Paradise and Utopia

In depth-intelligent exposition on the history of the faith we have inherited.

It seems to me that we all carry meta narratives around with us but often we do so unconsciously and do not have careful justification for them. Fr. John has here articulated his own with clarity and voluminous support. There are those who nitpick at this work by saying “its more complicated than that.” I challenge those critics. The only legitimate critique of a meta narrative is to create a better one. Hearing none I provisionally accept this. When people ask what state Christendom is in and how did it get here and where should it go…this podcast provides a framework for making sense of it. Other than the inexplicable fascination with romantic music which is regularly inserted into discussions to no apparent benefit I have nothing but praise for this massive effort. Fr. John “Thank you!”

Father John, thank you for this podcast. It is the second Orthodox podcast series on Christian history I will listen to as I journey home. I may elaborate here once finished. I found one flaw in the 2nd or 3rd episode, a clipping of your voice which made it difficult at times to clearly hear important words. It would be best to rerecord that one. Later… no further voice clipping. I’m learning so much from your very clear teaching. Thank you very much! Update 10/10/22: I just finished all of the available episodes and have been profoundly helped spiritually. Thank you! I just wish you had been able to delve as deeply into the later episodes as the earlier ones. And of course that you had been able to finish. I’m hungry for more so just contacted you via your website to ask when that might occur. I can’t thank you enough for all of this and so hope to someday read these books and glean that much more. Meanwhile I’m going to start over now to absorb and integrate these more deeply. Thanks again and God bless you!

Strickland's podcast, in companionship with his two recent books, has been a crucial eye-opener to the history of Europe over the last two thousand years. Both for understanding the nature of Christendom during the first millenium, and the degree to which Christendom changed after the Schism in 1054, with the New Papacy. Highly recommended!