The Word on Fire Show - Catholic Faith and Culture

Friends, today we share a sample lesson from Bishop Barron's new Word on Fire Institute course titled “Reading Scripture with the Early Church Fathers.” In this course, Bishop Barron introduces the spiritual dynamics of Biblical exegesis in Origen and St. Augustine of Hippo. The Church Fathers did not separate Scripture and spirituality but saw the form of the spiritual life within the Scripture. As the key of the Scriptures, Christ is the key to the spiritual life. This course delves into the riches of how the Church reads Scripture, greatly inspired by the writings of Origen and St. Augustine. Get the rest of the lessons by joining the Word on Fire Institute at https://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!

Friends, today we discuss an interesting new book titled​​ Strange Rites: New Religions for a Godless World by Tara Isabella Burton. Burton argues that while younger generations are supposedly the most secular according to surveys, they’re actually notably religious—it’s just that they have adopted strange new religions. She claims today's Americans are embracing a kaleidoscopic panoply of spiritual traditions, rituals, and subcultures, from astrology and witchcraft to SoulCycle and the alt-right. In search of the deep and the real, they are finding meaning, purpose, ritual, and communities in ever-newer, ever-stranger ways. A listener asks, if religious faith is based on our response to the revealing God, how do we reconcile this with the plurality of religions? 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 Word on Fire Bible, Volume II (Acts, Letters, and Revelation)

Friends, today we share a sample lesson from a new Word on Fire Institute course titled “Evangelizing the Open-Minded.” In this course, Dr. Matthew Nelson explains how to engage people who are confident in their nonbelief but willing to seriously consider reasons for believing in Christianity. Get the rest of the lessons by joining the Word on Fire Institute at https://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!

Brandon Vogt, author and co-host of the Podcast, joins for a discussion on the recently released Word on Fire Bible, Volume II. They talk about the positive reception, the importance of returning to the sources, the significance of reading the rest of the New Testament, and reasons to pick up Volume II. Discover insights into the Bible's beautiful presentation, inclusive commentaries, and use as an evangelical tool.

Dive into the intriguing life of Dante Alighieri, whose epic poem, The Divine Comedy, explores profound themes of the afterlife. Discover how Dante's early influences, including his love for Beatrice, shaped his artistry. Learn about the emotional ties that fueled his journey through exile and how it inspired his iconic work. Uncover the intricate structure of the poem, reflecting the theological intricacies of its time, and its unique rhythm that captivates readers even today.

What makes life meaningful? What is meaning, and where do we find it? Those are the pressing questions Brandon Vogt and I discuss today on “The Word on Fire Show.” We also recap my conversation with Jordan Peterson, Jonathan Pageau, and John Vervaeke, and highlight two recent surveys dealing with the question of meaning. A listener asks whether it's really true that nobody pursues evil for its own sake. Links Evangelization and Culture Journal - new issue on “Freedom” “The 4 Horsemen of Meaning” (YouTube) - Bishop Barron, Jordan Peterson, Jonathan Pageau, and John Vervaeke Lifeway Research Poll - “Americans’ Views of Life’s Meaning and Purpose Are Changing” Pew Research Center Poll - “What Makes Life Meaningful? Views From 17 Advanced Economies” 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 from our new Word on Fire Institute course titled "Faith, Science, and Sin" taught by Dr. Christopher Baglow. Dr. Baglow considers the mysteries of the Catholic faith in dialogue with scientific discoveries, allowing us to avoid the shallowness that John Paul II says debases the Gospel and leaves us ashamed before history. This course introduces us to some of the richest insights of the Catholic intellectual tradition. We confront the problem of evil amidst God’s good creation and consider these fundamental questions: What makes being human so special? How might modern science become a stepping-stone rather than a stumbling block to understanding what we believe? Links Join the 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!

Friends, today we continue our "Word on Fire Show" series on how to understand Genesis by focusing on Jacob, the son of Isaac and a patriarch of the ancient Jews. How should we understand his early struggle with Esau, the famous "Jacob's ladder," and his mysterious wrestling match and name change? That's what we discuss today. A listener asks, why is it that we just got this information from God, from the Bible, only 2,000 years ago? What happened to all those people who lived before the Bible? Links 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!

During the past five decades, the Second Vatican Council has been alternately celebrated or maligned for its supposed break with tradition and embrace of the modern world. But what if we’ve gotten it all wrong? Have Catholics—both those who embrace the spirit of Vatican II and those who regard it with suspicion—misunderstood what the council was really about? Fr. Blake Britton discovered the truth and beauty of the council while he was in seminary and he has witnessed firsthand the power of its teachings in the life of his own parish. In  his new book, Reclaiming Vatican II: What It (Really) Said, What It Means, and How It Calls Us to Renew the Church, Britton presses beyond the political narrative foisted upon the post-conciliar Church and contends that Vatican II was neither conservative nor liberal, but something much more beautiful and challenging. Today, Word on Fire Institute Fellow Robert Mixa sits down with Fr. Britton to discuss how Catholics can reclaim the teaching of Vatican II and embrace it as one of our greatest resources for being in the Church in a way that is faithful, engaged, and effective if we answer its radical call to worship and renewal. Links Reclaiming Vatican II book - https://wordonfire.org/reclaim   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 several questions from non-Catholics, including: How does the Catholic Church think about sola Scriptura and Bible interpretation? Since we can’t know beyond a reasonable doubt that Christianity is true, why should I become a Christian? Any tips for a Protestant transitioning to Catholicism? Why are some sins considered mortal? Is there a realistic possibility of reuniting the Christian churches, and if not, what are the major stumbling blocks? What is the role of saints? Why aren't they considered to be idols? What is the Catholic view of the apocrypha (deuterocanonical books)? What about apparent contradictions in the Bible? Does this undermine the Bible’s inerrancy? 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!