For the past few decades we have heard from the new atheists just how horrible religion is, that religion is responsible for all these terrible things like the inquisition and witch burnings - but what if I told you that there are patterns or structures behind this kind of behaviour that are simply human, and are not unique to religious people, nor to your ideological or political opponents, but exist fundamentally in all identities.

YouTube version: https://youtu.be/SQSDCcFKSrQ

==================

The Symbolic World Goes to Middle-earth! Join Richard Rohlin for his new course on Tolkien and Universal History. As always patrons at the Involved tier or higher qualify for a 10% discount. Apply your unique discount code at checkout. Read more here: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/tolkien-and-universal-history 
In his famous Letter #131 to Milton Waldman, J.R.R. Tolkien described his Legendarium as an attempt to create a vast cycle of stories. These stories would be dedicated to his home country and as such this concept has often been described by Tolkien scholars as a “Mythology for England.” This course will take this concept a step further by examining the Legendarium as an attempt at a work of Universal History, one which uses both ancient and modern storytelling genres to reconcile conflicting visions of English, European, and Western identity. We will then apply those methods to contemporary storytelling efforts, revealing how Tolkien opens the way to a return to cosmological and legendary Christian storytelling tradition.

==================
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My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/

In this episode Richard Rohlin goes solo to give us an introduction about JRR Tolkien's vision for Universal History. Later this month he will be teaching a course on this topic.
Register now for the Tolkien and Universal History course by Richard Rohlin on The Symbolic World website: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/tolkien-and-universal-history

Cost: $150
Discount: 10% off for all Symbolic World patrons at the Involved tier or higher. Apply your unique discount code at checkout.
Live classes: February 24 - March 24, 5 weeks, 10 hours of lectures.
Lecture recordings will be made available with downloadable audio.

=====Timestamps====
01:07 - Introduction
03:36 - What makes Tolkien unique?
07:53 - Tolkien & universal history
12:28 - The Arthurian legends
22:13 - Redeeming the elves
26:45 - Redeeming the gods
27:40 - Medieval genres: Chronicles
29:35 - Poetry
31:17 - The Silmarillion
34:10 - Retelling culture-founding narratives
36:09 - The Lord of the Rings
38:44 - The novel
42:16 - Writing assignment

💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com
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In this conversation, Jonathan Pageau and Annie Crawford delve into C.S. Lewis's work, particularly focusing on 'Till We Have Faces.' They explore the significance of this book in understanding Lewis's thought, its mythic elements, and the interplay between paganism and Christian themes. The discussion also touches on the evolution of Lewis's writing style, the role of myth and fairy tales, and the complex themes of mimetic desire and sacrifice present in the narrative. The symbolism of the veil is highlighted as a key element in understanding the duality of truth and deception in Lewis's work.

==========NEW SYMBOLIC WORLD COURSE==========
Join us for Annie Crawford's course on C.S. Lewis' Till We Have Faces, starting live on January 17th, 2025. Register now: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/till-we-have-faces-with-annie-crawford

💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com
🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 
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My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/

Keywords
C.S. Lewis, Till We Have Faces, myth, paganism, Christian themes, literary analysis, mimetic desire, symbolism, re-enchantment, allegory, C.S. Lewis, myth, duality, sacrifice, modernity, paganism, rationalism, consciousness, reintegration, renewal

Fr. Stephen De Young is back on the podcast to discuss his latest book, St. Paul the Pharisee. St. Paul is at the core of many modern misunderstandings about Christianity; Fr. Stephen presents how we can understand St. Paul’s writings within the context of who he was, when he lived, and who he was addressing in his epistles, ultimately bringing us closer to the vision Christ Himself gave us.

-Buy Fr. Stephen’s book on the Ancient Faith Store - Saint Paul the Pharisee: Jewish Apostle to All Nations: https://store.ancientfaith.com/saint-paul-the-pharisee-jewish-apostle-to-all-nations/ 
-On Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Saint-Paul-Pharisee-Apostle-Nations/dp/1955890706

==========Book description==========
The centuries after the Protestant Reformation brought about a radical reinterpretation of the epistles of St. Paul, disconnected from any historical reality. But Paul operated, during his entire life, as a faithful Pharisee within the Roman Jewish world. In Saint Paul the Pharisee: Jewish Apostle to All Nations, Fr. Stephen De Young surveys Paul’s life and writings, interpreting them within the Holy Tradition of the Orthodox Church. This survey is followed by De Young’s interpretive translation of St. Paul’s epistles, which deliberately avoids overly familiar terminology. By using words and ideas grounded in first-century Judaism, De Young hopes to unsettle commonly held notions and help the reader reassess St. Paul in his historical context.

==========NEW SYMBOLIC WORLD COURSE==========
Join us for Annie Crawford's course on C.S. Lewis' Till We Have Faces, starting live on January 17th, 2025. Register now: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/till-we-have-faces-with-annie-crawford

==========Other links==========
Lord of Spirits podcast: https://www.ancientfaith.com/podcasts/lordofspirits/
Fr. Stephen’s talk at the Symbolic World Summit 2024, Friedrich Nietzsche’s Guide to the Bodily Resurrection: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OVbxZJ463Q
Daily Wire The Gospels seminar: https://www.dailywire.com/show/the-gospels   

💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com
🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 
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==========Timestamps==========
00:00 - Coming up
01:13 - Intro music
01:38 - Introduction to St. Paul and Contextual Understanding
06:16 - Settling the "works vs faith" debate
13:06 - St. Paul and the Gospels: A Unified Message
15:37 - Scholasticism vs Mysticism
20:17 - The Transformation of Society through St. Paul's Vision
24:19 - Slavery and Christian Ethics in St. Paul's Writings
32:34 - The Kingdom of Heaven is already here
38:15 - Hierarchy bad
39:58 - The core of St. Paul's teachings: Faithfulness
41:34 - The Call to Individual Purpose
46:32 - The Nature of Christian Hierarchy
51:32 - St. Paul: Context and Misunderstandings
56:03 - Keeping Jewish practices
01:04:56 - The Sabbath
01:05:50 - Tradition preserves context
01:11:08 - Understanding St. Paul: A Personal Connection

Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ 
My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/

Paul Kingsnorth gave a provocative talk for First Things' Erasmus Lecture of 2024, titled "Against Christian Civilization". In this episode, we discuss the essence of his argument, delving into the fundamental tensions between Christianity and civilization. How does faith interact with culture? What is the Biblical narrative around cities and governance? Are we misusing Christianity as a tool for cultural preservation over pursuing true spiritual transformation? Is Western Civilization as we know it even salvable at this point?

-Paul Kingsnorth’s First Things talk: "Against Christian Civilization" | 2024 Erasmus Lecture: https://www.youtube.com/live/Y3hMSZqatHI?si=bmT1rqPyEF-LvR0_ 
-Written article version of his talk: Against Christian Civilization, January 2025: https://www.firstthings.com/article/2025/01/against-christian-civilization 

==========NEW SYMBOLIC WORLD COURSE==========
Join us for Annie Crawford's course on C.S. Lewis' Till We Have Faces, starting live on January 17th, 2025. Register now: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/till-we-have-faces-with-annie-crawford

==========TIMESTAMPS==========
00:00 - Coming up
01:31 - Intro music
01:56 - Introduction
03:02 - The essence of Paul's talk
07:13 - Civilization and Revelation
12:02 - A Christian's challenge
16:45 - The Biblical vision
31:13 - What about the rulers?
37:01 - Buildings
42:10 - Brands and idols
47:27 - The seed and the fruit
49:24 - Celebrating stories

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My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/

In celebration of the Feast of Theophany I discuss the role of St. John the Baptist, or St. John the Forerunner, as he's known in the Orthodox tradition. Why does Christ need a forerunner? What is he actually doing, symbolically? And how does his appearance, behavior, and death participate in the pattern that's already being set up in the Old Testament?

Original YouTube version: https://youtu.be/dvUQXKdpJy0
💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com
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==========NEW SYMBOLIC WORLD COURSE==========
Join us for Annie Crawford's course on C.S. Lewis' Till We Have Faces, starting live on January 17th, 2025. If you register before Thursday, 8 pm EST, you can get 15% off with the discount code: LEWIS2025. Register now: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/till-we-have-faces-with-annie-crawford

==========TIMESTAMPS==========
00:00 - Introduction
00:32 - Intro music
00:57 - The role of St. John
04:05 - Prefigurations of St. John
04:21 - The flood of Noah
05:15 - The Tower of Babel
06:06 - The Exodus
07:55 - Elijah
09:37 - St. John in the wilderness
12:36 - The voice in the desert
13:51 - Wild
15:58 - Stability in Logos
17:55 - Elijah will return
21:49 - Taken up before the end
23:21 - Joseph in Egypt
26:16 - Conclusion

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My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson.

For this interview I have a great discussion with organist, pianist, conductor, arranger, and recording artist Matthew Wilkinson, who also happened to put together the Symbolic World intro music. We delve into the symbolism of music, particularly focusing on Bach's organ works. The discussion also touches on the evolution of musical styles from the Baroque period to the Classical, modern and postmodern eras, the historical context of music, from the music of the spheres to modern dissonance, and how these concepts reflect broader ideas about hierarchy and opposites.

Support Matthew Wilkinson's wonderful work: 
Check out his website and buy his CD: https://matthewwilkinson.net/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/24DSGAdbVt7by0JHEqTwMh?si=ZJlpdMkcSg6SfMvz7YbkFg
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@matthewwilkinson2276?si=m1gbZgTSpOALVdq5

Join us for Annie Crawford's course on C.S. Lewis' Till We Have Faces, starting live on January 17th, 2025. Learn more here: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/till-we-have-faces-with-annie-crawford

Original YouTube version: https://youtu.be/d-9FRODiDKM  

Timestamps:
00:00 - Coming up
00:56 - Intro music
01:21 - Introduction
02:18 - The album on Bach
05:38 - Trinitarian symbolism
14:49 - Meaning in structure vs outside it
20:15 - The hero's journey
22:05 - Signatures
25:06 - Subject and countersubject
26:19 - The organ
29:25 - Going through the entrances
32:39 - Various subjects
35:03 - Baroque
36:37 - Counterpoint
37:21 - Duality in music
40:14 - Music of the spheres
43:54 - Hierarchy in beats
47:15 - Glenn Gould
49:19 - The dialectic
51:04 - Hierarchy in music
55:16 - Music in the modern era
01:07:45 - Postmodernism

💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com
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Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ 
My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson.

This is a repost of a talk given at St-George Antiochian Orthodox Church in Montreal, originally posted in 2018.
The Nativity icon is not only the image of an event that happened two thousands years ago, but rather by its form and the hierarchy of its elements, shows us the inner working of how the Divine Logos creates the world and how His incarnation acts as the anchor, the fulcrum around which all manifestation holds together.  

Original YouTube version: https://youtu.be/i8xow567P74
Don’t forget to check out our Christmas Symbolism playlist of all the videos I made about Christmas over the years:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVX4HUUPrIY9MeGP5IILeRzu62Q1NPT4C

Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction
01:10 - Intro music
01:34 - Introducing the talk
03:50 - The fast
05:29 - Elements of the nativity icon
08:04 - St. Joseph tempted by the devil
10:44 - The bullseye
13:24 - The ass and ox
15:40 - Why born in a cave?
20:31 - God with us
25:44 - The real question
32:44 - Q&A: The river gods
35:20 - Q: The axe
35:50 - Q: Early icons
37:08 - Q: Children baptized
38:12 - Q: Snakes under the door

💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com
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Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ 
My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson.

In this episode, I explore a dark narrative aspect of the Christmas story: the Massacre of the Innocents at the hand of King Herod, connecting it to various Old Testament variations on the pattern: Joseph and the Pharaoh, Jacob and Esau, and David and King Saul. Christ brings all of these stories together in a unique and mind-blowing way, not just in the Gospels, but also in what happens in history afterwards…

Original YouTube version: https://youtu.be/cGZn-hv7dis
Check out my other videos on Christmas: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVX4HUUPrIY9MeGP5IILeRzu62Q1NPT4C

💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com
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00:00 - Introduction
01:42 - Intro music
02:07 - The text
03:39 - What's going on?
03:59 - Pharaoh kills children in Egypt
05:48 - Joseph son of Israel
07:11 - Jacob and Esau
09:22 - King Saul and David
10:31 - The story of Jesus
12:11 - A prophecy: killed by His brothers
13:43 - The conversion of Rome
14:47 - Going back in time
16:38 - Why is this part of reality?

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My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson.

This is a repost of the November 2024's patron video where I take a closer look into the restoration of Notre Dame de Paris. After a devastating fire in 2019, and 5 years of reconstruction, Notre Dame is now officially open. But did they get it right in how they rebuilt the church?

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💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com
🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 
Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ 
My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson.