- 16
- Episodes
- Weekly
- Cadence
- 2025
- First episode
About Philosophy and Sanity
Description: Modern thought is unraveling. From the collapse of philosophical certainty to the rise of autonomous reason, we live in an age untethered from truth. Philosophy and Sanity explores the intellectual origins of our era, the failures of secular thought, and the enduring authority of the Christian tradition—especially through the lens of Catholicism. Join me as we examine the thinkers, ideas, and historical forces that shaped postmodernity, critique the pitfalls of liberalism, and seek a way forward that balances faith, reason, and the common good. Through deep book discussions, historical analysis, and cultural commentary, this podcast is for those who refuse to settle for shallow answers in a world desperate for truth. hebrews1031.substack.com (https://hebrews1031.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast)
- Publisher
- George Deegan
- Category
- religion & spirituality · society & culture
- Language
- en
- Explicit
- No
- First episode
- 7 Mar 2025
- Latest episode
- 18 Apr 2026
Latest episodes
16 episodes in the feed.
18 Apr 2026
The problems that led to Vatican 2
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hebrews1031.substack.com (https://hebrews1031.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
9 Mar 2026
What Is Philosophy and Sanity?
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hebrews1031.substack.com (https://hebrews1031.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
11 Dec 2025
The Wound of Contingency
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hebrews1031.substack.com (https://hebrews1031.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
16 Nov 2025
Commentary: Misunderstanding Continental Philosophy
In this episode, I take a look at a recent article claiming that continental philosophers are “bad at arguing” — not logical enough, not clear enough, and fundamentally incapable of making a coherent point. I think the piece gets part of the diagnosis right, but for the wrong reasons. Many continental thinkers aren’t trying to write in a straightforward analytic style — not because they’re incompetent, but because they’re operating out of an entirely different philosophical grammar and a different theory of truth. Their writing looks opaque if you evaluate it through analytic expectations, but once you understand the theory-first worldview many of them inherit (especially in the Marxian and post-Hegelian traditions), the style begins to make more sense. In this episode, I walk through where the article hits, where it misses, and how the deeper genealogical and presuppositional issues shape the analytic–continental divide far more than questions of writing ability. It’s my first commentary-style episode after restarting the podcast, so the structure is a bit more exploratory — but I think it lands where it needs to. (Small note: there’s a brief audio glitch around minutes 39–41; I patched it as cleanly as I could.) Link to the article I commented on: This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hebrews1031.substack.com (https://hebrews1031.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
19 Jun 2025
The Gospel vs. Gnosis: Why the Oldest Heresy Never Dies
Gnosticism sounds like an ancient, obscure heresy—and in some ways it is. But the Gnostic worldview never really disappeared. It just changed shape. In this episode, I break down what Gnosticism actually is: its view of God, humanity, salvation, and morality—and why it’s not just false, but spiritually dangerous. We’ll explore how Gnosticism flips Christianity upside down, offering salvation without repentance, secret knowledge instead of grace, and a God who must be escaped rather than worshiped. Then we turn to the modern world: psychology, liberalism, politics, even therapy culture—and how Gnostic logic is still quietly running underneath it all. If you’ve ever wondered why so many modern movements feel hollow, why the Gospel no longer seems like good news to people, or why sin feels like a forgotten category… this episode will help connect the dots. Gnosticism isn’t just a historical curiosity. It’s a rival religion—and it’s still with us. — 🎧 Listen now and share if it helps you think more clearly about the world we’re in. 📩 Feedback or questions? Reach out anytime. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hebrews1031.substack.com (https://hebrews1031.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
4 Jun 2025
What is Gnosticism?
What if one of the oldest heresies in Church history never really died — but just changed names? In this episode, we explore what Gnosticism actually is: not just a strange ancient idea, but a worldview that still shapes how modern people think about truth, identity, and salvation. We’ll define Gnosticism in its original context, trace its development into esoteric and Hermetic forms, and uncover how it continues to influence everything from New Age spirituality to revolutionary politics. Far from being a relic of the past, Gnosticism is alive and well — often hiding in plain sight. Topics covered: What the word gnosis means, and why it matters Gnosticism’s core beliefs: dualism, hidden knowledge, salvation through awakening The difference between Gnosticism, esotericism, and Hermeticism How Gnosticism reappears in today’s ideologies, technologies, and spiritual movements Why this matters for Christians — and what the Gospel offers instead This is the first in a series exploring the deep roots of modern confusion — and why the Church’s ancient witness still speaks today. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hebrews1031.substack.com (https://hebrews1031.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
17 May 2025
The Ghost in the System: Liberalism’s Metaphysical Collapse
📌 Episode Summary: In this episode, we dig into the deeper structure of liberalism—not just as a political philosophy, but as a worldview that has slowly hollowed itself out from the inside. Too many contemporary critiques either blame Marxism for everything or try to rescue classical liberalism as a lost ideal. But both approaches miss a critical piece: progressivism—an ideological bridge between the optimistic freedom of early liberalism and the bureaucratic, managed world of modern technocracy. We explore how liberalism, from its inception, lacked a metaphysical foundation and substituted an empty concept of freedom for a rich vision of the good. Then came progressivism, heavily influenced by Hegel, which injected a new secular eschatology into the system—promising salvation through the state, led by experts and planners. Modern liberalism inherits the structures but loses the promise, becoming pragmatic, managerial, and increasingly hollow. The result is a system haunted by meaning it no longer believes in—a ghost in the machine. In order to understand where we are now, and how to move forward, we must first understand how we got here. 🧩 Topics Covered: Why critiques of modern liberalism often miss the point How classical liberalism was already missing a vision of man’s telos The forgotten but crucial role of American progressivism in reshaping liberalism The influence of Hegelian eschatology and the rise of the expert class How freedom was redefined—from personal autonomy to state-mediated self-realization Why modern liberalism feels so empty—and why that’s not an accident The need to recover a thick metaphysical vision grounded in Christian anthropology 🕯️ Key Themes: Liberalism without metaphysics cannot sustain a healthy political order Progressivism as a secularized eschatology—promising utopia through state power The administrative state as a moral and rational agent, justified by “expertise” The shift from truth to pragmatism in modern institutions The enduring need for telos in both personal and political life 📚 Mentioned (or Implied) Thinkers & Influences: John Locke & Classical Liberalism Hegel and German Idealism American Progressives like Woodrow Wilson Marxism’s shared inheritance with progressivism Catholic critiques of liberalism and the need for metaphysical grounding 🧭 Why It Matters: Without understanding liberalism’s inner contradictions and metaphysical poverty, we risk latching onto either shallow nostalgia or destructive alternatives. This episode makes the case that real renewal must begin with first principles—a true anthropology, a vision of the good, and a willingness to name what liberalism forgot. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hebrews1031.substack.com (https://hebrews1031.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
3 May 2025
Not Woke, But Still Dangerous: The Rise of the Pagan Right
In this episode, I respond to feedback from my last show— regarding my thesis on the left—and expand on a theme that’s drawn strong interest: the so-called “woke right.” I don’t think that’s the right label. What we’re seeing isn’t “wokeness” on the right—it’s something older, stranger, and in some ways more dangerous. We’ll explore: Whether the left is consistent within its own worldview What distinguishes Christianity from other Logos-based systems Why “woke” is a term rooted in leftist ideology—and misapplied when used for the right The rise of a pagan, conspiratorial, and millenarian right that rejects both truth and humility The limits of the romantic Christian political project—and why we must take cultural reality seriously This isn’t a blanket condemnation or a finished system. It’s an attempt to think out loud, diagnose trends, and hold fast to what is good. I’d love your feedback: Follow me on X (Twitter) at Hebrews1031 Subscribe on Substack Let me know what you agree or disagree with—iron sharpens iron. Thanks for listening. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hebrews1031.substack.com (https://hebrews1031.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
28 Apr 2025
When Debate Fails
In this episode of Philosophy and Sanity, we take a step back from heavy theory to explore a foundational idea in a more accessible way. Starting from the common accusation that “the other side” is just being hypocritical, George shows how the problem runs much deeper: we are facing two fundamentally different visions of reality itself. We’ll walk through how these differences aren’t just political or ethical disagreements — they’re rooted in two opposing “cosmologies” of the world, one grounded in the visible order of truth, the other driven by hidden power dynamics and secret knowledge. Along the way, you’ll hear about Gnosticism, Marx, and why understanding this divide is key to having real conversations — and to pushing back against a system built on hidden lies. This is a foundational episode — perfect for listeners who want clear explanations without needing a philosophy degree. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hebrews1031.substack.com (https://hebrews1031.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
17 Apr 2025
Jakob Böhme – The Hidden Root of Modern Madness
In this episode of Philosophy and Sanity, we dive into the strange, underexplored figure of Jakob Böhme—a 17th-century mystic whose ideas may have quietly shaped the trajectory of modern philosophy, theology, and even postmodern ideology. Though often forgotten or ignored in standard philosophical education, Böhme’s influence can be felt in thinkers like Hegel and movements like liberal Christianity, radical gender theory, and the broader postmodern turn. We explore how Böhme’s bizarre doctrines—like the androgynous Adam or the idea that the Fall is necessary to know God—foreshadow deeply troubling trends in contemporary thought. From imagination as epistemology to a subtle sanctification of evil, Böhme’s legacy seems to haunt many of the ideas dominating today’s cultural and intellectual climate. This episode is more exploratory than conclusive, aiming to raise awareness of Böhme as a figure worth knowing and wrestling with—especially for anyone trying to understand how we got to where we are today. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hebrews1031.substack.com (https://hebrews1031.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
12 Apr 2025
Gnosticism Everywhere? A Christian Look at Esotericism and Its Critics
In this episode, I explore a growing trend I’ve noticed in contemporary critiques of Western esotericism—namely, the tendency to collapse Christianity into the very Gnostic or Hermetic tradition it has historically stood against. My main focus is on Alexander McGee’s Hegel and the Hermetic Tradition, a dense but thought-provoking work that seems to underlie or influence other thinkers like James Lindsay and TiK (This is Kyle). While I share these authors’ concerns about the dangers of Gnosticism and esoteric philosophy, I question whether their framing sometimes goes too far—ultimately sweeping up historic Christianity in their critiques of hidden knowledge and spiritual elitism. This episode asks: is there an anti-Christian bias embedded in the modern esoteric research trend? We’ll cover: • Why I’m interested in Western esotericism at all—and why I think it matters for philosophy and faith • How McGee sets up the relationship between Hegel and Hermeticism • Where I agree with critiques of the esoteric tradition, and where I think they go off track • Why collapsing Christianity into Gnosticism is not only inaccurate, but intellectually damaging • A call for a more charitable and accurate understanding of both Christianity and the esoteric tradition This episode is part of my broader project of exploring Western thought through a Christian lens. My hope is to open a thoughtful dialogue—not just with ideas I agree with, but also with ones I find troubling, yet worth engaging seriously. If you enjoy the episode, consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with a friend. You can also follow me on Substack (Philosophy and Sanity) and X (@Hebrews1031) for more thoughts and updates. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hebrews1031.substack.com (https://hebrews1031.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
31 Mar 2025
Postmodern Despair and the Collapse of Reason
In this episode, we dive into C.S. Lewis’s The Abolition of Man, a critique of modern education, morality, and the collapse of objective value. Lewis warns that by rejecting objective morality in favor of subjective feelings, society risks creating a generation of “men without chests”—people without the virtue necessary for moral judgment. However, Lewis’s diagnosis, while prescient, falls short in anticipating the true consequences of this collapse. Today, we’re stuck in a paradox: while society embraces nihilism and despair, it also places its faith in scientism and utopian progress. What Lewis couldn’t predict was how liberalism’s rejection of metaphysical grounding would evolve into postmodern despair and a technocratic utopia that offers no true meaning. We explore how the shift from reason to will in modern society mirrors Nietzsche’s vision, though not in the way Lewis expected. We also discuss the persistence of “magic” and it’s interaction with scientism, the search for utopia and a new form of existential emptiness, and how this all connects to the crisis of reason and authority in the modern world. Tune in for a fresh reading of The Abolition of Man and a look at how Lewis’s ideas still resonate today—while missing some of the most critical elements of the modern crisis. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hebrews1031.substack.com (https://hebrews1031.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
15 Mar 2025
Kant, Worldviews, and the Crisis of Modern Reason
In this episode, I wrestle with a major tension in modern thought: Can we salvage the concept of worldview without falling into Kantian assumptions? I explore Kant’s influence on modern philosophy, the nature of worldview as pre-knowledge, and whether worldview thinking is inherently subjective or can be grounded in Catholic Christianity. I also discuss the noetic effects of sin, the dangers of false worldviews, and the Church’s role in guiding thought. How do we navigate modernity without absorbing its flawed assumptions? Let’s think through it together. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hebrews1031.substack.com (https://hebrews1031.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
7 Mar 2025
Seeing through the abyss
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hebrews1031.substack.com (https://hebrews1031.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
7 Mar 2025
Modern Philosophy and its impact on Liberal Theology
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hebrews1031.substack.com (https://hebrews1031.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
7 Mar 2025
Predestination and Free Will
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hebrews1031.substack.com (https://hebrews1031.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
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