Sacred Realms: Going out on a limb / Trees in Judaism, Sci-fi and Fantasy

Sacred Realms: Going out on a limb / Trees in Judaism, Sci-fi and Fantasy

Author: Rabbi Andrew Pepperstone February 5, 2023 Duration: 1:20:40

In the first episode of this podcast, Rabbis Lindsay and Andrew:

  • Introduce themselves, their sci-fi and fantasy fan backgrounds and their Jewish and Rabbinic backgrounds, as well as the goals and aim for this podcast series;

  • Talk about what we have been watching or reading lately;

  • Delve into our main topic: Trees, Tu Bishvat, the Jewish New of Trees (which falls this year on Monday, February 6), and tree imagery in Biblical and Rabbinic sources and in several science fiction and fantasy settings.

  • Pull out a couple of pieces "From the Geniza" (the place where old sacred material sits and ages, hopefully well). This time, we are looking at the original Matrix movie and Battlestar Galactica.

You contact us with any questions, comments or suggestions or topic requests at sacredrealmspodcast@gmail.com.


Hosted by Rabbi Andrew Pepperstone, Sacred Realms: Exploring the Nexus of Religion, Spirituality, Science Fiction and Fantasy ventures into the rich territory where ancient questions meet speculative futures and magical worlds. Each conversation moves beyond simple analysis to consider how the myths, technologies, and moral dilemmas found in genre storytelling reflect and challenge our deepest spiritual intuitions. You’ll hear discussions that might connect the themes of a classic novel to mystical traditions, or examine how a contemporary film series grapples with concepts of prophecy, free will, and the divine. This isn't about finding easy answers, but rather about appreciating the complex dialogue between belief and imagination. The podcast provides a unique space where the language of scripture and the visions of science fiction are seen as complementary ways of exploring human purpose, ethics, and wonder. By engaging with these stories, we find new lenses for our own spiritual journeys and the timeless puzzles of existence. Join Andrew for thoughtful, often surprising explorations that reveal how the realms of the sacred and the speculative are intimately and profoundly connected.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 20

Sacred Realms: Exploring the Nexus of Religion, Spirituality, Science Fiction and Fantasy
Podcast Episodes
Sacred Realms - Living in the Grey: Beyond Good and Evil [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:27:28
In this ninth episode of Sacred Realms, “Living in the Grey: Beyond Good and Evil,” Rabbis Andrew and Lindsey talk about the moral clarity of narratives that have stark contrasts between Good and Evil, and ones where the…
Sacred Realms - At Journey's End [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:31:01
In this eighth episode of Sacred Realms, “At Journey’s End,” Rabbis Andrew and Lindsey talk about the classic motif of the journey, and how the Torah’s narratives and some sci-fi and fantasy subvert our expectations at t…
Sacred Realms: From Ruin to Renewal [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:46:15
In this seventh episode of Sacred Realms: From Ruin to Renewal, Rabbis Andrew and Lindsey talk about Destruction and Reconstruction.We begin this week’s She’lah / The Question of the Week: “What was an important aspect o…
Sacred Realms: Golems - Protectors or Perils? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:57
In this sixth episode of Sacred Realms, Rabbis Andrew and Lindsey talk about Golems: Protectors or Perils? We begin this week’s She’lah / The Question of the Week: “If you had a golem, what task would you have them do fo…
Sacred Realms: The Limits of Technology - Machines, Robots and AI [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:35
In this fifth episode of Sacred Realms, Rabbis Andrew and Lindsey talk about the limits of Technology, Machines, Robots and AI.We begin this week’s She’lah / The Question of the Week: “What is your favorite piece of tech…
Sacred Realms: What if? Speculative Fiction and Futurism [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:44
In this fourth episode of Sacred Realms, Rabbis Andrew and Lindsey talk about What if? Speculative Fiction and Futurism.We begin with what is now called She’lah / The Question of the Week: “What favorite realm of yours w…
Sacred Realms: Storytelling in Sci-fi, Fantasy and Judaism [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:52
In this third episode of Sacred Realms, Rabbis Andrew and Lindsay talk about Storytelling.We begin getting to know each by sharing our favorite storytellers, and then on to what we have been watching or reading lately, w…
Sacred Realms - Empires in Judaism, Sci-fi and Fantasy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:07
Show Notes:In this second episode of Sacred Realms, Rabbis Andrew and Lindsey get to know each other a little better, talk about what they have been watching or reading as of late (Servant and Wednesday), and then delve…