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The Symbolic World

The Symbolic World

By: Jonathan Pageau
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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
  • 458 - What's at stake with The Odyssey (2026) by Christopher Nolan

    458 - What's at stake with The Odyssey (2026) by Christopher Nolan
    Jun 20 2026
    There’s a lot of expectation and noise around Christopher Nolan’s upcoming movie, The Odyssey (2026). For decades after WW2 we were unable to tell many stories about kingship and fatherhood. As we move through the turbulent end of the WW2 consensus, stories like this form part of how we process the return of the father and identity.

    YouTube version: https://youtu.be/6prGX3wZKI8

    Buy Little Red Riding Hood now during the month of June and get the audiobook with for free. More than our other fairy tales, this one emphasizes the importance of the father’s role in protecting his family from the strange and subversive. https://store.thesymbolicworld.com/

    Join Seraphim Hamilton in studying the Book of Isaiah this June. Register now: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/the-fifth-gospel

    🔓 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
    🎧 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/
    Show More Show Less
    20 mins
  • 457 - Backrooms (2026): A Strange Return to Normal

    457 - Backrooms (2026): A Strange Return to Normal
    Jun 20 2026
    Backrooms (2026) is a recent horror/thriller film based on a creepypasta —an internet urban legend— that emerged around the time of the Covid lockdowns. A man discovers an infinite, labyrinthine expanse of "backrooms" that becomes increasingly disturbing.

    In this video, I analyze the symbolism of the film and explore the deeper reasons why it is so popular, outshining major blockbusters with much larger budgets and marketing campaigns. Enjoy.

    YouTube version: https://youtu.be/ZK6NaFsBGaM

    Buy Little Red Riding Hood now during the month of June and get the audiobook with for free: https://store.thesymbolicworld.com/

    Join Seraphim Hamilton in studying the Book of Isaiah this June. Register now: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/the-fifth-gospel

    🔓 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
    🎧 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/
    Show More Show Less
    25 mins
  • 456 - Gavin Ortlund - Who Can Be Saved?

    456 - Gavin Ortlund - Who Can Be Saved?
    Jun 16 2026
    I had a discussion with Gavin Ortlund about the Orthodox Church's position on salvation outside the church.

    YouTube version: https://youtu.be/RtC8ENpbOW4

    Buy Little Red Riding Hood now during the month of June and get the audiobook with for free: https://store.thesymbolicworld.com/

    Join Seraphim Hamilton in studying the Book of Isaiah this June. Register now: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/the-fifth-gospel

    Timestamps
    00:00 Introduction and background to the discussion
    03:08 Steelmanning each other’s positions
    04:12 Gavin summarizes the Orthodox view of salvation
    05:37 Jonathan explains salvation as healing and theosis
    06:36 Normative and non-normative ways of salvation
    08:13 Jonathan summarizes Gavin’s historical argument
    10:53 Gavin clarifies his thesis about Orthodoxy, Catholics, and Protestants
    16:40 Is the modern Orthodox view a return to earlier tradition?
    18:32 Gavin explains why the 9th–19th century period matters
    20:20 Disagreement over whether individuals can be declared damned
    22:57 Jonathan responds on Orthodox theological boundaries
    24:54 Debate over the 9th century and the Photian schism
    31:32 The question: Is Gavin a Christian brother?
    38:37 The Synod of Jerusalem and Protestant theology
    41:36 Jonathan reads from the Synod of Jerusalem
    43:56 Gavin responds to Jonathan’s use of an old blog post
    46:42 Gavin outlines the Synod’s language about Protestants
    49:12 Jonathan argues synods define norms, not individual destinies
    52:28 Gavin challenges the “normative” reading of the Synod
    55:20 Normative texts, dogmatic authority, and qualifications
    58:13 Theophan the Recluse and hope for the non-Orthodox
    01:04:16 St. Philaret of Moscow and leaving souls to God’s mercy
    01:09:35 Protestant missions in Orthodox lands
    01:11:23 Gavin defends Protestant missionary theology
    01:13:30 Jonathan critiques Protestant evangelism and denominationalism
    01:16:21 The Eucharist, communion, and institutional exclusivism
    01:18:16 Gavin explains why he is not Orthodox
    01:20:44 Jonathan on Christ’s presence and God’s desire to save all
    01:21:59 Are Protestants categorized like Buddhists or Muslims?
    01:25:36 Salvation as transformation into the image of Christ
    01:28:55 Theophan’s advice: focus on your own salvation
    01:30:06 Personal holiness and evangelism
    01:32:18 Calvinism, evangelism, and divine decree
    01:36:52 Predestination, foreknowledge, and the River of Fire
    01:39:59 Closing the theological discussion
    01:40:33 Gavin’s apology and reflections on online discourse
    01:42:59 A call for patient Protestant-Orthodox dialogue
    01:44:12 Jonathan’s closing thanks

    🔓 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

    🎧 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/
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 46 mins
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Always essential listening for anyone curious about the symbolic meaning of all around us. Jonathan has been critical for my own personal journey back into faith, breathing life over the cold rocks of a religious education that left me, and many others, nihilistic, morally relativistic and confused. His discussions and monologues are more akin to reading Teresa of Avila than anything else as it provides a sense of kinship with those artists, speaking personally, who encounter and exist in the liminal space between the narrative world and the profane and would otherwise feel thoroughly insane. When you experience the synchronicities in the world, reading the mystics, learning from artists like Cecil Collins and listening to the words of Jonathan Pageau and his network is a restorative balm. Thanks Jonathan, you're a legend

Essential Jonathan Pageau

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Podcaster's way too bothered about the portrayal of strong women in pop culture. Boring.

Not worth my time

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