In this conversation, Fred Pinto speaks with religious iconographer and YouTuber Jonathan Pageau about the intersection of art, symbolism, and spirituality in the modern world. They discuss how meaning shapes our perception of reality, the role of art in bridging the material and the transcendent, and the influence of both religious and secular frameworks on society.
Jonathan Pageau is an artist and public speaker known for his focus on the symbolic patterns that shape human experience. A professional icon carver, he hosts The Symbolic World podcast, examining the impact and meaning of symbolism in traditional and contemporary contexts.
Relevant Links
● Full-length episodes: https://fredpinto.com/podcast
● Fred Pinto’s Substack: https://fredpinto.substack.com
● Jonathan Pageau’s work: https://thesymbolicworld.com
Topics Covered
● The First Purpose and humanity’s search for meaning
● Art as a bridge between the material and the transcendent
● Challenging the materialistic worldview
● The nature of miracles in religious traditions
● The rise of fundamentalism
● The relationship between religion and politics
● How individual purposes affect others (Purpose Externalities)
Chapters
00:00:00 In this episode…
00:00:07 Intro
00:01:44 Chapter 1: The First Purpose
00:04:49 Chapter 2: Art and Meaning
00:14:40 Chapter 3: The Indifferent Universe
00:34:20 Chapter 4: On Miracles
00:43:44 Chapter 5: Fundamentalisms, Old and New
00:55:01 Chapter 6: Religion and Politics
01:08:34 Chapter 7: Purpose Externalities
For more podcasts, visit https://fredpinto.com/podcast or subscribe to Fred’s Substack at https://fredpinto.substack.com.
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