The Word On Fire Show - Catholic Faith And Culture

Bishop Barron was recently invited to speak at the Google headquarters (aka the Googleplex). in Mountain View, CA. He addressed a room full of Google and YouTube employees on how religion doesn't shut down the questing intellect, but in fact opens up our minds, causing us to seek the fulfillment of our deepest longings. NOTE: This episode includes the first half of Bishop Barron's talk. We'll play the second half next week, including the post-talk Q&A with Google/YouTube employees.

Bishop Barron answers several questions from young listeners, ranging from three-year-olds to eight-year-olds, about God, Adam and Eve, and robbers. Enjoy this kids Q&A episode! Be sure to record your questions—or your kids' questions—at AskBishopBarron.com. Topics Discussed 2:20 - Update about Word on Fire Institute video recording 4:00 - Did Jesus really see his Father on the Cross? 5:15 - Why did Peter deny Jesus three times? 8:05 - Why didn't God warn Adam and Eve about the serpent? 13:00 - Why didn't God make us perfect in the beginning? 18:20 - Why did God make robbers? 20:45 - Why did God make tigers? 24:20 - How is it that God did not come into existence?

The new film Avengers: Infinity War, based on the Marvel Comics superhero team the Avengers, has already grossed over $1 billion worldwide and had the highest-grossing opening in film history. In this episode, Bishop Barron and Jared Zimmerer explore some of the movie's philosophical and spiritual themes. *SPOILER ALERT!* This episode contains spoilers so only listen after you've seen the film, or if you don't plan to see it. Topics Discussed 0:04 - Introduction, confirmation season 4:30 - What does Bishop Barron think of comic book movies and the villain, Thanos? 6:17 - How does Thanos mirror Nietzsche and alchemy? 9:45 - How does Thanos reflect the totalitarian regimes of the World War II? 13:05 - How does the Church stand against the idea that "the end justifies the means"? 15:45 - What are the shortcomings of the Marvel heroes, and how do they reflect the Greek gods? 21:50 - How did Bishop Barron react to the surprise ending? 25:00 - Who is Bishop Barron's favorite super hero? 26:00 - Question - By what

Part two of Bishop Barron’s talk on Catholicism and beauty from the 2018 Los Angeles Religious Education Congress.

Part One of Bishop Barron's talk on Catholicism and beauty.

Bishop Barron answers several listener questions during this episode, ranging from classic education to the Great Story of Israel to living the faith while under persecution. Enjoy this listener Q&A episode! Topics Discussed 0:04 - Updates about Confirmation season 2:00 - Video made by students at Bishop Sullivan High School (Virginia Beach, VA) 5:00 - What do you think about the movement promoting Catholic classical education? 7:40 - Does Psalm 23 demand some sort of prosperity Gospel (e.g., Joel Osteen)? 11:00 - What books do you recommend to understand God's relationship with Israel, and the Great Story? 14:30 - What do make of the Scripture that says, "God did not do the evil he had been planning to do." How should we read this? 18:00 - What key topics and elements do you think every parish religious education program should have? 22:15 - Is it possible to be gluttonous in the pursuit of knowledge about God? How do we address that? 25:45 - What did John Paul II do to facilitate the downfall of commun

John Krasinski's new film, A Quiet Place, which he both directs and stars in, may at first seem like a typical thriller, with lurking monsters threatening to kill everyone in their path. But it's actually a surprisingly religious movie, as Bishop Barron explains, witnessing to the monastic response to evil, the dignity of life, and the sacrificial death of Christ on the Cross. A listener asks about the next steps for someone who has said "yes" to Jesus and the Church. *SPOILER ALERT!* This episode contains spoilers so only listen after you've seen the film, or if you don't plan to see it. Topics Discussed 0:04 - Introduction, Bishop Barron's vacation 2:25 - What is the plot summary of the movie? 4:40 - Did John Krasinski intend on making this a religious movie? 6:25 - What are some of the key religious motifs presented in the film? 10:20 - How does this movie display the beauty of the pro-life argument? 15:25 - How does the Christus Victor theory of atonement become a motif within this film? 18:50 - How does

In this episode, Bishop Barron recounts his visit to the headquarters of both Google and YouTube. He was there to deliver a talk to Catholic Googlers on "Religion and the Opening of the Mind." He reflects on the hungering intellect and why wealth, power, pleasure, and honor all fail to satisfy its restless longings. A listener asks why Jesus didn't appear to more people after his Resurrection. NOTE: Join the Word on Fire Community here >> http://wordonfire.org/community Topics Discussed 0:04 - Introduction, Holy Week in Bishop Barron's Santa Barbara pastoral region 2:20 - What was Bishop Barron's impression of the Google and YouTube offices? 7:00 - Why did Bishop Barron choose the topic "Religion and the Opening Up of the Mind"? 10:10 - How does Thomas Aquinas's epistemology explain the "agent intellect"?  13:40 - Why does Bishop Barron bring up Elijah and the priest of Baal while at Google? 17:00 - Why can't wealth, power, pleasure or honor be the greatest good? 25:00 - What can satisfy the questing mind? 3

This week we enjoy a live recording of Bishop Barron's inspiring Easter homily.

In this week’s episode Bishop Barron discusses an intrinsic aspect of evangelization; community. Not only is there an intrinsic need of mankind to have a community, which the Church teaches is part of man’s nature, but also the need to have a certain kind of community within the Christian life. A listener asks how we ought to distinguish between authentic conscience and what CS Lewis called "the poison of subjectivism"? BONUS: Learn more about the first ever Word on Fire National Conference for Priests >> http://wordonfire.org/priest Topics Discussed 0:04 - Introduction, Bishop Barron's recent trips 3:00 - Why does contemporary culture bring a sense of isolation and loneliness? 5:45 - How do we find a balance between the autonomy of the individual and the need for community? 8:15 - What are the benefits and drawbacks of social media in community building? 11:45 - Why do humans need each other? 14:30 - How do we bolster parish community? 17:30 - What role will the Word on Fire Movement play in building Cathol

In this episode, Bishop Barron and Brandon Vogt record live from the L.A. Congress, discussing Bishop Barron's keynote talk on beauty and interacting with visitors at the booth. Enjoy!

In last week's episode, we discussed the Jordan Peterson phenomenon, wondering how the Canadian clinical psychologist exploded so quickly in popularity. In this week's episode, we continue the discussion as Bishop Barron reflects on Peterson's religious views and Biblical interpretation. A listener wonders why we spend so much money on churches instead of giving it to the poor. BONUS: Learn more about the first ever Word on Fire National Conference for Priests >> http://wordonfire.org/priest Topics Discussed 0:04 - Introduction,  Bishop Barron's upcoming travels 3:10 - What does Bishop Barron like about Jordan Peterson's religious perspectives? 5:00 - What issues does he take with Peterson's work? 10:45 - What are Jordan Peterson's religious views? 16:00 - What does Jordan Peterson believe about the Resurrection and what is Bishop Barron's reaction? 20:00 - What is the connection between C.S. Lewis and Jordan Peterson? 25:20 - What can Christian evangelists learn from Jordan Peterson? 28:30 - Listener ques

Dr. Jordan Peterson, a clinical psychologist and mythology enthusiast, has exploded onto the scene, becoming the world's most popular intellectual figure in just a few short months. Who is he and what should know about him? And why have his ideas gained so much traction, especially young men? Over the next couple episodes, Bishop Barron and Brandon Vogt discuss the Jordan Peterson phenomenon and reflect on his work from a Catholic perspective. A listener asks whether it's fine to use secular mindfulness meditation to relieve anxiety. BONUS: Learn more about the first ever Word on Fire National Conference for Priests >> http://wordonfire.org/priest Topics Discussed 0:04 - Introduction, Bishop spends time with Jim Caviezel 4:45 - How did Bishop Barron first come to know Jordan Peterson? 7:20 - Who are some of the philosophical influences of Jordan Peterson? 10:40 - Why does Jordan Peterson place such an emphasis on the Bible? 14:10 - How does Peterson view Nietzsche and our reaction to life's suffering? 24:0

The Academy Awards are just around the corner and nine films have been nominated for Best Picture. Bishop Barron has seen seven of them, and in this episode, he shares his thoughts on each. A listener asks whether free will is essential to Christianity. BONUS: Sign up for the Word on Fire National Conference for Priests >> WordOnFireShow.com/priest Topics Discussed 0:04 - Discussing Billy Graham's death and legacy 5:00 - Dunkirk 8:40 - Darkest Hour 13:30 - Get Out 16:10 - Lady Bird 21:25 - The Post 24:10 - The Shape of Water 27:00 - Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri 30:10 - Listener question: How essential is the concept of free will to Christianity? Bonus Resources Articles Lady Bird and the Breakthrough of Grace by Bishop Barron Videos Bishop Barron on Lady Bird

The Eucharist is at the foundation of the Word On Fire Institute. In this episode of the Word On Fire Show, Bishop Barron discusses what it means to be grounded in the Eucharist and how all Catholics can draw closer to the Blessed Sacrament as meal, sacrifice, and Real Presence of Jesus Christ. NOTE: Get your free Lent Reflections booklet from Bishop Barron here >> http://wordonfireshow.com/lent Topics Discussed 0:04 - Introduction, recap of the natural disasters in Santa Barbara County 2:45 - What does it mean to be grounded in the Eucharist? 5:00 - How is the Eucharist religiously themed as "meal"? 9:30- How does the Eucharist as "sacrifice" illuminate our understanding of Communion? 14:50 - How does the Eucharist as the "real presence" relate the power of this sacrament? 18:55 - How can we learn from the Eucharistic miracles? 21:40 - How can we better ground ourselves in the Blessed Sacrament? 24:00 - Listener Question: How can we explain God's non-competitive transcendence in light of transubstantiation?

At Mundelein Seminary you'll find a statue of St. George slaying a dragon below which reads, "Athleta Christi Nobilis" —The Noble Athlete of Christ. As we head into the spiritual desert of Lent, we benefit by examining the lives of those saints who courageously embraced a life of profound asceticism and self-sacrifice. In this episode of the Word On Fire Show, Bishop Barron discusses three great spiritual athletes from across the centuries. The listener question asks how to remain charitable when you disagree with your interlocutor. NOTE: Get your free Lent Reflections booklet from Bishop Barron here >> http://wordonfireshow.com/lent Topics Discussed 0:04 - Introduction, the Churchill movie 2:45 - What is a spiritual athlete? 6:25 - Why is St. Anthony of the Desert a great spiritual athlete? 9:55 - Is there something wrong with living your entire life in the desert? 12:25 - What can Thomas Merton teach us about the purpose of asceticism? 16:45 -Why is St. John of the Cross a great spiritual athlete? 20:00 -

On January 13, 2018, Bishop Barron joined Dr. William Lane Craig, the esteemed Protestant apologist, for an evening of dialogue at Claremont McKenna College. On today's episode, we recap both the afternoon session, which was an academic symposium attended by a couple dozen scholars, and the big evening dialogue in which Bishop Barron and Dr. Craig discussed faith, science, secularism, evangelization and more. A listener asks what Bishop Barron thinks of David Bentley Hart's work. Click here to watch the full dialogue between Bishop Barron and Dr. Craig, and to listen to the afternoon symposium >> http://wordonfireshow.com/wlc BONUS: Click here to get your free Lent Reflections booklet from Bishop Barron! Topics Discussed 0:04 - Intro, Why is Bishop Barron in Philadelphia? 1:30 - What was Bishop Barron's overall impression of the event with Dr. William Lane Craig? 6:4o - What was discussed during the daytime symposium? 16:25 - During the evening event, how did Bishop Barron and Dr. Craig agree about evangel

The Second Vatican Council called for a more active collaboration between the ordained and lay people. In this episode of The Word on Fire Show, Bishop Barron discusses the proper roles of the laity and the clergy in our evangelization efforts and how the collaboration of both vocations, within those proper roles, can lead toward a more effective outreach. Topics Discussed 0:04 - Introduction: Mudslides in Montecito, California 3:00 - What does it mean that Word on Fire is a collaborative apostolate? 5:30 - What role does the clergy have in evangelization? 8:35 - Why is it important that the clergy and the laity assume some different roles? 11:00 - Why is it so important for the laity to get involved in evangelization? 15:00 - How can we stay inspired to continue to evangelize the culture? 21:00 - How has Word On Fire served as an example of an effective collaboration between the laity and clergy? 23:15 - Listener Question: How can a teenager discern his vocation?

This year marks the fiftieth anniversary of the publication of Humanae Vitae, the controversial encyclical by Pope Paul VI which defended the classic sexual framework and prophesied the devastating consequences that would result upon its rejection. As Bishop Barron reveals, those prophecies have since been strongly vindicated. A listener asks whether God hates anything since he is defined by love. NOTE: Get your free Lent Reflections booklet from Bishop Barron here >> http://wordonfireshow.com/lent Topics Discussed 0:04 - Intro, What is Bishop Barron currently reading? 2:10 - Who was Pope Paul VI? 5:1o - What is the import of Evangelii Nuntiandi? 8:45 - What does Pope Paul mean when talks about the unitive and procreative dimensions of the sexual act? 11:45 - What are the prophecies Pope Paul makes in Chapter 17 of Humanae Vitae? 23:00 - How is Humanae Vitae more powerful now than when it was written in 1968? 27:54 - Listener Question: How can God "hate" something if God is love? Bonus Resources Books Hum

On January 13, 2018, Bishop Barron joined Dr. William Lane Craig, the esteemed Protestant apologist and evangelist, for a dialogue event at Claremont McKenna College. The event was hosted by the Claremont Center for Reason, Religion, and Public Affairs and was moderated by Dr. Edward Feser and Dr. Stephen Davis. Bishop Barron and Dr. Craig discussed faith, science, secularism, evangelization and more! Enjoy this special bonus episode of the Word on Fire Show, and look forward to another episode soon where Bishop Barron will offer reflections and recap the dialogue. NOTE: Watch video of the dialogue here.