7: Light & Darkness

 In today’s episode, Dr. David Pocta and Hannah DeSouza explore the intriguing portrayal of light and darkness in the Bible. Hannah and David navigate listeners through the paradoxical use of these metaphors in religious texts and their significance in shaping one's spiritual life. The hosts take a detailed look at the roles of light and darkness, and their intricate interplay in iconic biblical narratives and spiritual transformation.  

 They also provide an in-depth discussion about maintaining faith during dark times and how such periods can contribute to spiritual growth. David and Hannah encourage listeners to embrace the rhythms of life and see darkness not as an enemy, but as an essential part of spiritual growth and transformation.  

Topics Discussed: 

• The metaphorical duality of Biblical characters, for example, both Satan and Jesus are portrayed as lions. 
• The spiritual significance of darkness and how dark moments in life can lead to transformation and divine communication. 
• The metaphorical roles of the sun and moon in our lives and how they can be seen as symbols of spiritual transformation. 
• How Biblical narratives like Genesis 15.5, Exodus 20, and Genesis 28 illustrate spiritual phenomena. 
• Maintaining faith during dark times, shedding light on how such periods can fuel spiritual growth. 
• The concept of the 'Dark Night of the Soul', as explained by John of the Cross, and how embracing darkness can be a guiding force during challenging phases of life. 
• The concept of spiritual light pollution is explored and how an overabundance of light can affect our spiritual lives. 
• Learning how to embrace darkness in life and recognize its role in spiritual growth 

Quotes: 

“I use the word tension a lot when I'm in conversation with them about spiritual things. We have to hold things in tension.” –Dr. David Pocta 

“Sleep is important. It's not bonus hours when you have insomnia.” –Hannah DeSouza 

“Yeah, I would say so much so that we instinctively actually trust people more when we know they've experienced dark times.” –Dr. David Pocta 

Links: 

Dr. David Pocta 

Hannah DeSouza 

Slideshow