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The Symbolic World

The Symbolic World

By: Jonathan Pageau
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About this listen

 Jonathan Pageau looks at symbolism in all its forms, from its source in sacred stories and images to contemporary culture and ultimately how it shapes the world we encounter.Copyright Jonathan Pageau Social Sciences Spirituality
Episodes
  • 436 - Reflections on the Void: negativity and difference in the Bible and contemporary thinking

    436 - Reflections on the Void: negativity and difference in the Bible and contemporary thinking
    Feb 19 2026
    In this episode I try to circle around something that is very difficult to speak about directly — the void.
    From the opening verses of Genesis, where the earth is described as “empty and void,” we are confronted with a mystery that runs through Scripture, philosophy, and our own experience. What is the “not that” which underlies being? Why has the modern world become so fascinated with negativity, difference, and alterity? And how do we understand the necessary — yet possibly dangerous — role of emptiness in the structure of reality?

    YouTube version: https://youtu.be/10DS7IxOVro

    🎧 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

    =============
    NEW COURSE: The Art of Imitating Heaven: Structure and Meaning in Ancient Cosmology By Joshua Sturgill
    What is heaven? Where is it? For ancient people, the answer was obvious: simply look up at the night sky. For them, to see the stars and planets was to see the face of the divine. Christianity, too, understood the visible sky as the realm of unfallen creation. What does this belief mean, and why was it lost?
    🗓 Live classes are on Sundays at 5-6:30pm Eastern Time, starting February 1st through March 8th, 2026.
    💰 Price: $150 USD (Involved patrons qualify for a 10% discount)
    ⏰ Register now: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/the-art-of-imitating-heaven
    ===============

    Mentioned:
    -Symbolism Explained: The Fundamental WWII Duality That Still Haunts Us Today: https://youtu.be/vLpEDlgEleg?si=w45xD3-uGdx2WOo4
    -The World War II Consensus is Breaking Down: https://youtu.be/MfXxQW77cQA?si=7TnLlu7uq--Fej3D
    -GodsDog: https://store.thesymbolicworld.com/collections/godsdog
    -My recent video on the Parable of the Wedding Feast: https://youtu.be/YRMlQiNkSpE?si=JF3fy7RdFR8FtxO2

    Timestamps:
    00:00 - Coming up
    01:03 - Intro music
    01:28 - Introduction
    05:22 - The role of the void
    06:36 - The separation of heaven and earth
    09:13 - Not that
    11:18 - Let the earth produce
    14:32 - Asking questions
    16:07 - The ancient perspective
    20:38 - Earth being earth
    22:15 - The tree of good and bad
    29:44 - What is sin?
    32:37 - Examples of sin
    33:53 - Judging difference
    35:01 - Postmodern thinking
    36:07 - Sadism and masochism
    40:11 - The Mother of God
    43:51 - Since WW2
    48:08 - Outro

    🔓 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/
    Show More Show Less
    52 mins
  • 435 - The Song of Creation (Charleston talk)

    435 - The Song of Creation (Charleston talk)
    Feb 12 2026
    In this talk at St. Michael’s Church in Charleston, I walk through the seven days of creation as presented in Genesis, exploring creation as a divine song: a rhythm of heaven and earth, light and darkness, above and below.

    YouTube version: https://youtu.be/p2kb9ggwrp0

    =============
    NEW COURSE: The Art of Imitating Heaven: Structure and Meaning in Ancient Cosmology By Joshua Sturgill
    What is heaven? Where is it? For ancient people, the answer was obvious: simply look up at the night sky. For them, to see the stars and planets was to see the face of the divine. Christianity, too, understood the visible sky as the realm of unfallen creation. What does this belief mean, and why was it lost?
    🗓 Live classes are on Sundays at 5-6:30pm Eastern Time, starting February 1st through March 8th, 2026.
    💰 Price: $150 USD (Involved patrons qualify for a 10% discount)
    ⏰ Register now: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/the-art-of-imitating-heaven
    ===============

    🔓 Become a patron to support us and unlock exclusive montly 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/
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 5 mins
  • 434 - Immigration and Tolerance: Christians Are Not Called to Be “Nice”

    434 - Immigration and Tolerance: Christians Are Not Called to Be “Nice”
    Feb 12 2026
    Many are called. Not all are chosen.
    There is a widespread idea that Christianity is about being “nice,” endlessly tolerant, and endlessly open. But that idea does not survive a careful reading of the Gospel.
    In this video, I look at the parable of the Wedding Feast and explain why Christ’s invitation to everyone does not mean the acceptance of everything. Using this parable, I explore how compassion can become weaponized, how inclusion without a standard of conformity leads to chaos, and why both churches and nations must have limits if they are to remain what they are. This is not a political argument, but a symbolic and theological one—about how bodies, communities, and kingdoms actually function.

    YouTube version: https://youtu.be/YRMlQiNkSpE
    =============
    NEW COURSE: The Art of Imitating Heaven: Structure and Meaning in Ancient Cosmology By Joshua Sturgill
    What is heaven? Where is it? For ancient people, the answer was obvious: simply look up at the night sky. For them, to see the stars and planets was to see the face of the divine. Christianity, too, understood the visible sky as the realm of unfallen creation. What does this belief mean, and why was it lost?
    🗓 Live classes are on Sundays at 5-6:30pm Eastern Time, starting February 1st through March 8th, 2026.
    💰 Price: $150 USD (Involved patrons qualify for a 10% discount)
    ⏰ Register now: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/the-art-of-imitating-heaven
    ===============

    💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com
    🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau
    🔒 BECOME A PATRON: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe
    Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/
    My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/
    Show More Show Less
    21 mins
All stars
Most relevant
genuinely essential listening. pageau and guests navigate the way back from the utter destruction of materialism. symbolism happens!

extraordinary

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