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228. The Life Wisdom Project | Facing Divine Darkness | Special Guest: Matt Cardin
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In this special episode of The Life Wisdom Project Jerry L. Martin is joined by acclaimed horror author, essayist, and religious thinker Matt Cardin for a profound exploration of divine duality, Zoroastrian cosmology, and the moral landscape of good and evil.
Together, they dive into God’s revelations to the prophet Zoroaster as recounted in God: An Autobiography, As Told to a Philosopher, unpacking a worldview where life is not a passive unfolding — but an active battlefield between light and darkness, truth and illusion. Through the lens of Zoroastrianism and Manichaean thought, the conversation traces how spiritual maturity demands we choose a side — not in tribal allegiance, but in moral clarity and existential responsibility.
Matt Cardin brings his unique background at the crossroads of religion, metaphysical horror, and philosophical inquiry to the fore. The episode confronts some of the most challenging spiritual insights from the book, including:
- “Most spiritually attuned people are not truth seekers.”
- “To look evil in the face is a spiritual act.”
- “My aspects have a life of their own and go wayward.”
These statements form the foundation for a dialogue about spiritual integration, shadow work, divine self-awareness, and the lived tension between peace and calamity — as illustrated in both Zoroaster’s vision and Isaiah 45, where God declares, “I form the light and create darkness.”
The episode also explores how horror writing, when used with spiritual intent, can serve as a radical form of not turning away — of confronting the hidden, the repressed, the divine and monstrous within. Cardin’s reflections on Jung, Freud, and the archetypal struggle for integration are especially resonant for seekers navigating complexity in both self and cosmos.
Whether you're drawn to Zoroastrian theology, psychological integration, or the spiritual function of horror literature, this conversation invites you to experience divine reality with open eyes — and a willingness to face the truth, however unsettling it may be.
Other Series:
The podcast began with the Dramatic Adaptation of the book and now has several series:
- From God To Jerry To You- a brand-new series calling for the attention of spiritual seekers everywhere, featuring breakthroughs, pathways, and illuminations.
- Two Philosophers Wrestle With God- sit in on a dialogue between philosophers about God and the questions we all have.
- What's On Our Mind- Connect the dots with Jerry and Scott over the most recent series episodes.
- What's On Your Mind- What are readers and listeners saying? What is God saying
Resources:
Stay Connected
- Share your thoughts or questions at [email protected]
- 📖 Get the book
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Chapters
1. 228. The Life Wisdom Project | Facing Divine Darkness | Special Guest: Matt Cardin (00:00:00)
2. Introduction to God: An Autobiography, The Podcast (00:00:17)
3. The Life Wisdom Project | Special Guest Matt Cardin: Religion, Horror, and Zoroaster (00:01:17)
4. Zoroastrianism: Life as a Battlefield Between Good and Evil (00:02:02)
5. Manichaean Duality and the Divine Twins (00:03:48)
6. Zoroaster as a Seeker of Truth: The Call To Choose a Side (00:08:28)
7. Most Spiritually Attuned People Aren’t Truth Seekers (00:11:11)
8. Why Socrates Never Gave a Final Answer (00:14:33)
9. Can We Ever Know Anything Beyond Our Own Experience? (00:17:35)
10. The Divine Within: Recognizing Ourselves in God (00:21:37)
11. To Look Evil in the Face Is a Spiritual Act (00:26:35)
12. Isaiah 45 and the God Who Creates Both Light and Darkness (00:30:42)
13. Horror Writing and the Search for God (00:34:17)
14. Embracing the Shadow: Jung, Freud, and Divine Complexity (00:39:54)
15. What It Means To Be a Seeker of Truth (00:44:32)
16. Outro and Contact Information: Stay Connected (00:45:39)
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