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Isaiah: The Fifth Gospel - with Seraphim Hamilton
Podcast

Isaiah: The Fifth Gospel - with Seraphim Hamilton

I’m joined again by Seraphim Hamilton to discuss his upcoming Symbolic World course on Isaiah, beginning June 15th. We talk about why Isaiah is central for understanding Christ in the Old Testament, the relationship between prophecy, exile, the suffering servant, the gentile nations, and the deep symbolic unity between Scripture, liturgy, and creation. Join Seraphim Hamilton in studying the Book of Isaiah this June. Register now to get 15% off before the early bird sale ends: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/the-fifth-gospel Timestamps: 00:00 - Coming up 00:47 - Intro music 01:01 - Introducing Seraphim Hamilton and the Isaiah course 01:48 - Seminary, liturgy, and returning to Scripture 02:39 - Why Isaiah? 03:02 - Isaiah as a Christological book 05:27 - High Christology in the Old Testament 06:52 - Leviathan, Revelation, and the Angel of the Lord 07:51 - Isaiah 27 and the serpent of Genesis 08:22 - Sennacherib, Hezekiah, and the Angel of the Lord 10:51 - Are Old Testament prophecies taken out of context? 11:18 - Exile, Assyria, Babylon, and biblical prophecy 14:57 - Course promo: The Fifth Gospel 15:47 - Isaiah 14 and the fall of Satan 16:44 - The king of Babylon and the Daystar 19:06 - Isaiah 14, Isaiah 53, and the suffering servant 22:46 - Venus, Lucifer, and Christ as opposite images 24:22 - Angels, humanity, and the transfer of authority 25:57 - Is the suffering servant Israel or the Messiah? 26:23 - The Messiah as the son of David 28:50 - The servant, the seed, and the restoration of Israel 32:13 - How the nations participate in the promise 32:41 - The Old Testament and the redemption of the nations 34:54 - The mountain of the Lord and divine fire 37:34 - The heavenly Jerusalem and Isaiah 60 38:02 - Isaiah 59, incarnation, and the redemption of Israel 40:19 - The nations coming to honor the Jewish Messiah 43:14 - What the Isaiah class hopes to offer 43:56 - Seeing Christ disclosed in the Old Testament 46:36 - Symbolism, the Fathers, and the tight weave of Scripture 47:44 - Course details: five classes on Isaiah 48:49 - Closing and where to sign up 🔓 Become a patron to support us and unlock exclusive monthly symbolism content: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe 💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 🎧 Listen to and review The Symbolic World podcast: -Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0gI8bUwPtT3gkduHqNh6M5 -Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-symbolic-world/id1386867488 Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/

Jonathan PageauSymbolic World Icon
Jonathan Pageau
Jun 2, 2026
June 2, 2026
Isaiah: The Fifth Gospel - with Seraphim Hamilton
Podcasts

Isaiah: The Fifth Gospel - with Seraphim Hamilton

Jonathan PageauSymbolic World Icon
Jonathan Pageau
Jun 2, 2026
June 2, 2026

I’m joined again by Seraphim Hamilton to discuss his upcoming Symbolic World course on Isaiah, beginning June 15th. We talk about why Isaiah is central for understanding Christ in the Old Testament, the relationship between prophecy, exile, the suffering servant, the gentile nations, and the deep symbolic unity between Scripture, liturgy, and creation. Join Seraphim Hamilton in studying the Book of Isaiah this June. Register now to get 15% off before the early bird sale ends: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/the-fifth-gospel Timestamps: 00:00 - Coming up 00:47 - Intro music 01:01 - Introducing Seraphim Hamilton and the Isaiah course 01:48 - Seminary, liturgy, and returning to Scripture 02:39 - Why Isaiah? 03:02 - Isaiah as a Christological book 05:27 - High Christology in the Old Testament 06:52 - Leviathan, Revelation, and the Angel of the Lord 07:51 - Isaiah 27 and the serpent of Genesis 08:22 - Sennacherib, Hezekiah, and the Angel of the Lord 10:51 - Are Old Testament prophecies taken out of context? 11:18 - Exile, Assyria, Babylon, and biblical prophecy 14:57 - Course promo: The Fifth Gospel 15:47 - Isaiah 14 and the fall of Satan 16:44 - The king of Babylon and the Daystar 19:06 - Isaiah 14, Isaiah 53, and the suffering servant 22:46 - Venus, Lucifer, and Christ as opposite images 24:22 - Angels, humanity, and the transfer of authority 25:57 - Is the suffering servant Israel or the Messiah? 26:23 - The Messiah as the son of David 28:50 - The servant, the seed, and the restoration of Israel 32:13 - How the nations participate in the promise 32:41 - The Old Testament and the redemption of the nations 34:54 - The mountain of the Lord and divine fire 37:34 - The heavenly Jerusalem and Isaiah 60 38:02 - Isaiah 59, incarnation, and the redemption of Israel 40:19 - The nations coming to honor the Jewish Messiah 43:14 - What the Isaiah class hopes to offer 43:56 - Seeing Christ disclosed in the Old Testament 46:36 - Symbolism, the Fathers, and the tight weave of Scripture 47:44 - Course details: five classes on Isaiah 48:49 - Closing and where to sign up 🔓 Become a patron to support us and unlock exclusive monthly symbolism content: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe 💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 🎧 Listen to and review The Symbolic World podcast: -Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0gI8bUwPtT3gkduHqNh6M5 -Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-symbolic-world/id1386867488 Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/

Mythological Thinking: The Crossroads of Psychology and Theology (Hillsdale talk)
Podcast

Mythological Thinking: The Crossroads of Psychology and Theology (Hillsdale talk)

This is a talk I did at Hillsdale College in March 2026. In this talk, I explore mythological thinking as a way of understanding how facts become meaningful. Facts do not present themselves to us neutrally. They are always organized by care, relevance, attention, and story. I look at examples from Genesis, Icarus, Spider-Man, the Tower of Babel, and modern science to show how myths preserve deep patterns of human experience. Rather than treating myth as fiction or primitive explanation, I argue that myth reveals the structures by which we perceive reality, understand purpose, and connect psychology with theology. Join Seraphim Hamilton in studying the Book of Isaiah this June. Register now to get 15% off before the early bird sale ends: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/the-fifth-gospel 🔓 Become a patron to support us and unlock exclusive monthly symbolism content: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe 💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 🎧 Listen to and review The Symbolic World podcast: -Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0gI8bUwPtT3gkduHqNh6M5 -Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-symbolic-world/id1386867488 Timestamps: 00:00 Coming up 01:38 Intro music 02:03 Introduction at Hillsdale College 06:59 Talk begins: hope, fragmentation, and new conversations 09:19 “Facts don’t care about your feelings” 12:12 Care organizes facts 16:50 Facts are always contained in a story 19:15 The Fifth Gospel course announcement 20:10 Why stories survive across generations 24:04 Mythological stories vs. scientific descriptions 27:14 Origin stories and why we care 30:37 Genesis as more than a scientific text 33:34 Genesis, relevance, and human categories 37:38 Why the mythological story should be primary 39:36 Myths are not primitive explanations 41:47 Babel, Icarus, Prometheus, and repeated patterns 44:16 Applicability vs. allegory 47:40 All remembered stories are mythological 49:24 Psychology, theology, and human care 51:27 The Incarnation as the myth that came true 54:34 How story unites psychology and theology 58:29 Returning to mythological thinking 59:55 Q&A: Bringing mythological thinking into science education 01:02:58 Q&A: How to recognize false myths 01:07:37 Q&A: Speaking truth in hostile circles 01:08:53 Q&A: Original sin as a true myth 01:11:13 Q&A: How artists discover truth through story 01:13:42 Q&A: Why live by Christ’s story rather than another? 01:18:21 Q&A: The modern fall into cold, hard reality Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/

Jonathan PageauSymbolic World Icon
Jonathan Pageau
May 29, 2026
May 29, 2026
Mythological Thinking: The Crossroads of Psychology and Theology (Hillsdale talk)
Podcasts

Mythological Thinking: The Crossroads of Psychology and Theology (Hillsdale talk)

Jonathan PageauSymbolic World Icon
Jonathan Pageau
May 29, 2026
May 29, 2026

This is a talk I did at Hillsdale College in March 2026. In this talk, I explore mythological thinking as a way of understanding how facts become meaningful. Facts do not present themselves to us neutrally. They are always organized by care, relevance, attention, and story. I look at examples from Genesis, Icarus, Spider-Man, the Tower of Babel, and modern science to show how myths preserve deep patterns of human experience. Rather than treating myth as fiction or primitive explanation, I argue that myth reveals the structures by which we perceive reality, understand purpose, and connect psychology with theology. Join Seraphim Hamilton in studying the Book of Isaiah this June. Register now to get 15% off before the early bird sale ends: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/the-fifth-gospel 🔓 Become a patron to support us and unlock exclusive monthly symbolism content: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe 💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 🎧 Listen to and review The Symbolic World podcast: -Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0gI8bUwPtT3gkduHqNh6M5 -Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-symbolic-world/id1386867488 Timestamps: 00:00 Coming up 01:38 Intro music 02:03 Introduction at Hillsdale College 06:59 Talk begins: hope, fragmentation, and new conversations 09:19 “Facts don’t care about your feelings” 12:12 Care organizes facts 16:50 Facts are always contained in a story 19:15 The Fifth Gospel course announcement 20:10 Why stories survive across generations 24:04 Mythological stories vs. scientific descriptions 27:14 Origin stories and why we care 30:37 Genesis as more than a scientific text 33:34 Genesis, relevance, and human categories 37:38 Why the mythological story should be primary 39:36 Myths are not primitive explanations 41:47 Babel, Icarus, Prometheus, and repeated patterns 44:16 Applicability vs. allegory 47:40 All remembered stories are mythological 49:24 Psychology, theology, and human care 51:27 The Incarnation as the myth that came true 54:34 How story unites psychology and theology 58:29 Returning to mythological thinking 59:55 Q&A: Bringing mythological thinking into science education 01:02:58 Q&A: How to recognize false myths 01:07:37 Q&A: Speaking truth in hostile circles 01:08:53 Q&A: Original sin as a true myth 01:11:13 Q&A: How artists discover truth through story 01:13:42 Q&A: Why live by Christ’s story rather than another? 01:18:21 Q&A: The modern fall into cold, hard reality Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/

Universal History: What Really Happened in Eden
Podcast

Universal History: What Really Happened in Eden

A telling of the events in Genesis that you might never have heard before. In this episode of Universal History, Deacon Seraphim Rohlin and I return to Genesis through the Syriac tradition, especially the Cave of Treasures. This is the groundwork for understanding the universal history of Persia. Join Seraphim Hamilton in studying the Book of Isaiah this June. Register now to get 15% off before the early bird sale ends: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/the-fifth-gospel Timestamps: 00:00 - Coming up 00:38 - Intro music 01:03 - Why return to Genesis before Persia 05:54 - Syriac sources and the Cave of Treasures 08:21 - Tradition, Scripture, and how ancient stories are received 12:55 - Melchizedek, Moriah, and hidden biblical patterns 17:41 - The first day: creation, waters, and the leaven of life 24:37 - The second day: the firmament and the waters above 28:45 - The third day: earth, seeds, and creation’s hidden potential 34:22 - Sterility, power, and modern artificial systems 38:21 - The fourth day: sun, moon, stars, heat, and life 43:45 - The sixth day: the formation of Adam 45:23 - Adam’s glory and the angels’ fear 52:17 - Satan refuses to venerate Adam 56:56 - The chariot of fire and ascent into paradise 59:19 - Eve, Adam’s side, and ancient wedding symbolism 01:02:09 - Paradise as the Church 01:06:47 - Jerusalem, the cross, and universal history 01:10:55 - The fall, the serpent, and the mirror of temptation 01:17:42 - Garments of skin and the body after the fall 01:22:13 - Adam and Eve expelled from paradise 01:27:00 - The Cave of Treasures and the first temple 01:29:21 - Cain, Abel, and the first sacrifice 01:31:42 - Cain’s jealousy and the first murder 01:35:40 - Abel as the first martyr and first relic 01:37:50 - Genesis as the pattern of the whole world 🔓 Become a patron to support us and unlock exclusive monthly symbolism content: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe 💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 🎧 Listen to and review The Symbolic World podcast: -Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0gI8bUwPtT3gkduHqNh6M5 -Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-symbolic-world/id1386867488 Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/

Jonathan PageauSymbolic World Icon
Jonathan Pageau
May 26, 2026
May 26, 2026
Universal History: What Really Happened in Eden
Podcasts

Universal History: What Really Happened in Eden

Jonathan PageauSymbolic World Icon
Jonathan Pageau
May 26, 2026
May 26, 2026

A telling of the events in Genesis that you might never have heard before. In this episode of Universal History, Deacon Seraphim Rohlin and I return to Genesis through the Syriac tradition, especially the Cave of Treasures. This is the groundwork for understanding the universal history of Persia. Join Seraphim Hamilton in studying the Book of Isaiah this June. Register now to get 15% off before the early bird sale ends: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/the-fifth-gospel Timestamps: 00:00 - Coming up 00:38 - Intro music 01:03 - Why return to Genesis before Persia 05:54 - Syriac sources and the Cave of Treasures 08:21 - Tradition, Scripture, and how ancient stories are received 12:55 - Melchizedek, Moriah, and hidden biblical patterns 17:41 - The first day: creation, waters, and the leaven of life 24:37 - The second day: the firmament and the waters above 28:45 - The third day: earth, seeds, and creation’s hidden potential 34:22 - Sterility, power, and modern artificial systems 38:21 - The fourth day: sun, moon, stars, heat, and life 43:45 - The sixth day: the formation of Adam 45:23 - Adam’s glory and the angels’ fear 52:17 - Satan refuses to venerate Adam 56:56 - The chariot of fire and ascent into paradise 59:19 - Eve, Adam’s side, and ancient wedding symbolism 01:02:09 - Paradise as the Church 01:06:47 - Jerusalem, the cross, and universal history 01:10:55 - The fall, the serpent, and the mirror of temptation 01:17:42 - Garments of skin and the body after the fall 01:22:13 - Adam and Eve expelled from paradise 01:27:00 - The Cave of Treasures and the first temple 01:29:21 - Cain, Abel, and the first sacrifice 01:31:42 - Cain’s jealousy and the first murder 01:35:40 - Abel as the first martyr and first relic 01:37:50 - Genesis as the pattern of the whole world 🔓 Become a patron to support us and unlock exclusive monthly symbolism content: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe 💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 🎧 Listen to and review The Symbolic World podcast: -Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0gI8bUwPtT3gkduHqNh6M5 -Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-symbolic-world/id1386867488 Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/

An Exploration of Modern Dysfunction: What Pluribus is Actually About
Podcast

An Exploration of Modern Dysfunction: What Pluribus is Actually About

In this video, I look at the symbolism of the recent TV show, Pluribus. There's a lot of speculation about whether it's an allegory for AI, the internet, totalitarianism, or resisting tyranny. But I would argue that it's not allegorical at all, rather it's an exploration of a deeper ontological problem: the relationship of the one and the many, the inside and the outside, sameness and difference. 🔓 Become a patron to support us and unlock exclusive monthly symbolism content: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe 💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 🎧 Listen to and review The Symbolic World podcast: -Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0gI8bUwPtT3gkduHqNh6M5 -Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-symbolic-world/id1386867488 Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/

Jonathan PageauSymbolic World Icon
Jonathan Pageau
May 21, 2026
May 21, 2026
An Exploration of Modern Dysfunction: What Pluribus is Actually About
Podcasts

An Exploration of Modern Dysfunction: What Pluribus is Actually About

Jonathan PageauSymbolic World Icon
Jonathan Pageau
May 21, 2026
May 21, 2026

In this video, I look at the symbolism of the recent TV show, Pluribus. There's a lot of speculation about whether it's an allegory for AI, the internet, totalitarianism, or resisting tyranny. But I would argue that it's not allegorical at all, rather it's an exploration of a deeper ontological problem: the relationship of the one and the many, the inside and the outside, sameness and difference. 🔓 Become a patron to support us and unlock exclusive monthly symbolism content: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe 💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 🎧 Listen to and review The Symbolic World podcast: -Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0gI8bUwPtT3gkduHqNh6M5 -Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-symbolic-world/id1386867488 Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/

May 2026 Q&A
Podcast

May 2026 Q&A

This month's Q&A is public! Support us at the $10 level or higher to submit your question in advance: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe Reach out to inquiries@symbolicworldpress.com or through our website for technical assistance: https://thesymbolicworld.com/contact

Jonathan PageauSymbolic World Icon
Jonathan Pageau
May 20, 2026
May 20, 2026
May 2026 Q&A
Podcasts

May 2026 Q&A

Jonathan PageauSymbolic World Icon
Jonathan Pageau
May 20, 2026
May 20, 2026

This month's Q&A is public! Support us at the $10 level or higher to submit your question in advance: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe Reach out to inquiries@symbolicworldpress.com or through our website for technical assistance: https://thesymbolicworld.com/contact

Samuel de Champlain | Situer les Canadiens Français dans l'histoire universelle
Podcast

Samuel de Champlain | Situer les Canadiens Français dans l'histoire universelle

David Brodeur accompagne Jonathan et JP pour parler de Samuel de Champlain, qui est une figure majeure pour comprendre la place des Canadiens Français dans l'histoire universelle.

Jonathan PageauSymbolic World Icon
Jonathan Pageau
May 12, 2026
May 25, 2026
Samuel de Champlain | Situer les Canadiens Français dans l'histoire universelle
Podcasts

Samuel de Champlain | Situer les Canadiens Français dans l'histoire universelle

Jonathan PageauSymbolic World Icon
Jonathan Pageau
May 12, 2026
May 25, 2026

David Brodeur accompagne Jonathan et JP pour parler de Samuel de Champlain, qui est une figure majeure pour comprendre la place des Canadiens Français dans l'histoire universelle.

The Glory of Losing Your Head
Podcast

The Glory of Losing Your Head

In this video, I explore the symbolism of decapitation in the Bible and Christian tradition. Beginning with Joseph’s interpretation of the baker and cupbearer in Genesis, we trace a pattern of “lifting up the head” through Scripture, martyrdom, the Eucharist, and ultimately the crucifixion and ascension of Christ. Along the way, we encounter Saint John the Baptist, the mystery of sacrifice, and the astonishing story of Saint Denis of Paris, who carried his own head while preaching after his martyrdom. Join us at the Symbolic World Summit | May 14-16 | Ohio | Keynote speakers: Jonathan Pageau, Fr. Josiah Trenham, Mary Harrington, Dcn. Seraphim Rohlin, Kale Zelden, Annie Crawford, and Heather Pollington Buy your tickets: https://symbolicworldsummit.com/ Virtual tickets are now also for sale, and Involved+ patrons can get 10% off: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/virtual-summit-2026 🔓 Become a patron to support us and unlock exclusive monthly symbolism content: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe 💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 🎧 Listen to and review The Symbolic World podcast: -Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0gI8bUwPtT3gkduHqNh6M5 -Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-symbolic-world/id1386867488 Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/

Jonathan PageauSymbolic World Icon
Jonathan Pageau
May 8, 2026
May 8, 2026
The Glory of Losing Your Head
Podcasts

The Glory of Losing Your Head

Jonathan PageauSymbolic World Icon
Jonathan Pageau
May 8, 2026
May 8, 2026

In this video, I explore the symbolism of decapitation in the Bible and Christian tradition. Beginning with Joseph’s interpretation of the baker and cupbearer in Genesis, we trace a pattern of “lifting up the head” through Scripture, martyrdom, the Eucharist, and ultimately the crucifixion and ascension of Christ. Along the way, we encounter Saint John the Baptist, the mystery of sacrifice, and the astonishing story of Saint Denis of Paris, who carried his own head while preaching after his martyrdom. Join us at the Symbolic World Summit | May 14-16 | Ohio | Keynote speakers: Jonathan Pageau, Fr. Josiah Trenham, Mary Harrington, Dcn. Seraphim Rohlin, Kale Zelden, Annie Crawford, and Heather Pollington Buy your tickets: https://symbolicworldsummit.com/ Virtual tickets are now also for sale, and Involved+ patrons can get 10% off: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/virtual-summit-2026 🔓 Become a patron to support us and unlock exclusive monthly symbolism content: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe 💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 🎧 Listen to and review The Symbolic World podcast: -Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0gI8bUwPtT3gkduHqNh6M5 -Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-symbolic-world/id1386867488 Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/

Fr. Josiah Trenham - How to Integrate Faith, Family, and Nation
Podcast

Fr. Josiah Trenham - How to Integrate Faith, Family, and Nation

I sat down with Fr. Josiah Trenham to talk about something that’s becoming harder to ignore: how to properly order your loyalties. We discussed the tension between faith, nation, family, and personal identity, and what happens when those come into conflict. Join us at the Symbolic World Summit, where Fr. Josiah will be one of the keynote speakers. May 14-16 | Ohio | Keynote speakers: Jonathan Pageau, Fr. Josiah Trenham, Mary Harrington, Dcn. Seraphim Rohlin, Kale Zelden, Annie Crawford, and Heather Pollington Buy your tickets: https://symbolicworldsummit.com/ 🔓 Become a patron to support us and unlock exclusive monthly symbolism content: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe 💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 🎧 Listen to and review The Symbolic World podcast: -Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0gI8bUwPtT3gkduHqNh6M5 -Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-symbolic-world/id1386867488 Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/

Jonathan PageauSymbolic World Icon
Jonathan Pageau
Apr 30, 2026
May 7, 2026
Fr. Josiah Trenham - How to Integrate Faith, Family, and Nation
Podcasts

Fr. Josiah Trenham - How to Integrate Faith, Family, and Nation

Jonathan PageauSymbolic World Icon
Jonathan Pageau
Apr 30, 2026
May 7, 2026

I sat down with Fr. Josiah Trenham to talk about something that’s becoming harder to ignore: how to properly order your loyalties. We discussed the tension between faith, nation, family, and personal identity, and what happens when those come into conflict. Join us at the Symbolic World Summit, where Fr. Josiah will be one of the keynote speakers. May 14-16 | Ohio | Keynote speakers: Jonathan Pageau, Fr. Josiah Trenham, Mary Harrington, Dcn. Seraphim Rohlin, Kale Zelden, Annie Crawford, and Heather Pollington Buy your tickets: https://symbolicworldsummit.com/ 🔓 Become a patron to support us and unlock exclusive monthly symbolism content: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe 💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 🎧 Listen to and review The Symbolic World podcast: -Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0gI8bUwPtT3gkduHqNh6M5 -Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-symbolic-world/id1386867488 Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/

The Cosmic Alchemy of That Hideous Strength - with Annie Crawford
Podcast

The Cosmic Alchemy of That Hideous Strength - with Annie Crawford

In this conversation with Annie Crawford, we explore the role of alchemy in C.S. Lewis’ That Hideous Strength. While alchemy is often dismissed as occult or irrelevant, Lewis uses its symbolism in a precise and meaningful way. We look at how the novel presents two forms of transformation: one rooted in control, technology, and disembodied power, and the other in sacrifice, order, and participation in the divine. This distinction speaks directly to how we understand modern technology, including AI. The discussion also touches on story structure, the nature of symbolic thinking, and how transformation is embedded in narrative itself. 🎧 Listen to and review The Symbolic World podcast: -Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0gI8bUwPtT3gkduHqNh6M5 -Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-symbolic-world/id1386867488 Join us at the Symbolic World Summit | May 14-16 | Ohio | Keynote speakers: Jonathan Pageau, Fr. Josiah Trenham, Mary Harrington, Dcn. Seraphim Rohlin, Kale Zelden, Annie Crawford, and Heather Pollington Buy your tickets: https://symbolicworldsummit.com/ ===== 🔓 Become a patron to support us and unlock exclusive monthly symbolism content: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe 💻 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: https://matthewwilkinson.net/

Jonathan PageauSymbolic World Icon
Jonathan Pageau
Apr 21, 2026
April 21, 2026
The Cosmic Alchemy of That Hideous Strength - with Annie Crawford
Podcasts

The Cosmic Alchemy of That Hideous Strength - with Annie Crawford

Jonathan PageauSymbolic World Icon
Jonathan Pageau
Apr 21, 2026
April 21, 2026

In this conversation with Annie Crawford, we explore the role of alchemy in C.S. Lewis’ That Hideous Strength. While alchemy is often dismissed as occult or irrelevant, Lewis uses its symbolism in a precise and meaningful way. We look at how the novel presents two forms of transformation: one rooted in control, technology, and disembodied power, and the other in sacrifice, order, and participation in the divine. This distinction speaks directly to how we understand modern technology, including AI. The discussion also touches on story structure, the nature of symbolic thinking, and how transformation is embedded in narrative itself. 🎧 Listen to and review The Symbolic World podcast: -Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0gI8bUwPtT3gkduHqNh6M5 -Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-symbolic-world/id1386867488 Join us at the Symbolic World Summit | May 14-16 | Ohio | Keynote speakers: Jonathan Pageau, Fr. Josiah Trenham, Mary Harrington, Dcn. Seraphim Rohlin, Kale Zelden, Annie Crawford, and Heather Pollington Buy your tickets: https://symbolicworldsummit.com/ ===== 🔓 Become a patron to support us and unlock exclusive monthly symbolism content: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe 💻 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: https://matthewwilkinson.net/

Universal History: How Kabbalah Shaped America: the Land of the End
Podcast

Universal History: How Kabbalah Shaped America: the Land of the End

This is the final episode of our Universal History series on the American Religion. Deacon Seraphim Rohlin and I look at the religious ideas behind the American project, especially the influence of Kabbalah and the search for a “pure” and universal mystical tradition. We trace how early Protestants, thinkers like Thomas Jefferson, and figures like Ezra Stiles engaged with Jewish mysticism as part of their attempt to understand and shape America’s role in the universal history. - Watch the rest of this series here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVX4HUUPrIY_U0msyBRVpwCI_srzn3tjL - Universal History playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVX4HUUPrIY_M2uZP3yW6EEiod3fGD6FD 🎧 Listen to and review The Symbolic World podcast: - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0gI8bUwPtT3gkduHqNh6M5 - Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-symbolic-world/id1386867488 Timestamps: 00:00 - Coming Up 01:10 - Intro Music 01:35 - Introduction & Framing the Topic 02:28 - Jefferson, Adams & “Pure Religion” 05:23 - Kabbalah and the Founding Fathers 07:48 - Puritans, Quakers & Early American Mysticism 11:11 - Adam Kadmon & Christian Kabbalah 16:18 - George Keith & Quaker Debates 20:18 - Sabatianism & Messianic Movements 26:03 - Apocalyptic Expectations in Early America 29:44 - Judah Monis & Kabbalah in Harvard 33:48 - Kabbalah Used to Defend the Trinity 35:59 - Ezra Stiles & America as the New Israel 39:06 - America as the “New World” in Prophecy 42:49 - Loss of Christian Mysticism & Turning to Kabbalah 48:33 - America as the Promised Land Idea 51:50 - Is America the “End of the World”? 54:54 - The Contradictions of American Culture 58:10 - Final Reflections on America’s Spiritual Identity ===== Join us at the Symbolic World Summit | May 14-16 | Ohio | Keynote speakers: Jonathan Pageau, Fr. Josiah Trenham, Mary Harrington, Dcn. Seraphim Rohlin, Kale Zelden, Annie Crawford, and Heather Pollington Buy your tickets: https://symbolicworldsummit.com/ ===== NEW COURSE: Plutarch: Symbolism in History with Pavel Shchelin The problem with history is that you are in it. Plutarch teaches us to read power symbolically—asking "whom does the hero serve?" to predict leadership patterns before they play out. Presenter: Pavel Shchelin Duration: 8 weeks studying the lives of Greeks and Roman Lycurgus, Alcibiades, Lysander, Pompey, Caesar, and Octavian –as living patterns, not dead men. Live classes are on Wednesdays at 4-6pm Eastern Time, starting March 18th through May 6th, 2026. Price: $180 USD - Involved patrons can get a 10% discount. Apply your code at checkout. Register now: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/plutarch-symbolism-in-history ===== 🔓 Become a patron to support us and unlock exclusive monthly symbolism content: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe 💻 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: https://matthewwilkinson.net/

Jonathan PageauSymbolic World Icon
Jonathan Pageau
Apr 18, 2026
April 18, 2026
Universal History: How Kabbalah Shaped America: the Land of the End
Podcasts

Universal History: How Kabbalah Shaped America: the Land of the End

Jonathan PageauSymbolic World Icon
Jonathan Pageau
Apr 18, 2026
April 18, 2026

This is the final episode of our Universal History series on the American Religion. Deacon Seraphim Rohlin and I look at the religious ideas behind the American project, especially the influence of Kabbalah and the search for a “pure” and universal mystical tradition. We trace how early Protestants, thinkers like Thomas Jefferson, and figures like Ezra Stiles engaged with Jewish mysticism as part of their attempt to understand and shape America’s role in the universal history. - Watch the rest of this series here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVX4HUUPrIY_U0msyBRVpwCI_srzn3tjL - Universal History playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVX4HUUPrIY_M2uZP3yW6EEiod3fGD6FD 🎧 Listen to and review The Symbolic World podcast: - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0gI8bUwPtT3gkduHqNh6M5 - Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-symbolic-world/id1386867488 Timestamps: 00:00 - Coming Up 01:10 - Intro Music 01:35 - Introduction & Framing the Topic 02:28 - Jefferson, Adams & “Pure Religion” 05:23 - Kabbalah and the Founding Fathers 07:48 - Puritans, Quakers & Early American Mysticism 11:11 - Adam Kadmon & Christian Kabbalah 16:18 - George Keith & Quaker Debates 20:18 - Sabatianism & Messianic Movements 26:03 - Apocalyptic Expectations in Early America 29:44 - Judah Monis & Kabbalah in Harvard 33:48 - Kabbalah Used to Defend the Trinity 35:59 - Ezra Stiles & America as the New Israel 39:06 - America as the “New World” in Prophecy 42:49 - Loss of Christian Mysticism & Turning to Kabbalah 48:33 - America as the Promised Land Idea 51:50 - Is America the “End of the World”? 54:54 - The Contradictions of American Culture 58:10 - Final Reflections on America’s Spiritual Identity ===== Join us at the Symbolic World Summit | May 14-16 | Ohio | Keynote speakers: Jonathan Pageau, Fr. Josiah Trenham, Mary Harrington, Dcn. Seraphim Rohlin, Kale Zelden, Annie Crawford, and Heather Pollington Buy your tickets: https://symbolicworldsummit.com/ ===== NEW COURSE: Plutarch: Symbolism in History with Pavel Shchelin The problem with history is that you are in it. Plutarch teaches us to read power symbolically—asking "whom does the hero serve?" to predict leadership patterns before they play out. Presenter: Pavel Shchelin Duration: 8 weeks studying the lives of Greeks and Roman Lycurgus, Alcibiades, Lysander, Pompey, Caesar, and Octavian –as living patterns, not dead men. Live classes are on Wednesdays at 4-6pm Eastern Time, starting March 18th through May 6th, 2026. Price: $180 USD - Involved patrons can get a 10% discount. Apply your code at checkout. Register now: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/plutarch-symbolism-in-history ===== 🔓 Become a patron to support us and unlock exclusive monthly symbolism content: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe 💻 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: https://matthewwilkinson.net/

April 2026 Q&A
Podcast

April 2026 Q&A

This month's Q&A is public! Support us at the $10 level or higher to submit your question in advance: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe Reach out to inquiries@symbolicworldpress.com or through our website for technical assistance: https://thesymbolicworld.com/contact

Jonathan PageauSymbolic World Icon
Jonathan Pageau
Apr 15, 2026
April 15, 2026
April 2026 Q&A
Podcasts

April 2026 Q&A

Jonathan PageauSymbolic World Icon
Jonathan Pageau
Apr 15, 2026
April 15, 2026

This month's Q&A is public! Support us at the $10 level or higher to submit your question in advance: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe Reach out to inquiries@symbolicworldpress.com or through our website for technical assistance: https://thesymbolicworld.com/contact

Une révolution pour rien | Entrevue avec Francis Denis sur la révolution tranquille
Podcast

Une révolution pour rien | Entrevue avec Francis Denis sur la révolution tranquille

Jonathan et Jean-Philippe interviewent Francis Denis sur son livre "Une révolution pour rien: la permanence religieuse dans l'histoire du Québec moderne", où il situe les racines de la révolution tranquille dans l'ultramontanisme de l'église québécoise des années 70.

Jonathan PageauSymbolic World Icon
Jonathan Pageau
Apr 14, 2026
April 18, 2026
Une révolution pour rien | Entrevue avec Francis Denis sur la révolution tranquille
Podcasts

Une révolution pour rien | Entrevue avec Francis Denis sur la révolution tranquille

Jonathan PageauSymbolic World Icon
Jonathan Pageau
Apr 14, 2026
April 18, 2026

Jonathan et Jean-Philippe interviewent Francis Denis sur son livre "Une révolution pour rien: la permanence religieuse dans l'histoire du Québec moderne", où il situe les racines de la révolution tranquille dans l'ultramontanisme de l'église québécoise des années 70.

Understanding the Icons of Holy Week
Podcast

Understanding the Icons of Holy Week

This is a repost of a past video where I discussed the icons of Holy Week in the Orthodox Church and how they relate to each other as a unified symbolic pattern. Have a blessed Pascha. Join us at the Symbolic World Summit | May 14-16 | Ohio | Keynote speakers: Jonathan Pageau, Fr. Josiah Trenham, Mary Harrington, Dcn. Seraphim Rohlin, Kale Zelden, Annie Crawford, and Heather Pollington Buy your tickets: https://symbolicworldsummit.com/ Timestamps: 00:00 - Start / Introduction 00:48 - Palm Sunday (Entry into Jerusalem) 05:34 - Holy Monday (Bridegroom / Crown of Thorns) 07:54 - Holy Tuesday (Wise & Foolish Virgins) 10:15 - Holy Wednesday (Washing of the Feet) 12:37 - Holy Thursday (Mystical Supper) 14:36 - Holy Friday (Crucifixion) 19:27 - Holy Saturday (Descent into Hades / Anastasis) 21:47 - Resurrection & Empty Tomb 24:09 - Burial & Laying in the Tomb 26:20 - Conclusion / Meaning of Holy Week 🔓 Become a patron to support us and unlock exclusive monthly symbolism content: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe 💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 🎧 Listen to and review The Symbolic World podcast: -Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0gI8bUwPtT3gkduHqNh6M5 -Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-symbolic-world/id1386867488 Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/

Jonathan PageauSymbolic World Icon
Jonathan Pageau
Apr 10, 2026
April 10, 2026
Understanding the Icons of Holy Week
Podcasts

Understanding the Icons of Holy Week

Jonathan PageauSymbolic World Icon
Jonathan Pageau
Apr 10, 2026
April 10, 2026

This is a repost of a past video where I discussed the icons of Holy Week in the Orthodox Church and how they relate to each other as a unified symbolic pattern. Have a blessed Pascha. Join us at the Symbolic World Summit | May 14-16 | Ohio | Keynote speakers: Jonathan Pageau, Fr. Josiah Trenham, Mary Harrington, Dcn. Seraphim Rohlin, Kale Zelden, Annie Crawford, and Heather Pollington Buy your tickets: https://symbolicworldsummit.com/ Timestamps: 00:00 - Start / Introduction 00:48 - Palm Sunday (Entry into Jerusalem) 05:34 - Holy Monday (Bridegroom / Crown of Thorns) 07:54 - Holy Tuesday (Wise & Foolish Virgins) 10:15 - Holy Wednesday (Washing of the Feet) 12:37 - Holy Thursday (Mystical Supper) 14:36 - Holy Friday (Crucifixion) 19:27 - Holy Saturday (Descent into Hades / Anastasis) 21:47 - Resurrection & Empty Tomb 24:09 - Burial & Laying in the Tomb 26:20 - Conclusion / Meaning of Holy Week 🔓 Become a patron to support us and unlock exclusive monthly symbolism content: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe 💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 🎧 Listen to and review The Symbolic World podcast: -Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0gI8bUwPtT3gkduHqNh6M5 -Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-symbolic-world/id1386867488 Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/

There’s Still Time to Read the Great Books - with Kale Zelden
Podcast

There’s Still Time to Read the Great Books - with Kale Zelden

Kale Zelden is a literature teacher and writer and in this video he joins me to discuss reading, the "Great books", and what it means to recover the reading tradition in a modern context. We talk about how to encounter old texts, what reading can contribute to our lives, and how to approach authors like Homer, Dante, and Shakespeare without reducing them to modern assumptions. We also explore the limits of the novel, modernism, postmodernism, irony, and the essential rediscovery of the epic. Kale’s Substack, The Underneath: https://kalezelden.substack.com/ Join us at the Symbolic World Summit | May 14-16 | Ohio | Keynote speakers: Jonathan Pageau, Fr. Josiah Trenham, Mary Harrington, Dcn. Seraphim Rohlin, Kale Zelden, Annie Crawford, and Heather Pollington Buy your tickets: https://symbolicworldsummit.com/ Listen to this episode on The Symbolic World podcast: - Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/443-kale-zelden-theres-still-time-to-read-the-great-books/id1386867488?i=1000758657617 - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7IOxUDFogSCJHAAxNAhZwX?si=11rGE3RURAahVBGD2nH9Bw TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Coming up 01:07 - Intro music 01:32 - Introduction 02:09 - The state of education 07:30 - First of all 10:47 - The power of analogy 13:11 - Select your curriculum 21:05 - What is canon? 33:24 - What are we moving towards 39:20 - Allegory 43:47 - What is modernism? 47:50 - Great books program 53:24 - What is the epic? BOOKS MENTIONED IN THIS DISCUSSION: 00:04:45 Augustine — Confessions — Spiritual autobiography, early Christian thought Plato — Dialogues — Philosophy of truth, justice, knowledge Aristotle — (various works) — Ethics, logic, metaphysics Church Fathers — (various writings) — Foundations of Christian theology 00:06:20 Anne Rice — (novels) — Modern popular fiction Shakespeare — (general works) — Foundational drama Beowulf — Anonymous — Old English epic poem 00:06:49 Plato — Dialogues — Rediscovered philosophical texts 00:07:32 Shakespeare — Hamlet — Tragedy of revenge and doubt Dante — Divine Comedy — Vision of Hell, Purgatory, Heaven Chaucer — Canterbury Tales — Medieval storytelling Mary Shelley — Frankenstein — Creation and responsibility Milton — Paradise Lost — Epic of the Fall 00:13:55 Kerouac — On the Road — Modern freedom and experience Camus — (e.g. The Stranger) — Existential philosophy 00:14:31 Homer — Iliad, Odyssey — Foundational epics Plato — Apology, Republic — Justice and philosophy Shakespeare — Romeo and Juliet — Tragic love Julius Caesar — Politics and betrayal Macbeth — Ambition and guilt A Midsummer Night’s Dream — Comedy and illusion King Lear — Suffering and authority Hamlet — Existential tragedy The Tempest — Reconciliation 00:16:21 Dostoevsky — Crime and Punishment — Guilt and redemption Dostoevsky — The Brothers Karamazov — Faith and morality 00:21:31 Voyage of St. Brendan — Medieval Christian voyage Apocalypse of Pseudo-Methodius — Apocalyptic text The Golden Legend — Jacobus de Voragine — Saints’ lives 00:21:58 Cervantes — Don Quixote — Satire of chivalry, early novel 00:22:51 Jane Austen — Pride and Prejudice — Social psychology 00:23:59 Milton — Paradise Lost — (revisited, epic psychology) 00:26:11 Faulkner — (novels) — Fragmented modern storytelling 00:33:41 C.S. Lewis — On Stories — Defense of story over psychology C.S. Lewis — Abolition of Man — Critique of modern values C.S. Lewis — Miracles — Defense of the supernatural 00:37:05 Sondheim — Into the Woods — Modern fairy tale deconstruction 00:38:55 Rabelais — Gargantua and Pantagruel — Satirical, playful text 00:44:06 Melville — Moby-Dick — Epic-scale novel Hemingway — The Sun Also Rises — Modern disillusionment 00:49:42 Ovid — Metamorphoses — Mythic transformations 00:46:13 (thinkers mentioned) Lyotard — Postmodern philosophy Derrida — Deconstruction Heidegger — Phenomenology 00:53:14 Virgil — Aeneid — Roman epic Bible — (Moses narrative) — Epic of calling and suffering 🔓 Become a patron to support us and unlock exclusive monthly symbolism content: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe 💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 🎧 Listen to and review The Symbolic World podcast: -Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0gI8bUwPtT3gkduHqNh6M5 -Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-symbolic-world/id1386867488 Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/

Jonathan PageauSymbolic World Icon
Jonathan Pageau
Apr 1, 2026
April 1, 2026
There’s Still Time to Read the Great Books - with Kale Zelden
Podcasts

There’s Still Time to Read the Great Books - with Kale Zelden

Jonathan PageauSymbolic World Icon
Jonathan Pageau
Apr 1, 2026
April 1, 2026

Kale Zelden is a literature teacher and writer and in this video he joins me to discuss reading, the "Great books", and what it means to recover the reading tradition in a modern context. We talk about how to encounter old texts, what reading can contribute to our lives, and how to approach authors like Homer, Dante, and Shakespeare without reducing them to modern assumptions. We also explore the limits of the novel, modernism, postmodernism, irony, and the essential rediscovery of the epic. Kale’s Substack, The Underneath: https://kalezelden.substack.com/ Join us at the Symbolic World Summit | May 14-16 | Ohio | Keynote speakers: Jonathan Pageau, Fr. Josiah Trenham, Mary Harrington, Dcn. Seraphim Rohlin, Kale Zelden, Annie Crawford, and Heather Pollington Buy your tickets: https://symbolicworldsummit.com/ Listen to this episode on The Symbolic World podcast: - Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/443-kale-zelden-theres-still-time-to-read-the-great-books/id1386867488?i=1000758657617 - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7IOxUDFogSCJHAAxNAhZwX?si=11rGE3RURAahVBGD2nH9Bw TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Coming up 01:07 - Intro music 01:32 - Introduction 02:09 - The state of education 07:30 - First of all 10:47 - The power of analogy 13:11 - Select your curriculum 21:05 - What is canon? 33:24 - What are we moving towards 39:20 - Allegory 43:47 - What is modernism? 47:50 - Great books program 53:24 - What is the epic? BOOKS MENTIONED IN THIS DISCUSSION: 00:04:45 Augustine — Confessions — Spiritual autobiography, early Christian thought Plato — Dialogues — Philosophy of truth, justice, knowledge Aristotle — (various works) — Ethics, logic, metaphysics Church Fathers — (various writings) — Foundations of Christian theology 00:06:20 Anne Rice — (novels) — Modern popular fiction Shakespeare — (general works) — Foundational drama Beowulf — Anonymous — Old English epic poem 00:06:49 Plato — Dialogues — Rediscovered philosophical texts 00:07:32 Shakespeare — Hamlet — Tragedy of revenge and doubt Dante — Divine Comedy — Vision of Hell, Purgatory, Heaven Chaucer — Canterbury Tales — Medieval storytelling Mary Shelley — Frankenstein — Creation and responsibility Milton — Paradise Lost — Epic of the Fall 00:13:55 Kerouac — On the Road — Modern freedom and experience Camus — (e.g. The Stranger) — Existential philosophy 00:14:31 Homer — Iliad, Odyssey — Foundational epics Plato — Apology, Republic — Justice and philosophy Shakespeare — Romeo and Juliet — Tragic love Julius Caesar — Politics and betrayal Macbeth — Ambition and guilt A Midsummer Night’s Dream — Comedy and illusion King Lear — Suffering and authority Hamlet — Existential tragedy The Tempest — Reconciliation 00:16:21 Dostoevsky — Crime and Punishment — Guilt and redemption Dostoevsky — The Brothers Karamazov — Faith and morality 00:21:31 Voyage of St. Brendan — Medieval Christian voyage Apocalypse of Pseudo-Methodius — Apocalyptic text The Golden Legend — Jacobus de Voragine — Saints’ lives 00:21:58 Cervantes — Don Quixote — Satire of chivalry, early novel 00:22:51 Jane Austen — Pride and Prejudice — Social psychology 00:23:59 Milton — Paradise Lost — (revisited, epic psychology) 00:26:11 Faulkner — (novels) — Fragmented modern storytelling 00:33:41 C.S. Lewis — On Stories — Defense of story over psychology C.S. Lewis — Abolition of Man — Critique of modern values C.S. Lewis — Miracles — Defense of the supernatural 00:37:05 Sondheim — Into the Woods — Modern fairy tale deconstruction 00:38:55 Rabelais — Gargantua and Pantagruel — Satirical, playful text 00:44:06 Melville — Moby-Dick — Epic-scale novel Hemingway — The Sun Also Rises — Modern disillusionment 00:49:42 Ovid — Metamorphoses — Mythic transformations 00:46:13 (thinkers mentioned) Lyotard — Postmodern philosophy Derrida — Deconstruction Heidegger — Phenomenology 00:53:14 Virgil — Aeneid — Roman epic Bible — (Moses narrative) — Epic of calling and suffering 🔓 Become a patron to support us and unlock exclusive monthly symbolism content: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe 💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 🎧 Listen to and review The Symbolic World podcast: -Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0gI8bUwPtT3gkduHqNh6M5 -Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-symbolic-world/id1386867488 Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/

"Historical Accuracy" Can Miss the Point
Podcast

"Historical Accuracy" Can Miss the Point

We often assume that being “historically accurate” means getting closer to the truth, but that’s not always the case. In this video, I explore how modern, mechanical thinking can actually invert meaning, using the example of Christ’s crucifixion. What matters most is not just the mechanical details of how something could have happened, but what it means and its actual implications. Watch this episode on The Symbolic World podcast: - Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/442-historical-accuracy-can-miss-the-point/id1386867488?i=1000757471178 - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5M3c4lykCEagMi9Lfux1nm?si=OdsGFwdNQ961JwcQMjKzIA ===== SUMMIT 2026: Join us for the Symbolic World Summit 2026! Speakers include Fr. Josiah Trenham, Mary Harrington, Jonathan Pageau, Dn. Seraphim Rohlin, and others. Date: May 14-16 Place: Broadview Heights, OH Don't miss out! Hope to see you there: https://symbolicworldsummit.com/ ===== NEW COURSE: Plutarch: Symbolism in History with Pavel Shchelin The problem with history is that you are in it. Plutarch teaches us to read power symbolically—asking "whom does the hero serve?" to predict leadership patterns before they play out. Presenter: Pavel Shchelin Duration: 8 weeks studying the lives of Greeks and Roman Lycurgus, Alcibiades, Lysander, Pompey, Caesar, and Octavian –as living patterns, not dead men. Live classes are on Wednesdays at 4-6pm Eastern Time, starting March 18th through May 6th, 2026. Price: $180 USD - Involved patrons can get a 10% discount. Apply your code at checkout. Register now: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/plutarch-symbolism-in-history ===== 🔓 Become a patron to support us and unlock exclusive monthly symbolism content: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe 💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 🎧 Listen to and review The Symbolic World podcast: -Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0gI8bUwPtT3gkduHqNh6M5 -Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-symbolic-world/id1386867488 Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/

Jonathan PageauSymbolic World Icon
Jonathan Pageau
Mar 26, 2026
March 26, 2026
"Historical Accuracy" Can Miss the Point
Podcasts

"Historical Accuracy" Can Miss the Point

Jonathan PageauSymbolic World Icon
Jonathan Pageau
Mar 26, 2026
March 26, 2026

We often assume that being “historically accurate” means getting closer to the truth, but that’s not always the case. In this video, I explore how modern, mechanical thinking can actually invert meaning, using the example of Christ’s crucifixion. What matters most is not just the mechanical details of how something could have happened, but what it means and its actual implications. Watch this episode on The Symbolic World podcast: - Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/442-historical-accuracy-can-miss-the-point/id1386867488?i=1000757471178 - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5M3c4lykCEagMi9Lfux1nm?si=OdsGFwdNQ961JwcQMjKzIA ===== SUMMIT 2026: Join us for the Symbolic World Summit 2026! Speakers include Fr. Josiah Trenham, Mary Harrington, Jonathan Pageau, Dn. Seraphim Rohlin, and others. Date: May 14-16 Place: Broadview Heights, OH Don't miss out! Hope to see you there: https://symbolicworldsummit.com/ ===== NEW COURSE: Plutarch: Symbolism in History with Pavel Shchelin The problem with history is that you are in it. Plutarch teaches us to read power symbolically—asking "whom does the hero serve?" to predict leadership patterns before they play out. Presenter: Pavel Shchelin Duration: 8 weeks studying the lives of Greeks and Roman Lycurgus, Alcibiades, Lysander, Pompey, Caesar, and Octavian –as living patterns, not dead men. Live classes are on Wednesdays at 4-6pm Eastern Time, starting March 18th through May 6th, 2026. Price: $180 USD - Involved patrons can get a 10% discount. Apply your code at checkout. Register now: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/plutarch-symbolism-in-history ===== 🔓 Become a patron to support us and unlock exclusive monthly symbolism content: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe 💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 🎧 Listen to and review The Symbolic World podcast: -Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0gI8bUwPtT3gkduHqNh6M5 -Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-symbolic-world/id1386867488 Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/