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The Human Element with Joe Massey
The Human Element is an investigation into the patterns of our past and the potential of our future. We bridge the gap between the four fundamental pillars to understand the core of who we are:
• HISTORY: The context for understanding today.
• SCIENCE: The blueprint of our identity.
• EXPERIENCE: The frontier of human capability.
• PHILOSOPHY: The connective tissue between the other pillars and humanity.
From the ruins of Ancient Egypt to the cutting edge of CRISPR and the minds of elite performers—we interview world-class experts to uncover the "Golden Threads" that connect us all.
The Human Element with Joe Massey
#17 - Dr Alec Ryrie: We Forgot How to Define Good (And It's Ruining Us!)
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What if Adolf Hitler never really left?
Not physically, but morally.
For over 80 years, Hitler and Nazism have served as the West's ultimate symbol of evil. But what happens when an entire civilization builds its moral framework around what it hates rather than what it loves?
In this fascinating conversation, historian and author Dr. Alec Ryrie explores the provocative ideas behind his book The Age of Hitler and How We'll Survive It. Together, we unpack why Hitler replaced Jesus as our dominant moral reference point, how World War II continues to shape modern politics, and why today's culture wars may signal the end of the post-war moral order.
We discuss:
01:14 Why We're Still Living in "The Age of Hitler"
04:12 Are We Better at Avoiding Evil Than Pursuing Good?
07:51 Why Evil Became Our Common Moral Language
09:19 Why Hitler Became History's Ultimate Villain
13:46 Christianity's Moral Failure Before World War II
15:40 Godwin's Law & The Internet's Nazi Obsession
18:22 Why Society Is Always Searching for "The Next Hitler"
23:37 Are We Asking Too Much of World War II?
28:41 Peace Through Strength vs Appeasement
31:27 Have We Replaced Blasphemy With Bigotry?
36:50 The Return of Anti-Semitism
42:18 Why Our Post-War Moral Consensus Is Breaking Down
49:24 Are Human Rights Universal Truths?
53:15 Can Human Rights Survive Without God?
54:55 Are Judeo-Christian Values Making a Comeback?
59:24 The Future of Morality After Hitler
01:03:52 Three Big Questions
01:13:18 Where To Find Dr. Alec Ryrie's Work
Along the way, Dr. Ryrie offers a powerful warning: when we become fixated on one form of evil, we risk becoming blind to others.
This is a conversation about history, religion, politics, morality, memory, and the uncertain future of Western civilization.
If you've ever wondered where our values come from, or where they're heading, this episode is for you.