The Word on Fire Show - Catholic Faith and Culture

As 2020 winds to a close, Bishop Barron reflects back on his five most popular YouTube videos of the decade. He and Brandon Vogt discuss why these videos, in particular, resonated with so many people.

A listener asks, if Jesus already did what he came to do, and Satan realized he was beat, why wasn't that the end of the story? What are we still doing here?

• Bishop Barron on The Devil (July 2012)
• Bishop Barron on Gay Marriage & the Breakdown of Moral Argument (April 2013)
• Bishop Barron on The Holy Spirit (May 2012)
• Bishop Barron on Whether Hell is Crowded or Empty (March 2011)
  • "Dare We Hope FAQ" - https://wordonfire.org/hope
• Bishop Barron on the Jordan Peterson Phenomenon (March 2018)

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Listen as Fr. Steve Grunow, CEO of Word on Fire, speaks to a group of young Jesuits about the perils of artificial intelligence and the online world.

NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!

A hit Netflix documentary, "The Social Dilemma," is a film about the dark side of social media explained by the Silicon Valley innovators behind it. Bishop Barron discusses some of the film's insights and offers a Catholic perspective on social media, technology, and their addictive qualities.

A listener asks, if Joseph descended from David, but is not Jesus' biological father, how is Jesus considered to be related to David?

NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!

Today, we share the second half of Bishop Barron's recent discussion with Dave Rubin on the topic "Has Liberalism Failed?" (Click here to listen to the first half.) It's part of the "Bishop Barron Presents" series of conversations with various thinkers and cultural influencers.

In this discussion, Bishop Barron and Dave uncover the underlying issues fueling today's partisan politics and the culture of contempt. Further, they discuss how to engage in constructive dialogue for the sake of the common good.

To listen to the full conversation, and gain access to dozens of courses, films, and other resources, become part of the Word on Fire Institute.

NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!

There seems to be a growing sentiment, both within the Church and the wider culture, that if you share a public conversation with someone, or say something nice about one particular aspect of their work, you're necessarily endorsing everything they've ever said or done and can therefore be easily dismissed, a fallacy known as "guilt by association."

Bishop Barron discusses this problem, how it undermines evangelization, and why he chooses to engage people from across the religious and cultural spectrum.

A listener asks, how do you respond to people who discredit Catholicism based on the sex abuse scandals?

NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!

Today, we share the first half of Bishop Barron's recent discussion with Dave Rubin on the topic "Has Liberalism Failed?" It's part of the "Bishop Barron Presents" series of conversations with various thinkers and cultural influencers.

In this discussion, Bishop Barron and Dave uncover the underlying issues fueling today's partisan politics and the culture of contempt. Further, they discuss how to engage in constructive dialogue for the sake of the common good.

To listen to the full conversation, and gain access to dozens of courses, films, and other resources, become part of the Word on Fire Institute.

NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!

Today, we look at Bishop Barron's favorite books of all time, from theology to poetry, fiction to stage plays. Download a full PDF guide to his favorite books at wordonfireshow.com/books.

A listener asks about Thomas Aquinas' views on women.

NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!

Today we hear the second half of Bishop Barron's recent talk to the Knights of Malta, in which he explains that behind much of the rioting and deep unrest in our country stand ideas stemming from four influential thinkers: Karl Marx, Friedrich Nietzsche, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Michel Foucault. Once we understand some of their most basic ideas, we will recognize their influence everywhere today.

(If you missed the first half of the talk, click here to listen.)

NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!

In this bonus "Word on Fire Show" episode, Bishop Barron discusses the long-awaited "McCarrick Report" (PDF), which the Holy See just released on Tuesday, November 10. This long and exhaustive report, spanning over 450 pages, shares the results of a two-year investigation into former-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, exploring how he rose through the ranks of the Catholic hierarchy despite years of sexual abuse and cover up. Bishop Barron shares his thoughts, impressions, and offers a way forward through this awful crisis.

• Bishop Barron resources on sexual abuse crisis: https://www.wordonfire.org/sexual-abuse

NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!

A new survey from Ligonier Ministries titled "The State of Theology" revealed lots of interesting things. But one finding that stood out, and generated lots of headlines, was that most Christians believe about Jesus. Nearly 70% of Catholics believe "Jesus is the first and greatest being created by God," while 57% of Catholics believe "Jesus was a great teacher, but he was not God." Bishop Barron and Brandon discuss this survey and the ancient heresy these statements reflect.

A listener asks if confirmation is supposed to make us fiery defenders of the faith, then why do some Protestants seem to have more fire for the faith, even without this sacrament?

NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!