Message In A Bottle: Recent Episodes
John Berglund
Since both a "fine-tuned" appearance of the universe and the Copenhagen interpretation of Quantum Mechanics with its need for an outside observer (even to the universe) both point to a God/Designer, they are rejected in favor of a multiverse and the Many Worlds interpretation of QM. Both point to a God/Designer and both are rejected because they do so.
Superposition and the measurement problem in quantum mechanics. Sounds from across the solar system. Entanglement and Bell's Inequality. The anthropic principle and intelligent design. George Berkeley's idealism and the Copenhagen Interpretation of quantum mechanics. The dilemma of the scientist if God is the designer and if it is for a purpose.
Insane Clown Posse's mission, the narrative behind the universe, UFOs and abduction (John Mack), Joe Jordan's mission after leaving MUFON, God's poiema, the word Jerusalem.
The parable of the Good Samaritan and the significance of the Good Land of Canaan. Roger Williams and the problem of separation due to beliefs as perpetuated in Massachusetts. Shel Silverstein's "The Missing Piece" and a reasonable expectation of fulfillment.
John wonders over SuperBowl commercial, radial snow tires, the Church of the Risen Christ Farm cult of Winsor OH, St. Augustine by Gary Wills, on we in our dream seeking to inform the "real" us, Glenn Schwartz and All Saved Freak Band, the collapse of the superposition and objectivity in quantum mechanics, consciousness and the quantum (Roger Penrose)
John sings briefly, then does ten topics, such as: alien abduction, the Copenhagen Interpretation of QM, the Two Americas (left and right), identifying one another as individuals vs. as member of some group, multiculturalism, the All Saved Freak Band, the Nicean Creed, genocide and Darwinism, John sings his song "St. John of Appleseed"
On John's songs about Wellington OH (a la Sufjan Stevens): Archibald Willard (painter of the Spirit of 76), being the cheese capital of the nation (thanks to Mollie Baun), Myron Herrick and Charles Lindbergh, Johnny Appleseed (John sings)... on Youthcore, and building a myth for it, ideas for village festival using Stone Soup, and the beginnings of the Lone Ranger.
John wrote a set of songs about Wellington OH, ala Sufjan Stevens' idea to do an album for all of the states... such as on Archibald Willard, who painted The Spirit of '76; on the Cheese Parade and its celebrated cow Mollie Baun; on Charles Lindbergh's poop suit upon being met by Wellington's US ambassador to France, Myron Herrick; on the Wellington Rescue of escapee John Price; on Johnny Appleseed who probably walked through Wellington during his 37 years in Ohio; etc. John sings one of these songs (St. John of Appleseed). John and Mark talk about the beginnings of the Lone Ranger and John's idea of using Johnny Appleseed in a Soup Stone festival, etc.
Playing Jesus movement era music. David's heart for God, and the building of the temple in Jerusalem. Its destruction, the return, and Daniel's Seventy Weeks. The requirement for the temple for prophecy to be fulfilled. Gun culture and real problem. The potential for CRISPR in gender "equality" issues. The name "Jerusalem."
Glenn Schwartz of the ASFB, the 70 weeks of Daniel. The parable of the fig tree. On the 70s movie "Thief in the Night." On the parable of the ten virgins. "Just as the days of Noah." "Be diligent to enter into that rest" (of the millennial kingdom). The Bible beginning and ending with a couple.
With Dave and Olvin. Science and locus of control. Love being more than chemical. Agassiz and Darwin. The Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics and the overarching observer. Lofar Schafer's view of the universe. A designer universe? The problem with Science: claiming to be mankind's hope yet taking away that hope. Reading some op-ed pieces from the Oberlin Review.
The All Saved Freak Band, Glenn Kaiser of Rez Band, the Islamic Jesus, Paul and James of Jerusalem, and John's hope.
With Mark and Olvin. On UFOs and alien abductions, the parable of the fig tree and end times, the peculiarity of gospel preaching and Jesus' exclusionary statement, on the role of religion and government in Jesus' crucifixion, and having a relationship with Jesus.
The media coverage of the Sutherland Springs Texas church massacre, the strangeness of quantum mechanics (the measurement problem), the fine-tunedness problem, being alone in the universe (problems with the Drake equation), on the idea of the multiverse...versus design.
With guest Khalid on knowing Malcolm X and Louis Farrakhan growing up in the Nation of Islam.
With Michelle! Conspiracy theories, Popper's falsifiability, living in a simulation, Satan, the two Americas (assimilation vs. accommodation), problem of identifying others as other, women beating up men in movies (apologies for audio quality, done at home during covid era on cheap mics)
With Michelle! Cricket powder, flying cars, quantum teleportation and whatever else flowed in.
On the increase of the diagnosis of various diagnoses (Ulcerative Colitis, Autism, Bipolar Disorder, etc.), on Bridget St. John and Nick Drake, on politics being about the allocation of resources and competition for limited resources, on the hope that people would be pure enough to care about what is true rather than just being opinionated, on the root of evil being selfishness, on dark empathy, on the search in areas that don't fit into the scientific purview, on believing there is a universal narrative and the role of free speech in allowing us to sift through the possibilities...
On finding a CD by Bernice (Puff: In the Air Without a Shape), on the need to find a reason to live (What would be that purpose?). Could a researcher who found those who have faith live longer and healthier lives for that reason really believe? Tufts University finding that flatworms retained memories after having their heads removed, and the new work on erasing memories in mice... could memories of belief then be brought IN instead of erased? On the story of Abraham's offering Isaac as per a Sufjan Stevens' song. On faith. On men often being depicted as bad guys (as opposed to women). On a youtube channel planned but never begun. On songs.
On John's song to the tune of Wm. Blake's Jerusalem about Johnny Appleseed, John Mack's book on alien abduction Abduction, the cosmonauts seeing "angels" outside their craft, and John's belief, as in Josh Garrel's song Don't Wait For Me, as to the existence of the Universal Romance... and on the experience of those who claim to have been abducted. And 1 Corinthians 2:9 and Psalm 34:8...
Rock music's "in" to the mind, John's songs on Wellington's halcyon days of cheese, Myron T. Herrick, Johnny Appleseed (and about his last standing tree), The Microscopic Zomoliths of Wellington movie idea, the fine-tunedness problem of the universe and the multiverse of string theory...
Songs removed in fairness to owners/artists. Played on WOBC Oberlin. John talks about music he has discovered while doing the show. Rosetta Tharpe, Carter Family, Gospel Gangstaz, etc. John on his interest in quantum mechanics and string theory and their usefulness in narrowing possibilities down to design. On going through Oberlin asking people, "Where is the church?" On his tiff with post-modernism. On UFOs. On coincidences. On his songs meant to be a Sufjan-esque album on his own hometown. On Johnny Appleseed. On Love being behind the existence of the universe. On being the last bastion of Love.
With friend Brad. On finding the Mother Goose with a Beatle Beat LP on youtube after half a century. String theory and challenge of positive vacuum pressure, Leonard Susskind's interview with New Scientist and intelligent design. QM's challenge to determinism. Darwinism and genocide and faith. Strategic suffering (a term I invented). Ancient Christianity, Islam and the challenge to John. Rupert Sheldrake's fields and memory. John's hero Roger Williams, founder of Rhode Island. On the current "churches" not being churches. On the Bible being a romance. John singing a song he wrote.
Aired February 10 2019 on WOBC Oberlin. Songs removed in fairness to owners/artists. Topics include: John Lennon's gospel song "You Saved My Soul," Bob Dylan's "Property of Jesus," many worlds interpretation, the troubling effects of personal solipsism and John's deliverance...
With David Blaine. Songs removed in fairness to owners/artists. Aired May 5, 2013 on WOBC Oberlin. Topics include: Watchman Nee, "to go out the camp," John singing his song, etc.