Reason and Theology Show – REASON & THEOLOGY

Join me for a fascinating deep-dive into the Dead Sea Scrolls with scholar Dr. Kipp Davis. We explore his personal work on the scrolls and uncover how their discovery has shaped modern biblical scholarship. We’ll walk through the story of how the Dead Sea Scrolls were found, what they say—and what they don’t say. Do they confirm the later Masoretic texts like the Leningrad Codex? Or do they present textual variants that challenge long-held assumptions about the Bible? We’ll also tackle big questions: Can we get back to an “original” Old Testament text—or is the idea of an urtext a scholarly dead end? Do some of these ancient variants actually impact doctrine? Has the discovery of the Scrolls changed how scholars understand the transmission of Scripture? What do the Scrolls reveal about the authorship of Isaiah—and do they support or undermine the idea of multiple Isaiahs? Is the Great Isaiah Scroll really identical to later Hebrew manuscripts, as claimed on Joe Rogan’s podcast? Why is the Septuagint version of Jeremiah shorter than the Masoretic one? And finally, did studying the Dead Sea Scrolls play a role in Dr. Davis’s personal journey away from Christianity? You won’t want to miss this thoughtful and revealing conversation.

In this episode, I dive into a common response I hear when raising concerns about problematic Vatican or papal documents: “But it’s not magisterial.” For many, that phrase is meant to shut down the conversation—as if non-magisterial means non-consequential. But over time, I’ve come to see why that response no longer satisfies, and why it often sidesteps the deeper issues at play. We explore the limits of this argument, how it functions in practice, and why it can unintentionally enable spiritual confusion.

In this video, I show that Pope John Paul II taught that non-Christians—including Muslims—can be saved through their own religions, even without knowing Jesus. This is no longer something that can be ignored—it deserves honest and open discussion.

Why Are Traditionalists Upset with Pope Leo XIV? In today’s episode, we cover several major developments shaking the Catholic world. John-Henry Westen is no longer with LifeSite News—his co-founder reveals what led to his departure. Meanwhile, Pope Leo XIV is making waves with a series of controversial episcopal appointments that have traditionalists sounding the alarm. Cardinal Fernández has confirmed that blessings for same-sex couples will remain in place under Pope Leo XIV, continuing a key policy from the previous pontificate. Bishop Strickland is now promoting the St. Gallen Mafia theory to explain the current crisis in the Church, and in a surprising move, one bishop has granted a general exemption from Sunday Mass attendance. We also look at a newly surfaced report about the Latin Mass—some claim it suggests that Pope Francis restricted it for questionable or even bogus reasons. I break down all of this and what it means for the Church today. Don’t miss it.

Did Christians believe in the Trinity before the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD? Was the doctrine developed over time—or was it already present in the early Church? In this episode, Dr. Jim Papandrea, expert in early Christianity and historical theology, joins me to explore how the Trinity was understood before and after Nicaea. We discuss the writings of the early Church Fathers, what the council actually taught, and how the doctrine of the Trinity developed without being invented. Whether you’re Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, or just curious about Church history, this conversation will give you clarity on one of the most misunderstood doctrines of the Christian faith.

Join Michael Lofton and Luis Dizon as they sit down with renowned New Testament scholar Dr. Craig Keener to discuss the reliability of the New Testament. In this in-depth interview, Dr. Keener addresses key questions about the historical trustworthiness of the Gospel accounts, the role of eyewitness testimony, manuscript evidence, and how ancient sources help us better understand the world of the New Testament. Whether you’re a skeptic, a believer, or just curious about how scholars assess the New Testament, this conversation offers accessible and insightful commentary from one of today’s leading voices in biblical scholarship.

Pope Francis has introduced a new Mass for the Care of Creation — what does it mean for the liturgy and the direction of the Church? We also break down: Jay Dyer’s surprising debate performance — what went wrong? Fr. James Martin’s shocking comparison of same-sex parenting to the Holy Trinity There’s a lot to unpack — theological implications, public reactions, and what it means for Catholics today.

Eastern Orthodox apologist Jay Dyer claims that the Catholic magisterium has contradicted itself—specifically when it comes to Islam. He argues that medieval and modern popes taught conflicting things: some affirmed that Muslims worship the same God as Christians, while others (like Pope Urban II) allegedly said Muslims worship demons. But is that actually a contradiction in Catholic doctrine? In this episode, I take a closer look at the historical sources behind Jay’s claim, examine whether the quote from Urban II is reliable, and ask the key theological question: Is this even magisterial? We’ll break down: What the magisterium actually teaches The difference between doctrine and personal opinion Whether non-definitive teachings can develop or even conflict Why one disputed quote doesn’t upend the Catholic framework If you’ve heard this argument before—or you’re just curious about how the Catholic Church handles doctrinal consistency—you won’t want to miss this one.

BREAKING: Sam Shamoun Admits He’s NOT CATHOLIC – Why Has He Been Saying He Is? For months, Sam Shamoun has publicly claimed to be a Catholic and even appeared on Catholic shows sharing his “conversion” story. But in response to questions raised in my previous video, Sam finally admitted he has not formally entered the Catholic Church – and doesn’t appear to have any plans to do so! In this video, I walk through what it actually means to be in full communion with the Catholic Church, what the Church requires for someone from the Assyrian Church of the East to convert, and why Sam’s public claims have caused confusion. I also explore why so many Catholics seem unaware of these basic requirements—and what this says about the state of catechesis today. Since Sam hasn’t made the required Profession of Faith, can he rightly call himself Catholic? Why has no one in Catholic media questioned his conversion story until now?

Did Sam Shamoun really convert to Catholicism? In this in-depth episode, I carefully walk through the evidence, claims, and public statements surrounding Sam’s religious identity and whether he has actually entered full communion with the Catholic Church. This isn’t about accusations—it’s about clarity. We look at Sam’s own words, Church law, the process for reception into the Catholic Church (Latin Rite and Chaldean Catholic), and what the Vatican says about Eucharistic sharing with Eastern and non-Catholic Christians. If Sam is claiming to be Catholic but has not formally converted to the Catholic Church, should he be open about that? Should he be teaching?