Jack “The Agnostic” Garcia a noted social historian puts his own unique spin on the great intellectual movement of the 17th and 18th century, The Enlightenment in which ideas concerning reason, nature, humanity and God were blended into a world view that inspired radical and revolutionary developments in Western civilization. Contrary to popular opinion many of the great thinkers from the Age of Reason were not atheists or even agnostics and they may have rebelled against organized religion but actually held deeply spiritual beliefs and had their own sweeping ideas about God and the divine . First off Jack presents a historical overview and examines the work of John Locke – The Father of Liberalism, the initiatior of the Enlightenment in England and France. Next, it’s the life, legend and legacy of Voltaire whose lampoons of powerful political systems and liberal religious opinions caused an uproar all over Europe. Voltaire was a witty crusader against tyranny and bigotry – a man of the people who felt that defending the rights of humanity was the true Spirituality and the road to the divine.

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Jack “The Agnostic” Garcia, a Eucharistic minister of the Holy Sacrament in the Roman Catholic church examines the life, legend and legacy of the great St. Martin (The glory of Gaul). Born into a pagan Roman military household circa 340 AD , Martin is drawn to Christianity at a young age but is compelled by his father (a highly decorated imperial officer) to join the army. The future Saint never shirks his military duty but becomes a most unusual soldier , living more like a Monk than a soldier. One night, Martin dreams of Christ and transforms into a conscientious objector, refusing to brandish a sword or kill the enemy. Imprisoned for his beliefs but eventually discharged from military service, he pursues his religious calling and soon gains a reputation as a Holy Man and Miracle Worker. Rising to the office of Bishop, Martin plants monasteries all over Gaul and during an era of great religious conflict and slaughter, he always remained true to his ideals of charity, mercy, tolerance and non-violence.

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In the conclusion to GRR’s Special Two part program, Jack “The Agnostic” Garcia examines the rich and diverse cornucopia of living things that all struggle for survival deep inside the Amazonian jungle. First off, it’s the complex and strange trees and mysterious shape shifting vines that bend and stretch with an amazing alacrity that makes them seem almost human. Next up, it’s the unique and dangerous fish that inhabit the waters of the Amazon and the deadly snakes that slither across the soil floor. Then it’s the many creatures that have developed their own camouflage and unique cryptic colorizations, vivid colors and patterns that are as effective as a neon sign. Jack also examines the real danger of the Rainforest – the vicious insects that fill the air and swarm over every vine,leaf , fruit , flower and tree. The smallest creatures that have the greatest power to torment, torture and destroy.

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In Part 1 of a special 2 Part program, noted social historian Jack “The Agnostic” Garcia examines the dense and tangled jungle of tall trees that comprises the majority of the timber growing on Planet Earth, produces most of the world’s oxygen and houses many unique species of plant, insect and animal life. Jack presents an amazing geological and historical overview of the Amazon region from it’s formation millions of years ago to the arrival of the indigenous human population who originally lived along the river in complete isolation for thousands of years but move deeper inland into the Rainforest as Spanish and Portuguese navigators and explorers invade the Amazon in a quest for gold. Claiming the land for their Kings, countries and for their faith, Christianity. Jack also examines the communal lifestyle , rituals and ceremonial cannibalism still practiced by some of the most isolated tribes and who live much as they did thousands of years ago, having little or no contact with the outside , modern world.

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Jack “The Agnostic” Garcia a noted social historian finally concludes GRR’s epic Old New York City Trilogy – a series of programs begun during the first season (#14 – The Triangle Factory Fire) and continued in the third year (#39-The Golden Age of Coney Island). The impoverished working class immigrants of the Lower East Side of Manhattan lived lives that were filled with poverty, squalor and corruption. An existence that was a daily and desperate battle for survival in the most densely populated ghetto ever known in the City of New York. In the early 19th Century,from this despicable environment the street gangs emerged . Criminal groups that were among the weirdest, wildest and wackiest to ever roam the streets. Jack examines the facts and legends of such versatile , cunning and crafty street gangs as The Dead Rabbits , The Plug Uglies, The Bowery Boys , The Swamp Angels, The Whyoos, The Eastmans , The Car Barn Gang and many, many more!

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Jack “The Agnostic” Garcia examines the lives and legends of the pioneers of Christianity,the apostles. The inner circle of Christ’s followers who would settle the church and water the seeds of the new faith, acting like spiritual fathers to the rich and diverse group of nations and peoples that once formulated the vast roman empire. The simple fact is that the apostles disappear from the pages of the Bible without giving us so much as a clue as to where they went and there is no mention of their ultimate fates in biblical literature, even though many Christians believe otherwise. The missionary activities and deaths of the apostles were first told in legends via the oral tradition ,but by the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD , literature devoted to them begins to appear. Jack digs deep into these mysterious Coptic, Arabic,Ethiopian,Greek,Latin and Slavanic texts. Stories that present the apostles as non-stop miracle workers who are beloved of God and chosen to deliver the gospels to the world.

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Jack “The Agnostic” Garcia a minister of The Holy Sacrament in the Roman Catholic Church, continues his examination of some of the lesser known contemporary Saints and Martyrs. This time out the lives and legends of some godly people from Asia and Africa. Without centuries and centuries of their stories being told and retold – many of these Martyrs and Saints (St. Paul Miki , St. Mathias Mulumba -etc) have not yet become part of the Saintly tradition , and the names and deeds may only be known by the most savvy of Saint Watchers. Most of them were missionaries and catchists giving religious instruction to those people who wished to become converts. Hoping to do nothing but good works , many of these evangelists were ill prepared for the strong resistance to their teaching , but their bravery and willingness to die for their faith in Christ is undeniable.

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In part one of a two part program, Jack “The Agnostic” Garcia a Eucharistic Minister of the Holy Sacrament in the Roman Catholic Church examines the great and tragic story of the Mid 17th Century Jesuit missionaries of Canada. Whose effect on tribal culture was every bit as profound as the fur trade , European diseases and warfare. The French sponsored by the Catholic Church -ventured along the great white North’s lakes and rivers and the lure for commerce and profit was linked to the saving of souls. The Jesuits Christianize the Huron tribe who would soon disappear as a distinct political and cultural entity, with a type of cultural metamorphosis taking place. But the powerful Iroquois Confederacy then begin to muscle in on the Huron Fur Trade monopoly and the grisly guerrilla style Beaver Pelt Wars began.

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Jack “The Agnostic” Garcia who is often referred to as the “Heavy Metal Joseph Campbell”  continues to play storyteller reciting three obscure adult Fairy Tales from the vast collection of Wilhelm and Jacob Grimm. In the first story The Girl With No Hands – a variation of the Faust legend that originated during the early Roman/Christian era and then spread into the folklore of the Germanic and Norse peoples. An impoverished Miller must chop off the hands of his beautiful and pious daughter in order to avoid being taken down into Hell and that is just the beginning of the story. In the second tale – The Three Snake Leaves – a young hero encounters war, love, death, resurrection and betrayal in a Fairy Tale that is so ancient that scholars cannot agree about the stories time and place of origin. Last but not least , Jack recites a Momento Mori story from Medieval Spain called – Godfather Death- a tale that traveled with the Spanish Conquistadors into Mexico and slowly spread across Latin America. As the Reaper of souls becomes The Godfather to the 13th male child of an impoverished Farmer and transforms the young man into a great healer but at a very high cost indeed.

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