In this episode, Father Michael Trummer and Father Christopher Trummer take on the often-misunderstood topic of religion—a word that many Christians today regard with suspicion. They acknowledge that much of the criticism directed at “being religious” arises from real problems: hypocrisy, self-reliance, transactional love, and an overemphasis on outward appearances. Yet, rather than dismissing religion altogether, the hosts argue that it is a divine reality—instituted by God in the Old Testament, fulfilled and transformed by Christ, and sustained in the life of the Church. They invite listeners to recover a renewed understanding of religion as a virtue: a purified way of relating to God through ordered worship, teaching, and community.

00:00 Introduction and Overview

00:35 Words and Semantics

01:55 Religion vs. Relationship

04:52 Criticisms of Religious Practices

12:36 Self-Reliance and Striving in Faith

28:30 The Virtue of Religion

33:19 Forgotten Passages and Jesus' Jewish Roots

34:15 Old Testament Laws and Christian Practices

37:05 The Early Christian Worship and Eucharist

39:17 Development of Christian Liturgy

45:25 Authority and Hierarchy in the Church

52:58 The Role of Rituals and Symbols in Worship

01:01:42 Closing Thoughts and Prayer