The Symbolic World

WARNING: The following episode discusses difficult subjects and may not be suitable for children. This is a repost of January 2020's patron-only video where I talked about a book called Malleus Maleficarum, translated as The Hammer of Witches, which appeared in the late 15th century. This controversial book has become the central point of our imagination about witches and exemplifies the uneasy tr...

In this video, I discuss the double symbolism of St. Peter as described in the Scriptures. This is related to my last video about Lucifer and the issue of how a representative or a vicar is always in a dual situation where they can become transparent to authority from above, or take authority for themselves... My previous video on this topic: The Real Meaning of Lucifer: https://youtu.be/qaoSLwmPA...

"The soul is not fed entirely by logic, we are fed by images. Ideas are interesting, but when we want to be absolutely poleaxed by wonder it is a story that's going to do it." I had a wonderful discussion with the captivating storyteller and mythographer, Dr. Martin Shaw, about the value of - not only understanding - but also telling and entering into stories. We talk about the various traditions...

In this video I discuss the meaning and symbolism of the title Lucifer, or the Morning Star, drawing on the Old and New Testament. How it is that this title both refers to Christ, as well as the Adversary? BOOKS Pre-order Jack and the Fallen Giants and GodsDog 2 at a discounted price. Limited stock of Snow White and the Widow Queen is also available for purchase: https://store.thesymbolicworld.com...

John Vervaeke and I discuss the cognitive science of ritual: the many different aspects of ritual and its importance even in the pursuit of reason, among sacred and secular spaces, to mark time and identity, to establish transformation, and more! John is truly making headway in giving us the concepts and vocabulary to understand symbolic and ritual participation across different participatory leve...

This conversation is in part John Vervaeke's response to my previous video with Jordan Hall (The End of Strategy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnR2PYtLLnI) where we discussed Jordan's recent conversion to Christianity. John fires up some questions, and we discuss different aspects of sensemaking and religious structures to answer the question: Why Christianity? Original YouTube version: https:/...

I had a wonderful time talking with Jordan Hall, who has recently converted to Christianity from a secular worldview. We talk about his conversation, societal engineering, artificial intelligence, and the fundamental distinction between vertical and horizontal qualities. We also talk about the problem of delusion, how to know what’s real, the meaning of faith and memory, using technology safely, a...

In this week's video I discuss what a miracle is, looking at different examples but especially at the miracles of Christ. A miracle is not just an extraordinary event, rather it's an event that reveals and restores matter to its true identity and meaning. Thank you for your continued support.  My course with Richard Rohlin on Dante's Purgatorio has kicked off and is currently taking place live on...

Dr. Nathan Jacobs is an academic, artist, and filmmaker. In this conversation, we discuss where reason, rationality, and discernment fit into the mystical experience and how the modern world has mistakenly divorced reason and mysticism. YouTube version: https://youtu.be/BlB1EkTaxpg Check out the Nathan Jacobs Podcast:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheNathanJacobsPodcast  Spotify: https://open...

In this episode of the Universal History podcast with Richard Rohlin, we discuss the surprising Irish origin of the medieval notion of purgatory, why it's understandable that purgatory is part of the medieval experience, its relevance to our lives today, and how Dante presents purgatory in a new, more optimistic way in his Divine Comedy. YouTube version: https://youtu.be/XBdXgwl1VYU Remember to li...

This is a complement to my previous video where I explained the symbolism of the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony (linked below). This time I discuss the latest Olympic controversy in the women's boxing division where the gender of boxers was called into question. It's related to the same message of the opening ceremony; I argue that gender ambiguity is being weaponized against the public to c...

In this video, I discuss the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony and its drag Dionysian representation of The Last Supper, I discuss why specifically the images of Dionysus and the Last Supper were used, other elements of the opening, the purpose and meaning of such symbolic demonstrations, and finally, the question of intent. Original YouTube version: https://youtu.be/rckBhO23cIA Join me and Ric...

In this conversation, American philosopher and author Peter Boghossian picks my brain about my beliefs, religion, its purpose and truth claims, the origin of the universe, and the meaning of gods or higher beings. We also discuss doubt, the efficacy of prayer, and the effects of meaning. Enjoy! Peter's work: https://linktr.ee/peterboghossian 💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com 🔗...

After publishing a recent video commenting on Alex O'Connor's conversation with Jordan Peterson regarding Genesis, I decided to make June 2024's patron-only video public. In this video, I delve deeper into another question that came up in the discussion about whether God actually wanted Adam and Eve to eat the Fruit of the Knowledge of Good and Bad in the Garden of Eden. To answer this question, I...

This is the first of a series of Universal History episodes about Ireland! Richard Rohlin discusses a book called The Book of Invasions, which tells of the origin of Ireland. Original YouTube version: https://youtu.be/PBNkmLxUYHk 💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau  🔒 BECOME A PATRON: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe  📱 SOCIAL...

In this short meditation, I explore the meaning of the Fall in secular terms, and the mistake atheists make in understanding their own placement.  Course on Dante's Inferno: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses-pages/dantes-inferno Support us for exclusive content and benefits: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe  📱 SOCIAL MEDIA   Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheSymbolicWorld  Twitter...

Seraphim Hamilton is an Orthodox theologian who is committed to helping others understand the deep and profound ways that the inspired Scriptures bear witness- in Old and New Testaments- of Jesus Christ as the center and culmination of the human story. He received a Master of Arts in Theology and Classics from the University of Notre Dame and a Master of Theology from Duke University. He posts reg...

In this video, I interview Stephen Meyer about evolution, intelligent design, Darwinianism, the advent of the biological information age, and how it changed the debate about the origins of life. We discuss the questions of what life and mind are, and how pattern and mind are part of and participate in creation. A former geophysicist and college professor, Stephen C. Meyer now directs Discovery Ins...

This video is an in-depth discussion of the biblical and symbolic inspiration for Christian architecture. Original YouTube version: https://youtu.be/isAMeVKJhlg Support us at http://www.thesymbolicworld.com for more videos like this and please like and share if you find it of value. Related content: Alex O'Connor: The Problem With Secular Architecture - Jonathan Pageau: https://youtu.be/z2Mugv29ih...

The best way to purchase our books at the moment is through the GodsDog: Warrior Kickstarter pre-order store: https://godsdog-warrior.backerkit.com/hosted_preorders/630859 This is a talk I did for the 2024 National Symposium for Classical Education that took place in March 2024, presented by Great Hearts Institute. Our old stories have been remembered, retold, and refined in different guises for t...

Do Adam and Eve die after eating the Fruit of the Knowledge of Good and Bad in the Garden of Eden? In this video, I comment on a question  @CosmicSkeptic  asked  @JordanBPeterson  in their recent conversation concerning the meaning of death and the Fall in Genesis. Original YouTube version: https://youtu.be/cnsUT97VSeA Jordan Peterson's conversation with Alex O'Connor: Navigating Belief, Skepticis...

In this video, I cover the symbolism behind skateboarding, surfing, the image of the horse and rider, the chariot, and Ezekiel’s vision. Original YouTube version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stqiG9vtZaQ 💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau  🗣 Join The Symbolic World Community for discussions about symbolism: https://thesymbolicworld...

In this conversation with Paul Kingsnorth, we discuss his main takeaways from his Substack series on The Machine, technology, artificial intelligence and silicon valley, civilization, principalities, the act of creation and desiring to be God, yet also creating the space for our annihilation. We also touch on environmentalism, storytelling, and art, including Tolkien and The Matrix. Enjoy. Origina...

This is a talk I gave for Ralston College on the Icon of the Last Judgement, exploring Orthodox Christian imagery to understand ontology, theology, and how identity, symbolism, and fractals work in the medieval worldview. Youtube version: https://youtu.be/APFPO4LXFIs Ralston College website: https://www.ralston.ac/  Ralston College: Rethinking the Last Judgment: Cosmic Symbolism & the Metaphor...

This talk took place in April 2024 at the Maliotis Cultural Center, hosted by Hellenic College Holy Cross with Dr. Timothy Patitsas. In this talk, I take you through all the icons of Holy Week from Palm Sunday to the Anastasis, the icon of the Resurrection of Christ.  Original YouTube video: https://youtu.be/vFW5nYC4CcM Hellenic College Holy Cross: https://www.hchc.edu/ Originally posted on the Ma...