383 - John Vervaeke and Chris Mastropietro - Awakening from the Meaning Crisis

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/XBdXgwl1VYURemember to like and share. And don't miss our upcoming course on Dante's Purgatorio, starting August 27th. Involved patrons get a 10% discount. Your unique code is at the top of the course page if you log in. Apply at checkout. https://thesymbolicworld.com/courses/dantes-purgatorio Timestamps: 00:00 - Coming up01:11 - Intro music01:37 - Introduction04:23 - Ireland in the medieval period13:31 - History for the Irish20:15 - A lyrical approach23:51 - Magical realism29:37 - Ireland's rigour37:34 - The popular medieval belief of Purgatory40:25 - The Irish Penitentials43:03 - Purification after death50:20 - Avoid purgatory51:06 - Descriptions of purgatory54:57 - The problem statement01:07:03 - Dante's purgatory01:09:04 - The best defense for purgatory01:17:15 - Bringing it home🔗 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.

17 Aug 20241h 19min

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 challenge societal boundaries, gaslight, win a supposed moral upper hand, and thereby perpetuate the culture war. It's important to be able to see these patterns in public discourse and not to get carried away in our opposing camps.Original YouTube version: https://youtu.be/KR0Wf6ukgHYSymbolism Explained: The Olympics Opening Ceremony is Worse than You Thought: https://youtu.be/rckBhO23cIA?si=5Yew13kVoDsyhgI4Don't miss my and Richard Rohlin's new upcoming course on Dante's Divine Comedy. Involved patrons get 10% discount. Apply your unique code at checkout: https://thesymbolicworld.com/courses/dantes-purgatorio 🔗 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.

8 Aug 202421min

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/rckBhO23cIAJoin me and Richard Rohlin for our new course on Dante's Divine Comedy covering Purgatorio. Involved patrons qualify for a 10% discount. Apply code at checkout. https://thesymbolicworld.com/courses/dantes-purgatorio 💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 🗣 Join The Symbolic World Community for discussions about symbolism: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe 🔒 BECOME A PATRON: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe 📱 SOCIAL MEDIA  Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheSymbolicWorld Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/pageaujonathan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathan.pageauOur website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson.

31 Juli 202425min

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🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 🗣 Join The Symbolic World Community for discussions about symbolism: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe 🔒 BECOME A PATRON: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe 📱 SOCIAL MEDIA  Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheSymbolicWorld Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/pageaujonathan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathan.pageauOur website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson.

26 Juli 20241h 17min

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 draw from St. Ephrem the Syrian’s wonderful book, Hymns on Paradise.For more videos like this one, please consider supporting us financially at https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe A Comment on Alex O’Connor’s Conversation with JBP - Do Adam and Eve Die After They Eat the Fruit?: https://youtu.be/cnsUT97VSeABuy St. Ephrem the Syrian's Hymns on Paradise: https://www.amazon.com/St-Ephrem-Syrian-Hymns-Paradise/dp/0881410764---🔗 All links: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson.

17 Juli 202426min

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 MEDIA  Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheSymbolicWorld Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/pageaujonathan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathan.pageauOur website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson.

11 Juli 20241h 3min

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-infernoSupport us for exclusive content and benefits: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe 📱 SOCIAL MEDIA  Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheSymbolicWorld Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/pageaujonathan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathan.pageauOur website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson.

8 Juli 202419min

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 regular Scriptural reflections five days a week at his substack and addresses a variety of subjects on his YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/kabaneSubstack: https://seraphimhamilton.substack.com/In this discussion with Seraphim, we talk about the book as a symbol. We discuss the Book of Life in Revelation, Scripture itself, literacy in early Christendom, the use of the codex over the scroll, the sacraments and sacred objects, memory, supplementarity, and more. Enjoy!💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 🗣 Join The Symbolic World Community for discussions about symbolism: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe 🔒 BECOME A PATRON: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe 📱 SOCIAL MEDIA  Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheSymbolicWorld Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/pageaujonathan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathan.pageauOur website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson.

27 Juni 202449min