Patreon.
Notes:
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(0:00) Introduction to the Lectern
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(3:15) Philip Goff joins John to discuss Panpsychism
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(3:30) Background of Philip and his works
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(6:00) Exploring the Concept of God and Purpose
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(9:00) Debating Theistic and Non-Theistic Views
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(11:30) Beyond Traditional Theism
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(24:00) Eastern Orthodoxy and Neoplatonism
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(26:30) From Panpsychism to Faith
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(32:00) Challenging the Limited God
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(37:00) Divine Creativity and Limitations
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(46:00) Exploring Panentheism and God's Nature
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(47:00) The Vine and the Branches - Unity with God
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(50:00) The Meaning Crisis and Existential Questions
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(53:00) Four Pillars of Meaning in Life
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(56:30) Purpose vs. Orientation in Life's Meaning
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(1:02:30) ”There's a very important social role religion has played historically in bringing the community together, marking the seasons and the big moments of life, birth, coming of age, marriage, death. Giving people a framework and a focus for spiritual practice, a way of interpreting and responding to their deepest experiences.”
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(1:16:30) Reimagining Religion and Holistic Health
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(1:22:30) Parting Words
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John Vervaeke: Website | Twitter | YouTube | Patreon
Ideas, People, and Works Mentioned in this Episode:
Panpsychism
Goddish entity
Meaning Crisis
Neoplatonism connection
Whitehead's theology
Holistic health
Heretical Christianity
John Hick
Tim Mulgan
David Bentley Hart
Karen Armstrong
Keith Frankish
The Fifth Dimension
The Interpretation of Religion
Galileo's Error
Fine-Tuning in Physics
Cosmic Purpose and Human Contribution
"The Interpretation of Religion" by John Hick
"Awakening from the Meaning Crisis" by John Vervaeke
"Mind and Cosmos: Why the Materialist Neo-Darwinian Conception of Nature is Almost Certainly False" by Thomas Nagel
"Life After Faith" by Philip Kitcher
"The Case for God" by Karen Armstrong
Quotes:
"Every generation absorbs a worldview it can't see beyond. I think future historians will look back and ask, why did people ignore the evidence for cosmic purpose for so long?" (10:00)
"Faith is not about certainty; it’s about trust—a way of interpreting your deepest experiences and shaping your fundamental life goals." (29:00)
"If there’s purpose in the universe, maybe we can contribute to the meaning of existence itself. That’s a powerful and hopeful idea." (1:01:00)
Philip Goff: Website | X | Podcast
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Thank you for Listening!