The Word on Fire Show - Catholic Faith and Culture

As the Word on Fire Institute launches a new course by Dr. Christopher Kaczor on “Myths of the Catholic Church,” Bishop Barron and host Jared Zimmerer talk about seven of the most common misunderstandings people have about Catholicism. A listener asks how Catholics should view the advancement of AI technology. 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 his recent interview with Ben Shapiro, Bishop Barron said that he wants to “re-Judaize Catholicism,” to read Christ, the Bible, and the Christian Faith through the lens of Israel. How do we do this? That’s what he and host Jared Zimmerer discuss in today’s episode. A listener asks why the East and West churches split, and why they haven’t been reunited. 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!

Non-Catholic listeners send in their questions for Bishop Barron. Questions include: As a Christian, do you ever think, "What if God doesn't exist"? How are Adam and Eve guilty of disobedience if they had no knowledge of good/evil until after they ate of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil? Why did the disciples betray Jesus despite seeing miracles? Why is God almost exclusively referred to as a masculine entity in the Catholic Church? How do I understand Mary's important in the Catholic Faith? Is it essential? How can we trust the Bible, when evidence shows the Old Testament isn't true? Did John Henry Newman have any disagreements with the Catholic Church before his conversion? 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!

Several recent bestselling books have focused on the Enlightenment, including Stephen Pinker's Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress. But what was the Enlightenment, and how should we view its effects? Bishop Barron offers his take today. A listener asks how Christians determine which parts of the Mosaic law in the Old Testament are still in effect today. 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 great novelist, J.R.R. Tolkien, has enchanted generations of readers with his Hobbitand Lord of the Rings, and is the subject of a new feature film, titled Tolkien. But in today’s episode, Bishop Barron talks about Tolkien’s Catholic faith, which was mostly absent in the new film, but critical to his upbringing and his stories of Middle-earth. A listener asks what he should if he’s unable to find a spiritual director. 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! Articles Mentioned I was an Atheist Until I Read “The Lord of the Rings” Gimli, Galadriel, and Guadalupe: An image of Our Lady in the Lady of Lothlorien Where the Rosary Appears in “The Lord of the Rings” Tolkien’s Catholic Genius Books Mentioned The Battle for Middle-earth: Tolkien’s Divine Design in The Lord of the Rings by Fleming Rutledge Tolkien: Man and Myth by Joseph Pearce Bilbo’s Journey: Discovering the Hidden Meaning of The Hobbit by Joseph Pearce Frodo’s Journey: Discover the Hidden Meaning of The Lord of the Rings by Joseph Pearce

A recent bill proposed in the California Senate will force priests to report any crimes of sexual abuse they hear about in the confessional, breaking the seal of Confession. Bishop Barron speaks about the sacredness of this sacrament and what the Church should do if, suddenly, the sacrament of Confession becomes functionally illegal. 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 Bishop Barron's new book, titled Letter to a Suffering Church: A Bishop Speaks on the Sexual Abuse Crisis. In light of this current crisis, many Catholics are understandably asking, “Why should I stay? Why not abandon this sinking ship before it drags me or my children under?" This book explains why this is not the time to leave, but the time to stay and fight. Reading the current crisis through the lenses of Scripture and Church history, Bishop Barron shows that we have faced such egregious scandals before; that the spiritual treasures of the Church were preserved by holy men and women who recommitted themselves to fighting evil; and that there is a clear path forward for us today. Thanks to generous donors, you can claim a free copy of the print book (you just cover shipping handling) and place bulk orders of 20+ copies for just $1 per copy (with free shipping.) Get your copies here >> https://wordonfireshow.com/letter And encourage your pastor and staff to order copies for your whole parish! 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, we share the second half of a talk Bishop Barron gave on John Henry Newman's famous book, An Essay on the Development of Doctrine. If you missed the first, click here to listen to Part 1. Also, be sure to pick up your Word on Fire Classics edition of Newman's Development of Doctrine, which includes a Foreword by Bishop Barron! 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 March 2019, Bishop Barron was interviewed by Dr. Jordan Peterson for the Jordan B. Peterson Podcast. To say the discussion was highly anticipated is an understatement. Fans of both Dr. Peterson and Bishop Barron have asked for these two great minds to meet, and their wide-ranging, nearly two-hour discussion is worth the wait. Although the interview hasn't been made public yet on Jordan Peterson's channels, in this episode we discuss some of the most interesting parts of the interview. (Sign up here to be notified when the interview goes live >> https://wordonfire.org/peterson) A listener asks about the term logos and what it means. 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!

Recently, The New York Times featured an op-ed by philosophy professor Peter Atteton, who tried to show that the idea of God is incoherent. Bishop Barron responds to Atteton's points and shows how there are no logical problems with believing in God. A listener asks whether Catholic universities should begin offering an evangelization major or concentration. 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!