J.R.R. Tolkien’s masterpiece, The Lord of the Rings, is one of the best-selling books ever, selling over 150 million copies. In a 1999 poll of Amazon.com customers, The Lord of the Rings was judged to be their favorite “book of the millennium”. However, few people know that Tolkien was an ardent Catholic. Holly Ordway has written a fascinating new volume titled Tolkien’s Faith: A Spiritual Biography, which shows how his faith and his fiction were related, though in subtle and complex ways. This long-overdue spiritual biography gives new insight into his works by shedding fresh light on their author’s deepest-held convictions. Brandon Vogt recently sat down with Holly to discuss her new book and the depth of Tolkien’s Catholic life.  Links  Tolkien’s Faith: A Spiritual Biography by J.R.R. Tolkien   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!

WOF 402: The Faith of J.R.R. Tolkien w/ Holly Ordway

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Most in contemporary secular culture have probably never heard of the name “Thomas Aquinas.” However, his thought remains more pertinent than ever—not only to theology and philosophy but also to current conversations on how to build a more stable, just, and prosperous political order. Today, we discuss the evergreen genius of St. Thomas Aquinas and how his legacy continues in the life and work of the contemporary Dominican theologian, Fr. Paul Murray.    A listener asks, does the devil know that his rebellion is ultimately futile? 00:00 | Intro  01:12 | Bishop Barron in Rome  02:01 | Aquinas’ impact on Bishop Barron’s formation  03:56 | Why medieval thinkers like Aquinas still matter  06:18 | The relationship between metaphysics and ethics  07:29 | God as Being itself rather than as the greatest of beings  12:43 | How God can be both transcendent and immanent  15:58 | God’s non-competitive relationship with Creation  21:29 | Defining true human and social goods  23:00 | Does metaphysical speculation have a role in politics?  25:45 | Fr. Paul Murray, St. Thomas Aquinas, and the Dominican charism  29:54 | Listener question  31:49 | Word on Fire Institute Show Notes:  Learn about the Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/        NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a Word on Fire IGNITE member! Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners . . . like you! So become a part of this mission and join IGNITE today to become a Word on Fire insider and receive some special donor gifts for your generosity. 

WOF 435: The Enduring Relevance of St. Thomas Aquinas

We continue now with the next lecture from Bishop Barron’s popular course, “Dante’s Catholic Imagination,” available in its entirety inside the Word on Fire Institute. We follow as Dante tries to go forward on his journey, but he is blocked by the beasts of sin. Enjoy this further glimpse into Dante’s always-relevant, poetic, moral, and theological genius.           NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a Word on Fire IGNITE member! Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners . . . like you! So become a part of this mission and join IGNITE today to become a Word on Fire insider and receive some special donor gifts for your g 

WOF 434: Blocked by the Beasts of Sin

  A recent article in The Atlantic magazine highlights the crisis of isolation befalling the United States. Americans have never been—or felt—more solitary, especially the younger generations. And the consequences are often fatal: loneliness is a major cause of the recent spikes in depression, anxiety, and suicide, which are at unprecedented levels. Today, we discuss the loss of our social bonds and how Catholic thought can help heal and re-unite us.    A listener asks, given free will, does God know what choices we will make?    00:00 | Intro 01:23 | Bishop Barron’s recent USCCB and diocesan work 02:22 | Why should a person’s chosen isolation matter to anyone else? 04:34 | Individuality vs. the Catholic conception of the individual 09:11 | Distinguishing between solitude and isolation 12:43 | Why in-person communities matter 14:00 | The role of unchosen communities in an individual’s development 16:09 | How to view the company of others 17:34 | Can one adequately substitute animal companionship for community? 22:06 | New media, smart devices, and screen time 26:45 | Advice to encourage more in-person gatherings 27:53 | Listener question 29:32 | Join the Word on Fire Institute    Show Notes:      “Why Americans Suddenly Stopped Hanging Out” article in The Atlantic   Screen time stats:  https://www.harmonyhit.com/phone-screen-time-statistics/?clreqid=a5b99b78-5919-4ddd-a2d7-5cb3c4e66e6d&kbid;=58587   Learn about the Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/         NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a Word on Fire IGNITE member! Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners . . . like you! So become a part of this mission and join IGNITE today to become a Word on Fire insider and receive some special donor gifts for your generosity. 

WOF 433: Healing Antisocial America

  Today we are excited to bring you the first lecture from Bishop Barron’s popular course, “Dante’s Catholic Imagination,” which is available in its entirety inside the Word on Fire Institute. We hope you enjoy this deep dive into Dante’s evergreen, always-relevant poetic, moral, and theological genius.         NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a Word on Fire IGNITE member! Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners . . . like you! So become a part of this mission and join IGNITE today to become a Word on Fire insider and receive some special donor gifts for your generosity. 

WOF 432: Who is Dante Alighieri?

Pope St. John Paul II used the term “culture of death'' in his 1995 encyclical Evangelium Vitae to capture the secular world’s dark confluence of poisonous ideas and practices that lead—directly and indirectly—to spiritual and physical ruin. Sadly, we’ve seen the the culture of death advance on many fronts. Today, we focus on the increasing legalization of suicide in the United States and abroad. Listen as we discuss the issue and how Catholics can and should respond to it.  A listener asks why we pray for the dead, and can we pray for the souls on atheists and non-Catholics? 00:00 | Intro  01:18 | Bishop Barron's recent diocesan work  02:34 | The role of euphemism in the euthanasia debate  06:39 | Unpacking "autonomy" and "compassion"  12:31 | Responding to critics of the slippery slope argument  20:56 | The State's role in moral disputes  24:40 | How can Catholics positively respond to euthanasia?  26:50 | Listener question  28:15 | Word on Fire Institute SHOW NOTES:     Evangelium Vitae   “It’s Not Your Life, It’s Not Your Death, It’s Not Your Choice” article by Bishop Barron    https://www.compassionandchoices.org/resource/states-or-territories-where-medical-aid-in-dying-is-authorized   https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254197/assisted-suicide-in-the-united-states-where-is-it-legal Learn more about the Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/      NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a Word on Fire IGNITE member! Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners . . . like you! So become a part of this mission and join IGNITE today to become a Word on Fire insider and receive some special donor gifts for your generosity.

WOF 402: The Faith of J.R.R. Tolkien w/ Holly Ordway

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