The Symbolic World

Jonathan Pageau

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.

  1. 13 hr ago

    482 - The Sword of St. Michael

    Why is St. Michael often shown holding a flaming sword? I look at how this image developed, its connection to the expulsion from Paradise, the defeat of the dragon, and the emergent sacred geography known as the Sword of St. Michael. YouTube version: https://youtu.be/yE68F1pGPmQ Pre-Order GodsDog: Monk now and/or get volumes 1 and 2 on sale! https://store.thesymbolicworld.com/collections/godsdog Join Dr. Zac Porcu for his course, A Demonological History of the World: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/a-demonological-history-of-the-world 6 weeks, 12 hours Price: Only $120, and Involved patrons can get 10% off. Apply your discount code at checkout. Live classes: Sep 15 - Oct 20 🔓 Become a patron to support us and unlock exclusive monthly symbolism content: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe

  2. 2 days ago

    481 - Dr. Diana Pasulka - The New Religion

    I finally sit down with Diana Pasulka to talk about UFOs, alien intelligence, AI, psychedelics, transhumanism, and the strange religious framework forming around all of them. We look at how these phenomena overlap with older spiritual categories, and why the promise of technological transcendence may be a counterfeit of something Christianity already understands. YouTube version: https://youtu.be/6TqYxG9gxwc Her books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/D.W.-Pasulka/author/B07NL6KZN5 Join Dr. Zac Porcu for his course, A Demonological History of the World: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/a-demonological-history-of-the-world 6 weeks, 12 hours Price: Only $120, and Involved patrons can get 10% off. Apply your discount code at checkout. Live classes: Sep 15 - Oct 20 Pre-Order GodsDog: Monk now and/or get volumes 1 and 2 on sale! https://store.thesymbolicworld.com/collections/godsdog 🔓 Become a patron to support us and unlock exclusive monthly symbolism content: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe Timestamps: 00:00 – Coming up 01:58 – Introduction 02:52 – How a Religious Studies Scholar Ended Up Studying UFOs 08:52 – UFOs as Religious and Spiritual Phenomena 13:25 – A Demonological History of the World 14:41 – The Mythology and Narrative of UFOs 16:38 – Why Governments Use UFO Disinformation 20:56 – Technology, Magic, and Non-Human Intelligence 24:22 – Aliens, Demons, and the Modern Image of the “Grey” 27:43 – Psychedelics and Encounters With Other Beings 30:19 – AI as an Alien Intelligence 32:02 – UFOs and the Promise of a New Revelation 34:29 – Spielberg and the Alien as Saviour 38:35 – Arthur C. Clarke, Demons, and Childhood’s End 40:50 – Transhumanism vs. Christian Transfiguration 45:42 – God’s Dog: Monk 46:42 – Aliens as Our Future, “Evolved” Selves 49:06 – How the Alien Narrative Collides With Christianity 52:36 – Project Stargate, Remote Viewing, and Psychic Espionage 56:18 – Why Is the AI Project Also Called “Stargate”? 57:30 – 2001: A Space Odyssey, AI, and UFO Disclosure 01:01:29 – AI Is Feeding on Us 01:03:00 – How Should Christians Respond? 01:06:26 – AI Cannot Give Us Transcendence 01:08:42 – Recovering the Spiritual Senses 01:10:39 – Isolation Makes Us Vulnerable to Propaganda 01:11:39 – Diana’s Next Book on Christianity 01:13:00 – The Noosphere, the Singularity, and an Apocalyptic Moment 01:17:06 – Christianity Makes Us More Human 01:18:20 – Conclusion

  3. 10 Sept

    480 - Dr. Zac Porcu - The Pagan Gods Really Exist

    Dr. Zac Porcu joins me to discuss his upcoming course on the demonological history of the world, looking at the pagan gods, fallen angels, magic, and technology. We explore what happens when you take seriously the early Christian claim that the gods were real, but fallen. YouTube version: https://youtu.be/WMKOzuhnib4 Learn more about Dr. Zac: https://zacharyporcu.com/Join Dr. Zac Porcu for his course, A Demonological History of the World: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/a-demonological-history-of-the-world 6 weeks, 12 hoursPrice: Only $120, and Involved patrons can get 10% off. Apply your discount code at checkout.Live classes: Sep 15 - Oct 20Pre-Order GodsDog: Monk now and/or get volumes 1 and 2 on sale! https://store.thesymbolicworld.com/collections/godsdog🔓 Become a patron to support us and unlock exclusive monthly symbolism content: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe💻 Website, blog, courses: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com📚 Store: https://store.thesymbolicworld.com/Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/

  4. 8 Sept

    479 - The Horror of Getting What You Want - Obsession (2026)

    This was July 2026's patron video that we decided to make public. If you want to support us and get extra symbolism videos, subscribe a a paying member to The Symbolic World: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribeIn this video, I analyzed the movie Obsession, which was released in May of this year. It had a low budget and was directed by a YouTuber, yet became a massive breakout box office and critical success. YouTube version: https://youtu.be/z09N5ErcoTEJoin Dr. Zac Porcu for his course, A Demonological History of the World: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/a-demonological-history-of-the-world 6 weeks, 12 hoursPrice: Only $120, and get 15% off through September 8, 2026 at 11:55PM ET! After the early bird sale, Involved patrons can still get 10% off. (Discounts can't be combined.)Live classes: Sep 15 - Oct 20Pre-Order GodsDog: Monk now and/or get volumes 1 and 2 on sale! https://store.thesymbolicworld.com/collections/godsdog============Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/

  5. 4 Sept

    478 - Christian Roy - Technological Madness: The Logic of Domination

    Christian Roy and I discuss Jacques Ellul’s theology of technique (technology) and the way modern systems turn power, efficiency, and mediation into ends in themselves. AI brings this crisis into focus, especially in our speech and relationships, but the deeper question is whether technology still serves a meaningful purpose —or whether we have begun to serve it. We also explore the Christian idea of non-power as a way beyond the logic of domination. YouTube version: https://youtu.be/HH_vCnVDTdo Christian’s book: Theology and Technique: https://www.amazon.ca/Theology-Technique-Jacques-Ellul/dp/1725259788 Join Dr. Zac Porcu for his course, A Demonological History of the World: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/a-demonological-history-of-the-world 6 weeks, 12 hours Price: Only $120, and get 15% off through September 8, 2026 at 11:55PM ET! Live classes: Sep 15 - Oct 20 Pre-Order GodsDog: Monk now and/or get volumes 1 and 2 on sale! https://store.thesymbolicworld.com/collections/godsdog 🔓 Become a patron to support us and unlock exclusive monthly symbolism content: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe 💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com 🎧 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/

  6. 2 Sept

    477 - Louise Perry - How Progressivism Took Over Our Stories

    Louise Perry is a British journalist, author, and host of the Maiden Mother Matriarch Podcast. She’s a columnist for the Wall Street Journal and has been described as a leading reactionary feminist. She interviewed me for us to discuss why progressivism became such a powerful cultural force, how the postwar story shaped modern politics and storytelling, and why fairy tales still preserve patterns that our culture has tried to flatten or subvert. YouTube version: https://youtu.be/HVRY6WP4hFA Her website: https://www.louisemperry.co.uk/ Her X account: https://x.com/Louise_m_perry Register now for the Universal History Masterclass hosted by Dcn. Seraphim Rohlin: ⁠https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/universal-history-masterclass⁠ Pre-order GodsDog 3 and get volumes 1 and 2 on sale! https://store.thesymbolicworld.com/ Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/

  7. 28 Aug

    476 - Matt Rhodes - The World Before the Flood Reimagined

    In this conversation with artist Matt Rhodes, we explore Dead Gods, his epic comic set in the world before the biblical Flood. We talk about Nephilim, Watchers, ancient patriarchs, dragons, dinosaurs, and what civilization might look like when people live for centuries and Noah himself becomes a warrior at the end of the world. Matt’s website: https://www.mattrhodesart.com/ His YouTube channel where you can follow the creation process: https://www.youtube.com/@mattrhodesart Project trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vP7ETbjN9yE Support this project directly: https://www.patreon.com/MattRhodesArt Register now for the Universal History Masterclass hosted by Dcn. Seraphim Rohlin: ⁠https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/universal-history-masterclass⁠ 🔓 Become a patron to support us and unlock exclusive monthly symbolism content: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe 💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/

  8. 25 Aug

    475 - Jay Dyer - The Elites Are Doing Warfare on the Public

    In this conversation with Jay Dyer, we look at predictive programming, propaganda, Hollywood, and the growing role of AI in shaping how we imagine the future. We also discuss technocracy, centralization, and why the most important response may be much closer to home: rebuilding strong families, parishes, and local communities. YouTube version: https://youtu.be/qdMVVyxEL3k Register now for the Universal History Masterclass hosted by Dcn. Seraphim Rohlin, taking place live this August and September. ⁠https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/universal-history-masterclass⁠ Website: thesymbolicworld.com Timestamps: 00:00 – Coming up 01:31 – Introduction 03:32 – What Is Predictive Programming? 08:32 – Propaganda, Art, and Soft Power 14:48 – Hollywood and the Intelligence Agencies 18:03 – Preparing the Public for War 22:33 – Hollywood’s Revolutionary Narrative 28:58 – Globalism, Nationalism, and the Nation-State 31:50 – The Power of Invisible Institutions 36:39 – Why Dystopias Can Still Condition Us 43:07 – The Real Temptation of The Matrix 46:11 – Social Engineering Through Entertainment 49:01 – Why Promote Self-Destructive Narratives? 53:39 – Long-Term Planning and the Technocratic Vision 57:55 – Toward a Global Technocratic State 01:01:40 – Has AI Replaced the Old Narratives? 01:05:23 – AI and the Logic of Inevitability 01:10:47 – Technology, Power, and Centralization 01:13:11 – The Christian Alternative: Subsidiarity 01:17:35 – Conclusion

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Hosts & Guests

About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Jonathan Pageau
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    480
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Jonathan Pageau
  • Show Website
    The Symbolic World

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