Mythic Mind

Tolkien is known to despise allegory, but he is also clear that fiction, including his own, has a relationship with the primary world that can be used as a conduit for truth. In this lesson from the 2025 Lord of the Rings study, I discuss Tolkien's approach to allegory and application. Purchase the entire course, including our recorded live meetings, here: Purchase Course Watch the video of this e...

We are continuing our Lord of the Rings study with the Prologue to Book I, Chapter 5 (A Conspiracy Unmasked). Purchase the entire course, including our recorded live meetings, here: Purchase Course Watch the video of this episode and subscribe to my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/14C-xNNvFDM Become a patron of Mythic Mind at patreon.com/mythicmind Listen to all THREE Mythic Mind podcasts:...

We begin our Lord of the Rings study with the beginning of Tolkien's world: the Ainulindalë, which tells of the making of Arda and the primordial fall of the devilish Melkor. After a presentation of the story, I briefly discuss the theology of Tolkien's world and its relationship with Tolkien's own Christianity. Watch the video of this episode and subscribe to my YouTube channel here: https://yout...

In this new series of Mythic Mind, I will be providing my lessons from the exclusive Lord of the Rings study that we did in early 2025. This is a short introduction to that study. Watch the video of this episode and subscribe to my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/kAvqcTcYbcE Become a patron of Mythic Mind at patreon.com/mythicmind Listen to all THREE Mythic Mind podcasts: Mythic Mind Mythic...

Neil deGrasse Tyson told Piers Morgan that we do not need to appeal to God to answer cosmological questions because the empirical sciences have demonstrated sufficient explanatory power. In the final episode of this C.S. Lewis and the News series, I use this exchange as an occasion to discuss Lewis's thoughts on the supposed challenges that modern science levies against theological explanations of...

While it is certain that any number of things may be "really going on," it is not difficult to make the case that the modern internet-saturated culture is plagued by unhealthy conspiratorial thinking. What drives these tendencies? How can C.S. Lewis help us to stay grounded in reality and responsibility? In this episode, I seek answers to these questions with the help of Stephen Kent, who is a pol...

We were recently promised UFO/UAE files that would fundamentally disrupt biblical Christianity. In a shocking turn, these promises were not delivered, but this was a good occasion to discuss what C.S. Lewis had to say about the potential theological ramifications of discovering extraterrestrial life. This series is a new venture that may one day become a regular show. I would be glad to hear your...

In this episode of C.S. Lewis and the News, I discuss the ominous renaming of ICE to the N.I.C.E. and what our reception of King Charles reveals about our democratic ideals. This series is a new venture that may one day become a regular show. I would be glad to hear your feedback and, if you like this idea, I welcome you to become a patron if you have not already done so. Once we reach 100 paid pa...

In this episode, I introduce C.S. Lewis and the News, a new series (and hopefully one day new show) that examines the moving pieces of our world through the timeless writing of C.S. Lewis. I discuss what the show is, what it is not, and I clarify what I mean when I refer to Lewis as a conservative. Particularly as this is a new idea, I would love to hear your thoughts! Watch the video of this epis...

If God has perfect knowledge of all time, do we actually have choices to make? To what extent can our wills possibly be free? In this final episode of Life, Death, and Meaning with Beowulf and Boethius, I discuss Book V of The Consolation of Philosophy and I tease where we are going next! Watch the video of this episode and subscribe to my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/P-9w3DcvgvA Become...

In this bonus episode from Josh Traylor's Paradise Lost course, Josh shares some wisdom on studying literature. Whether you are interested in studying literature professionally or simply out of an interest in the power of the written word, this presentation will help you get started in an intentional way. Watch the video of this episode and subscribe to my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/F3...

What is time? What is its relationship with eternity? Does God's perfect knowledge of negate our apparent free will? As we continue through the Boethius section of "Life, Death, and Meaning with Beowulf and Boethius," we take a look at Augustine's understanding of time, eternity, and freedom. Watch the video of this episode and subscribe to my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/DG9mgjcebVI Bec...

As we continue through Joshua Traylor's Paradise Lost course, Josh discusses Books XI and XII. Watch the video of this episode and subscribe to my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/JlNyhYJSWZE Listen to all THREE Mythic Mind podcasts: Mythic Mind Mythic Mind Games Mythic Mind Movies & Shows (or become a patron to get all three shows in one ad-free feed) Become a patron of Mythic Mind at p...

What is the relationship between Fate and Providence? As we continue through "Life, Death, and Meaning with Beowulf and Boethius," I discuss Book IV Boethius's The Consolation of Philosophy. Watch the video of this episode and subscribe to my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/2wx4BojKTA8 Become a patron of Mythic Mind at patreon.com/mythicmind Listen to all THREE Mythic Mind podcasts: Mythic...

As we continue through Joshua Traylor's Paradise Lost course, Josh discusses Book X. Watch the video of this episode and subscribe to my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/EDTBKyg_6O8 Listen to all THREE Mythic Mind podcasts: Mythic Mind Mythic Mind Games Mythic Mind Movies & Shows (or become a patron to get all three shows in one ad-free feed) Become a patron of Mythic Mind at patreon.com...

Patron and Mythic Mind contributor Jack Keoseyan recently wrote an article for our Substack titled, "Arda Healed, not Arda Unmarred," in which he discusses Tolkien's Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth with reference to Athanasius, the great Church Father and defender of orthodox Trinitarianism in the fourth century A.D. In this article, Jack discusses the nature and destiny of humanity in Tolkien's legen...

As we continue through Joshua Traylor's Paradise Lost course, Josh discusses Books IX. Watch the video of this episode and subscribe to my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/F3ipY9ErOhQ Listen to all THREE Mythic Mind podcasts: Mythic Mind Mythic Mind Games Mythic Mind Movies & Shows (or become a patron to get all three shows in one ad-free feed) Become a patron of Mythic Mind at patreon.c...

As we continue through the Boethius section of "Life, Death, and Meaning with Beowulf and Boethius," we take a look at Epicureanism and Stoicism, two major schools of classical thought that play a significant role in Boethius's own thought. Watch the video of this episode and subscribe to my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/CYm9Cr6xbpM Become a patron of Mythic Mind at patreon.com/mythicmind...

As we continue through Joshua Traylor's Paradise Lost course, Josh discusses Books VII & VIII of Paradise Lost. Watch the video of this episode and subscribe to my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/KGqks4okhdw Listen to all THREE Mythic Mind podcasts: Mythic Mind Mythic Mind Games Mythic Mind Movies & Shows (or become a patron to get all three shows in one ad-free feed) Become a patro...

Can Fortune be trusted? What is true happiness? What are its illusions? As we continue through "Life, Death, and Meaning with Beowulf and Boethius," I discuss Book II & III of Boethius's The Consolation of Philosophy. Watch the video of this episode and subscribe to my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/zhE9guwyUJ8 Become a patron of Mythic Mind at patreon.com/mythicmind Listen to all THRE...

As we continue through Joshua Traylor's Paradise Lost course, Josh discusses Book VI of Paradise Lost. Watch the video of this episode and subscribe to my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/-xdcF4m7Z_w Listen to all THREE Mythic Mind podcasts: Mythic Mind Mythic Mind Games Mythic Mind Movies & Shows (or become a patron to get all three shows in one ad-free feed) Become a patron of Mythic M...

As we continue through "Life, Death, and Meaning with Beowulf and Boethius," I survey the emergence of Neoplatonism from the pre-Socratics to Plato, Aristotle, Plotinus, Augustine, and Boethius. Watch the video of this episode and subscribe to my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/O0K6HKbHFp0 Become a patron of Mythic Mind at patreon.com/mythicmind Listen to all THREE Mythic Mind podcasts: Myt...

As we continue through Joshua Traylor's Paradise Lost course, Josh discusses Book V of Paradise Lost. Watch the video of this episode and subscribe to my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/LZg3z2BSgCo Listen to all THREE Mythic Mind podcasts: Mythic Mind Mythic Mind Games Mythic Mind Movies & Shows (or become a patron to get all three shows in one ad-free feed) Become a patron of Mythic Mi...

As we continue through "Life, Death, and Meaning with Beowulf and Boethius," I discuss Book I of Boethius's The Consolation of Philosophy. Watch the video of this episode and subscribe to my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/nNux7UctmwA Become a patron of Mythic Mind at patreon.com/mythicmind Listen to all THREE Mythic Mind podcasts: Mythic Mind Mythic Mind Games Mythic Mind Movies & Show...

As we continue through Joshua Traylor's Paradise Lost course, Josh discusses Book IV of Paradise Lost. Watch the video of this episode and subscribe to my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/reHsDt3-4bA Listen to all THREE Mythic Mind podcasts: Mythic Mind Mythic Mind Games Mythic Mind Movies & Shows (or become a patron to get all three shows in one ad-free feed) Become a patron of Mythic M...