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

Bishop Barron has a new book coming out titled To Light a Fire on the Earth: Proclaiming Christ in a Secular Age. It's a book-length conversation between Bishop Barron and John Allen, Jr., the award-winning Vatican journalist, and touches on a wide range of subjects including God, atheism, social media, prayer, beauty, and why the Church matters today. In today's episode, John joins Bishop Barron to discuss the new book.

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
• 1:40 - What were John Allen's first impressions about creating this book?
• 3:10 - What were Bishop Barron's first thoughts when the book was proposed to him?
• 4:00 - What parallels does John Allen see between Ven. Fulton Sheen and Bishop Barron
• 7:35 - Why did Bishop Barron start the book talking about beauty?
• 9:00 - How is Baseball helpful to understanding Catholicism
• 12:00 - How did one of Bishop Barron's professors in Paris shape his spirituality?
• 14:00 - What is Bishop Barron's three-fold path to holiness?
• 16:00 -  What makes Bishop Barron different from other people John has interviewed for books?
• 19:00 - Will Word On Fire become a permanent movement in the life of the Church?
• 23:30 - How can Catholics proclaim the Gospel in a secular age?

Bonus Resources

• Books
  • To Light a Fire on the Earth: Proclaiming Christ in a Secular Age

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

Today (September 18), Bishop Barron will be speaking to Facebook employees at their headquarters in Menlo Park, CA, on "How to Have a Religious Argument." (The talk will be livestreamed on Bishop Barron's Facebook page from 6:00pm-7:00pm ET.)

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 what Bishop Robert Barron finds interesting is how few people really know how to have a good religious argument. There is a lot of energy, lots of sharp words, and lots of strong feelings 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 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 about the talk
• 1:15 - Bill Maher as an example of how NOT to have a religious argument
• 2:40 - How is learning to trust a person an example of coming to faith? 
• 6:30 - What is the number one block to having a good religious argument?
• 9:58 - What is voluntarism, and how does it block good religious argument?
• 16:15 - How does understanding your opponent's position helpful in having a religious argument? How is Thomas Aquinas an expert in this?
• 23:50 - What is the significance of Bishop Barron speaking at Facebook?
• 26:00 - Question from listener: How can the Catholic Church claim the fullness of truth when other religions claim the same?

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

There seems to be a divide in the Catholic Church between so-called “pro-life” Catholic and so-called “social justice” Catholics. Where did this come from? How do we heal this split? That's what Bishop Barron discusses in this episode. A listener asks how to respond when a beggar asks for money on the street.

Topics Discussed

• 0:05 - Intro: Ingrid Goes West and Facebook announcement
• 3:45 - How did the Pro-Life movement and the Social Justice movement become divided?
• 5:55 - How should the "both/and" quality of Catholicism address this great separation?
• 7:00 - What does "social justice" mean in the Catholic tradition?
• 9:15 - Should the Pro-Life and Social Justice movements be equally emphasized in the life of the Church?
• 13:20 - How do we heal the divide between these two groups of Catholics?
• 14:55 - How can the saints help provide a path forward?
• 17:00 - How does Pope Francis balance the priority of these two issues?
• 19:32 - Question from listener: How should Catholics react to beggars on the street?

Bonus Resources 

• Study Program
  • David the King
• Websites
  • Bishop Barron's Facebook page
  • Word On Fire
  • DavidTheKing.com

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

Every now and then, articles and surveys pop up suggesting that religious people are, by whatever criteria, dumber than then general population—or at least dumber than atheists. Today Bishop Barron responds to this and the charge that religion has a “smart-people problem.” A listener asks about new ecclesial movements in the Church.

Also, be sure to take advantage of our Word on Fire Show listener sale! ENTER PROMO CODE: DAVID to save $10 on our newest film at DavidTheKing.com

Topics Discussed

• 0:05 - Intro and Catholic podcast recommendations
• 1:30 - Bishop Barron's initial reaction to the articles claiming that religion has a smart-people problem.
• 5:00 - What does it say about religion when studies show that most scientists are atheists?
• 8:30 - Is it worrisome that most professional philosophers are atheists?
• 12:00 - Does it matter that most religious philosophers are theists?
• 13:30 - How does the culture feel about religious people, are they considered childish and simple-minded?
• 17:50 - What does historical evidence tell us about the relationship between science and religion? 
• 19:30 - Question from listener: What's your take on Communion and Liberation and other ecclesial movements in the Church?

Bonus Resources 

• Study Program
  • CATHOLICISM: The New Evangelization Leader's Kit
  • David the King
• Articles
  • "Religion’s Smart-People Problem: The Shaky Intellectual Foundations of Absolute Faith" (Salon)
  • "A Scientist Looked Through 63 Studies to Conclude Atheists are More Intelligent than Religious People" (Indy 100)
  • "Atheists More Intelligent Because They Can Override “Instinctive” Religious Beliefs—But It Will Be Their Downfall" (Newsweek)
  • "Religion’s Smart-People Problem: The Shaky Intellectual Foundations of Absolute Faith" (Salon)
• Videos
  • Bill Nye and Philosophy
  • Atheism and Philosophy
  • Scientism and God's Existence
• Websites
  • Word On Fire
  • DavidTheKing.com

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

What is beauty? Is beauty undefinable and entirely relativistic? Or is beauty an objective reality, backed by reason and understanding? How do Catholics define beauty, and how has Catholic Church evangelized through beauty over the centuries? In this episode of the Word On Fire Show, Bishop Barron answers these questions and more about the transcendental nature of beauty. The listener question comes from Argentina and wonders how art might be used in evangelization?

Also, be sure to take advantage of our Word on Fire Show listener sale! ENTER PROMO CODE: DAVID to save $10 on our newest film at DavidTheKing.com

Topics Discussed

• 0:05  - Intro, a Cardinal visits and the sun eclipses
• 4:00 - Why has Bishop Barron considered beauty the privileged route of evangelization?
• 8:25 - What is beauty?
• 10:55 - What three things combine to make something beautiful?
• 15:55 - Why do some people disagree about a masterpiece being beautiful?
• 19:20 - How can someone be transformed by beauty?
• 24:14 - What was a profound moment of beauty in Bishop Barron's life?
• 25:43 - Question from listener: How can the arts aid in evangelization?

Bonus Resources 

• Study Program
  • CATHOLICISM: The New Evangelization Leader's Kit
  • David the King
• Articles
  • "A Strategy for the New Evangelization" (Bishop Barron)
  • "The New Evangelization and Seminaries" (Bishop Barron)
  • "Effective Evangelization Commences with Joy" (Bishop Barron)
  • "Practical Strategies of the New Evangelization" (Bishop Barron)
• Videos
  • New Media and Evangelization
  • Effective Evangelization
  • Confirmation and Evangelization
  • Evangelizing with the Heart of a Shepherd
  • Theology and the New Media
• Books 
  • The Priority of Christ: Toward a Postliberal Catholicism by Bishop Robert Barron
  • Word on Fire: Proclaiming the Power of Christ by Bishop Robert Barron
  • Seeds of the Word: Finding God in the Culture by Bishop Robert Barron
  • Bridging the Great Divide by Bishop Robert Barron
  • Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce

• Websites
  • Word On Fire
  • DavidTheKing.com

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