From a talk given by Fr. John Valadez at St. Barbara's Monastery in Santa Paula, CA.

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This new series of recordings from Fr. John Valadez compliments the Orthodox Survival Course. The first lecture, "Culture in Crisis", introduces us to Russian philosopher Ivan Ilyin and his approach to living a Christian life within the context of the modern world. Is a renewal of culture even possible? How could we bring it about? 

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This lecture explores the foundations of the philosophy of transhumanism, and how it is gaining traction today.

"Learn to know the spirit of the age, study it, so whenever possible you will be able to avoid its influence." - St. Ignatius Brianchaninov. 

"With artificial intelligence, we are summoning the demon." - Elon Musk. 

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"Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness but instead expose them." St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians, 5:11. 

Churches closed. Holy Mysteries banned. Icons swapped for screens. How do we view what happened 5 years ago through an Orthodox perspective? This lecture aims to reapproach the covidian insanity with sobriety and to examine what went wrong.

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The Holy Scriptures reveal that the coming of the Antichrist will be preceded by a globalization of religion—what Fr. Seraphim Rose called the "religion of the future." Understanding Ecumenism, this attempted fusion of worldliness and Christianity, is essential to heed the Lord Jesus' counsel: "Take heed that no man deceive you."

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This topic has resurfaced in the media continually from the 1940s to the present. What do our sure guides, the Holy Fathers, teach us about this phenomenon? In this lecture, we explore how such matters must be understood first and foremost from an Orthodox Christian perspective—one embodied in the lives of the modern saints and their lived experience of divine revelation. 

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The term "Satanic Panic" is attributed to the 1980's and 1990's, a time in which many Evangelical Protestants began to recognize patterns in rock music and subcultures, particularly the violence and occult themes that were springing up in that era. In some ways they overreacted, but in some ways they reacted to what was really going on. 

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The development of what we call "self" and how inner feelings began to dominate and define identity. A look through philosophers and occultists who ushered in the sexual revolution and the aftermath we still experience today. This is all contrasted with an Orthodox view of personhood and freedom. 

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Looking at the history of apostasy in the west from the time of the Great Schism up to modern times. Review of the first OSC courses done five years ago and primer for the upcoming lectures.

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Fr Seraphim's observations on the six days of Creation through his patristic mind and study of the Holy Fathers, who he says are the "sure guides" to understanding the spiritual life and the Holy Scriptures. 

Direct quotes taken from the book Genesis, Creation and Early Man which has been just re-released by Saint Herman Brotherhood. All are encouraged to order and read the full text in its context. 

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