The Word on Fire Show - Catholic Faith and Culture

Rod Dreher’s The Benedict Option: A Strategy for Christians in a Post-Christian Nation has certainly emerged as the most talked-about religious book of 2017. There is a widely-felt instinct that something has gone rather deeply wrong with the culture and that classical Christianity, at least in the West, is in a bit of a mess. So, do we need the Benedict Option now? In this episode, Bishop Robert Barron discusses the upsides and the pitfalls of employing the Benedict option during these difficult times. The listener question wonders how Christians should engage the political arena. Topics Discussed 0:17  - Introduction, New announcement regarding Pivotal Players: Volume 2. 3:42 - Has something gone terribly wrong in our society? 4:36 - What are Bishop Barron's thoughts on the Benedict Option as a proposal? 6:30 - Who was Saint Benedict and how can he help solve our modern problems? 8:50 - How is Noah's Ark a good symbol for the Benedict Option? 11:23 - What is the identity/relevance dilemma? 13:55 - How does St. John Paul II relate to the Benedict Option? 18:10 - Should the Church pull back on political engagement? 22:05 - Should Christians pull out of society and live in separate communities? 24:30 - Is homeschooling the best option for Christian children? 28:15 - Should we avoid occupations that will force us to compromise our values? 31:20 - Should we avoid technology as Christians? 34:33 - Question from listener: Should Christians be active in the political arena? Bonus Resources Videos Democracy and a Nation that Trusts God Reflections on Shocking Abortion Numbers Reflections on the Hookup Culture Reflections on the Childfree Life Porn and the Curse of Total Sexual Freedom DVD's CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players (Word on Fire) CATHOLICISM series (Word On Fire) Faith Clips (Word On Fire)  Articles    "How St. Benedict Reshaped the Culture" (Father Steve Grunow) "The Benedict Option and the Identity/Relevance Dilemma" (Bishop Barron) "A Secular Europe and the Mission of the Church" (Bishop Barron) Books The Benedict Option: A Strategy for Christians in a Post-Christian Nation by Rod Dreher The Priority of Christ by Bishop Barron The Strangest Way by Bishop Barron Study Program  The Mystery of God: Who God Is and Why He Matters (Bishop Barron) CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players Study Guide (Word on Fire) Websites Word On Fire (Bishop Barron) DailyCatholicGospel.com (Bishop Barron) Find bonus links and resources for this episode at http://WordOnFireShow.com and, again, be sure to submit your questions at http://AskBishopBarron.

Lee Strobel, an atheist reporter, investigates the claims against the Resurrection of Jesus. Bishop Barron debunks these claims using historical evidence. They discuss the importance of asking hard questions about faith, the bodily nature of Jesus' post-resurrection appearances, and navigate skepticism and unsupportive familial reactions.

The Netflix original series “The Crown”, which has to do with the last months of the reign of King George VI and the first years of the reign of his daughter, Queen Elizabeth II, demonstrates how societies must be grounded in God-given moral values for them to flourish. In this episode, Bishop Barron brings to light the theological underpinnings of the show, which serve as an encouragement for anyone struggling to pursue God's plan for her life. The listener question asks how Bishop Barron is able to discover spiritual themes in popular media. Please Go to iTunes and Leave us a Review! Topics Discussed 0:17  - Introduction and a reprisal of Bishop's “Simpsons” visit. 3:10 - What makes “The Crown” such good TV? 5:20 - How was the Queen's coronation a call from God to carry out her duty? 8:40 - How would compare the English monarchy to our American democracy? 13:30 - How is it that God anointed her to be queen when she clearly had circumstance put her there? 15:10 - How does God's plan for our lives tend to upset the comfort of our lives and our relationships? 20:22 - What advice would Bishop give to priests who are ordained to fulfill God's mission? 23:00 - Why are Americans so attracted to the idea of monarchies? Is there a biblical nostalgia in that somehow? 25:38 - Question from listener: How does Bishop Barron draw out Christian themes from popular media? Bonus Resources Videos The Crown Trailer Bishop Barron on “True Grit” Bishop Barron on “Gran Torino” DVD's Catholicism: The Pivotal Players (Word on Fire) Catholicism series (Word On Fire) Faith Clips (Word On Fire)  Articles   “The Crown” and the Fundamental Values of a Society (Bishop Barron) Why Goodness Depends on God (Bishop Barron) Your Life Does Not Belong to You (Bishop Barron) Books The Priority of Christ by Bishop Barron The Strangest Way by Bishop Barron Study Program  The Mystery of God: Who God Is and Why He Matters (Bishop Barron) Catholicism: The Pivotal Players Study Guide (Word on Fire) Websites Word On Fire (Proclaiming Christ in the Culture) LentReflections.com (Bishop Barron) Find bonus links and resources for this episode at http://WordOnFireShow.com and, again, be sure to submit your questions at http://AskBishopBarron.

Thomas Joseph White's book The Incarnate Lord discusses the importance of Jesus' identity. The classical tradition of Christology understood Jesus ontologically, that is to say, in terms of his fundamental being or existential identity; whereas modern and contemporary Christology tends to understand Jesus psychologically or relationally. The transition from an ontological Christology to a consciousness Christology has conduced toward all manner of relativism, subjectivism, indifferentism, and the attenuation of evangelical zeal. In this episode, Bishop Robert Barron unpacks these theological concepts and explains their consequences in familiar terms. The listener question asks about the Jesus Seminar of the Westar Institute. Topics Discussed 0:17  - Introduction, Chesterton, and Bishop's recent trip. 3:00 - What is Christology and why does it matter? 4:55 - Why does high-level theology matter? 7:28 - What is the major difference with modern Christology? 10:58 - Who is Jesus? 13:20 - What are the ramifications of reading Jesus with a psychological priority rather than an ontological priority? 15:00 - How is the emphasis on Jesus' ontology make Christianity unique compared to other religions? 18:20 - What was the theological priority of the early Church? 19:45 - What are some of the insights we learn about Jesus from Saint Thomas Aquinas? 25:15 - What books does Bishop Barron recommend for studying Christology? 27:00 - Question from listener: What does Bishop Barron think about the Jesus Seminar of the Westar Institute? Bonus Resources Videos How Jesus is the Messiah Andrew Sullivan's Non-Threatening Jesus John Dominic Crossan's Strange Jesus DVD's Catholicism: The Pivotal Players (Word on Fire) Catholicism series (Word On Fire) Faith Clips (Word On Fire)  Articles   Why It Matters Who Jesus Is (Bishop Barron) Why Jesus is God (Bishop Barron) The Disturbing Fact of the Resurrection (Bishop Barron) Books The Priority of Christ by Bishop Barron The Incarnate Lord by Fr. Thomas Joseph White Jesus Christ: Fundamentals of Christology by Roch A. Kerezty Infinity Dwindled to Infancy by Edward T. Oakes, S.J. Does God Suffer?  Thomas Weinandy, O.F.M. Does God Change? Thomas Weinandy, O.F.M. The Summa Theologica  Saint Thomas Aquinas Study Program  The Mystery of God: Who God Is and Why He Matters (Bishop Barron) Catholicism: The Pivotal Players Study Guide (Word on Fire) Websites Word On Fire (Proclaiming Christ in the Culture) LentReflections.com (Bishop Barron) Find bonus links and resources for this episode at http://WordOnFireShow.com and, again, be sure to submit your questions at http://AskBishopBarron.

Truth, beauty, and goodness are the three transcendentals that draw people to belief in God. As important as rational arguments and beautiful artwork are for preserving and sharing the faith, Christian goodness has proven to be an explosively powerful means of evangelization over the centuries. In this episode of the Word on Fire Show, Bishop Barron discusses the history of Christian moral goodness and how this unique way of charity continues to bring people to Christ. Finally, a listener asks who inspires Bishop Barron. Topics Discussed 0:17 – Intro and Bishop meets William Friedkin 3:33 - How is Christian moral goodness unique and attractive? 6:57 - How did the early Christians evangelize through goodness? 9:58 - Does our Christian goodness remain distinct amidst our modern culture? 11:50 - What did the medieval Christian goodness look like? 13:51 - How was Saint Francis one of the greatest evangelists of all time? 16:04 - How did Saint Theresa of Calcutta become the most powerful evangelist of the twentieth century? 17:54 - How did Saint Gregory the Wonderworker encourage evangelization? 20:25 - As Christians, how do we remain charitable even when we don't feel motivated to be radically good? 22:17 - How do we evangelize with goodness today? 24:38 - Question from listener: Who inspires Bishop Barron? Bonus Resources Websites LentReflections.com (free daily Lent reflections from Bishop Barron) Articles Saint of Light, Saint of Darkness (Bishop Barron) Why Goodness Depends on God (Bishop Barron) DVD's Catholicism: The Pivotal Players (Word on Fire) Catholicism series (Word On Fire) Faith Clips (Word On Fire) Videos Bishop Barron onEvangelizing Through the Good (Bishop Barron) Faith, Hope and Love (Bishop Barron) Books Vibrant Paradoxes by Bishop Barron Word On Fire: Proclaiming the Power of Christ  by Bishop Barron Catholicism by Bishop Barron The Strangest Way by Bishop Barron Find bonus links and resources for this episode at http://WordOnFireShow.com and, again, be sure to submit your questions at http://AskBishopBarron.

Is it ever necessary to label ourselves? Is it ever ok to label anyone else? Not according to internet celebrity and spoken-word poet, Prince Ea, whose viral video entitled "I Am Not Black, You Are Not White" claims that labels are the root of all social ills and that our identity is entirely separate from our physical reality. The video has reached over 100 million views on Facebook and over 11 million views on Youtube with an overwhelming approval rating (300 to 1 like to dislike ratio). The most liked comment on Youtube reads, "They showed this to us in school." In this episode of The Word on Fire Show, Bishop Barron critiques each segment of the argument posed by the young poet and explains the philosophical history behind this radical, yet widely accepted argument. The listener question asks for a book suggestion that encourages teens to return to the Church. Topics Discussed 0:17  - Introduction, Bishop Barron's recent happenings 1:58 - Segment 1: "Our bodies are just cars", Bishop's response 6:18 - What are some of the dangers of bifurcating our selves and our bodies? 7:40 - Segment 2: "Who we truly are is found inside", Bishop's response 11:50 - What is the difference with the Catholic perspective on bodies and labels? 15:10 - Segment 3: "Every war has started over labels", Bishop's response 18:15 - How are labels used in the book of Genesis? 21:30 - Segment 4: "Until we stop thinking so small we won't be free to see each other as we truly are", Bishop's response 26:39 - Listener Question: What book would Bishop recommend to bring teens back into the Church? Bonus Resources Videos Prince Ea "I Am NOT Black, You are NOT White." Bishop Barron Comments on Gay Marriage and the Breakdown of Moral Argument Bishop Barron on Atheism and Philosophy  Bishop Barron on Stephen Fry, Job, and Suffering Bishop Barron Comments on College Campus "Safe Spaces" DVD's CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players (Word On Fire) Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith (Word On Fire) The Mystery of God (Word On Fire) Faith Clips (Word On Fire)  Articles   Love, Tolerance, and the Making of Distinctions (Bishop Barron) Playing at Atheism (Bishop Barron) Tolerance, Choice, Argument and Religion (Bishop Barron) Books The Priority of Christ by Bishop Barron Word On Fire: Proclaiming the Power of Christ  by Bishop Barron Catholicism by Bishop Barron Study Program  The Mystery of God: Who God Is and Why He Matters (Bishop Barron) Websites Word On Fire (Proclaiming Christ in the Culture) LentenReflections.com (Daily Gospel Reflections for Lent)     Find bonus links and resources for this episode at http://WordOnFireShow.com and, again, be sure to submit your questions at http://AskBishopBarron.

The Religious Education Congress, sponsored by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles Office of Religious Education, is America's largest annual gathering of Roman Catholics, bringing together nearly 40,000 every year for a four-day event! 2017 marked the 20th year that Bishop Robert Barron has been in attendance. In addition to several interviews and book-signings Bishop Barron participated in at this year's Congress, he also gave a keynote in the central arena. This episode of The Word on Fire Show was recorded live at the Word on Fire booth in the exposition hall. During the show the good bishop answers questions from the expo audience as well as the audience watching live on Facebook. Topics Discussed 0:10  - Introduction, Bishop Barron's 20th year at the Congress and his talk on the "nones" 4:00 - What would Bishop Barron ask Thomas Aquinas if he was able to meet him? 6:58 - How do you see Hispanic Catholics evangelizing to future generations? 9:20 - Catholic Stuff You Should Know priests discuss podcasting for evangelization 13:45 - What are some good takeaways from the theology of Hans Urs von Balthasar? 15:20 - What is Bishop Barron's vision for evangelization and catechesis? 21:30 - What's the next filming project for Word On Fire? 23:30 - How should we deal with sin without beating ourselves up when we fail? 28:00 - What is the difference between meditative prayer and contemplative prayer? 32:10 - How can God be three persons and not fall into any genus, the genus of personhood? 35:45 - How can teachers help combat the myth that science refutes religion? 42:30 - How do we reconcile the book of Genesis with scientific facts about creation? 47:35 - What is the best way to bring an inactive Catholic back to the faith? 49:30 - What is one bit of advice for all of us facing the crisis of attrition within the Catholic Church? Bonus Resources Videos Bishop Barron on the Rise of the "Nones" Bishop Barron on Stephen Hawking and Atheism Bishop Barron on The Religious "Nones" Bishop Barron on God's Existence and The Argument from Desire DVD's CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players (Word On Fire) Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith (Word On Fire) The Mystery of God (Word On Fire) Faith Clips (Word On Fire)  Articles   Playing at Atheism (Bishop Barron) The Glory of God is a Human Being 'Fully Alive' (Bishop Barron) Apologists, Catechists, Theologians: Wake Up!  (Bishop Barron) Books The Priority of Christ by Bishop Barron Word On Fire: Proclaiming the Power of Christ  by Bishop Barron Catholicism by Bishop Barron Study Program  The Mystery of God: Who God Is and Why He Matters (Bishop Barron) Websites Word On Fire (Proclaiming Christ in the Culture) Catholic Stuff You Should Know (Podcast) Find bonus links and resources for this episode at http://WordOnFireShow.com and, again, be sure to submit your questions at http://AskBishopBarron.

Does God exist? That is the question Catholic comedian and television host, Stephen Colbert, debated with his Late Show guest, the popular actor and outspoken atheist, Ricky Gervais. The YouTube video clip of the two men going "head to head on religion" has gone viral, quickly garnering over 2.5 million views. In this episode of The Word on Fire Show, Bishop Barron breaks down each segment of the discussion and offers helpful insights for everyone fascinated (or haunted) by questions about God. The listener question asks whether atheists or theists bear the burden of proof when it comes to these debates. Topics Discussed 0:17  - Introduction, Bishop Barron's trip to Georgia for a Pivotal Players promotion 4:00 - Colbert to Gervais, "Why is there something rather than nothing?" 7:36 - What is the difference between asking why the universe exists and h0w the universe exists? 12:05 - Colbert to Gervais, "Do you believe in a prime mover?" 14:05 - Gervais explains what he believes an agnostic atheist is. 16:57 - Gervais to Colbert, "You deny one less God than I do" 20:52 - Colbert to Gervais, "Do you ever have a feeling of great gratitude for existence?" 25:47 - Gervais explains to Colbert that Science is repeatable and holy books are not. 29:20 - Listener Question: Do atheists or theists bear the burden of proof during debates about the existence of God? Bonus Resources Videos Ricky Gervais And Stephen Go Head-To-Head On Religion Atheism and Philosophy  Bishop Barron on Stephen Hawking and Atheism Bishop Barron on Stephen Fry, Job, and Suffering Bishop Barron on God's Existence and The Argument from Desire DVD's CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players (Word On Fire) Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith (Word On Fire) The Mystery of God (Word On Fire) Faith Clips (Word On Fire)  Articles   Playing at Atheism (Bishop Barron) The Glory of God is a Human Being 'Fully Alive' (Bishop Barron) Bishop Barron on Atheists at the CNN Belief Blog  (Bishop Barron) Books The Priority of Christ by Bishop Barron Word On Fire: Proclaiming the Power of Christ  by Bishop Barron Catholicism by Bishop Barron Study Program  The Mystery of God: Who God Is and Why He Matters (Bishop Barron) Websites Word On Fire (Proclaiming Christ in the Culture) Find bonus links and resources for this episode at http://WordOnFireShow.com and, again, 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. Be sure to visit LentenReflections.com to sign up for FREE Lenten reflections from Bishop Barron. A reflection is sent to your email each day during Lent with an accompanying prayer graphic from Word on Fire. Topics Discussed 0:17  - Intro: Bishop Barron talks about Marriage as a sacrament 2:23 - Why was it necessary for Jesus to be baptized? 5:47 - Why is Jesus named "Jesus" and not Emanuel as the prophet predicted? 7:39 - Why are there so many names for God in the Old Testament, is "God" sufficient? 12:21 - By what means was Jesus able to avoid sin? 15:50 - What does Chesterton mean when he says, "The pint, the pipe, and the cross can all fit together."? 18:40 - Why did God allow the devil to exist? 22:05 - Besides Saint Joseph, what saints should new husbands and fathers study? 23:55 - Is there certain a disposition towards goodness that some people are born with while others are prone to struggle? 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, again, be sure to submit your questions at http://AskBishopBarron.

Are you saved? This is a question we have heard from our Protestant friends regarding the state of grace for individual souls. In this episode of the Word on Fire Show, Bishop Barron discusses the Catholic response to this question and in doing so reveals the rich, multivalent message of the Cross. The listener question asks about original sin. Topics Discussed 0:17  - Introduction, Bishop Barron's trip to Hawaii for the Red Mass 5:00 - How should we respond to the question, "Are you saved?" 8:10 - What are we being saved from? 11:30 - Why is the Old Testament important for understanding salvation? 13:35 - Why does God use the act of crucifixion to affect our salvation? 18:08 - What's the difference between individual salvation and the idea that God saved humanity on the Cross? 19:45 - What roll do the sacraments play in salvation? 22:47 - Where did Martin Luther differ from the Church? 26:10 - Listener Question: How do we inherit original sin? Bonus Resources Videos Bishop Barron on Baptism Bishop Barron on The Council of Trent Bishop Barron on Original Sin Bishop Barron on The Scandalous Cross of Jesus DVD's CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players (Word On Fire) Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith (Word On Fire) The Mystery of God (Word On Fire) Faith Clips (Word On Fire)  Articles   What Precisely is the Gospel? (Bishop Barron) The Glory of God is a Human Being 'Fully Alive' (Bishop Barron) Books The Priority of Christ by Bishop Barron Word On Fire: Proclaiming the Power of Christ  by Bishop Barron Catholicism by Bishop Barron Homilies Faith Perfected by Love (Bishop Barron) Study Program  The Mystery of God: Who God Is and Why He Matters (Bishop Barron) Websites Word On Fire (Proclaiming Christ in the Culture) Find bonus links and resources for this episode at http://WordOnFireShow.com and, again, be sure to submit your questions at http://AskBishopBarron.