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The Roots of Everything

Dr. Zachary Porcu, and Ancient Faith Ministries·Hosted by Dr. Zachary Porcu·39 episodes

ChristianityReligionSpiritualitySolo lectureOrthodox perspectiveShort seriesIntellectual historyFaith and cultureWeekly

The Roots of Everything

Why listen

The Roots of Everything is Dr. Zachary Porcu's lecture-style tour through the religious roots beneath modern ideas. Each short series takes a cultural force, from secular politics to pop culture, feminism, technology, or American religion, and traces how it borrows from or distorts older Christian and mythic patterns. It will click for listeners who like intellectual history, Orthodox Christian reflection, and big-picture cultural analysis.

Series(10)

Episodes

Jun 1, 2026
Neo-Politics Ep.1: Neo-Liberalism

To understand the political landscape of the 21st century, we need to understand the way neoliberalism controls all definitions about all politics and the way we as a culture interpret the World Wars mythologically in order to justify both Left and Right politics. Music attribution: History Repeats Itself by FSCM Productions | https://fscmproductions.bandcamp.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...

May 11, 2026
Left and Right Ep.4: Conservatism

It's difficult to define the Right because, historically speaking, the Left and Right are fraternal twins with the same definition of the human being—a secular, Enlightenment definition that ultimately isn't compatible with a traditional Christian one. Music attribution: History Repeats Itself by FSCM Productions | https://fscmproductions.bandcamp.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...

May 5, 2026
Left and Right Ep.3: Egalitarianism

While the liberal democracies and socialism were at odds politically throughout the 20th century, they've started to merge because they share a core belief about the human being: egalitarianism—which turns out to be yet another secularization of an ancient Christian idea. Music attribution: History Repeats Itself by FSCM Productions | https://fscmproductions.bandcamp.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...

Apr 27, 2026
Left and Right Ep.2: The Foundations of Liberalism

To understand the left politically, we need to look at the history of how secular ideologies emerged in Enlightenment Europe and realize that we're not just talking about politics but about a view of humanity and morality—one that's deeply indebted to historic Christianity. Music attribution: History Repeats Itself by FSCM Productions | https://fscmproductions.bandcamp.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...

Apr 20, 2026
Left and Right Ep.1: A Brief History

Modern political ideologies are pseudo-religions that want to replace and subvert all your other religious beliefs. Left or right, they are all based on a radically new political idea that no previous religious cultures had entertained: secularism. Music attribution: History Repeats Itself by FSCM Productions | https://fscmproductions.bandcamp.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...

Mar 23, 2026
The Feminine Ep.4: Who is the Heroine?

The "hero's journey" is essentially male; what is the female equivalent? Today we explore archetypes in folk stories, mythology, Orthodoxy, and pop culture alike. Why are these archetypal stories about girls still resonant, and what can they tell us about feminine virtue? Music attribution: History Repeats Itself by FSCM Productions | https://fscmproductions.bandcamp.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...

Mar 17, 2026
The Feminine Ep.3: Hierarchy and Love

The religious conversation about "headship" and "submission" in marriage is confused by our modern narratives about oppression, power, and secular equality. But what if I told you that the fundamental element constituting hierarchy was love? Music attribution: History Repeats Itself by FSCM Productions | https://fscmproductions.bandcamp.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...

Mar 9, 2026
The Feminine Ep.2: Cosmic Dualism

PARENTAL ADVISORY: This episode may contain some adult themes. Masculine and feminine are constantly portrayed in the Bible and mythology as fundamental aspects of the cosmos: creator and creation, heaven and earth, Yin and Yang, husband and wife. How do these dynamics work, and what happens when they go wrong? Music attribution: History Repeats Itself by FSCM Productions | https://fscmproductions.bandcamp.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...

Mar 3, 2026
The Feminine Ep.1: Yin and Yang

Before we can begin to have the conversation about the role of women in culture or religion, we need to go back to the basics on sex and gender, because a female is not merely a biological reality; the feminine is one of the cosmic, enchanted elements of being itself. Music attribution: History Repeats Itself by FSCM Productions | https://fscmproductions.bandcamp.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...

Feb 10, 2026
Rise of Pop Culture Ep.4: Tolkien and Fantasy

Everyone knows that Tolkien started the fantasy literature genre, but it wasn't the fantastical that made it special; it was his moral, imaginative framework, especially in contrast with later disenchanted fantasy stories like Harry Potter. Music attribution: History Repeats Itself by FSCM Productions | https://fscmproductions.bandcamp.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...

Feb 2, 2026
Rise of Pop Culture Ep.3: Star Wars and Media

In the transition from newspaper to radio to film and TV, the Western world transitioned to picture-thinking, the most powerful force in shaping our imaginative framework. Movies become profoundly influential, and Star Wars becomes a cultural phenomenon. Music attribution: History Repeats Itself by FSCM Productions | https://fscmproductions.bandcamp.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...

Jan 27, 2026
Rise of Pop Culture Ep.2: Science Fiction

The early fathers of science had grand visions for the domination of the earth and the future utopia, but it isn't until the 20th century's pop culture that their ideas become firmly implanted in the imaginative framework of Westerners. Music attribution: History Repeats Itself by FSCM Productions | https://fscmproductions.bandcamp.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...

Jan 20, 2026
Rise of Pop Culture Ep.1: The 60s and 70s

With the World and Cold Wars of the 20th century, Western culture sees the rise of something it had never experienced before: youth culture. But sex, drugs, and rock and roll aren't just pastimes: they become our new cultural mythology. Music attribution: History Repeats Itself by FSCM Productions | https://fscmproductions.bandcamp.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...

Dec 30, 2025
American Religion Ep.4: American Mysticism

The 19th century was home not only to many brand-new American religions but also to a large philosophical movement towards esotericism, mysticism, and new-age thinking that would influence all the major social movements of the time. Music attribution: History Repeats Itself by FSCM Productions | https://fscmproductions.bandcamp.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...

Dec 23, 2025
American Religion Ep.3: The Burned-Over District

America is the birthplace of an astounding number of new religions, but what's surprising is that many of them have their starting place, directly or indirectly, in a specific time and place: Upstate New York in the 19th century. Music attribution: History Repeats Itself by FSCM Productions | https://fscmproductions.bandcamp.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...

Dec 16, 2025
American Religion, Ep.2: Protestantism

It's often admitted that America has a strong Protestant influence, but what were the actual beliefs of these colonial religions? Utopianism, Kabbalism, and the belief that America is a new Israel are just a few of the ideas that characterize early American Protestantism. Music attribution: History Repeats Itself by FSCM Productions | https://fscmproductions.bandcamp.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...

Dec 9, 2025
American Religion Ep.1: Founding Fathers

Is the United States a Christian nation? While the colonies mostly consisted of Protestants fleeing the European wars of religion, the answer is complicated by the strange new beliefs of many of these groups and the occult religious interests of the Enlightenment thinkers. Music attribution: History Repeats Itself by FSCM Productions | https://fscmproductions.bandcamp.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...

Nov 25, 2025
Feminism Series Intro: Eve vs. the Devil

"Feminism" is a modern, secular ideology with many different, conflicting manifestations. Today we explore the roots of this movement, and contrast it with the way Orthodoxy defines and grounds the dignity of the person—male and female alike. Follow Dr. Zachary Porcu: https://zacharyporcu.substack.com/ Music attribution: History Repeats Itself by FSCM Productions | https://fscmproductions.bandcamp.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...

Nov 25, 2025
Feminism Series Intro: Eve vs. the Devil

"Feminism" is a modern, secular ideology with many different, conflicting manifestations. Today we explore the roots of this movement, and contrast it with the way Orthodoxy defines and grounds the dignity of the person—male and female alike. Follow Dr. Zachary Porcu: https://zacharyporcu.substack.com/

Oct 21, 2025
Feminism Ep.2: Industrialism

Feminism is more than the desire for women to be treated with respect. It arose in a very specific set of cultural circumstances—the industrial revolution and the technologization of society—and it still bears the marks of those movements today.

Oct 21, 2025
Feminism Ep.2: Industrialism

Feminism is more than the desire for women to be treated with respect. It arose in a very specific set of cultural circumstances—the industrial revolution and the technologization of society—and it still bears the marks of those movements today.

Oct 14, 2025
Feminism Ep.1: The Paradox

For the last 50 years, women have been steadily gaining more opportunities, education, and financial independence—yet at the same time, according to massive studies across the world, they've also been getting unhappier. What accounts for this seeming paradox?

Oct 14, 2025
Feminism Ep.1: The Paradox

For the last 50 years, women have been steadily gaining more opportunities, education, and financial independence—yet at the same time, according to massive studies across the world, they've also been getting unhappier. What accounts for this seeming paradox?

Sep 23, 2025
Epistemology Ep.4: The Collapse of Truth

Despite it's triumphant optimism, the Enlightenment and scientific revolution didn't lead to utopia, but instead to the complete breakdown of the idea of truth. How did scientific rationalism lead to postmodernism, neo-Marxism, and nihilism? Find out on today's episode. Music attribution: History Repeats Itself by FSCM Productions | https://fscmproductions.bandcamp.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...

Sep 23, 2025
Epistemology Ep.4: The Collapse of Truth

Despite it's triumphant optimism, the Enlightenment and scientific revolution didn't lead to utopia, but instead to the complete breakdown of the idea of truth. How did scientific rationalism lead to postmodernism, neo-Marxism, and nihilism? Find out on today's episode.

Sep 16, 2025
Epistemology Ep.3: The Enlightenment's Biases

While we often think of the Enlightenment and the scientific revolution as "unbiased" or "neutral", the reality is that, historically, the thinkers behind these movements were in fact quite biased and had a particular project in mind: destroying the past. Music attribution: History Repeats Itself by FSCM Productions | https://fscmproductions.bandcamp.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...

Sep 16, 2025
Epistemology Ep.3: The Enlightenment's Biases

While we often think of the Enlightenment and the scientific revolution as "unbiased" or "neutral", the reality is that, historically, the thinkers behind these movements were in fact quite biased and had a particular project in mind: destroying the past.

Sep 9, 2025
Epistemology Ep. 2: Luther's Anxiety Crisis

While modern secularism is famous for being skeptical, the Reformation actually played a central role in destroying the religious culture of Europe and paving the way for the Enlightenment. Martin Luther is doing the same sort of project as Descartes! Music attribution: History Repeats Itself by FSCM Productions | https://fscmproductions.bandcamp.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...

Sep 9, 2025
Epistemology Ep. 2: Luther's Anxiety Crisis

While modern secularism is famous for being skeptical, the Reformation actually played a central role in destroying the religious culture of Europe and paving the way for the Enlightenment. Martin Luther is doing the same sort of project as Descartes!

Sep 1, 2025
Epistemology Ep.1: Why Do We Doubt?

How do you know what you know? It's a simple question but trying to answer it reveals something very deep about our culture: an almost neurotic fixation on doubt. Why are we like this? Where did it begin? Join me as we embark on one of the most defining topics of our era. Music attribution: History Repeats Itself by FSCM Productions | https://fscmproductions.bandcamp.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...

Sep 1, 2025
Epistemology Ep.1: Why Do We Doubt?

How do you know what you know? It's a simple question but trying to answer it reveals something very deep about our culture: an almost neurotic fixation on doubt. Why are we like this? Where did it begin? Join me as we embark on one of the most defining topics of our era.

Aug 12, 2025
Techno-Paganism Ep.4: New Religions, Same Gods

For being supposedly non-religious, secular people are surprisingly interested in weird phenomenon, everything from A.I. worship to UFOs to drug-induced mystical experiences. It's almost like we're building new religions—but how new are they, really? Music attribution: History Repeats Itself by FSCM Productions | https://fscmproductions.bandcamp.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...

Aug 12, 2025
Techno-Paganism Ep.4: New Religions, Same Gods

For being supposedly non-religious, secular people are surprisingly interested in weird phenomenon, everything from A.I. worship to UFOs to drug-induced mystical experiences. It's almost like we're building new religions—but how new are they, really?

Aug 5, 2025
Techno-Paganism Ep.3: The Science of Idol-Making

Can we build a god out of A.I.? As it turns out, the ancients were already doing much the same thing, and the "science of idol-making" is a recognized technique going back many centuries. Is what we're doing with A.I. the same? Are idols real creatures? Music attribution: History Repeats Itself by FSCM Productions | https://fscmproductions.bandcamp.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...

Aug 5, 2025
Techno-Paganism Ep.3: The Science of Idol-Making

Can we build a god out of A.I.? As it turns out, the ancients were already doing much the same thing, and the "science of idol-making" is a recognized technique going back many centuries. Is what we're doing with A.I. the same? Are idols real creatures?

Jul 29, 2025
Techno-Paganism Ep.2: Mythology of the Enlightenment

Because modern people tend to think of ourselves as irreligious or secular, it makes the rise of new religious movements based on worshipping computers seem almost wacky and unserious. But what if I told you that this was always the goal of the modern era?

Jul 29, 2025
Techno-Paganism Ep.2: Mythology of the Enlightenment

Because modern people tend to think of ourselves as irreligious or secular, it makes the rise of new religious movements based on worshipping computers seem almost wacky and unserious. But what if I told you that this was always the goal of the modern era? Music attribution: History Repeats Itself by FSCM Productions | https://fscmproductions.bandcamp.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...

Jul 22, 2025
Techno-Paganism Ep.1: A.I. and the New Age

Increasing technology has also led to increasing anxiety. It's not merely that all the dystopian science-fiction stories are coming true; it's the bizarre return of ancient, religious impulses and desires now fused to our tech development—a new frontier of techno-paganism.

Jul 22, 2025
Techno-Paganism Ep.1: A.I. and the New Age

Increasing technology has also led to increasing anxiety. It's not merely that all the dystopian science-fiction stories are coming true; it's the bizarre return of ancient, religious impulses and desires now fused to our tech development—a new frontier of techno-paganism. Music attribution: History Repeats Itself by FSCM Productions | https://fscmproductions.bandcamp.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...

Jul 1, 2025
The Dark Logos, Ep. 4: The Faustian Age

Are sorcerers and scientists really aiming at the same thing? People from CS Lewis to Oswald Spengler have answered this question in the affirmative. Spengler in particular, characterizes our age as "Faustian". Are we really sorcerers? Find out on today's episode. Music attribution: History Repeats Itself by FSCM Productions | https://fscmproductions.bandcamp.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...

Jul 1, 2025
The Dark Logos, Ep. 4: The Faustian Age

Are sorcerers and scientists really aiming at the same thing? People from CS Lewis to Oswald Spengler have answered this question in the affirmative. Spengler in particular, characterizes our age as "Faustian". Are we really sorcerers? Find out on today's episode.

Jun 24, 2025
The Dark Logos, Ep. 3: Gods of the Shadows

If the gods were real but fallen, where are they now? Given a very basic set of Christian assumptions, it's not that far-fetched to imagine that the gods are still around, still very much crave worship and slaves, and having been working with humans to build a new Babel. Music attribution: History Repeats Itself by FSCM Productions | https://fscmproductions.bandcamp.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...

Jun 24, 2025
The Dark Logos, Ep. 3: Gods of the Shadows

If the gods were real but fallen, where are they now? Given a very basic set of Christian assumptions, it's not that far-fetched to imagine that the gods are still around, still very much crave worship and slaves, and having been working with humans to build a new Babel.

Jun 17, 2025
The Dark Logos, Ep. 2: Fall of the Gods

The second element we need to understand in our relationship to knowledge and technology is the fall of the gods and all the stories about the fallen gods giving knowledge to mankind.

Jun 17, 2025
The Dark Logos, Ep. 2: Fall of the Gods

The second element we need to understand in our relationship to knowledge and technology is the fall of the gods and all the stories about the fallen gods giving knowledge to mankind. Music attribution: History Repeats Itself by FSCM Productions | https://fscmproductions.bandcamp.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...

Jun 10, 2025
The Dark Logos, Ep. 1: Origins

As our technological power grows, so do our concerns about the future. In this new series, Dr. Zac explores the historical and spiritual context surrounding man's relationship to technology, starting with the idea of the Dark Logos: an anti-Christ relationship to creation.

Jun 10, 2025
The Dark Logos, Ep. 1: Origins

As our technological power grows, so do our concerns about the future. In this new series, Dr. Zac explores the historical and spiritual context surrounding man's relationship to technology, starting with the idea of the Dark Logos: an anti-Christ relationship to creation. Music attribution: History Repeats Itself by FSCM Productions | https://fscmproductions.bandcamp.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...

May 20, 2025
The Secular State, Ep.4: Marxism

What is Marxism, really? Is it compatible with Christianity? Is it more freeing or less? What exactly is "real" Marxism? Today, we pull up the root ideas of the Communist Manifesto to see which ideas are at the core of Marx's thinking.

May 20, 2025
The Secular State, Ep.4: Marxism

What is Marxism, really? Is it compatible with Christianity? Is it more freeing or less? What exactly is "real" Marxism? Today, we pull up the root ideas of the Communist Manifesto to see which ideas are at the core of Marx's thinking. Music attribution: History Repeats Itself by FSCM Productions | https://fscmproductions.bandcamp.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...

May 13, 2025
The Secular State, Ep. 3: Fascism

Fascism is always villainized by Westerners, but what did people like Mussolini and Hitler actually say about it? Did they have a good critique of liberalism and Marxism? And if so, what's actually wrong with fascism? The answer may surprise you.