This episode offers a critical examination of the question of “the most ancient forms of magic” by interrogating the category of magic itself as a historically contingent and analytically unstable concept. Rather than assuming magic as a universal or transhistorical phenomenon, the discussion situates ritual practices within their specific social, cosmological, and epistemic contexts, beginning [...]

Is there such a thing as a universal human experience of the divine, or are all encounters shaped by culture, language, and power? In this video, we explore the classic debate between perennialism and constructivism, from William James and Mircea Eliade to Steven Katz, Talal Asad, and beyond. Drawing on philosophy, anthropology, psychology, and neuroscience, [...]

What happened to the fairies?

Dive into the fascinating history and practices of necromancy in this academic exploration! From its origins in ancient Greece and Mesopotamia to its role in ancestor veneration, divination, and ritual magic, this video traces necromancy’s evolution across cultures and its moral and theological implications. Discover its ambiguous standing in history, its portrayal in classical texts, [...]