Inspired by one of our listeners, we are excited to announce a new series of episodes focused on the question of love. In this episode we take up the question of ‘sensuality’. In the large sense of the term, sensuality really points to all that we experience through our senses.  Jonah and Patrick seek, in conversation, what it means to live in and through our senses guided by love, and explore what happens when we don’t.

As usual, we very much look forward to your responses, experiences, thoughts and questions.

Our thanks to Elliott Chamberlin who composed the opening music, "On the Road" and the closing music, "Seeking Together".  You can find more of his music here. 

Episode Notes, References and Resources

- A brief overview of Asceticism in spirituality and religious practice around the world can be found here. 

- More on the so-called, “Desert Fathers” and Christian asceticism can be found here. Here is a wonderfully clear example: “Abba (Father) Daniel said, ‘The body prospers in the measure in which the soul is weakened, and the soul prospers in the measure in which the body is weakened.’ Another particularly rich example: Abba Poemen said of Abba John the Dwarf that he had prayed God to take his passions away from him so that he might become free from care. He went and told an old man this: ‘I find myself in peace, without an enemy,’ he said. The old man said to him, ‘Go, beseech God to stir up warfare so that you regain the affliction and humility that you used to have, for it is by warfare that the soul makes progress.’ So he besought God and when warfare came, he no longer prayed that it might be taken away, but said, ‘Lord, give me strength for the fight.’

- For a biblical treatment of this topic that shows the freedom and responsibility of the Christian, see the 10th chapter of Paul’s first letter to  the Corinthians.

- Rudolf Steiner’s research into the healing work of Christ in humanity prior to the incarnation in Jesus of Nazareth belongs to some of the newest spiritual research he provided for the renewal of Christianity.  You can find the lecture referred to here.  He also takes it up in the lecture cycle, Christ and the Spiritual World and the Search for the Holy Grail.

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The Light in Every Thing is a podcast of The Seminary of The Christian Community in North America. Learn more about the Seminary and its offerings at our website. This podcast is supported by our growing Patreon community. To learn more, go to www.patreon.com/ccseminary.

Thanks to Elliott Chamberlin who composed our theme music, “Seeking Together,” and the legacy of our original show-notes and patreon producer, Camilla Lake.