The Symbolic World

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

In this conversation with Josh Nadeau, we talk about art, beauty, symbolism, and the recovery of a Christian imagination. We explore why traditional art still speaks so powerfully, how beauty can reveal realities that arguments often cannot, and why the work of artists may matter more than ever in a fragmented world.
YouTube version: https://youtu.be/mE1EMCxGuvI
Check out Josh Nadeau’s work:
Sword and Pencil Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swordandpencil/
Every Day Saints Substack: https://substack.com/@everydaysaints
His books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0DNX73MZC
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
Our website: thesymbolicworld.com

Story time with Fr. Andrew! In this episode with Fr. Andrew Damick, we explore the symbolism of paradise through a fairy tale, a Norse saga, and the Christian tradition. We look at how the path to paradise is often revealed through humility, sacrifice, death, and transformation —and how these old stories can help us understand the relationship between heaven and earth.

YouTube version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wwp36RyLkPQ

Join us this September in Oxford for a Symbolic World Summit (there are literally only 5 or so tickets remaining): https://symbolicworldsummit.com/

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

Part 4. Deacon Seraphim and I continue our journey through the strange world surrounding Noah, the Flood, and the ancient traditions that grew up around Genesis. We get into the Ark, Adam, Melchizedek, sacrifice, priesthood, and a few details I had genuinely never heard before. There’s a lot here that changes the way the story fits into the larger pattern of Scripture.
YouTube version: https://youtu.be/-hjCU9Xp3-cJoin us September 24–26, 2026 for a summit, hosted by Symbolic World in St Giles’, Oxford, United Kingdom at Pusey House: https://symbolicworldsummit.com/Register now for the Universal History Masterclass: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/universal-history-masterclass Price: $180 USD (Get 10% off if you're an Involved patron)Course Length: 6 weeks, 12 hoursLive classes are on Wednesdays at 3-5 pm Eastern Time, starting August 5th through September 9th, 2026🔓 Become a patron to support us and unlock exclusive monthly symbolism content: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.comOur website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/

I sat down with Martin Shaw to talk about the underworld and the deep pattern of descent and return. He also gave his own fresh perspective on Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey movie. We explored what it means to come home changed, how these ancient stories illuminate the Bible, and why resurrection is inseparable from the journey through death.

YouTube version: https://youtu.be/vLHZ-IQzltA

Join us September 24–26, 2026 for a summit, hosted by Symbolic World in St Giles’, Oxford, United Kingdom at Pusey House: https://symbolicworldsummit.com/

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Into the Underworld: Tales of Spiritual Initiation in Martin Shaw’s online course that launches in September. It's Martin's most ambitious course yet, venturing into entirely new territory: stories from the Bible and the lives of the Saints.

The course includes more than 6 hours of recorded teaching from a live workshop, plus a limited number of seats for an intimate series of live lectures and interaction over Zoom. Enrollment will be open for a limited time, and space for live sessions is scarce - sign up for the waitlist at JAWBONESTORIES.COM to get early access to Enrollment. Also, get a special surprise from Martin just for joining the waitlist! https://www.jawbonestories.com/
In this course, Martin will tell and teach on: Joseph, Jacob and Esau, Ruth and Naomi, Blind Tobit, The Voyage of Brendan, St. Patrick's Bell.
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Register now for the Universal History Masterclass: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/universal-history-masterclass

http://www.thesymbolicworld.com

Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/
My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/