The Word on Fire Show - Catholic Faith and Culture

A viral YouTube video titled "Aquinas and the Cosmological Arguments" (750,000+ views) claims that Thomas Aquinas' arguments for God have been decisively refuted. But have they? Bishop Barron responds to the video and shows that when properly understood, Thomas' arguments are as strong today as ever before. A listener asks whether death is natural.

SPECIAL: Pre-order the hardcover book today for just $19.95 (26% off) and free shipping. You'll also receive three bonus eBooks from Bishop Barron! Just click here to order.

• 0:05 - Introduction, Bishop Barron describes the Facebook headquarters
• 5:30 - Why have multiple proofs for God's existence? If a singular argument is truly a proof, should not one be sufficient?
• 8:44 - Where did Thomas Aquinas come up with these arguments?
• 12:50 - Do Aquinas's observations from nature hurt his argument given the fact that modern science has proven some of his examples to be inaccurate?
• 15:33 - What's wrong with using dominos to illustrate Aquinas's argument from motion?
• 26:50 - What's the difference between a hierarchal and a temporal causal series? And why is this so important for understanding Aquinas?
• 31:35 - Did the philosopher David Hume defeat Aquinas's arguments?
• 34:24 - Question from listener: Is death natural?

• Books
  • Thomas Aquinas: Spiritual Master by Bishop Barron
  • Aquinas: A Beginner's Guide by Edward Feser
  • Five Proofs of the Existence of God by Edward Feser
  • The Last Superstition: A Refutation of the New Atheism by Edward Feser
  • Aquinas: An Introduction to the Life and Work of the Great Medieval Thinker by F. C. Copleston
  • To Light a Fire on the Earth: Proclaiming Christ in a Secular Age by Bishop Barron

Find bonus links and resources for this episode at http://WordOnFireShow.com and be sure to submit your questions at http://AskBishopBarron.

Listen to Bishop Barron's talk at the Facebook HQ, which has already been heard over 275,000 times. Every day, millions of people argue about religion on social media. The comboxes of religious and atheist sites are among the most visited and the most heated in the virtual space. But few people really know how to have a good religious argument. Lots of energy, lots of sharp words, and lots of strong feelings are expressed. But rarely do we come across productive, rational argument about religion. Bishop Barron paves a way forward, showing how we all, believer and nonbeliever alike, can share better religious discussions.

SPECIAL: Pre-order Bishop Barron's new hardcover book, To Light a Fire on the Earth, for just $19.95 (26% off) and free shipping. You'll also receive three bonus eBooks from Bishop Barron! Just click here to order.

• Books
  • To Light a Fire on the Earth: Proclaiming the Gospel in a Secular Age by Bishop Barron
  • Thomas Aquinas: Spiritual Master by Bishop Barron

Bishop Barron has a new book coming out titled To Light a Fire on the Earth: Proclaiming Christ in a Secular Age. It's a book-length conversation between Bishop Barron and John Allen, Jr., the award-winning Vatican journalist, and touches on a wide range of subjects including God, atheism, social media, prayer, beauty, and why the Church matters today. In today's episode, John joins Bishop Barron to discuss the new book.

SPECIAL: Pre-order the hardcover book today for just $19.95 (26% off) and free shipping. You'll also receive three bonus eBooks from Bishop Barron! Just click here to order.

• 0:05 - Introduction
• 1:40 - What were John Allen's first impressions about creating this book?
• 3:10 - What were Bishop Barron's first thoughts when the book was proposed to him?
• 4:00 - What parallels does John Allen see between Ven. Fulton Sheen and Bishop Barron
• 7:35 - Why did Bishop Barron start the book talking about beauty?
• 9:00 - How is Baseball helpful to understanding Catholicism
• 12:00 - How did one of Bishop Barron's professors in Paris shape his spirituality?
• 14:00 - What is Bishop Barron's three-fold path to holiness?
• 16:00 - What makes Bishop Barron different from other people John has interviewed for books?
• 19:00 - Will Word On Fire become a permanent movement in the life of the Church?
• 23:30 - How can Catholics proclaim the Gospel in a secular age?

• Books
  • To Light a Fire on the Earth: Proclaiming Christ in a Secular Age

Find bonus links and resources for this episode at http://WordOnFireShow.com and be sure to submit your questions at http://AskBishopBarron.

Today (September 18), Bishop Barron will be speaking to Facebook employees at their headquarters in Menlo Park, CA, on "How to Have a Religious Argument." (The talk will be livestreamed on Bishop Barron's Facebook page from 6:00pm-7:00pm ET.)

Every day, millions of people argue about religion on social media. The comboxes of religious and atheist sites are among the most visited and the most heated in the virtual space. But what Bishop Robert Barron finds interesting is how few people really know how to have a good religious argument. There is a lot of energy, lots of sharp words, and lots of strong feelings expressed. But rarely do we come across productive, rational argument about religion. Bishop Barron paves a way forward, showing how we all, believer and nonbeliever alike, can share better religious discussions.

SPECIAL: Pre-order the hardcover book today for just $19.95 (26% off) and free shipping. You'll also receive three bonus eBooks from Bishop Barron! Just click here to order.

• 0:05 - Introduction about the talk
• 1:15 - Bill Maher as an example of how NOT to have a religious argument
• 2:40 - How is learning to trust a person an example of coming to faith?
• 6:30 - What is the number one block to having a good religious argument?
• 9:58 - What is voluntarism, and how does it block good religious argument?
• 16:15 - How does understanding your opponent's position helpful in having a religious argument? How is Thomas Aquinas an expert in this?
• 23:50 - What is the significance of Bishop Barron speaking at Facebook?
• 26:00 - Question from listener: How can the Catholic Church claim the fullness of truth when other religions claim the same?

Find bonus links and resources for this episode at http://WordOnFireShow.com and be sure to submit your questions at http://AskBishopBarron.

There seems to be a divide in the Catholic Church between so-called "pro-life" Catholic and so-called "social justice" Catholics. Where did this come from? How do we heal this split? That's what Bishop Barron discusses in this episode. A listener asks how to respond when a beggar asks for money on the street.

• 0:05 - Intro: Ingrid Goes West and Facebook announcement
• 3:45 - How did the Pro-Life movement and the Social Justice movement become divided?
• 5:55 - How should the "both/and" quality of Catholicism address this great separation?
• 7:00 - What does "social justice" mean in the Catholic tradition?
• 9:15 - Should the Pro-Life and Social Justice movements be equally emphasized in the life of the Church?
• 13:20 - How do we heal the divide between these two groups of Catholics?
• 14:55 - How can the saints help provide a path forward?
• 17:00 - How does Pope Francis balance the priority of these two issues?
• 19:32 - Question from listener: How should Catholics react to beggars on the street?

• Study Program
  • David the King
• Websites
  • Bishop Barron's Facebook page
  • Word On Fire
  • DavidTheKing.com

Find bonus links and resources for this episode at http://WordOnFireShow.com and be sure to submit your questions at http://AskBishopBarron.

Every now and then, articles and surveys pop up suggesting that religious people are, by whatever criteria, dumber than then general population—or at least dumber than atheists. Today Bishop Barron responds to this and the charge that religion has a "smart-people problem." A listener asks about new ecclesial movements in the Church.

Also, be sure to take advantage of our Word on Fire Show listener sale! ENTER PROMO CODE: DAVID to save $10 on our newest film at DavidTheKing.com

• 0:05 - Intro and Catholic podcast recommendations
• 1:30 - Bishop Barron's initial reaction to the articles claiming that religion has a smart-people problem.
• 5:00 - What does it say about religion when studies show that most scientists are atheists?
• 8:30 - Is it worrisome that most professional philosophers are atheists?
• 12:00 - Does it matter that most religious philosophers are theists?
• 13:30 - How does the culture feel about religious people, are they considered childish and simple-minded?
• 17:50 - What does historical evidence tell us about the relationship between science and religion?
• 19:30 - Question from listener: What's your take on Communion and Liberation and other ecclesial movements in the Church?

• Study Program
  • CATHOLICISM: The New Evangelization Leader's Kit
  • David the King
• Articles
  • "Religion's Smart-People Problem: The Shaky Intellectual Foundations of Absolute Faith" (Salon)
  • "A Scientist Looked Through 63 Studies to Conclude Atheists are More Intelligent than Religious People" (Indy 100)
  • "Atheists More Intelligent Because They Can Override "Instinctive" Religious Beliefs—But It Will Be Their Downfall" (Newsweek)
  • "Religion's Smart-People Problem: The Shaky Intellectual Foundations of Absolute Faith" (Salon)
• Videos
  • Bill Nye and Philosophy
  • Atheism and Philosophy
  • Scientism and God's Existence
• Websites
  • Word On Fire
  • DavidTheKing.com

Find bonus links and resources for this episode at http://WordOnFireShow.com and be sure to submit your questions at http://AskBishopBarron.

What is beauty? Is beauty undefinable and entirely relativistic? Or is beauty an objective reality, backed by reason and understanding? How do Catholics define beauty, and how has Catholic Church evangelized through beauty over the centuries? In this episode of the Word On Fire Show, Bishop Barron answers these questions and more about the transcendental nature of beauty. The listener question comes from Argentina and wonders how art might be used in evangelization?

Also, be sure to take advantage of our Word on Fire Show listener sale! ENTER PROMO CODE: DAVID to save $10 on our newest film at DavidTheKing.com

• 0:05 - Intro, a Cardinal visits and the sun eclipses
• 4:00 - Why has Bishop Barron considered beauty the privileged route of evangelization?
• 8:25 - What is beauty?
• 10:55 - What three things combine to make something beautiful?
• 15:55 - Why do some people disagree about a masterpiece being beautiful?
• 19:20 - How can someone be transformed by beauty?
• 24:14 - What was a profound moment of beauty in Bishop Barron's life?
• 25:43 - Question from listener: How can the arts aid in evangelization?

• Study Program
  • CATHOLICISM: The New Evangelization Leader's Kit
  • David the King
• Articles
  • "A Strategy for the New Evangelization" (Bishop Barron)
  • "The New Evangelization and Seminaries" (Bishop Barron)
  • "Effective Evangelization Commences with Joy" (Bishop Barron)
  • "Practical Strategies of the New Evangelization" (Bishop Barron)
• Videos
  • New Media and Evangelization
  • Effective Evangelization
  • Confirmation and Evangelization
  • Evangelizing with the Heart of a Shepherd
  • Theology and the New Media
• Books
  • The Priority of Christ: Toward a Postliberal Catholicism by Bishop Robert Barron
  • Word on Fire: Proclaiming the Power of Christ by Bishop Robert Barron
  • Seeds of the Word: Finding God in the Culture by Bishop Robert Barron
  • Bridging the Great Divide by Bishop Robert Barron
  • Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce

• Websites
  • Word On Fire
  • DavidTheKing.com

Find bonus links and resources for this episode at http://WordOnFireShow.com and be sure to submit your questions at http://AskBishopBarron.

What really happens when we die? In a recent interview with Larry King, popular astro-physicist, Neil deGrasse Tyson, offers a scientifically reduced answer to this philosophically rich question. In this episode of the Word On Fire Show, Bishop Barron reacts to Tyson's response and offers a more holistic understanding of human identity and death. A listener asks how God can be both a person and the sheer act of "to be" itself.

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• 0:04 - Intro: Bishop Barron speaks at a tech conference
• 1:30 - Explaining the interview and Tyson's explanation of physical death
• 5:20 - Are scientists seen as the new priests?
• 8:10 - What happens when you die besides the obvious scientific realities?
• 10:00 - Why do atheists still cling to moral values?
• 11:09 - Does culminating as meat for maggots offer a sense of eternal fulfillment?
• 12:30 - Tyson's explanation of our annihilation upon death.
• 14:55 - Is it a wish fulfilling fantasy to desire consciousness after death?
• 20:00 - Would anyone really want to live forever?
• 22:30 - What really happens when we die according to Christians?
• 25:25 - Question from listener: How can God be both a person and the sheer act of "to be" itself?

• Articles
  • "The Myth of the War Between Science and Religion" (Bishop Barron)
  • "Does Religion Have a 'Smart-People' Problem?" (Bishop Barron)
  • "The Theory of Everything: A God-Haunted Film" (Bishop Barron)
  • "Cosmos and One More Telling of the Tired Myth" (Bishop Barron)
• Videos
  • Neil deGrasse Tyson's interview with Larry King
  • Hey Bill Nye, 'Does Science Have All the Answers or Should We Do Philosophy Too?'
  • Atheism and Philosophy
  • Bishop Barron on The Theory of Everything
  • Bishop Barron on Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey
  • Has Science Refuted Aristotelian Causality?
  • Scientism and God's Existence
  • Stephen Hawking and Atheism
  • Fr. George Coyne and the Fertile Cosmos
• Books
  • The Soul's Upward Yearning by Fr. Robert Spitzer
  • The Priority of Christ by Bishop Robert Barron
• Websites
  • WordOnFire.org
  • StrangeNotions.com

Find bonus links and resources for this episode at http://WordOnFireShow.com and be sure to submit your questions at http://AskBishopBarron.

Normally, in each episode we take one listener question. But we've received such a large number of outstanding questions from around the globe that we've decided to devote another episode to answering a range of questions from listeners like you. Bishop Barron answers several questions, rapid fire, on many different topics.

• 0:05 - Intro: Bishop Barron returns from his CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players film trip
• 2:00 - Should we feel guilty for not giving away all of our possessions and serving the poorest of the poor?
• 5:10 - If there are aliens, did Jesus appear to them as well?
• 7:45 - What is the difference between the Ascension and the Assumption?
• 9:45 - Why do we take both the Bread and the Wine in Communion?
• 13:20 - When does venting turn into gossip, and how do we avoid gossiping?
• 18:45 - Where is Jesus' body today?
• 24:25 - What might Jesus say about dealing with a bad breakup?
• 26:45 - What resources should Catholics read to understand Martin Luther?

• Study Guides
  • CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players - Leader's Guide (Bishop Barron)
  • CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players - Study Guide (Bishop Barron)
  • CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players - Leaders Kit (Bishop Barron)

• DVDs
  • CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players (Bishop Barron)

• Books
  • Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith by Bishop Barron
  • Seeds of the Word: Finding God in the Culture by Bishop Barron
  • Vibrant Paradoxes: The Both/And of Catholicism by Bishop Barron
  • Praying with the Pivotal Players by Bishop Barron
  • Thomas Aquinas: Spiritual Master by Bishop Barron

Find bonus links and resources for this episode at http://WordOnFireShow.com and be sure to submit your questions at http://AskBishopBarron.

Bishop Barron is flying back from Europe after his Pivotal Players recording trip, so instead of a live show, we're bringing you a special excerpt from his upcoming "David the King" series. Learn about Hannah and the "law of the gift" in this stirring commentary.

Also, be sure to visit DavidTheKing.com and use the coupon code DAVID to save $10 on the DVD or Blu-ray version of the series!

• DVDs + Study Programs
  • David the King (Bishop Barron)
• Websites
  • Word On Fire
  • DavidTheKing.com