Something Worth Worshiping: Ross Arlen Tieken on Paganism...

What this episode covers

Ross Arlen Tieken is a writer, educator, and seventh-generation Texan whose path into the Church ran through paganism, medieval scholarship, and a profound encounter with beauty. In this conversation with Jason Craig, Ross traces how a childhood hunger for something worth worshiping—cultivated on a farm in Shiner, Texas—led him from neo-paganism and a grant-funded expedition to study druids in rural England to the sacramental universe of Catholicism. Chapters:00:00: Introduction and Ross's Texas Roots07:11: Catholicism in the Family and the Wound of Rejection09:58: A Search for Something Worth Worshiping13:40: Studying Neo-Paganism in England18:35: Medieval Magic, the Saints, and the Path to Conversion31:51: Distinguishing Magic from Sorcery37:55: The Sacramental World vs. the Technological Mindset46:05: Agriculture, Liturgical Cycles, and Participating in Creation51:37: The Occult, Spiritual Warfare, and Political Convictions01:05:41: Rootedness, Wealth, and Parting Advice for FathersResources Mentioned:Ross Arlen Tieken on SubstackOur Lady of Walsingham, HoustonJOIN 2500+ MEN READING SERIOUS, YET ACCESSIBLE ESSAYS ON VIRTUE, CULTURE, AND LIVING WELL: https://fraternus.org/sword-and-spade/Produced by Saint Kolbe Studios

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Sword&Spade?

This episode is 1 hour and 23 minutes long.

When was this Sword&Spade episode published?

This episode was published on April 9, 2026.

What is this episode about?

Ross Arlen Tieken is a writer, educator, and seventh-generation Texan whose path into the Church ran through paganism, medieval scholarship, and a profound encounter with beauty. In this conversation with Jason Craig, Ross traces how a childhood...

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