The Word on Fire Show - Catholic Faith and Culture

Today (September 18), Bishop Barron will be speaking to Facebook employees at their headquarters in Menlo Park, CA, on "How to Have a Religious Argument." (The talk will be livestreamed on Bishop Barron's Facebook page from 6:00pm-7:00pm ET.) Every day, millions of people argue about religion on social media. The comboxes of religious and atheist sites are among the most visited and the most heated in the virtual space. But what Bishop Robert Barron finds interesting is how few people really know how to have a good religious argument. There is a lot of energy, lots of sharp words, and lots of strong feelings expressed. But rarely do we come across productive, rational argument about religion. Bishop Barron paves a way forward, showing how we all, believer and nonbeliever alike, can share better religious discussions. SPECIAL: Pre-order the hardcover book today for just $19.95 (26% off) and free shipping. You'll also receive three bonus eBooks from Bishop Barron! Just click here to order. Topics Discussed 0:05 - Introduction about the talk 1:15 - Bill Maher as an example of how NOT to have a religious argument 2:40 - How is learning to trust a person an example of coming to faith?  6:30 - What is the number one block to having a good religious argument? 9:58 - What is voluntarism, and how does it block good religious argument? 16:15 - How does understanding your opponent's position helpful in having a religious argument? How is Thomas Aquinas an expert in this? 23:50 - What is the significance of Bishop Barron speaking at Facebook? 26:00 - Question from listener: How can the Catholic Church claim the fullness of truth when other religions claim the same?   Find bonus links and resources for this episode at http://WordOnFireShow.com and be sure to submit your questions at http://AskBishopBarron.

There seems to be a divide in the Catholic Church between so-called “pro-life” Catholic and so-called “social justice” Catholics. Where did this come from? How do we heal this split? That's what Bishop Barron discusses in this episode. A listener asks how to respond when a beggar asks for money on the street. Topics Discussed 0:05 - Intro: Ingrid Goes West and Facebook announcement 3:45 - How did the Pro-Life movement and the Social Justice movement become divided? 5:55 - How should the "both/and" quality of Catholicism address this great separation? 7:00 - What does "social justice" mean in the Catholic tradition? 9:15 - Should the Pro-Life and Social Justice movements be equally emphasized in the life of the Church? 13:20 - How do we heal the divide between these two groups of Catholics? 14:55 - How can the saints help provide a path forward? 17:00 - How does Pope Francis balance the priority of these two issues? 19:32 - Question from listener: How should Catholics react to beggars on the street? Bonus Resources  Study Program David the King Websites Bishop Barron's Facebook page Word On Fire DavidTheKing.com Find bonus links and resources for this episode at http://WordOnFireShow.com and be sure to submit your questions at http://AskBishopBarron.

Every now and then, articles and surveys pop up suggesting that religious people are, by whatever criteria, dumber than then general population—or at least dumber than atheists. Today Bishop Barron responds to this and the charge that religion has a “smart-people problem.” A listener asks about new ecclesial movements in the Church. Also, be sure to take advantage of our Word on Fire Show listener sale! ENTER PROMO CODE: DAVID to save $10 on our newest film at DavidTheKing.com Topics Discussed 0:05 - Intro and Catholic podcast recommendations 1:30 - Bishop Barron's initial reaction to the articles claiming that religion has a smart-people problem. 5:00 - What does it say about religion when studies show that most scientists are atheists? 8:30 - Is it worrisome that most professional philosophers are atheists? 12:00 - Does it matter that most religious philosophers are theists? 13:30 - How does the culture feel about religious people, are they considered childish and simple-minded? 17:50 - What does historical evidence tell us about the relationship between science and religion?  19:30 - Question from listener: What's your take on Communion and Liberation and other ecclesial movements in the Church? Bonus Resources  Study Program CATHOLICISM: The New Evangelization Leader's Kit David the King Articles "Religion’s Smart-People Problem: The Shaky Intellectual Foundations of Absolute Faith" (Salon) "A Scientist Looked Through 63 Studies to Conclude Atheists are More Intelligent than Religious People" (Indy 100) "Atheists More Intelligent Because They Can Override “Instinctive” Religious Beliefs—But It Will Be Their Downfall" (Newsweek) "Religion’s Smart-People Problem: The Shaky Intellectual Foundations of Absolute Faith" (Salon) Videos Bill Nye and Philosophy Atheism and Philosophy Scientism and God's Existence Websites Word On Fire DavidTheKing.com Find bonus links and resources for this episode at http://WordOnFireShow.com and be sure to submit your questions at http://AskBishopBarron.

What is beauty? Is beauty undefinable and entirely relativistic? Or is beauty an objective reality, backed by reason and understanding? How do Catholics define beauty, and how has Catholic Church evangelized through beauty over the centuries? In this episode of the Word On Fire Show, Bishop Barron answers these questions and more about the transcendental nature of beauty. The listener question comes from Argentina and wonders how art might be used in evangelization? Also, be sure to take advantage of our Word on Fire Show listener sale! ENTER PROMO CODE: DAVID to save $10 on our newest film at DavidTheKing.com Topics Discussed 0:05  - Intro, a Cardinal visits and the sun eclipses 4:00 - Why has Bishop Barron considered beauty the privileged route of evangelization? 8:25 - What is beauty? 10:55 - What three things combine to make something beautiful? 15:55 - Why do some people disagree about a masterpiece being beautiful? 19:20 - How can someone be transformed by beauty? 24:14 - What was a profound moment of beauty in Bishop Barron's life? 25:43 - Question from listener: How can the arts aid in evangelization? Bonus Resources  Study Program CATHOLICISM: The New Evangelization Leader's Kit David the King Articles "A Strategy for the New Evangelization" (Bishop Barron) "The New Evangelization and Seminaries" (Bishop Barron) "Effective Evangelization Commences with Joy" (Bishop Barron) "Practical Strategies of the New Evangelization" (Bishop Barron) Videos New Media and Evangelization Effective Evangelization Confirmation and Evangelization Evangelizing with the Heart of a Shepherd Theology and the New Media Books  The Priority of Christ: Toward a Postliberal Catholicism by Bishop Robert Barron Word on Fire: Proclaiming the Power of Christ by Bishop Robert Barron Seeds of the Word: Finding God in the Culture by Bishop Robert Barron Bridging the Great Divide by Bishop Robert Barron Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce Websites Word On Fire DavidTheKing.com Find bonus links and resources for this episode at http://WordOnFireShow.com and be sure to submit your questions at http://AskBishopBarron.

What really happens when we die? In a recent interview with Larry King, popular astro-physicist, Neil deGrasse Tyson, offers a scientifically reduced answer to this philosophically rich question. In this episode of the Word On Fire Show, Bishop Barron reacts to Tyson's response and offers a more holistic understanding of human identity and death. A listener asks how God can be both a person and the sheer act of "to be" itself. Love the show?  Want more people to listen? Take two seconds to leave us a review! Click HERE to leave your review now! Topics Discussed 0:04 - Intro: Bishop Barron speaks at a tech conference 1:30 - Explaining the interview and Tyson's explanation of physical death 5:20 - Are scientists seen as the new priests? 8:10 - What happens when you die besides the obvious scientific realities? 10:00 - Why do atheists still cling to moral values? 11:09 - Does culminating as meat for maggots offer a sense of eternal fulfillment? 12:30 - Tyson's explanation of our annihilation upon death. 14:55 - Is it a wish fulfilling fantasy to desire consciousness after death? 20:00 - Would anyone really want to live forever? 22:30 - What really happens when we die according to Christians? 25:25 - Question from listener: How can God be both a person and the sheer act of "to be" itself? Bonus Resources Articles "The Myth of the War Between Science and Religion" (Bishop Barron) "Does Religion Have a 'Smart-People' Problem?" (Bishop Barron) "The Theory of Everything: A God-Haunted Film" (Bishop Barron) "Cosmos and One More Telling of the Tired Myth" (Bishop Barron) Videos  Neil deGrasse Tyson's interview with Larry King Hey Bill Nye, 'Does Science Have All the Answers or Should We Do Philosophy Too?' Atheism and Philosophy Bishop Barron on The Theory of Everything Bishop Barron on Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey Has Science Refuted Aristotelian Causality? Scientism and God's Existence Stephen Hawking and Atheism Fr. George Coyne and the Fertile Cosmos Books The Soul's Upward Yearning by Fr. Robert Spitzer The Priority of Christ by Bishop Robert Barron Websites WordOnFire.org StrangeNotions.com Find bonus links and resources for this episode at http://WordOnFireShow.com and be sure to submit your questions at http://AskBishopBarron.

Normally, in each episode we take one listener question. But we've received such a large number of outstanding questions from around the globe that we’ve decided to devote another episode to answering a range of questions from listeners like you. Bishop Barron answers several questions, rapid fire, on many different topics. Topics Discussed 0:05  - Intro: Bishop Barron returns from his CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players film trip 2:00 - Should we feel guilty for not giving away all of our possessions and serving the poorest of the poor? 5:10 - If there are aliens, did Jesus appear to them as well? 7:45 - What is the difference between the Ascension and the Assumption? 9:45 - Why do we take both the Bread and the Wine in Communion? 13:20 - When does venting turn into gossip, and how do we avoid gossiping? 18:45 - Where is Jesus' body today? 24:25 - What might Jesus say about dealing with a bad breakup? 26:45 - What resources should Catholics read to understand Martin Luther? Bonus Resources Study Guides CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players - Leader's Guide (Bishop Barron) CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players - Study Guide (Bishop Barron) CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players - Leaders Kit (Bishop Barron) DVDs CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players (Bishop Barron) Books Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith by Bishop Barron Seeds of the Word: Finding God in the Culture by Bishop Barron Vibrant Paradoxes: The Both/And of Catholicism by Bishop Barron Praying with the Pivotal Players by Bishop Barron Thomas Aquinas: Spiritual Master by Bishop Barron Find bonus links and resources for this episode at http://WordOnFireShow.com and be sure to submit your questions at http://AskBishopBarron.

Bishop Barron is flying back from Europe after his Pivotal Players recording trip, so instead of a live show, we’re bringing you a special excerpt from his upcoming “David the King” series. Learn about Hannah and the “law of the gift” in this stirring commentary. Also, be sure to visit DavidTheKing.com and use the coupon code DAVID to save $10 on the DVD or Blu-ray version of the series! Bonus Resources   DVDs + Study Programs David the King (Bishop Barron) Websites Word On Fire DavidTheKing.com  

Bishop Robert Barron and his Word on Fire production are in Italy, filming the next round of CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players. Be sure to take advantage of special behind the scenes access from the Pivotal Players film trip! Sign-up for exclusive footage at: WordOnFireShow.com/Videos Topics Discussed 0:05  – Intro, the new Spiderman movie 1:28 – Does it ever get old for Bishop Barron to travel? 2:41 – The CATHOLICISM series production team 4:46 – Surprisingly small film crew for such a grand production 5:50 – Interesting stops for a first visit to Rome 9:15 – What’s the difference between a vacation and a pilgrimage? 11:20 – Bishop Barron’s favorite place during the filming so far 12:55 – The St. Francis fresco painted during his own lifetime 13:20 – What’s Bishop Barron’s prayer like during a filming trip? 15:33 – Why is the Divine Office so important to Bishop Barron? 17:51 – Why all baptized people should consider praying the Liturgy of the Hours 18:23 – Praying the psalms for the sake of the world 19:20 – Who was St. Ambrose and why does he matter? 23:28 – What do you miss most about the United States? 24:20– Question from listener: Fr. Steve Grunow asks what St. Benedict and St. Augustine, both Italians, have to say to Italians today? Bonus Resources Calendar and Prayer Cards Pivotal Players Calendar Pivotal Players Prayer Cards Books Praying with the Pivotal Players (Amy Welborn) CATHOLICISM: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith (Bishop Barron) Study Guides CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players – Leader’s Guide (Bishop Barron) CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players – Study Guide (Bishop Barron) CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players – Leaders Kit (Bishop Barron) DVDs CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players (Bishop Barron) Websites WordOnFireShow.com/videos Word On Fire DavidTheKing.com Find bonus links and resources for this episode at http://WordOnFireShow.com and be sure to submit your questions at http://AskBishopBarron.

Bishop Robert Barron and his Word on Fire production team have just set off to Europe to film two brand new episodes for the hit television film series: CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players. This second volume of biographical documentaries features some of the greatest figures in all of world history. Be sure to take advantage of special behind the scenes access from the Pivotal Players film trip! Sign-up for exclusive footage at: WordOnFireShow.com/Videos Topics Discussed 0:05  - Intro, the new Spiderman movie 1:40 - What makes St. Benedict a pivotal player? 6:10 - Why is St. Augustine a pivotal player? 10:00 - What will Bishop Barron be filming in Rome? 15:00 - What is Benedictine life like? 19:45 - What will Bishop Barron be filming in Milan? 23:25 - What will Bishop Barron be filming in Paris? 25:00 - Question from listener: How were Adam and Eve able to fall from grace if they were born without original sin? Bonus Resources Calendar and Prayer Cards Pivotal Players Calendar Pivotal Players Prayer Cards Books Praying with the Pivotal Players (Amy Welborn) CATHOLICISM: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith (Bishop Barron) Study Guides CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players - Leader's Guide (Bishop Barron) CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players - Study Guide (Bishop Barron) CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players - Leaders Kit (Bishop Barron) DVDs CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players (Bishop Barron) Websites WordOnFireShow.com/Videos Word On Fire DavidTheKing.com Find bonus links and resources for this episode at http://WordOnFireShow.com and be sure to submit your questions at http://AskBishopBarron.

Have you ever had an opportunity to share your faith but opted to remain quiet? There are several reasons why we might shy away from these grace-filled moments. In this episode of the Word On Fire Show, Bishop Barron teaches us how to overcome the hurdles of evangelization and let loose our missionary potential. The listener question comes from an Australian medical student who wants to know how we can evangelize in our everyday settings. Also, be sure to take advantage of our Word on Fire Show listener sale! ENTER PROMO CODE: DAVID to save $10 on our newest film at DavidTheKing.com Topics Discussed 0:05  - Intro, what Bishop Barron is reading 1:25 - How do you overcome being nervous about discussing, debating religion? 7:45 - How do we evangelize if we aren't scholars or experts about religion? 13:55 - How do we evangelize without losing our friends or pushing people away by trying to convert them? 18:25 - How do we evangelize in a culture that says religion is a private hobby that does not belong in the public sphere. 25:00 - How do we overcome despair, feeling like nothing we say or do will have an evangelical effect. 29:00 - Question from listener: How do we evangelize in our daily lives? Bonus Resources  Study Program CATHOLICISM: The New Evangelization Leader's Kit (Word on Fire) David the King (Word On Fire) Articles "A Strategy for the New Evangelization" (Bishop Barron) "The New Evangelization and Seminaries" (Bishop Barron) "Effective Evangelization Commences with Joy" (Bishop Barron) "Practical Strategies of the New Evangelization" (Bishop Barron) Videos New Media and Evangelization Effective Evangelization Confirmation and Evangelization Evangelizing with the Heart of a Shepherd Theology and the New Media Books  The Priority of Christ: Toward a Postliberal Catholicism by Bishop Robert Barron Word on Fire: Proclaiming the Power of Christ by Bishop Robert Barron Seeds of the Word: Finding God in the Culture by Bishop Robert Barron Bridging the Great Divide by Bishop Robert Barron Websites Word On Fire DavidTheKing.com   Find bonus links and resources for this episode at http://WordOnFireShow.com and be sure to submit your questions at http://AskBishopBarron.