The Word on Fire Show - Catholic Faith and Culture

NOTE: Due to enormous demand, the leather edition of The Word on Fire Bible: The Gospels ($59) and the Evangelization Pack (1 Leather + 4 Paperbacks for $99) are both out of stock. Both should be available to order again in September when the second printing is complete. Today marks the launch of the long-anticipated Word on Fire Bible! Learn more about this project, which has been four years in the making. Discover what makes The Word on Fire Bible unique, how we chose the translation, and why its captivating beauty and insights can lure even nonbelievers to pick up the Scriptures. A listener asks why Jesus waited until age thirty to begin his public ministry. NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!

If you aren't familiar with the sweeping story of salvation, the "theo-drama," you won't fully grasp any particular part of the story. Today, Bishop Barron unveils the five acts of the biblical drama: Creation, the Fall, the formation of Israel, Jesus Christ, and the Church. A listener asks for some recommended biographies on the life of St. Thomas Aquinas. NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!

Kids ask the best questions, and today Bishop Barron responds to many from around the world: Why did Jesus die on the cross rather than some other death? Why did God make other planets that people can't live on? Where does God sleep? Will you have friendships in Heaven and will they be the same as friendships on Earth If God can do anything, can he make a mistake? Is an angel a spirit or soul? Also, could there be two Supreme Beings? Why did God allow the Devil to exist? What is the point of people? Why did God decide to create us? Links The Sacraments film series NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!

An article by the Protestant pastor Timothy Keller offers "6 Principles for How to Argue When You Disagree." Bishop Barron and Brandon walk through the article and discuss how we can have better conversations with people who hold very different views than us. A listener asks if, as a priest, Bishop Barron ever gets bored at prayer. NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!

One day in 1961, the famous physicist Richard Feynman stepped in front of a Caltech lecture hall and posed this question to a group of undergraduate students: "If, in some cataclysm, all of scientific knowledge were to be destroyed, and only one sentence was passed on to the next generation of creatures, what statement would contain the most information in the fewest words?" In today's episode we apply that same thought experiment to some of the greatest thinkers and saints from our tradition. What one sentence would encapsulate their thought? We look at Moses, Jesus, Paul, Augustine, Aquinas, Merton, and even Bishop Barron's own "cataclysm sentence"! A listener asks whether God made a mistake in creating humans. Links Watch "Sacraments" film Radio Lab episode – "The Cataclysm Sentence" NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!

A recent New York Times story claimed to reveal "Why the Big Bang Produced Something Rather Than Nothing." Bishop Barron and Brandon Vogt discuss the article and whether science is capable of answering this classic philosophical question. A listener asks about the fear of God, and whether it's appropriate since God is all loving. Links "Why the Big Bang Produced Something Rather Than Nothing" (New York Times) Word on Fire Bible NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!

What are the basics we should know about the Holy Spirit? Who is he? And why is the Holy Spirit even necessary? Why not just God the Father and God the Son? In today's episode Bishop Barron reflects on the Holy Spirit and explains how to grow closer to him and receive all his gifts. A listener asks, what type of items would belong in a home devotional corner? Links Saint Catherine of Siena by Fr. Paul Murray, OP NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!

In a recent article for The Atlantic, David Brooks claims "The Nuclear Family Was a Mistake." He contends that the model of a married couple with 2.5 kids was an anomaly in the 1950s and 1960s, and that this nuclear family model is no longer working for many Americans, especially those who are less privileged. To address this family crisis, Brooks argues we need to break out of the nuclear-family-is-best mindset and "thicken and broaden" family relationships by incorporating extended families and "families of choice" (e.g., friends, co-religionists, and other voluntary groups living together) as better ways to raise children. Bishop Barron offers his thoughts on the article and how they compare with Catholic social teaching on the family. A listener asks how to define beauty prove that it's objective? NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!

Jesus has naturally been a key person of interest for Western thought, but over the last few hundred years, there have been some major shifts in what scholars describe as the "quest for the historical Jesus." Bishop Barron provides an overview of these developments and the problematic attempt to separate the "Jesus of history" from the "Christ of Faith." A listener asks what Bishop Barron would say about Jesus walking on water. Links The New Testament in Its World: An Introduction to the History, Literature, and Theology of the First Christians by N.T. Wright Jesus of Nazareth: From the Baptism in the Jordan to the Transfiguration by Pope Benedict XVI Jesus of Nazareth: Holy Week by Pope Benedict XVI Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives by Pope Benedict XVI NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!

Alleluia! We've just entered into the joyous season of Easter, where we celebrate the Lord's Resurrection, but what does it mean to say that Jesus is risen from the dead? That's what Bishop Barron answers in today's episode. NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!

On this Good Friday, we share Bishop Barron's "Tre Ore" reflections, which Cardinal Dolan invited him to deliver in 2012 at St. Patrick's Cathedral (New York, NY). The "Tre Ore," or Three Hours' Agony, is a liturgical service held on Good Friday from noon until three o'clock to commemorate the Passion of Christ, and includes a series of homilies on the seven last words spoken by Christ. Bishop's seven reflections last around 90 minutes, so we encourage you to listen to them sometime today. 1:24 - Introduction 5:31 - First Word ("Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.") 18:11 - Second Word ("Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.") 34:08 - Third Word ("Woman, behold your son... Behold your mother.") 46:36 - Fourth Word ("My God, my God, why have your forsaken me?") 1:02:49 - Fifth Word ("I thirst.") 1:12:43 - Sixth Word ("Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.") 1:20:44 - Seventh Word ("It is finished.") 1:28:10 - Conclusion NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!

As Holy Week begins, listen to Bishop Barron's reflections on the 14 Stations of the Cross. Stream it all at once, or throughout the week, as we approach the memorial of Christ's Passion. NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!

Bishop Barron answers questions from non-Catholics around the world, including: If we are beloved children of God, how could he banish anyone to an eternity of Hell? Why do priests have to be celibate? What's the difference between the Jewish Bible, Catholic Bible, and the Koran? How do we read similarities between the Virgin birth and similar stories found in other myths/religions? Why do Catholics need to confess their sins to a priest, and not directly to God? Why is the Church so obsessed with sexual issues but not other sins, such as gluttony? NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!

Friends, the coronavirus outbreak has left countless people all over the world asking themselves: Why is God allowing this to happen? How do we respond? And where can we find hope? In this bonus episode of "The Word on Fire Show," we discuss these and other questions, exploring the ancient problem of evil, the impact of the virus on Catholic sacramental life, and other spiritual dimensions and effects of this crisis. Please listen and share!

In last week's episode, we shared the first half of Bishop Barron's talk on "The Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist." It focused on the Biblical and patristic basis for the doctrine. This week, we hear the second half of his talk which looks at the Eucharistic theology of Thomas Aquinas, the Council of Trent, and a letter on the Eucharist from Pope Paul VI. Enjoy! NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!

As a result of the coronavirus outbreak, Catholic dioceses throughout the United States have now suspended public Masses. We know this is heartbreaking. The Catechism affirms that "the Sunday celebration of the Lord's Day and his Eucharist is at the heart of the Church's life"—making this a particularly difficult day in an already difficult time. For this reason, we would like to invite you to join Bishop Barron online for Mass each day at 8:15am ET from his chapel in Santa Barbara: https://wordonfireshow.com/mass Whether you live alone or with family, you will still be gathering with Catholics around the world to worship God, keep his day holy, and receive the grace of an act of spiritual communion (a prayer for this will be provided on screen). We will continue to offer these daily online Masses for the foreseeable future, so please join us each day, or as often as you can. And please continue to pray for all those impacted by the coronavirus. God bless you all!

The fathers of the Second Vatican Council referred to the Eucharist as the source and summit of the Christian life, that from which authentic Christianity flows and that toward which it tends. Yet a recent Pew Forum study found that only 30% of church-going Catholics believe what the Church teaches about the Eucharist, that under the forms of bread and wine, Christ is really present in the sacrament. That alarming statistic is why Bishop Barron devoted an hour-long keynote address to the topic at the 2020 Los Angeles Religious Education Congress. Today we share the first half of his talk, which looks at the Biblical and patristic basis for the doctrine of the Real Presence, and next week we'll share the second half. Enjoy! NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!

Gnosticism was one of the earliest heresies of the Church, and it remains among the most enduring. With an emphasis on special knowledge acquired only by a small group of enlightened elites, as well as a sharp division between spirit and matter, with spiritual things being good and material things being evil, Gnosticism still thrives today everywhere from crack conspiracy theories to Hollywood movies to our culture of self-invention. Bishop Barron discusses Gnosticism and why it ultimately fails to satisfy. A listener asks Bishop to help her understand the resurrection of the body. NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!

Just recently, Catholics were devastated to learn of another case of sexual abuse, this time involving Jean Vanier, the esteemed founder of L'Arche and a man once considered to be a living saint. Vanier, who passed away last year, was accused of sexually assaulting six women in France, using his religious position to abuse and manipulate them. How do we make sense of all this? How can a man who produced enormous good fruit fail so abysmally? And how should Catholics respond to this sort of abuse, and prevent it from happening again? Bishop Barron offers advice on all these questions and more. A listener asks how energetic young people, passionate about apologetics and evangelization, can take their study to the next level. Links Word on Fire Institute Centered: The Spirituality of Word on Fire NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!

With the beginning of Lent right around the corner, Bishop Barron talks about this ancient period of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving in preparation for Easter, and offer several recommendations on how to have a more spiritually powerful Lent. A listener asks: If God made us in his image, and the family is composed of a husband, wife and children, then is there a motherly dimension in God? NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today! Links Free Daily Lent Reflections from Bishop Barron ENGAGE program, free for Lent

Stoicism is experiencing a cultural moment, especially among Millennial techies. What is this ancient school of philosophy? Why is it experiencing a revival? And how does it compare to Christianity? Bishop Barron discusses all that and more in today's episode of the "Word on Fire Show." A listener asks if the word "holy" means set apart for a particular purpose, what exactly does it mean when we say God himself is holy? Links/Books The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday Ego is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday The Porch and the Cross by Dr. Kevin Vost NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!

How did Bishop Barron get drawn into the life of the mind? What are his reading and writing habits like? In this episode, he discusses the intellectual life and gives advice to aspiring intellectuals. A listener asks which literature books Bishop would recommend for a Catholic high school English class. NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!

In today's episode, Bishop Barron fields questions from people all over the world, including: How do I evangelize in remote areas where people are simple, and can't even read the Bible, without dumbing down the message? What's the Catholic response to worry and anxiety? Was Purgatory divinely revealed or just a human invention? How to evangelize young people about hot-button issues without sounding preachy and condemnatory? When praying, should we always go to God with requests or can we sometimes just praise him? How can God be outside the universe but still have an effect on it? Can you talk about Rabbi Wolpe's argument against the Trinity, that if God is perfect, how could there be three persons in the Trinity? NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!

The hit movie 1917 vividly depicts the horrors of World War I, including its great spiritual peril. In this episode, Bishop Barron reflects on the Great War, discussing its impact on twentieth-century theology and philosophy, the Pope, and the Catholic Church's relationship to the world. A listener asks why Jesus chose to live a quiet, mostly obscure life. NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!

Today, we share a sample lesson from a course inside our Word on Fire Institute on "Reaching the Different." The course is taught by Dr. Matt Nelson and teaches how to evangelize friends and family who are apathetic about God and don't care about religion. To get the rest of the course, along with 10 other full courses and all sorts of bonuses, join the Institute at https://wordonfire.institute.

In this third and final part of our series on the Church Fathers (listen to Part 1 and Part 2), Bishop Barron examines four influential Fathers from the post-Nicene period: John Chrysostom (349 – 407) Jerome (347 – 420) Augustine (354 – 430) Gregory the Great (540 – 604) A listener asks whether to pray for people who are sick or simply accept pain and suffering as part of God's plan. Links + Book Recommendations Websites ChurchFathers.org Church Father writings online (New Advent) Church Father books mentioned Clement (35 – 99) Letter to the Corinthians Ignatius (35 – 108) Epistles of Ignatius Polycarp (69 – 155) The Martyrdom of Polycarp Justin Martyr (100 – 165) First and Second Apologies Irenaeus (130 – 202) Adversus Haereses (Against the Heresies) Origen (184 – 253) De Principiis (On First Principles) Biblical Commentaries Athanasius (292 – 373) On the Incarnation of the Word Gregory of Nyssa (335 – 395) Life of Moses John Chrysostom (349 – 407) On Wealth and Poverty On Marriage and Family Life Jerome (347 – 420) Letters Augustine (354 – 430) Confessions (Word on Fire Classics edition) De Civitate Dei (The City of God) De Trinitate (On the Trinity) Gregory the Great (540 – 604) Pastoral Rule Church Father collections Early Christian Writings: The Apostolic Fathers Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture Series Faith of the Early Fathers: Three-Volume Set by William Jurgens Church Father commentaries/introductions The Fathers of the Church by Mike Aquilina The Fathers (Volume 1) by Pope Benedict XVI The Fathers (Volume 2) by Pope Benedict XVI The Fathers Know Best: Your Essential Guide to the Teachings of the Early Church by Jimmy Akin Four Witnesses: The Early Church in Her Own Words by Rod Bennett When the Church Was Young by Marcellino D'Ambrosio NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!

In this second part of our series on the Church Fathers (listen to Part 1), Bishop Barron takes a look at some important Church Fathers from the pre-Nicene and Nicene periods, including: Justin Martyr (100 – 165) Irenaeus (130 – 202) Origen (184 – 253) Athanasius (292 – 373) Gregory of Nyssa (335 – 395) A listener asks how we can understand Purgatory and Heaven in relation to time. Links + Book Recommendations Websites ChurchFathers.org Church Father writings online (New Advent) Church Father books mentioned Clement (35 – 99) Letter to the Corinthians Ignatius (35 – 108) Epistles of Ignatius Polycarp (69 – 155) The Martyrdom of Polycarp Justin Martyr (100 – 165) First and Second Apologies Irenaeus (130 – 202) Adversus Haereses (Against the Heresies) Origen (184 – 253) De Principiis (On First Principles) Biblical Commentaries Athanasius (292 – 373) On the Incarnation of the Word Gregory of Nyssa (335 – 395) Life of Moses John Chrysostom (349 – 407) On Wealth and Poverty On Marriage and Family Life Jerome (347 – 420) Letters Augustine (354 – 430) Confessions (Word on Fire Classics edition) De Civitate Dei (The City of God) De Trinitate (On the Trinity) Gregory the Great (540 – 604) Pastoral Rule Church Father collections Early Christian Writings: The Apostolic Fathers Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture Series Faith of the Early Fathers: Three-Volume Set by William Jurgens Church Father commentaries/introductions The Fathers of the Church by Mike Aquilina The Fathers (Volume 1) by Pope Benedict XVI The Fathers (Volume 2) by Pope Benedict XVI The Fathers Know Best: Your Essential Guide to the Teachings of the Early Church by Jimmy Akin Four Witnesses: The Early Church in Her Own Words by Rod Bennett When the Church Was Young by Marcellino D'Ambrosio NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!

With the new year coming up, many of us will make resolutions. Some of us will pledge to exercise more, lose weight, or pick up new habits. But what spiritual resolutions should we make for 2020? In this short episode, Bishop Barron offers three suggestions. NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!

How many Christmas cards and nativity scenes have you seen presenting the baby Jesus as soft and saccharine? Well, that's not how the Bible describes him. There, Jesus is presented as a warrior king, who came with a heavenly army to battle against the dark powers of the world. In this episode, excerpted from Bishop Barron's CATHOLICISM film series, discover the real meaning of Christmas, and the extraordinary infant king at its center. Click here to watch the video version of this episode! NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!

Who were the Church Fathers, and why do they still matter today? Bishop Barron introduces these spiritual masters and shares their key contributions. In the first episode of our three-part series, he also discusses the three main Apostolic Fathers: Clement (35 – 99) Ignatius (35 – 108) Polycarp (69 – 155) A listener asks about the difference between faith and hope. Links + Book Recommendations Websites ChurchFathers.org Church Father writings online (New Advent) Church Father books mentioned Clement (35 – 99) Letter to the Corinthians Ignatius (35 – 108) Epistles of Ignatius Polycarp (69 – 155) The Martyrdom of Polycarp Justin Martyr (100 – 165) First and Second Apologies Irenaeus (130 – 202) Adversus Haereses (Against the Heresies) Origen (184 – 253) De Principiis (On First Principles) Biblical Commentaries Athanasius (292 – 373) On the Incarnation of the Word Gregory of Nyssa (335 – 395) Life of Moses John Chrysostom (349 – 407) On Wealth and Poverty On Marriage and Family Life Jerome (347 – 420) Letters Augustine (354 – 430) Confessions (Word on Fire Classics edition) De Civitate Dei (The City of God) De Trinitate (On the Trinity) Gregory the Great (540 – 604) Pastoral Rule Church Father collections Early Christian Writings: The Apostolic Fathers Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture Series Faith of the Early Fathers: Three-Volume Set by William Jurgens Church Father commentaries/introductions The Fathers of the Church by Mike Aquilina The Fathers (Volume 1) by Pope Benedict XVI The Fathers (Volume 2) by Pope Benedict XVI The Fathers Know Best: Your Essential Guide to the Teachings of the Early Church by Jimmy Akin Four Witnesses: The Early Church in Her Own Words by Rod Bennett When the Church Was Young by Marcellino D'Ambrosio NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!

At the recent USCCB meeting, Bishop Barron gave a presentation to all the American bishops in which he offered five ways to draw young people back to God. Today, we discuss each way. A listener asks which books Bishop Barron would recommend to counter his biology teacher who tells him to read Bertrand Russell and Christopher Hitchens. Links + Book Recommendations Bishop Barron's USCCB presentation on "Reaching Out to the Religiously Unaffiliated" (YouTube) William Lane Craig vs. Christopher Hitchens debate (YouTube) StrangeNotions.com "20 Arguments for God's Existence" by Peter Kreeft The Last Superstition: A Refutation of the New Atheism by Edward Feser Aquinas: A Beginner's Guide by Edward Feser On Guard: Defending Your Faith with Reason and Precision by William Lane Craig Answering Atheism: How to Make the Case for God with Logic and Charity by Trent Horn NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!

Should theology be a core subject studied in universities? John Henry Newman certainly thought so. Today, we share a sample lesson from Bishop Barron's Word on Fire Institute course on Newman, titled "The Queen of the Sciences." It focuses on Newman's book, Idea of a University, and his comments on the role of religion in the circle of university disciplines. Join the Word on Fire Institute today and get access to all 12 lessons in Bishop Barron's course on Newman. NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!

The first words out of Jesus' mouth—and the central theme of his preaching—concerned the Kingdom of God. As we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King, Bishop Barron explores three dimensions of his unique kingship. A listener asks if God is love, and love is an act of the will, is God reducible to will? NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!

This week, Bishop Barron answers questions from listeners all over the world. These include: If animals have distinct personalities, then why does the Church teach they don't have souls? What is being conveyed by identifying Jesus as the New Adam and Mary as the New Eve? Do you believe we have a predestined "purpose"? What can we say about the love of God to someone who has lost an infant to disease, or a parent to suicide? If evil is a privation of good (non-being), how can demons be pure non-being? Why do some people say, after they die, they wish to see God "face to face"? What does this mean? Does the Incarnation bring about the fulfillment of nature, or is Jesus' divinity something supernaturally added to an already-complete human nature? If you have a question, be sure to send it in via AskBishopBarron.com. NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!

What did St. Ignatius mean when he counseled followers to "discern the spirits"? How do we do this? Bishop Barron unpacks the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius and offers practical tips on how to discern God's will in your life. A listener asks how to discern whether God is calling him to marriage or the priesthood. NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!

oday we discuss the second half of Joe Rogan's interview with atheist Richard Dawkins about Dawkins' new book, Outgrowing God: A Beginner's Guide. (If you missed the first half, check out last week's episode!) A listener asks whether Bishop Barron has considered making Word on Fire into a religious order. Links Joe Rogan interviews Richard Dawkins (full video) Outgrowing God: A Beginner's Guide by Richard Dawkins Five Proofs for the Existence of God by Edward Feser Word on Fire Institute NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!

Joe Rogan, host of the one of the world's most popular podcasts, recently interviewed Richard Dawkins about Dawkins' new book, Outgrowing God: A Beginner's Guide. It's a follow-up book to Dawkins' bestselling The God Delusion, although this one is aimed at younger readers. The Rogan/Dawkins interview went immediately viral, drawing over a million views within 48 hours. Today, Bishop Barron and Brandon Vogt talk through the first half of the interview, responding to arguments raised against God and religion. (Check back next week for our discussion of the second half!) A listener asks whether Bishop Barron has considered making Word on Fire into a religious order. Links Joe Rogan interviews Richard Dawkins (full video) Outgrowing God: A Beginner's Guide by Richard Dawkins "Debunking the One God Further Objection" (Strange Notions) Word on Fire Institute NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!

Surveys show 61% of people sleep with their phones and 75% grab their phones as soon as they wake up. We're addicted to our smartphones. In this episode, Bishop Barron reflects on this problem (including his own smartphone use), offering guidance from some of the greatest saints and spiritual masters in the Catholic tradition. A listener asks whether saints feel emotions in heaven, such as feeling sad when friends or family on earth struggle with sin. NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!

Last month, Bishop Barron visited Reddit for another #AMA (ask me anything). Over 15,000 comments poured in from young skeptics around the world, making it the third most-commented on #AMA of the year, and the ninth most popular in Reddit history. Today, Bishop Barron reflects on the experience and four main patterns of questions he noticed. A listener asks for a concrete example of mercy mocking justice. NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!

How do we make sense of all the names, groups, and movements surrounding the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965)? What are the key things to know, and how have they shaped today's Catholic Church? Bishop Barron explains. A listener asks why secular philosophy departments tend to discount Scholasticism in favor of modern philosophy. NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!

A recent article in The Atlantic claimed "A Famous Argument Against Free Will Has Been Debunked". It focused on a famous experiment during the 1980s that seems to show our brain "decides" on our behavior before we actually make particular choices. Many believed this confirmed we don't have free will, that all our thoughts and behaviors are determined. But is this the case? Is free will just an illusion? Bishop Barron explains some of the classic arguments for free will and its relationship to God and Christianity. A listener asks why in Catholicism pride is a deadly sin, but Aristotle describes it as a virtue. NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!

This week, we share the second half of a talk from Bishop Barron on John Henry Newman's book, The Grammar of Assent. We shared the first half last week, so be sure to listen to that first. The Grammar of Assent concerns question about how we come to believe in God, and is widely considered Newman's most important text. Also, it's a timely topic, since John Henry Newman will be canonized in just a couple weeks, on October 13. Bishop Barron will be attending the canonization, then a few days later will deliver a talk at Oxford University on "John Henry Newman and the New Evangelization." That talk, which we're planning to livestream, will focus primarily on The Grammar of Assent. NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!

This week, we share the first half of a talk from Bishop Barron on John Henry Newman's book, The Grammar of Assent. The book concerns the question of belief–how we come to believe in God–and is widely considered his most important text. Also, it's a timely topic, since John Henry Newman will be canonized in just a couple weeks, on October 13. Bishop Barron will be attending the canonization, then a few days later will deliver a talk at Oxford University on "John Henry Newman and the New Evangelization." That talk, which we're planning to livestream, will focus primarily on The Grammar of Assent. So enjoy the first half of this talk, and we'll share the second half next week. NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!

Bishop Barron takes questions from kids, including: Why did Jesus pick Judas to be one of his disciples when he knew Judas would betray him? Does Heaven have night time? How is St. Michael an angel and a saint? How does a family with young kids perform the corporal/spiritual works of mercy? NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!

The annual United Nations World Happiness Report, which measures the happiness of different countries, is always dominated by Scandinavian nations. Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, and Finland have always been in the top ten. But what's striking is that these happiest countries are also those which rank among the least religious. On the flip side, most African countries, which tend to be the very religious, consistently land near the bottom of the U.N. Happiness Report. What does Bishop Barron make of this? How should we actually define happiness, and what have the great thinkers and saints throughout time said about finding happiness? That's what we discuss in today's episode. A listener asks how we reconcile all the violence/competition seen in nature with the Creator God of peace. NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!

Today, Bishop Barron answers questions from all over the world about God, the Church, and the culture. Will it be possible to upload one's consciousness to a computer and attain immortality? Why was Christianity started in the West? If humans are born with original sin, then why does the Bible encourage us to have children and increase the amount of sin in the world? Listen for Bishop Barron's answers! NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!

A recent Pew Research Center study revealed that "just one-third of U.S. Catholics agree with their church that Eucharist is body, blood of Christ." What's the cause of this? And moving forward, how do we fix the problem? Bishop Barron discusses in today's episode. (Explore a collection of my resources on the Eucharist here: https://www.wordonfire.org/presence) A listener asks if the Eucharist gives us life, why do we reserve it only for Catholics? NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!

Today, we discuss a recent article in Teen Vogue titled "Who is Karl Marx?" which shows how many teens and teachers have begun dabbling in Marxism. There have been a slew of other articles noting the rise of Millennials supporting socialism. Having done his masters work in philosophy on Karl Marx, Bishop Barron introduces us to this influential thinker and his main ideas, noting the problems the Catholic Church has with them. A listener asks why the Apostle's Creed says Jesus "descended into Hell." NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!

Today, we use Google's autocomplete feature to have Bishop Barron respond to some of the top questions people search for beginning with the phrase "Does God...". Does God love everyone? Does God change his mind? Does God have a name? Listen and find out! A listener asks what evidence we have for the existence of Jesus. NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!

Bishop Barron is traveling overseas to film the last two episodes of his Pivotal Players series. So in this episode, we share a clip from one of his classic study programs, "Seven Deadly Sins, Seven Lively Virtues". The clip focuses on the sin of pride and the corresponding virtue of humility. Get access to the full study program (and all of Bishop Barron's films) when you join the Word on Fire Institute at wordonfire.institute. NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!