Down the Wormhole

Our Digital Presence Part 4 (ASMR or The Touch of God?)

Episode 41
If you've been around YouTube long enough, you've probably bumped into the phenomenon that is ASMR. If you are unfamiliar with it, do yourself a favor and watch one of the videos in the description first. Trust us. It will help make sense of everything. 
OK, now that you're back. Let's talk about those weird brain tingles. What causes them? Have we been accidentally triggering this response in religious circles for millennia? Does getting a spiritual feeling from someone going tippity tap on their desk with acrylic nails, threaten the very foundation of our faith!? Since this is such a new subculture, it is not very well studied, but luckily for you, our very own Kendra Holt-Moore is on top of it! So buckle up and get ready for some brain tingles as we whisper our way to new expressions of ancient truths. 
 
Support this podcast on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/DowntheWormholepodcast
More information at https://www.downthewormhole.com/
produced by Zack Jacksonmusic by Zack Jackson and Barton Willis 
 
Scientists in Synagogues application due July 23 - https://sinaiandsynapses.org/scientists-in-synagogues/
 
Show Notes
Articles
ASMR, explained: https://www.vox.com/2015/7/15/8965393/asmr-video-youtube-autonomous-sensory-meridian-response
Comfort of ASRM in the coronavirus pandemic:  https://www.vox.com/2020/5/19/21258977/coronavirus-asmr-anxiety-tingting-trigger-tingles
ASMR University: https://asmruniversity.com/
Four types of intimacy: https://www.wellandgood.com/good-advice/types-of-intimacy/
 
Youtube videos
https://www.youtube.com/user/GentleWhispering/featured
2019 Michelob Ultra Super Bowl Commercial with Zoe Kravitz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqU8ar4gSyI
Christian ASMR example: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1FOGqbXL9Uy2y6tjMzqNyA
Binaural beats example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDX8QrcDI_o
ASMR and binaural beats!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghS43VE64wE
Books
When God Talks Back by Tanya Luhrmann 

Our Digital Presence Part 3 with Ruth Shaver (The Online-ification of Education)

Episode 40
In part 3 of our miniseries, we are taking a look at the past, present, and future of education. Teachers are being forced online due to the pandemic, but will this fundamentally change how we educate children and adults? Are we educators too focused on our cherished memories of school that we are missing the new possibilities that technology offers us? Why are Zoom meetings so creepy and exhausting? Peeping Toms, prison structures, mispronouncing Descartes, and so much more with our special guest the Rev Dr Ruth Shaver!
 
Support this podcast on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/DowntheWormholepodcast
More information at https://www.downthewormhole.com/
produced by Zack Jacksonmusic by Zack Jackson and Barton Willis 
 
Scientists in Synagogues application due July 23 - https://sinaiandsynapses.org/scientists-in-synagogues/
 
Show Notes
PATHWAYS Theological Education, Inc - https://www.pathwaystheological.org/
Wiki page for "panopticon" - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panopticon
A comic to help explain Jean Paul Sartre on "The Look" - https://existentialcomics.com/comic/235
 

Our Digital Presence Part 2 (Important Made Up Stuff)

Episode 39
In part 2 of our miniseries on our digital presence, we take a deeper dive into the wonderful world of ritual and how we are working that out from our own digital hermitages. What is the point of a ritual? Is it really a religious experience if you don't "feel it"? What does a religious experience look like in a brain scan? What's the big deal with eating cheeseburgers? Can you ever truly practice religious rituals alone? Even on top of a 50ft column? Let's find out! 
Support this podcast on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/DowntheWormholepodcast
More information at https://www.downthewormhole.com/
produced by Zack Jacksonmusic by Zack Jackson and Barton Willis 
 
Scientists in Synagogues application due July 23 - https://sinaiandsynapses.org/scientists-in-synagogues/
 
Show Notes
Chattel or person: women in mishnaic times link
 
Emotion of disgust
https://www.paulekman.com/universal-emotions/what-is-disgust/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3189359/ [scholarly article]
 
The Passion of the Christ movie
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Passion_of_the_Christ
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0335345/ 
https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/passion-of-the-christ-15-years-mel-gibson-jim-cavieziel-movie-reaction-christianity-a8788381.html [this article points to some of the film’s and the director’s problems, esp as it relates to the Jews]
 
“Why God Won't Go Away: Brain Science and the Biology of Belief”  [link]
 
Collective effervescence 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collective_effervescence
A bit about Durkheim : https://www.iep.utm.edu/durkheim/ 
 
What does the hippocampus do
https://www.news-medical.net/health/Hippocampus-Functions.aspx
 
Saint Simeon Stylites
https://www.thevintagenews.com/2018/10/22/pole-sitters/ [with pictures]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simeon_Stylites

Our Digital Presence Part 1 (Oreo Communion)

Episode 38
In part 1 of our new miniseries exploring our digital presence in these "corona-days", we are looking at our religious rituals. Why do some of our rituals seem to transition easily to the internet while others feel flat and uninspiring? Can we create new digital rituals? How do we find hope and spiritual connection when our internet connection keeps cutting out? Can we replace the body and blood of Christ with Oreos and coffee without ruining the whole thing? Can you replace the shankbone of a Seder Plate with a family hug in an attempt to preserve the meaning behind it? What is sacred, what is profane, and who is deciding this stuff? 
 
Support this podcast on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/DowntheWormholepodcast
More information at https://www.downthewormhole.com/
produced by Zack Jacksonmusic by Zack Jackson and Barton Willis 
 
Scientists in Synagogues application due July 23 - https://sinaiandsynapses.org/scientists-in-synagogues/
 
Snow Notes 
::coming soon::

DtW Goes to the Movies Part 6 (Jurassic Park)

Episode 37
In the final episode of our miniseries on science and religion in film, we're taking you to a remote island off the coast of Costa Rica that is teeming with dinosaurs and valuable moral lessons. It's Jurassic Park! Let's talk about dinosaurs, the morality of genetics, what makes humans special, and why you should definitely be scared of chickens. 
Support this podcast on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/DowntheWormholepodcast
More information at https://www.downthewormhole.com/
produced by Zack Jacksonmusic by Zack Jackson and Barton Willis (though much of it was originally composed by John Williams )
Snow Notes 
::coming soon::

DtW Goes to the Movies Part 5 (Interstellar)

Episode 36
In part 5 of our miniseries on film, we are literally taking you down the wormhole to visit the 2014 scifi masterpiece, Interstellar. Zack leads the discussion on ancient apocalyptic literature, and why he thinks that the modern end-of-the-world movies are not all that different from the ancient religious texts, and can bring a similar spirit of hope in uncertain times. At least that's the idea. We'll have to wait for the live action version of The Book of Revelation to compare apples to apples. 
That's a joke by the way. Dear lord, I hope that's a joke in the future too....
 
Revised Miniseries schedule:
3/25 - Contact4/1 - 2001: A Space Odyssey 4/15 - Pan's Labyrinth 4/22 - Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi4/29 - Star Trek: Generations5/6 - Interstellar 5/13 - Jurassic Park 
Support this podcast on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/DowntheWormholepodcast
More information at https://www.downthewormhole.com/
produced by Zack Jacksonmusic by Zack Jackson and Barton Willis 
Show Notes:
::coming soon::

DtW Goes to the Movies Part 5 (Star Trek: Generations)

Episode 35
In part five of our science and religion in film miniseries, Rachael boldly leads us where no podcast has gone before. Well, at least where THIS podcast has gone before. Yeah. We're talking Star Trek. Specifically, Star Trek: Generations. How similar is "the Nexus" to our own popular images of Heaven, and what does that reveal about our deepest desires? What do we actually believe about the afterlife, and how sturdy are those beliefs when put to a few simple tests? On our voyage to the other side, we will also talk about Talmudic orgies, eyeball hooks, who gets your organs in the resurrection, and how to neuter a pigeon. You know you want to hit play... Resistance is futile... 
 
Revised Miniseries schedule:
3/25 - Contact4/1 - 2001: A Space Odyssey 4/15 - Pan's Labyrinth 4/22 - Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi4/29 - Star Trek: Generations5/6 - Interstellar 5/13 - Jurassic Park 
Support this podcast on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/DowntheWormholepodcast
More information at https://www.downthewormhole.com/
produced by Zack Jacksonmusic by Zack Jackson and Barton Willis 
 
Show Notes
::coming soon::

DtW Goes to the Movies Part 4 (Star Wars: The Last Jedi)

Episode 34
In part 4 of our science and religion in film miniseries, Ian finally gets to geek out on Star Wars. You can't tell, but he brought his own lightsaber to record this episode. Oh yeah. We're in it to win it! Since we obviously couldn't talk about everything, we focused on "The Last Jedi", and more specifically on the modern tension between religion and spirituality. Do we need the "sacred texts" to become better force users or are we stronger without the ancient traditions? Can a person be both Jedi and Sith? Do those distinctions matter or are they merely power constructs? Most importantly, what color would your lightsaber be and what would be the first thing that you would do with it? 
Revised Miniseries schedule:
3/25 - Contact4/1 - 2001: A Space Odyssey 4/15 - Pan's Labyrinth 4/22 - Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi4/29 - Star Trek: Generations5/6 - Interstellar 5/13 - Jurassic Park 
Support this podcast on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/DowntheWormholepodcast
More information at https://www.downthewormhole.com/
produced by Zack Jacksonmusic by Zack Jackson and Barton Willis 
Show Notes
Websites
https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2017/12/why-the-last-jedi-is-more-spiritual-than-religious/549146/
http://info.reframemedia.com/hubfs/Think-Christian-A-Theology-of-Star-Wars.pdf
https://relevantmagazine.com/culture/where-theology-star-wars-breaks-down/
https://www.tmatt.net/columns/2018/1/10/those-star-wars-theology-wars-are-heating-up-again
When One Religion Isn't Enough: The Lives of Spiritually Fluid People by Duane R. Bidwellhttps://www.amazon.com/When-One-Religion-Isnt-Enough/dp/0807091243