Thinking Faith Catholic Podcast

TF | S4 E04| Is Halloween compatible with Catholic faith? Should Catholics participate in trick-or-treating, costumes, and spooky traditions, or should Christians avoid Halloween altogether?

In this episode of Thinking Faith, Deacon Eric Gurash and guest host Brayden Kunz explore the Catholic roots of Halloween and its connection to All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. They discuss common concerns about Halloween, the difference between harmless fun and genuinely problematic occult practices, and why participating in neighbourhood traditions can be an opportunity for community, connection, and faith.

Discover how Halloween can open the door to meaningful conversations about death, the communion of saints, prayer for the dead, and the Christian hope of resurrection. From traditional soul cakes and cemetery visits to saint costumes and Mexican sugar-skull traditions, Eric and Brayden share practical ways Catholic families can celebrate Halloween while keeping faith at the heart of the season.

Whether you love Halloween or have questions about its place in Catholic life, this conversation offers a thoughtful, balanced approach to celebrating All Hallows’ Eve without fear or superstition.

06:07 Can Catholics Celebrate

07:13 Halloween Costume Memories

11:08 Is Dressing Up Wrong

13:24 Occult and Superstition

18:24 Halloween Origins and All Saints

20:57 Laughing at Death

22:10 Kids Learn Through Play

23:39 Sugar Skulls and Hope

25:34 Saint Costumes and Spooky Saints

27:29 Talking About Death

29:20 Soul Cakes Tradition

33:01 Funerals and Family Conversations

35:55 Practical Faithful Ideas

39:19 Home Traditions and Cemetery Prayer

TF | S4 E03 | Do Catholics, Protestants, and Muslims worship the same God? What can our favourite biblical figures teach us about faith? And what should Catholics make of dreams about loved ones who have died? In this episode of *Thinking Faith*, Deacon Eric Gurash and Dr. Brett Salkeld tackle three fascinating questions about Catholic belief and spirituality. Drawing on Catholic teaching and *Nostra Aetate*, they explore what the Church teaches about Christianity, Islam, and our shared understanding of God, while acknowledging important differences in belief. They also share their favourite biblical figures, including Luke and Judith, before exploring dreams of deceased loved ones, the communion of saints, prayer for the dead, and how Catholics can approach these experiences with faith and discernment.

Three questions, surprising answers, and, as always, thoughtful conversations about what Catholics really believe.

00:00 Podcast Welcome

02:55 Student Questions Setup

03:25 Same God Question

06:42 Vatican II On Islam

09:53 Trinity Key Difference

14:58 God Revealed In Cultures

16:57 Favorite Bible Person

17:03 Judith And Esther

21:49 Luke The Narrator

24:05 Luke’s Outsider Lens

25:29 Roof Tiles Storytelling

27:57 Acts and Church Identity

29:05 Luke vs Hebrews Worlds

31:49 Dreams and Discernment

34:14 Pray for the Dead

38:39 Symbols and Psychology

42:43 Accept the Gift

45:33 Closing Thanks and Prayer

|TF| S4 EP 2 | How can you know that you’re saved? And if you’ve received the Holy Spirit, should you be certain of your salvation? This week on Thinking Faith, Deacon Eric Gurash and Dr. Brett Salkeld respond to a Miller High School student’s question about assurance of salvation and the Catholic understanding of hope. Along the way, they explore baptism, the Holy Spirit, Ignatian discernment, purgatory, and why Catholics and Protestants can approach the question of being “saved” so differently.

When it comes to salvation, where should our confidence ultimately rest?

02:14 Salvation Question Setup

02:57 Mailbag From Students

04:54 Assurance vs Hope

05:47 Protestant Roots of Assurance

08:58 Quicksand of Self-Doubt

10:47 Sacraments and Agency

13:39 Catholic Answer

14:59 Hope and Salvation Anxiety

15:40 Theological Virtue of Hope

16:14 Feelings and the Holy Spirit

17:24 Ignatius and Discernment Anchors

19:55 Hoping Hell Is Empty

21:06 Purgatory as Restorative Hope

25:44 My Hope Is in Jesus

26:43 Closing

| TF | S4 E01 |

What if the Book of Revelation isn’t really about predicting the end of the world, but about learning to see what’s happening right now?

This week on Thinking Faith, Deacon Eric Gurash and Dr. Brett Salkeld take up a student question about one of Scripture’s strangest and most misunderstood books. Together, they explore Revelation as an “unveiling” that helps Christians living through fear, persecution, and uncertainty see the deeper reality of what God is doing. From the seven letters to the churches to the proclamation of the Word to the wedding feast of the Lamb, this first episode of a new season asks whether the Book of Revelation offers a secret code for calculating the end times or a vision of worship that reshapes how Christians understand the world.

01:47 Podcast Intro and Student Questions

04:03 Why Revelation Feels Weird

06:43 Apocalypse and Unveiling

09:45 Prophecy Not Fortune Telling

12:06 Persecution and Coded Language

17:21 Beasts, Barcodes, and Misreads

19:18 666 Solomon and Apostasy

21:31 Heavenly Liturgy in Revelation

23:02 Parousia Wedding Feast Eucharist

25:55 Revelation’s Big Questions

26:37 Two-Part Structure

28:09 Mass in Revelation

30:03 Seven Letters Repentance

31:07 Exodus Plagues Pattern

32:18 Eden to New Jerusalem

34:29 The Woman, the Dragon, and the Church

37:13 Throne Room and Prayer

39:55 Parousia at Mass

40:51 End Times Readiness

42:25 Midnight Mass Illustration

44:54 Against Code-Breaking Fear

47:21 Freedom Beyond Power

50:25 Worship Forms Imagination

52:36 Go to Mass

| S03 E22 | On the cusp of the 10th anniversary of MAiD in Canada, and as our country prepares to expand Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) to cases where mental illness is the sole underlying condition, important questions remain about safeguards, mental health care, physician conscience rights, and the protection of vulnerable people. In this final episode of Season 3, Deacon Eric Gurash and Dr. Brett Salkeld welcome Larry Worthen of the Christian Medical and Dental Association of Canada for a conversation about the future of MAID, the challenges facing patients and physicians, and the Christian call to accompany those who suffer with dignity, compassion, and hope.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

01:02 Tour Stories

02:40 MAID Expansion Explained

05:26 Legal Origins and Slippery Slope

09:03 Burden and Human Dignity

11:00 From Burden to Infanticide

15:08 Conscience Rights and Doctor Duties

17:24 MAID as "Treatment"

18:30 Real Cases and Warnings

20:09 Safeguards Always Fail

22:09 Normalize Suicide Agenda

23:34 Doctor Shopping Loopholes

24:51 Keanu Case Explained

26:57 Care Wait Times Crisis

28:24 Palliative Care Underserved

30:13 Suicide Line After Expansion

33:54 Church Response

39:11 Dying Well

42:40 Final Blessing Farewell

TF S03 E21 | As we head into Laudato Si' Week (May 17-24) Dr. Brett Salkeld speaks with Comboni Missionary priest, Fr. Dario Bossi, about the Church’s vision of integral ecology, the human and environmental impacts of mining in the Amazon, and the work of Justiça nos Trilhos (Justice Along the Rails) supporting communities affected by industrial development. Together they explore faith, solidarity, Catholic social teaching, and the connection between the cry of the poor and the cry of the Earth.

00:00 Welcome to Thinking Faith

00:46 Meet Father Dario

02:25 Missionary Journey

04:38 Why the Amazon Matters

06:27 Integral Ecology Explained

10:07 Mining and Its Impacts

13:11 Economy Versus Ecology

22:25 Community Alternatives

26:48 Churches and Mining Network

28:04 Option for the Poor

32:50 Justice on the Rails

35:38 How to Learn More

37:35 Catholic Solidarity

38:19 Closing

TF | S03 E20 | In this episode of Thinking Faith, Deacon Eric Gurash and Dr. Brett Salkeld respond to a question from Grade 9–10 students at Miller High School: Do miracles still happen—and why can’t science prove them?

Exploring Scripture, theology, and real-world examples, they unpack the relationship between miracles, faith, and scientific evidence. The conversation highlights why miracles in the Bible—and today—are not “proofs” that force belief, but signs that invite a personal response and deeper relationship with God.

They also examine how the Church evaluates miracles, the limits of science in explaining the supernatural, and why openness—rather than certainty—shapes how we interpret extraordinary events. This episode offers a thoughtful and accessible look at how faith and reason work together, and why miracles ultimately point beyond themselves to hope, conversion, and God’s presence in the world.

00:00 Miracles Question

00:52 Why We Love Q and A

01:55 Framing Modern Skepticism

03:27 New Testament Not Naive

05:08 Miracles Need Interpretation

07:39 Miracles Don't Force Faith

09:20 Science Limits and Saints

12:09 Canonization Beyond Evidence

13:53 Shroud of Turin Cautions

16:49 Historical Case for Resurrection

19:01 Historical Evidence Limits

20:32 Hume and Miracle Bias

21:23 Modern Miracles and Lourdes

23:05 Why Miracles Leave Scars

24:42 Signs That Build Hope

29:44 Choosing Good Over Despair

32:04 Prayer and Shared Responsibility

35:44 Atheists' Prayer for a Sign

37:13 Incremental Faith and Unbelief

38:51 Wrap Up and Blessing

TF | S03 E19 | In this episode of Thinking Faith, Deacon Eric Gurash and Dr. Brett Salkeld respond to a powerful question from Grade 9–10 students at Miller High School: If God is always helping us, why is there so much suffering in the world?

Drawing on Christian theology, Scripture, and real-life experience, they explore the problem of evil, distinguishing between natural suffering and moral evil, and examining how faith understands both. The conversation highlights how God does not cause suffering—but works through it, bringing grace, growth, and hope even in the most difficult moments.

Through insights from the Psalms, the Cross, and everyday life, this episode offers a deeply honest and hopeful look at suffering—encouraging listeners to seek the full truth of their lives, practice gratitude, and trust that evil does not have the final word.

01:14 Student Questions

02:23 Why God Allows Pain

03:19 Natural vs Moral Evil

05:24 Death and Sin

10:07 Grace Changes Perspective

12:41 Holy Indifference Ignatius

14:47 Evil Feels Like Winning

17:57 Hope Through Suffering

18:59 God Doesn't Waste Pain

20:18 Remembering Past Grace

20:56 When You Would Trade It

23:04 Trust Beyond Answers

24:17 Christ in Gethsemane

25:08 Despair After the Cross

27:11 John the Baptist Doubts

29:30 Guilt Over Graces

30:15 Why Me to Why Not

32:10 Evil Defeats Itself

33:08 Problem of the Good

35:30 Gratitude in Hard Times

40:24 Truth Not Denial

42:04 Wrap Up and Thanks

TF S03 | E18| In this episode of Thinking Faith, Deacon Eric Gurash and Dr. Brett Salkeld respond to a thoughtful question from Grade 9–10 students at Miller High School: How can I know when God is talking to me?

Drawing on the spiritual wisdom of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the conversation explores Christian discernment through self-awareness, honesty, and paying attention to the movements of the heart over time. They explain the difference between spiritual consolation and desolation, clarifying that these are not simply good or bad feelings, but experiences related to freedom, clarity, hope, and closeness to God.

The episode offers practical guidance on creating space to hear God’s voice through silence, prayer, spiritual reading, Mass, confession, adoration, and the daily Examen, while cautioning against making major decisions during times of desolation. Listeners are encouraged to trust that God’s voice often sounds like truth spoken within, to remain grounded in Church teaching, and to grow patiently in freedom and faith as God continues to shape their spiritual lives.

00:19 Podcast Welcome

03:22 Question God Speaking

03:46 Ignatius Discernment Basics

05:05 Silence and Self Awareness

05:58 Ignatius Story and Boredom

08:21 Consolation vs Dopamine Crash

10:40 Examen and Honest Reflection

12:02 True Voice vs False Voice

15:59 Church and Moral Guardrails

18:31 Crime and Punishment Example

20:52 Everyday Choices and Consolation

21:45 Fruits Of The Spirit

22:32 Consolation Versus Desolation

23:53 Do Not Decide Desolate

24:35 Dad Story And Space

27:58 Lies Reduce Your Options

29:03 Temporary States And Clarity

31:44 Many Good Choices

33:42 Discernment In Sacraments

36:13 Garden Conditions For Growth

38:05 God Changes Our Minds

38:44 Closing Thanks And Blessing

TF | S03 E17 | In this episode of Thinking Faith, Deacon Eric Gurash and Dr. Brett Salkeld explore key questions in Catholic theology and Scripture, beginning with Eucharistic theology, Eucharistic miracles, and why belief in the Real Presence does not depend on miracles alone.

Drawing on questions from Grade 9 and 10 students at Miller High School in Regina, the conversation also includes Adam and Eve, and what these teachings reveal about the unity of the human family as well as a discussion on images of Jesus in art, examining historical accuracy, cultural expression, and how enculturated imagery helps communicate the Gospel across time and place.

00:00 Intro

01:13 The Plaid Episode

02:05 Questions from Miller High School

03:25 Addressing the Population Question

05:46 Theological Interpretations and Science

18:04 Scriptural Narrative and Loose Ends

21:53 The Importance of Originality in Interpretation

22:53 Science and Faith: Complementary Tools

23:31 What Did Jesus Look Like?

28:11 Cultural Representations of Jesus in Art

33:47 The Theology of Icons and Art in Christianity

40:10 Conclusion and Reflections