This episode was recorded on December 28th, 2021.

In this episode, Hamza Yusuf and I discuss the core beliefs of Islam, Hamza’s conversion, the importance of bridging religions, and the problem with our culture now.

Hamza Yusuf is an American neo-traditionalist Islamic scholar, co-founder of Zaytuna College, and the author of seven books, including Purification of Heart: Signs, Symptoms, and Cures of the Spiritual Diseases of the Heart, Agenda to Change our Condition, and The Marvels of the Heart: Science of the Spirit.

—Chapters— 0:00 — Intro 1:01 — Religious upbringing 5:09 — Community & freethinking 7:03 — The glue that holds things together 9:59 — The problem with our culture  10:01 — Arabic word for disbeliever  13:00 — Gratitude despite suffering 17:02 — Jacques Lusseyran  20:53 — Repentance I 30:11 — Cleanliness, prayer, discernment 32:48 — Repentance II  33:55 — Hamza's conversion & near-death experience 40:24 — Preparing to die 45:38 — What drew Hamza to Islam 48:30 — Obedience to God—practically & conceptually  50:29 — Islam vs. collectivist philosophies 53:20 — Differentiating religious beliefs 54:48 — Aurel Kolnai  57:23 — The idea of evil 1:00:49 — Religiosity, athe...