The story chronicles Melkor's fall from grace as one of the first and most powerful Ainur created by Ilúvatar. Initially blessed with tremendous creative power, Melkor begins to desire independence from Ilúvatar's grand design during the Great Music that creates Arda (the world). His discord in the Music becomes the seed of evil in creation.

This one's a little different. It's the creation myth of the Lord of the Rings (which is a really interesting mythos), but it's told in first person via the perspective of Melkor, the creator of evil. It's pretty long, the full video is basically the full history of that world from start to finish. I personally really enjoy the first section which recounts the creation of the spirits and thier learning how to use music to create reality.

From there it goes into how he became the evil in that world, and so on through history. I think the transition from curious to outright evil is pretty smooth. If you like a good creation myth, fun writing, and various voice actors, you're in for a good time.

For quick reference:
Ilúvatar is God.
Melkor and his siblings are greater and lesser Angels.

How did a warrior-storm god become Yahweh, the god of world Abrahamic monotheism? By tracing the earliest history of Yahweh ("The One Exists") to his origins in the area around Mt Seir to his immigration during the Bronze Age Collapse to the Judea Highlands around Shiloh, this episode explores the early history of the Israelite God. How did Yahweh and his Yahwism transform in theater of Canaanite religion - dominated by El, Ba'al, Asherah, Anat and other myth figures? What aspects of local religion did the Yahwists assimilate, reject and contend over in that process? This episode explore the early history of Yahweh and the rise of Yahweh henotheism/monolatry and primitive monotheism.

YouTube channel: Esoterica

In the Hebrew Bible, Baal is portrayed as the great rival of Yahweh. In the Book of Kings, the prophet Elijah famously challenges the prophets of Baal to a sacrificial offerings contest that ultimately leads to their doom. John Hamer of Toronto Centre Place will put these Biblical narratives in the context of what is known about Canaanite and Ancient Semitic religion, and the gods worshiped with the honorific title “Ba’al” (which means “Lord”).

YouTube channel: Centre Place

Despite doubts surrounding the story of the Exodus being historical, the characteristics of manna, as described in the Bible, have sparked great interest among researchers and historians over the centuries. This has led to intense research and speculation to determine if manna truly existed and if it is a natural phenomenon that still occurs to this day.

YouTube channel: Vlad Racovita

Ancient Jewish Merkavah Mysticism sought to ascend into the palaces of the divine realm, bypass fearsome angels of destruction to gain a vision of the very Chariot-Throne of God. By beholding the divine glory (kavod) one could gain magical powers and even be transformed into an eternal Angel. And it was this form of esoteric mysticism that it appears profoundly transformed none-less than St Paul. From his ascent into the Third Heaven to even his 'mission to the gentiles,' historical evidence now strongly indicates that Paul was a secret practitioner of this form of mystical ascent. And, recent studies are now revealing that his very Theology, Christology and Theory of Salvation likely drew upon this ancient esoteric Jewish ascent mysticism.

YouTube channel: Esoterica

In the first of a three part series, we cover the earliest origins of agriculture in settlements throughout the Near East, and the great monuments their peoples erected.

YouTube Channel: The Histocrat

Dive into the fascinating world of Zoroastrianism, its ancient hsitory and ethical teachings, from its origins with the prophet Zarathushtra through the Achaemenid, Parthian and Sasanian empires and all the way until today. Discover how Zoroastrianism might be one of the most important religions in history, influencing some of the most famous and popular religons and philosophies in the world.

YouTube channel: Let's Talk Religion

In the second episode of our three part series, we examine the agricultural developments of the 9th millennium BC, and how they led to the rise and fall of the mega sites of the later Pre-Pottery Neolithic.

YouTube Channel: The Histocrat

Early Christianity included a wide diversity of beliefs on ideas as central as who Christ is and what is Jesus’ relationship with the Father to whom he prayed. Gnostic Christians focused their attention on personal spiritual knowledge (gnosis) which they developed through elaborate philosophical mythologies. By the end of the Second Christian Century, bishops of the proto-orthodox establishment increasingly identified Gnosticism as a deadly “heresy,” which they sought to purge from Christianity. One of the figures leading the fight was Irenaeus, bishop of Lyon from 177 until his death in 202, who wrote a book entitled “Against Heresies” that was largely focused on combating Gnosticism.

In a presentation given from Lyon, France, John Hamer will look at the history and beliefs of the ancient Gnostics and consider why attacks by leaders like Irenaeus proved so effective.

Preserved in Eusebius of Caesarea's Praeparatio Evangelica (c. 313 AD), the Theology of the Phoenicians by Sanchuniathon presents a euhemerist account of the creation of the world and the birth of the gods from among the ranks of primordial man.

Filmed at The Vienna Academy of Visionary Art on March 4th 2019, this lecture was given by Academy Director Laurence Caruana, author of several books with Gnostic themes. It is illustrated with works by Visionary artists, both classical (Blake, Michelangelo) and contemporary (Fuchs, Venosa, Alex Grey etc).