10 | Dr Ankur Barua - Cognition, Intuition, Space and Time Travel

Welcome to the Divinity Divulged podcast! The first podcastseries from the Faculty of Divinity at the University of Cambridge. In each episode we’ll be taking a look at one of the fascinating research projects happening within the Faculty through conversations with the researcher and an expert guest working in their field. With dialogue aimed at all of thosestudying or exploring religious studies across all levels, you can find details on how this episode relates to A Level and Scottish Highers Specifications as well as a glossary below. For this very special episode we went live! Recorded as part of the Cambridge Festival Ideas in 2025 we welcomed Dr Ankur Barua, University Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Divinity here at Cambridge. Offering us their expertise and their reflections was Dr Alexandra Ilieva, Teaching Associate in Buddhist Studies also in the Faculty of Divinity.  Ankur divulged his connections to considerations around timeand space, cognition and intuition, translations, and, most significantly, time travel films.  Glossary   Atomic theory – Scientific explanation which suggests thatall matter is from small particles called atoms.  Dharma- Sanskrit word generally referring to a path of righteousness or duty in Hinduism and Buddhism. Diachronic – Consideration of the way something,particularly language, has developed over time. Ethnography – Social scientific descriptions of peoples andcultures through their customs habits and mutual differences through observation. Existential – The consideration of and ideas relating to existence. Hermeneutical intent – Attempting to understand a text byseeking to understand the authors meanings and motivations. Language game – Philosophical concept developed by Ludwig Wittgenstein which refers to simple examples of language and the ideas and actions within them.  Meta philosophy – The philosophical study of the nature,methods, aims and boundaries of philosophy itself.  Metaphysical – Aspects of philosophy that consider thenature of reality and existence beyond the physical world and human perception  Nihilistic – The belief that life is meaningless and arejection of religious and moral principle accordingly  Orientalism – Representations of Asian cultures and peoplesin an stereotyped and essentialised way stemming from and furthering  colonialist attitudes  Syllogistic – A type of log where conclusions are reached byapplying deductive reasoning to two general premises  Synchronic – State of operating or developing according tothe same time scale as something else Tawheed – The Islamic concept of the oneness of God A Level Specifications – AQA Philosophy of Religion  Religious languageSelf, death and the afterlife 2a Buddhism Ultimate realityBuddhism and science 2c Hinduism  Ultimate realityHinduism and science Dialogues The dialogue between Hinduism and philosophy Pearson Edexcel Philosophy of Religion  1 Philosophical issues and questions 4 Religious language 4A Buddhism 1 Religious Beliefs values and teachings 4C Hinduism 1 Religious Beliefs values and teachings OCR  2.c Philosophy of religion 1 Philosophical language and thought4 Theological and Philosophical Developments5 Religious Language: Negative, Analogical or Symbolic 2.c Developments in Buddhist thoughtFoundationsInsight 2.c Developments in Hindu thought FoundationsInsight Scottish Highers Specifications  SQA BuddhismBeliefs  HinduismBeliefs