Down the Wormhole

Evolution Part 3 (In the Beginning)

Episode 17
Does accepting evolution mean that you can no longer believe in a personal God who is involved with the world? Are there ways to read evolution into the Bible? Did God really create everything? How do we even begin to have these conversations?
 
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:
Movies
[Ian] The Dark Knight : https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0468569/ 
[Zack] Toy Story 2 : https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120363/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1 
[Adam] Star Trek Wrath of Khan: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084726/
[Kendra] Lion King 2 simba’s pride : https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120131/
[Rachael; broke the rules again] Raiders of the Ark : https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082971/ 
 
Definitions/People
Spectrum of creationists: https://ncse.ngo/creationevolution-continuum 
Young Earth
https://answersingenesis.org/creationism/young-earth/young-earth-creationist-view-summarized-and-defended/ [pro]
https://biologos.org/personal-stories/confessions-of-a-failed-young-earth-creationist/ [someone’s personal account; anti]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Young_Earth_creationism
Theistic evolution
https://biologos.org/articles/series/science-and-the-bible/theistic-evolution-history-and-beliefs 
Day-age creation
http://www.religionfacts.com/day-age-creationism 
Gap creationism
https://www.blueletterbible.org/faq/don_stewart/don_stewart_654.cfm
Teleology
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teleological_argument   [definition]
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/teleological-arguments/ [article describing various needs in the 
teleological argument for the existence of God]
Divine actions 
https://www.theopedia.com/divine-action [definition]
Ken Ham
https://answersingenesis.org/bios/ken-ham/ [in support of his ideologies]
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/a-giant-ark-is-just-the-start-these-creationists-have-a-bigger-plan-for-recruiting-new-believers/2017/05/24/b497bd14-2920-11e7-be51-b3fc6ff7faee_story.html 
Heliocentric 
https://www.britannica.com/science/heliocentrism 
Stories
St. Agustine stealing pears
https://augustinianvocations.org/blog-archive/2017/1/19/st-augustine-and-the-pear-tree-a-lasting-story 
Luther quote of adam sinning
https://lutheranreformation.org/get-involved/bible-study-luther-genesis-37-15/ 
Story from Book of Joshua (sun held in sky)
https://www.sefaria.org/Joshua.10?lang=bi [Joshua 10:12 quote]
https://www.timesofisrael.com/3224-years-later-scientists-see-first-ever-recorded-eclipse-in-joshuas-battle/ [was it really an eclipse?]
Talmud matchmaking
https://www.sefaria.org/Bereishit_Rabbah.68.4?lang=en [Quote from Genesis midrash, 68:4]

Evolution Part 2 (Increasingly More Complicated Tubes)

Episode 16So what is evolution exactly? How would you explain it to someone who doesn't think they are "good at science"? Can we see evolution happening today? Should we be worried about mutant Vikings and hybrid coyotes?
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 
Kleptoplasty Sea Slug:  
https://manoa.hawaii.edu/exploringourfluidearth/biological/aquatic-plants-and-algae/structure-and-function/weird-science-kleptoplasty
 
Al regel achat: while standing on one foot--story explanation (and how it is used in modern Hebrew)
https://www.haaretz.com/word-of-the-day-al-regel-akhat-1.5318459 
 
Elephants adapting to be tuskless
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2018/11/wildlife-watch-news-tuskless-elephants-behavior-change/ 
 
Peppered Moths of London
http://www.mothscount.org/text/63/peppered_moth_and_natural_selection.html 
 
Chicken or Egg…first the egg!
https://www.science.org.au/curious/earth-environment/which-came-first-chicken-or-egg 
 
We don’t understand big numbers
https://waitbutwhy.com/2014/11/1000000-grahams-number.html 
 
Coywolf (or wolfoyte if preferred)
https://www.earthtouchnews.com/natural-world/animal-behaviour/is-this-coyote-wolf-hybrid-taking-over-north-america/ 
 
Worm composting
http://www.franklincountywastedistrict.org/vermicomposting.html 
Zack's Worm Bin
https://amzn.to/330caxl
 
Lactose tolerance or intolerance, who’s the mutant now?
https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2012/12/27/168144785/an-evolutionary-whodunit-how-did-humans-develop-lactose-tolerance 
And this one has a map: https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn27938-everything-you-need-to-know-about-lactose-intolerance/
 
Reading up on evolution
https://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/resourcelibrary.php 
https://www.yourgenome.org/facts/what-is-evolution 
 
Video on natural selection (Crash Course): 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTftyFboC_M&list=PL3EED4C1D684D3ADF&index=14
 
Video on evolution (Crash Course) 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3GagfbA2vo&list=PL3EED4C1D684D3ADF&index=20 
 
History of language evolution
http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?ParagraphID=axx 
Or a TED-ed short video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWDKsHm6gTA 
 
Word by Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries by Kory Stamper (Kindle Edition)
https://amzn.to/2O4ekYo
Because Internet: Understanding the New Rules of Language by Gretchen McCulloch (Kindle Edition)
https://amzn.to/33YQN0G
 
A forest of language trees, showing their relationships: 
https://eurotalk.com/blog/2015/06/03/the-language-forest-how-are-world-languages-related/ 
 
Darwin
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Charles-Darwin 
  

Evolution Part 1 (The Dogs They Are a-Changin')

Episode 15
As we begin our first evolution miniseries, our hosts take some time to discuss why this topic has become so central to the "religion vs science" conflict and why it matters to us. How do we reconcile a sovereign God with the randomness of natural selection? Can we find meaning through science or only facts? Who ever thought that breeding pugs was a good idea?
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
Favorite fruits
Kiwiberries
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Actinidia_arguta 
Watermelon [and how they’ve changed in the last few centuries]
https://www.vox.com /2015/7/28/9050469/watermelon-breeding-paintings 
Banana [other fruits talked about too]
https://www.sciencealert.com/fruits-vegetables-before-domestication-photos-genetically-modified-food-natural 
Threat to the cavendish: https://www.cnn.com/2015/07/22/africa/banana-panama-disease/index.html 
Strawberries [a brief history]
https://www.uvm.edu/vtvegandberry/factsheets/strawberryhistory.html 
 
Dogs
Labradoodle Regrets:  
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/25/us/labradoodle-creator-regret.html 
French Bulldog insemination
https://www.frenchie.shop/blogs/frenchie-shop-blog/do-french-bulldogs-have-to-be-artificially-inseminated [pro-Frenchie site]
https://www.thestranger.com/slog/2018/03/30/25974515/your-french-bulldog-is-an-abomination [biased against them]
Pugs
https://www.petmd.com/dog/breeds/c_dg_pug [Note the medical issues associated with them]
 
Theistic evolution
https://biologos.org/articles/theistic-evolution-history-and-beliefs 
Theodicy
In-depth philosophy article
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/evil/ 
General definitions
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodicy 
https://www.britannica.com/topic/theodicy-theology 
Pardes
An explanation and experience: https://onbeing.org/blog/the-spaces-between-the-consonants/ 

Church and State Part 5 (Give Satan a Chance)

Episode 14
In this episode, our hosts take you on a tour of the bizarre and often misunderstood world of the Satanic Temple and their efforts to fight for religious freedom. What role do satirical religions play in our modern world, and should they be treated like traditional religions? Can we create an organization for secular humanists that has the benefits of religion without a deity?
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:
Our opening question about our favorite tricksters:
Ian: Loki:
https://norse-mythology.org/gods-and-creatures/the-aesir-gods-and-goddesses/loki/ 
Rachael: Loki and Puck: analysis of Puck
https://www.thoughtco.com/character-analysis-puck-midsummer-nights-dream-2984577 
Zack: Benjamin Linus from Lost :
https://lostpedia.fandom.com/wiki/Benjamin_Linus 
Adam: Dolos [I don’t love using wiki, but I just couldn’t find anything meaningful elsewhere]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolos_(mythology) 
Kendra: Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer
https://buffy.fandom.com/wiki/Spike 
 
The Satanic Temple
https://thesatanictemple.com/ 
 
It’s not the Church of Satan:
https://thesatanictemple.com/pages/what-is-the-difference-between-the-satanic-temple-and-the-church-of-satan 
 
Article on the documentary, Hail Satan?,  produced this year
https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-49392867 
 
[if you want another article, explaining the documentary director idea that highlights what we spoke about regarding community and the search for meaning] 
https://www.wired.com/2019/05/geeks-guide-hail-satan/ 
 
List of approved religions in the American military: you will notice neither Pastafarian nor The Satanic Temple are listed.There are over 210 religious affiliations listed as of 2017.
http://americanhumanist.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Faith-and-Belief-Codes-for-Reporting-Personnel-Data-of-Service-Members.pdf 
 
Durkheim and religion
http://durkheim.uchicago.edu/Summaries/forms.html#pgfId=6212 
 
Durkheim and philosophy as religion (slightly different take than the above citation)
https://www.iep.utm.edu/durkheim/#H4 
 
Mircea Eliade and religion
https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Mircea_Eliade#Contribution_to_the_study_of_religion 
[or from britannica, but I found this explanation to a bit more dense]
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mircea-Eliade#ref274286 
 
Is Buddhism a religion?
https://bigthink.com/21st-century-spirituality/is-buddhism-a-religion 
 
John Oliver and debt collecting
https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/john-oliver-buys-15-million-of-medical-debt-for-60/?fbclid=IwAR0FBYs-n884jjIzwLQ1DotAVCEhn2bJRGc35hC2nR-BZzbRExRjQKJtCFI

Church and State Part 4 with Kenneth Makuakane (The Decommissioned Sacred)

Episode 13
We welcome special guest Kenneth Makuakane as we revisit the conflict between scientists and Hawaiians over the sacred peak of Mauna Kea. Kenneth brings his unique humor, deep wisdom, and artist's spirit to dig into the deep questions of our time. How do we forge a life together that includes space for scientific progress without trampling on indigenous peoples?
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
 
A bit of history of Hawaii: 
https://www.britannica.com/place/Hawaii-state/History 
http://www.hawaiihistory.org/index.cfm 
What is a dodecahedron?
https://www.mathsisfun.com/definitions/dodecahedron.html 
Story about the carob tree
https://www.sefaria.org/Taanit.23a?lang=en [14 paragraphs/bullet points down]
UCC and Space Junk
https://www.ucc.org/space_debris 
Dr. Who wiki on the 9th planet
https://tardis.fandom.com/wiki/Mondas
5 Love Languages
https://www.5lovelanguages.com/ 
 

Church and State Part 3 (Thoughts and Prayers)

Episode 12
Should religious prayers be allowed in government sessions and public schools? Do we need to make space for satirical "religions"? What about state symbols and rituals in our religious spaces? Can we be religious in the public sphere or should we only default to secular, scientific ways of being?
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
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Franklin quote https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/benfranklin.htm
Rowan county case: https://www.newsobserver.com/news/state/north-carolina/article224219600.html
Wallace vs Jaffrey 1985https://www.britannica.com/event/Wallace-v-Jaffree
Pastafarian in AK invocation https://www.apnews.com/06c11b92f92d427a8a38b5f1ab583080
Flags in sanctuaries: Jewish: https://www.jta.org/2018/07/03/united-states/synagogues-started-putting-american-flags-sanctuary 
Karaoke songs! Living on a Prayer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDK9QqIzhwk I Wanna Dance with Somebody: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eH3giaIzONA Strokin’ (by Clarence Carter): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7gMkiOPSeA Gangster’s Paradise: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPO76Jlnz6c It Wasn't Me (Shaggy): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTMgX1PDGAE

Sinai and Synapses Special (feat. Rabbi Geoff Mitelman)

Episode 11
In this special episode, we interview Rabbi Geoff Mitelman about the Sinai and Synapses Fellowship that originally brought the five of us together. Applications for the next cohort are open now, and there is a lot to get excited about!
Apply for the fellowship by December 4th at... 
https://sinaiandsynapses.org/sinai-and-synapses-fellowship/
 
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 

Church and State Part 2 (It's Not About the Cake)

Episode 10Church and State Part 2 (It’s Not About the Cake)
When one group’s liberties diminish another group’s, who decides which liberty comes out on top? What about when the government gets it wrong? Holy envy, holy hospitality, Supreme Court shenanigans, and no easy answers on this week’s episode of the Down the Wormhole Podcast!
 
Support this podcast on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/DowntheWormholepodcast
More information at https://www.downthewormhole.com/
 
Produced by Zack Jackson Music by Zack Jackson and Barton Willis
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Christian artists celebrate religious freedom win in Arizona Supreme Courthttps://www.foxnews.com/faith-values/arizona-christian-artists-religious-freedom-court
More Perfect Podcast: The Imperfect Plaintiffshttps://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/radiolabmoreperfect/episodes/imperfect-plaintiff
More Perfect Podcast: The Heisthttps://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/radiolabmoreperfect/episodes/heist