WOF 065: Viral Videos and Labels

Is it ever necessary to label ourselves? Is it ever ok to label anyone else? Not according to internet celebrity and spoken-word poet, Prince Ea, whose viral video entitled "I Am Not Black, You Are Not White" claims that labels are the root of all social ills and that our identity is entirely separate from our physical reality. The video has reached over 100 million views on Facebook and over 11 million views on Youtube with an overwhelming approval rating (300 to 1 like to dislike ratio). The most liked comment on Youtube reads, "They showed this to us in school." In this episode of The Word on Fire Show, Bishop Barron critiques each segment of the argument posed by the young poet and explains the philosophical history behind this radical, yet widely accepted argument. The listener question asks for a book suggestion that encourages teens to return to the Church.

Topics Discussed

• 0:17  - Introduction, Bishop Barron's recent happenings
• 1:58 - Segment 1: "Our bodies are just cars", Bishop's response
• 6:18 - What are some of the dangers of bifurcating our selves and our bodies?
• 7:40 - Segment 2: "Who we truly are is found inside", Bishop's response
• 11:50 - What is the difference with the Catholic perspective on bodies and labels?
• 15:10 - Segment 3: "Every war has started over labels", Bishop's response
• 18:15 - How are labels used in the book of Genesis?
• 21:30 - Segment 4: "Until we stop thinking so small we won't be free to see each other as we truly are", Bishop's response
• 26:39 - Listener Question: What book would Bishop recommend to bring teens back into the Church?

Bonus Resources

• Videos
  • Prince Ea "I Am NOT Black, You are NOT White."
  • Bishop Barron Comments on Gay Marriage and the Breakdown of Moral Argument
  • Bishop Barron on Atheism and Philosophy 
  • Bishop Barron on Stephen Fry, Job, and Suffering
  • Bishop Barron Comments on College Campus "Safe Spaces"
• DVD's
  • CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players (Word On Fire)
  • Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith (Word On Fire)
  • The Mystery of God (Word On Fire)
  • Faith Clips (Word On Fire)
•  Articles  
  • Love, Tolerance, and the Making of Distinctions (Bishop Barron)
  • Playing at Atheism (Bishop Barron)
  • Tolerance, Choice, Argument and Religion (Bishop Barron)
• Books
  • The Priority of Christ by Bishop Barron
  • Word On Fire: Proclaiming the Power of Christ  by Bishop Barron
  • Catholicism by Bishop Barron

• Study Program 
  • The Mystery of God: Who God Is and Why He Matters (Bishop Barron)

• Websites
  • Word On Fire (Proclaiming Christ in the Culture)
  • LentenReflections.com (Daily Gospel Reflections for Lent)

 

 

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