The Symbolic World 423 - Catholic Unscripted - Violence as the New Normal
Nov 28, 2025
Jonathan Pageau, an artist and symbolic thinker, discusses the unsettling return of violence in modern society following pivotal events like Charlie Kirk's assassination. He explores the decline of the post-WWII consensus, contrasts historical attitudes towards violence, and critiques modern disenchantment. Pageau draws connections between the Israel-Gaza conflict, sacred space, and community alienation. He also emphasizes the importance of symbolism in masculinity and femininity, alongside a call for local community rebuilding through subsidiarity.
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Reaction To Charlie Kirk Revealed Cultural Shift
- Jonathan Pageau recounts shock at the public execution style shooting of Charlie Kirk and the celebratory reactions he saw among acquaintances.
- He describes how those responses revealed a deeper cultural shift toward jubilation at political violence.
WWII Consensus Shapes Modern Geopolitical Fracture
- Pageau links the World War II moral framework to modern disputes about Israel and Gaza, calling Israel a product of that consensus.
- He says breaches of that consensus create incoherence in political responses and fracture parties and movements.
Re‑Enchantment Returns But Often Pagan
- Re‑enchantment is returning, but often as a pagan resurgence because moderns lost Christian language to interpret spiritual experiences.
- Pageau argues Christian ontology can recover true spiritual ordering and avoid naïve, undisciplined encounters with spirits.
