What We Can't Not Talk About

As promised, Dr. Melissa Moschella came back on our show! This time, we talked about true humility and about the ways in which exercising this virtue would improve all of our social interactions. In an age dominated by constant self-awareness and by an actual cult of the self, humility reminds us that we do not need to be "liked," but to be true to others. Even within marriage, humility is necessary to acknowledge our limits and to grow together, as couples and as individuals. Enjoy... with prudence, courage, temperance and justice, of course! What happened to Virtue, the Common Good, and Pluralism, Teachings from Judaism, Christianity, and Islam: https://www.religiousfreedominstitute.org/rfievents/what-happened-to-virtue-the-common-good-and-pluralism

**This episode contains mature content** If there is one thing we absolutely must talk about, that is pornography. We have to talk about it because it affects our children, our friends, our spouses. If you are young, and if you are using it, it will inevitably affect your sexual life (let alone the romantic one). If you are a parent, you need to listen to Dr. Jimmy Myers, Founder and CEO of the Timothy Center, whose experience treating sexual addictions will be an eye-opener for many. Listen, and *do* talk about this! Timothy Center: https://www.timothycenter.com/whatwedo Brain Heart World Documentary: https://brainheartworld.org/screening-type How Porn Can Harm Consumers' Sex Lives: https://fightthenewdrug.org/how-porn-can-harm-consumers-sex-lives How Porn Can Change the Brain: https://fightthenewdrug.org/how-porn-can-change-the-brain/ Canopy, a digital parenting app that blocks pornography: http://canopy.us Pornographic Double-Bind by Professor Mark Regnerus https://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2014/11/the-pornographic-double-bind?fbclid=IwAR1sDl_XK39JdSYpMFwz6FID2eYLKJYalzC7z4FUQDoctt1IPexf6g9Lv-s

In this episode, Austin Institute's Senior Fellow, UT Professor of Philosophy Robert Koons, offers a brilliant description of the reasons why modern science does not disprove the existence of God. Last spring, Professor Koons presented these arguments more extensively, in the context of a compact seminar that he led for Austin Institute's attendees. (Be sure to subscribe for the next compact seminars: they are not recorded!) Go to www.austin-institute.org to check out our upcoming events! Enjoy! Links: Where The Conflict Really Lies: Science, Religion, and Naturalism, by Alvin Plantinga: https://www.amazon.com/Where-Conflict-Really-Lies-Naturalism/dp/0199812098 Science and Theism: Concord, not Conflict*: http://robkoons.net/uploads/1/3/5/2/135276253/science_and_theism.pdf

In this episode, University of Texas Professor and Senior Fellow of the Austin Institute Mark Regnerus shows how the family resists all sorts of pandemics, including biological ones. During lockdown and mandatory quarantines, this fundamental unit of society has again proven to be a safe haven for all the subjects involved. Rather than living alone in their one-bedroom apartments, children happily moved back home. Notwithstanding the pressure caused by the pandemic, the majority of married couples reported stronger marital bonds and greater appreciation for their spouses. The family helps, uniquely so.

Drawing from the research presented in her 2016 book, philosophy professor and Austin Institute senior fellow Dr. Melissa Moschella discusses the status, the nature, and the reasonableness of parental rights. In a world increasingly concerned with individual rights and forgetful of duties, the risk is to forget that children are first and foremost the fruits of spousal love. Link to her book: https://www.amazon.com/Whom-Children-Belong-Education-Childrens/dp/1316605000 Link to her previous episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5VeVtUjfGJBBIqnRgMKwRq?si=0ca29ed0182146f7

In this episode, Professor Ligia Castaldi, Ave Maria School of Law, discusses her book "Abortion in Latin America and the Caribbean" with another attorney, Dr. Marianna Orlandi. Tune in to listen to their conversation on abortion laws, bans, international courts and treaties, and on some common misunderstandings. Link to Professor Castaldi's book: https://undpress.nd.edu/9780268107659/abortion-in-latin-america-and-the-caribbean/ Previous episode with Professor Castaldi, Abortion Rights in Argentina: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2xL6CYLRKNge5birt56ejT?si=20516d994e364d24

This talk focuses on the question of "what" precisely divides people on the abortion issue. What are the real sources of the polarization and lack of dialogue? Is it revival ideas of freedom, of person, of equality, of religion, and the role of the state? In the words of Charles Camosy, “placing oneself on either side of the typical polarizations — pro-life vs. pro-choice, liberal vs. conservative, Democrat vs. Republican — only serves to further confuse the debate and limits our ability to have fruitful dialogue.”

In this episode, Michael Raia, president and founder of Studio io, tells us more about his work as liturgical design consultant and about his calling to restoring beauty in today's world. Sit down and enjoy your coffee while Mr. Raia and Dr. Orlandi talk about what beauty actually is, and why it is so important in and for our experience of God and of the sacred. https://www.studioiodesign.com https://learn.liturgicalinstitute.org/theology-of-beauty https://www.thewayofbeauty.org/about

Alfonso Aguilar, president of the Latino Partnership for Conservative Principles, was a recent speaker for an event co-sponsored by the Austin Institute and the Texas Public Policy Foundation. In this episode, he answers to some of our questions about immigration and family separations, and about the family friendly policies that Latinos (or Hispanics) would like to see, both in the United States and at home. Grab your coffee and tune in!

In this week's episode, renowned Thomist and Philosophy Professor Christopher Kaczor spoke on some of the most complex and fundamental questions of philosophy, theology, and of our daily lives. With his usual clarity, Professor Kaczor answered questions on the existence of evil and on the reasons why, in itself, evil does not disprove the existence of God. Enjoy!