In this conversation, Dr. Tom Ward joins the shot to talk about his journey to Catholicism, the role of family in nurturing belief, and the theological and philosophical contributions of Blessed John Duns Scotus to the Catholic Tradition. Our dialogue explores the challenges faced by converts, the importance of understanding church history, and the nuances of Scotus's thought, particularly regarding univocity and analogy in relation to God and creation, misconceptions about Bl. John Duns Scotus' association with nominalism, his unique perspectives on individuality and the nature of the will, and his intriguing theory about the fall of Satan and its implications for understanding moral choices. We wrap up with a brief discussion on Stoicism, its resurgence in modern times, and the relevance of Boethius' thoughts in this context. Ordered by Love: https://angelicopress.com/products/or... After Stoicism (SOLD OUT!): https://bookstore.wordonfire.org/prod... Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Dr. Tom Ward and His Work 01:27 Dr. Ward's Journey to Catholicism 15:57 The Role of Family in Faith 16:22 Exploring Blessed John Duns Scotus 23:32 Univocity and Analogy in Scotus's Thought 30:39 Understanding Duns Scotus and Nominalism 39:38 The Individuality and Haecceity in Scotus' Thought 47:07 The Fall of Satan: Duns Scotus' Unique Perspective 57:44 Stoicism and Its Relevance Today

In this episode, I explore the theology of the infancy narratives in Scripture, emphasizing the importance of celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, who is both fully man and fully God. Drawing on insights from Pope Benedict XVI's book, he explores the genealogy of Jesus, the Annunciation, the virgin birth, the visit of the wise men, and more, highlighting the profound theological implications of these events. Chapters 00:00 The Nativity Story: An Introduction 02:53 Exploring Jesus' Provenance 06:04 Genealogies of Jesus: Matthew vs. Luke 08:50 The Annunciation: Zechariah and Mary 12:04 Mary: The Ark of the New Covenant 14:52 The Cosmic Timing of Jesus' Birth 17:57 The Virgin Birth: Myths and Realities 20:51 Jesus' Humble Birth: Cave vs. Stable 24:10 The Shepherds and the Wise Men 27:07 Conclusion: Seeking the Face of Jesus Links: Genealogy in Matthew: https://bibleproject.com/articles/jesus-genealogies/#:~:text=The%20name%20of%20David%20in,the%20name%20of%20%E2%80%9CDavid.%E2%80%9D Did Matthew mistranslate "virgin"? https://knowingscripture.com/articles/is-virgin-the-correct-translation-of-isaiah-7-14 Scott Hahn on Mary as the Ark of the Covenant: https://www.motherofallpeoples.com/post/scott-hahn-mary-new-ark-of-the-eternal-covenant Pope Benedict XVI's "Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives": https://a.co/d/5zwTNxl

In this episode of Creedal, we discuss what the Incarnation reveals about human dignity and apply those lessons to the ongoing debate about assisted suicide in the UK. Zac provides a detailed overview of the proposed legislation on assisted suicide, arguing against it from both moral and policy perspectives, and highlighting the dangers of framing such issues in a misleading way. In this conversation, Zac discusses the complex issues surrounding assisted dying legislation, emphasizing the need for a nuanced understanding of dignity, autonomy, and the healthcare system. He critiques the slippery slope of assisted suicide laws, highlighting the potential for abuse and the importance of palliative care. Zac argues for the necessity of hope in end-of-life decisions and the ethical responsibilities of healthcare providers. Takeaways Mass hysteria reflects humanity's chronic existential anxiety. Advent serves as a reminder to place hope in Jesus. The incarnation elevates human dignity and opens possibilities for eternal life. Assisted suicide is currently being debated in the UK Parliament. The UK has a long-standing prohibition against assisted suicide since 1961. The recent second reading of the bill indicates majority support in Parliament. Assisted suicide raises significant moral and practical concerns. Public support for assisted dying is often framed misleadingly. Dignity in dying is a term used to garner support for assisted suicide. Assisted suicide is always a bad idea from both moral and policy standpoints. A lack of autonomy does not diminish dignity. Canada's assisted suicide statistics are alarming. Coercion can be implicit in decisions about assisted suicide. Palliative care should be prioritized over assisted suicide. Hope is essential in discussions about end-of-life care. Sound Bites "Our ultimate hope lies in Jesus Christ." "Mass hysteria is a feature of humanity." "Advent is a time to reassess our hope." "This is a giant sea change for the UK." "Assisted suicide is always a problem." "Assisted suicide is bad policy." "We have a broken healthcare system." "Autonomy does not change your dignity." Chapters 00:00- Introduction and Context of Current Events 02:32 - The Significance of Advent and Human Dignity 08:37 - Assisted Suicide: The UK Debate 22:47 - Arguments Against Assisted Suicide 42:30 - The Importance of Hope in End-of-Life Decisions

For the written version of this essay, check out: https://creedal.substack.com/p/the-six-going-infinite

In this episode, Zac and Larry discuss Larry's observations from the Synod on Synodality in Rome. 00:00 Introduction and Conference Reflections 05:07 Insights from the Synod on Synodality 10:00 Expectations vs. Reality of the Synod 15:00 The Role of Laypeople in the Church 20:04 Pope Francis and Progressive Catholicism 25:04 The Vatican's Approach to American Catholicism 29:56 Conclusion and Future Implications 32:04 The Eurocentric Nature of the Synod 34:51 African Church Perspectives and Concerns 37:50 The Disconnect Between the Synod and Global South 39:43 Pope Francis and the Challenge of Co-optation 42:30 The Nature of Dialogue at the Synod 52:22 Hope for the Future of the Church

In this episode, Zac discusses the recent election in the United States, focusing on the failures of the media and the Democratic Party, Trump's broad appeal, polling failures, and the state of conservatism. Sound Bites "I think there's room for optimism." "The media's framing backfired spectacularly." "We need to have interesting conversations." "This is a failure of the Democratic Party." "Trump has broad appeal on the issues." "Polling failed to capture Trump support." "Conservatism is not dead, but in peril." "Our hope is never in political salvation." Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Future Plans 01:24 Media's Role in the Election 11:45 Failures of the Democratic Party 21:28 Trump's Broad Appeal 28:27 Polling Failures and Silent Voters 36:01 Conservatism in Peril 41:12 Hope Beyond Politics

In this conversation, Zac and Andrew discuss Andrew's book (co-written with David Paul Baird and Rev. Michael Ward) entitled 'Popcorn with the Pope.' We delve into specific films on the list, such as 'Au Revoir Les Enfants' and 'Babette's Feast', discussing various themes and ideas from each. Relatedly, we also discuss concerns about the impact of AI on the arts--both from labor and creative perspectives. Buy the book here: https://bookstore.wordonfire.org/products/popcorn-with-the-pope?gclid=Cj0KCQjwn9y1BhC2ARIsAG5IY-6mWrryeuTxWChVGh8EYliN2em43I0skHdYAQs7o0bh_a4XlMUeKLYaArEoEALw_wcB 00:00 Introduction and Background 05:26 The Vatican Film List and Popcorn with the Pope 17:10 Exploring 'Au Revoir Les Enfants' 24:08 Uncovering the Themes of 'Babette's Feast' 27:50 Babette's Feast and the Vatican Film List 36:09 The Impact of AI on the Entertainment Industry 39:19 The Need to Protect Human Creativity and Dignity 45:10 Protecting Workers' Rights and Copyrights 48:28 The Threat of Cultural and Economic Devastation by AI 50:49 Using the Differentiation from AI as an Evangelism Tool

Today on the show Zac teams up with longtime guest Larry Chapp to talk about why young people are leaving the Church. It's a great conversation, and to follow more of Larry's work, head to gaudiumetspes22.com.

In this conversation, Zac and Alex discuss the limitations of artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on human flourishing. They explore the role of intuition and embodiment in human understanding, and explore a Christian account of the development of understanding via the Sacraments. They also delve into the concept of emergent consciousness and the challenges of reducing the human mind to a material substrate or a product thereof. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 03:16 Misconceptions and Challenges of AGI 13:51 The Flawed Computational Theory of Mind 21:23 The Unfounded Idea of a Singularity 25:38 The Limitations of Large Language Models 32:04 Intuition and Embodiment in Human Understanding 33:55 The Sacraments and Embodied Experience 37:35 The Importance of Personhood in AI 46:28 The Dangers of Outsourcing Jobs to Robots 53:19 The Cultural and Societal Implications of AI 55:44 For next time: AI in Warfare? Ethical Concerns and Responsible Decision-Making Books Discussed: Hubert Dreyfuss: What Computers [Still] Can't Do--https://a.co/d/016fuh7L Nick Bostrom: "A Letter from Utopia"--https://nickbostrom.com/utopia Iain McGilchrist: The Master and His Emissary--https://a.co/d/03LzycwX

Explore the hero archetype in Christianity and the significance of faith, resilience, and suffering in character development. Learn about Dominique Venner's views on Christianity and the influence of Andrew Huberman in neuroscience. Get ready for an exciting conference with diverse speakers and early bird registration.