Topic: Indigenous Religions

Host Greg Carlwood introduces Dr. Gregory Shushan, a PhD scholar and historian of religion specializing in cross-cultural afterlife beliefs. Shushan discusses his book, Near-Death Experience in Indigenous Religions, which analyzes accounts from Native American, African, and Oceanic cultures. The conversation establishes that near-death experiences (NDEs) are a universal phenomenon rather than a modern Western construct.

The discussion covers the modern revival of indigenous Russian and Slavic spirituality following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Gary Lachman highlights the "Ringing Cedars" movement, based on the Anastasia books by Vladimir Megre, which has gained immense popularity by promoting a mystical connection to the Siberian wilderness. This resurgence of paganism and native Slavic gods mirrors similar trends in the West and other parts of the North, such as Iceland.

The discussion critiques how modern capitalism and organized religion have caused Westerners to view the past as unfashionable, leading to the loss of ancient protocols for the supernatural. Alan Stivelman and Greg Carlwood discuss the dangers of channeling energy into unknown forces without proper protection. The shamans emphasize that their message is intended for the few who are willing to listen and move beyond a techno-centric worldview.