This week, Bishop Barron is giving the annual “Erasmus Lecture” for First Things, where he'll speak on “Evangelizing the ‘Nones’.” That's the them of this episode, which explores why young people are becoming disconnected to religion, and what we can do to draw them back. A listener asks what makes great music truly great.

SPECIAL: Pick up your FREE copy of Bishop Barron's “Advent Gospel Reflections” booklet and get inspiring reflections throughout this holy season. The book is free, you just cover the shipping. Just click here to order.

Topics Discussed

• 0:04 - Introduction, Bishop Speaks at the Cornerstone Conference and prepares for the Erasmus Lecture
• 06:00 - Brief synopsis of iGen, a book that discusses America's newest and least religious generation
• 08:30 - How does our culture's celebration of individual choice create "nones", and how do we approach this issue as evangelists?
• 12:20 - How has scientism led to the creation of the "nones", and how do we approach this issue as evangelists?
• 16:15 - How has the "LGBTQ movement" contributed to the rise of the "nones", and is Christianity anti-gay?
• 23:00 - What are the 5 pathways to reach the "nones"?
• 26:50 - How do we approach a person who has zero interest in religion?
• 29:00 - Listener Question: What makes great music great?

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

In his new book, To Light a Fire on the Earth, Bishop Barron shares the story of his own spiritual formation as a young man coming of age after Vatican II, who is then called to preach to a secular world. Thankfully, the bishop was guided by great men who, despite the tide of secularism and moral relativism, embodied the steadfast spirituality, integrity, and moral rectitude that informs a heroic priesthood. In this episode of the Word On Fire Show, Bishop Barron discusses the impact of five key figures in his life, beginning with his father, John Clayton Barron, Sr. and ending with his late, great mentor, Cardinal Francis George of Chicago.

SPECIAL: Pre-order Bishop Barron's new 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.

Topics Discussed

• 00:04 - Introduction, first printing and a visit from the Papal Ninja
• 02:40 - The father of Father Barron
• 07:20 - Adolescence and Mr. Tim White's English class
• 11:52 - Seminary years with Msgr. Robert Sokolowski
• 17:42 - Serving as a parish priest with Msgr. Bill Quinn
• 23:00 - The mission and mentorship of Cardinal Francis George
• 28:25 - Listener Question: How do we respond to critics who say that it's worthless to "send our thoughts and prayers" in times of crisis?

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

This is the second part of a series responding to a viral YouTube video titled "Aquinas and the Cosmological Arguments" (750,000+ views), which 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 how the word "Gospel" would have been understood in the first century.

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.

Topics Discussed

• 0:05 - Introduction, background on Crash Course video
• 1:40 - Are Aquinas' first four arguments for God unimpressive because they don't lead to a personal God?
• 8:15 - Does Aquinas' argument for God allow for polytheism?
• 12:2o - Does Aquinas' argument for God allow God to be an egg, a turtle, or a big block of stone?
• 14:35 - Are there major flaws that make Aquinas' argument invalid?
• 16:45 - Is Aquinas' argument self-defeating, because God would require a cause?
• 21:05 - Do you have to believe Aquinas' arguments in order to believe in God?
• 26:30 - Question from listener: Was the word "Gospel" used often in Jesus' time?

Bonus Resources

• 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.

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.

Topics Discussed

• 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?

Bonus Resources

• 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.

Bonus Resources

• 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