Episode IX.08 - Into the Evening Redness: The Dark Theology of Cormac McCarthy
From The Western Traditions Podcast by Robert Paxton
April 16, 2026 · 38 min · Episode 218
About this episode
The episode explores the dark theology of Cormac McCarthy and its literary influences.
The speaker explores the dark theology of Cormac McCarthy. The sources of influence include William Faulkner, Herman Melville's Moby Dick, ancient gnosticism. Cited works include The Orchard Keeper, The Outer Dark, Suttree, Blood Meridian, The Border Trilogy, No Country for Old Men, The Road, The Passenger and Stella Maris.
People in this episode
Host: Robert Paxton
Topics covered
- dark theology
- Cormac McCarthy
- literary influences
- gnosticism
- American literature
Keywords
- Cormac McCarthy
- dark theology
- William Faulkner
- Moby Dick
- literary analysis
- gnosticism
- American literature
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: Moby Dick, The Orchard Keeper, The Outer Dark, Suttree, Blood Meridian, The Border Trilogy, No Country for Old Men, The Road, The Passenger, Stella Maris
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