Episodios

  • 95 - St. Augustine: Convert, Sinner, Saint.

    95 - St. Augustine: Convert, Sinner, Saint.
    Jun 24 2025

    To wrap up our deep dive into the existence of God, in this episode we take a look at the life of St Augustine.

    St. Augustine is a doctor of the church, and one of the greatest saints in the history of Christianity. But before his conversion, he spent his youth struggling with sin, heresy, vanity, and lust. He was the product of a culture that celebrated male sexual exploits as a sign of status and masculinity, and he felt that happiness was not possible for him without the freedom to satisfy his sexual appetites.

    Although he was gifted and educated, and sincerely sought the Truth, Augustine's attachment to sin got in the way of a personal relationship with God. It took many years, and a lot of prayers and support from his mother and his friends, before he was able to reconcile himself to the Christian faith. Augustine struggled with many of the questions that people grapple with today: if God exists, why is there evil in the world? How can God say he loves us when he makes us suffer? Is chastity compatible with happiness?

    Although Augustine lived 1600 years ago, his story is strikingly modern. His life demonstrates to us that God can always work miracles, and that it is never too late to turn back to him.

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    References and further reading/listening/viewing:

    Romans Chapter 13

    The Confessions of St Augustine

    Bishop Barron, "A Life of Heroic Sanctity: Augustine of Hippo"

    The Catholic Encyclopedia, "St Augustine"

    The Catholic Encyclopedia, "St Monica"
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    44 m
  • 94 - God's Existence: Common Objections Pt. 2

    94 - God's Existence: Common Objections Pt. 2
    Jun 10 2025
    "The fact that people's religion tends to align with the culture and country that they grew up in shows that religion is just a cultural construct""There are so many hypocritical people who have used religion to abuse others, to start wars, or to seek power. These people undermine the validity of religion.""We no longer need God; science explains everything we need to know.""If God exists, then why is there so much suffering and evil in the world?"In this episode, we wrap up our discussion of objections to belief in God. ⁠Donate via PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support us on Patreon!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Contact the podcast: crashcoursecatholicism@gmail.com.Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/⁠⁠⁠References and further reading/listening/viewing:Pew Research Center, The Global Religious LandscapeSt. Thomas Aquinas, The Summa Theologiae, 1.2Trent Horn, Answering Atheism National Catholic Register, Does God Want Everyone to Be Catholic?The Problem of Evil: Actually, It's ComplicatedCatholic Answers:Christian HypocrisyAre You a Hypocrite?How can the Church be true when it produces hypocrisy?How to Answer the Problem of EvilThe Problem of EvilFr Mike Schmitz, "Judgmental, Bigoted, Homophobic, Elitist, and Hypocritical" (The World’s Perception of Christians)Are All Catholics Hypocrites?Augustine of Hippo: God Enlarges the Capacity of Our Soul that He may Fill Us with His PresenceG.K. Chesterton on the Problem of Evil Bishop Robert Barron, Is Science Opposed to Faith? Bishop Barron on Scientism and God's ExistenceBishop Barron on God, Tsunamis, and the Problem of EvilBishop Barron on Atheism and PhilosophyBishop Barron Comments on Stephen Fry, Job, and SufferingThe Thomistic Institute, The Problem of Evil (Aquinas 101)Freedom (Aquinas 101)Fr Gregory Pine, Does the Presence of Evil Disprove the Existence of God?Word on Fire Institute, How the Problem of Evil Points to God's ExistencePeter Kreeft, God's Answer to SufferingWilliam Lane Graig on the Problem of EvilThe Counsel of Trent, God vs evil (with Alex O’Connor, Joe Schmid, and Cameron Bertuzzi)Capturing Christianity, God Allows Evil and God is Evil?
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    35 m
  • 93 - God's Existence: Common Objections Pt. 1

    93 - God's Existence: Common Objections Pt. 1
    May 25 2025
    "Atheists don't need to substantiate their position; the burden of proof lies with the theist because they're the one making a positive claim to belief.""God is just something people turn to for comfort.""Atheists just believe in one god fewer than Christians do.""There is no evidence for the existence of God.""If God is good and He loves me, then why is He so difficult to find?"In this episode, we cover some common objections to belief in God. ⁠Donate via PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support us on Patreon!⁠⁠⁠⁠Contact the podcast: crashcoursecatholicism@gmail.com.Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/⁠⁠References and further reading/listening/viewing:Catechism pts. 36-38⁠What happens when we seek God but can't find Him? with Alex O'Connor and Fr. Pine⁠⁠DEBATE: God's Existence - Alex O'Connor Vs. Trent Horn⁠Bertrand Russell and Frederick Copleston Debate⁠Alex O'Connor, This is Why I Don't Believe in GodBen Watkins: Why I Am An AtheistAtheists Respond to The Fine Tuning Argument for GodGood example of rhetorical language: The All-Time Best Arguments Against ReligionDan Barker, Losing Faith in FaithBritannica, Flying Spaghetti MonsterCapturing Christianity:Is There Really "No Evidence" for God? Why I Am/Am Not a ChristianTop 10 Christian vs. Atheist Debates EVERYONE Should WatchPaul Chamberlain: Why People Don't Believe: Confronting Seven Challenges to Christian FaithJohn DeRosa, One Less God Than YouFr Gregory Pine, If God Exists, Where Is He? Bishop Barron:Bishop Robert Barron on Who God Is & Who God Isn'tBishop Barron on Atheism and PhilosophyBishop Barron on Stephen Hawking and AtheismThe best atheist arguments, explained by a Catholic bishop | Bishop Robert BarronCatholic Answers:How to Speak to an AtheistAtheists keep making this terrible argument. Is there sufficient evidence for God’s existence?Can science prove or disprove the existence of God?10 Possible Reasons for a ‘Hidden’ GodDoes it Matter That Science Can't Detect God?How Science Proves God's ExistenceTrent Horn, Answering AtheismThe "Evil God" Challenge (REBUTTED)William Lane Craig vs. Frank Zindler, Atheism vs. ChristianitySumma Theologiae, 1.12Word on Fire: How Can Anyone Say They "Know" Catholicism is True?
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    33 m
  • 92: God's Existence: Kalam, Fine Tuning, Beauty, and Consciousness

    92: God's Existence: Kalam, Fine Tuning, Beauty, and Consciousness
    May 11 2025
    In this episode, we continue our deep dive into the question: How do we know God exists? Today we will give an overview of various popular arguments for the existence of God, including the Kalam Cosmological Argument, the fine tuning of the universe, William Paley’s Watchmaker Argument, the argument from aesthetic experience, and Pascal’s wager. ⁠Donate via PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support us on Patreon!⁠⁠⁠Contact the podcast: crashcoursecatholicism@gmail.com.Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/⁠References and further reading/listening/viewing:William Lane Craig:The Kalam Cosmological Argument - Part 1: Scientific The Kalam Cosmological Argument - Part 2: PhilosophicalThe Fine-Tuning of the Universe. Impossible Universe: The Reality of Cosmic Fine Tuning Reasonable Faith ⁠Pascal’s Wager: A Good Argument? ⁠Does the Kalam Argument Work? w/ Dr. William Lane Craig & Jimmy Akin OK Go - This Too Shall Pass - Rube Goldberg Machine Kalaam Argument for God Debated | Jimmy Akin & Trent HornTrent Horn:Rebutting atheist objections to the fine-tuning argument The Argument for God Atheists Fear the MostPeter KreeftPascal's Wager W/ Peter KreeftTwenty Arguments for God’s Existence C.S. Lewis, Miracles, Chapter Three Edward Feser:Five Proofs of the Existence of God Mackie on Pascal’s Wager
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    40 m
  • BONUS: How Papal Conclaves Work

    BONUS: How Papal Conclaves Work
    May 3 2025

    In this short, bonus episode, we discuss what a papal conclave looks like. How does voting work? How many votes are needed for someone to be elected pope? Why is the process so secretive?

    The information in this episode comes from "Universi Dominici Gregis", an apostolic constitution which outlines the prescriptions for papal elections. The full document can be found here.


    ⁠Donate via PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    ⁠⁠Support us on Patreon!⁠⁠⁠

    Contact the podcast: crashcoursecatholicism@gmail.com.

    Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/⁠
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    12 m
  • 91 - God's Existence: Aquinas' Five Ways Pt. 2

    91 - God's Existence: Aquinas' Five Ways Pt. 2
    Apr 28 2025

    In this episode, we continue our deep dive into the question: How do we know God exists?

    Today we will wrap up our discussion of St. Thomas Aquinas's Five Ways by analysing the Fourth Way (the argument from gradation/degree) and the Fifth Way (the argument from order).

    Aquinas' Five Ways are among the most famous arguments for the existence of God, and they have been hugely influential in the history of the Philosophy of Religion. They have also been at times misunderstood and misrepresented, so in this series, we're taking the time to delve deep and understand what, exactly, Aquinas is arguing.

    ⁠Donate via PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    ⁠Support us on Patreon!⁠⁠

    Contact the podcast: crashcoursecatholicism@gmail.com.

    Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/⁠

    References and further reading/listening/viewing:

    Summa Theologiae Part 1, Question 2⁠

    ⁠Summa Contra Gentiles⁠

    Edward Feser:

    ⁠Aquinas: A Beginner's Guide⁠

    ⁠Five Proofs of the Existence of God

    Empirical science and the transcendentals

    Four Causes and Five WaysRéginald Garrigou-Lagrange, ⁠The one God: a commentary on the first part of St. Thomas' Theological summa.

    The Thomistic Institute:

    St. Thomas Aquinas' Fifth Way & Arguments from Modern Science (Aquinas 101)

    St. Thomas' SIMPLEST Proof for the Existence of God (Aquinas 101)Thomas Joseph White #9: The Fifth Way (I, 2, 3)

    Thomas Joseph White #8: The Fourth Way (I, 2, 3)

    Why is the Fourth Way the LEAST Popular of St. Thomas' Five Ways? (Aquinas 101)

    Why Does Truth Depend Upon Being in St. Thomas' Fourth Way? (Aquinas 101)

    The Fourth Way: If You’re the Tallest, You’re Also a Cause! (Aquinas 101)

    Pints With Aquinas: Explaining Thomas Aquinas' Proofs
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    28 m
  • 90 - God's Existence: Aquinas' Five Ways Pt. 1

    90 - God's Existence: Aquinas' Five Ways Pt. 1
    Apr 15 2025
    Welcome to our deep-dive into the question: How do we know God exists?In this series, we return to the topic of God's existence, which we covered aaall the way back in Episode 2 (!!), and we break it open to explore it more deeply. In this episode, we look at St. Thomas Aquinas's first three 'ways', or arguments for God's existence. These are among the most famous arguments for the existence of God, and they have been hugely influential in the history of the Philosophy of Religion. They have also been at times misunderstood and misrepresented, so in this series we're taking the time to delve deep and understand what, exactly, Aquinas is arguing. Donate via PayPal⁠⁠Support us on Patreon!⁠Contact the podcast: crashcoursecatholicism@gmail.com.Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/References and further reading/listening/viewing:Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae Part 1, Question 2Summa Contra GentilesEdward Feser:Aquinas: A Beginner's GuideFive Proofs of the Existence of God"Scholastic regress arguments"Catholic Answers, "What Caused God?"Peter Kreeft, "The First Cause Argument"Summa of the SummaThomas Joseph White: "The First Way""The Second Way""The Third Way (I, 2, 3)"The Thomistic Institute:"Five Ways to Prove God Exists (Aquinas 101)""St. Thomas Aquinas' Favorite Argument for the Existence of God (Aquinas 101)""What's Wrong With St. Thomas Aquinas' First Proof for the Existence of God? (Aquinas 101)""How St. Thomas Aquinas' Second Way for Proving the Existence of God Works (Aquinas 101)""How St. Thomas Proves God's Existence Through Efficient Causality (Aquinas 101)""What is Efficient Causality? (Aquinas 101)""St. Thomas' Third Way: You Didn't Have To Exist—But You Do! (Aquinas 101)""The Third Way: How St. Thomas Argues for God’s Existence From Contingency (Aquinas 101)""The Third Way: Another Take On The Argument (Aquinas 101)"Bishop Barron on Thomas Aquinas and the Argument from Motion
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    36 m
  • 89 - Love!

    89 - Love!
    Mar 31 2025

    Welcome baaaaaaaack it's Season 3!

    In this season, we're plumbing the depths of Catholicism and the Catechism, doing deep-dives into topics that we have only touched on previously, like the existence of God, the bible, the social doctrine of the church, and theology of the body.

    In this episode, we round off an exploration of the three theological virtues - Faith, Hope, and Love - which we began in our very first episode, by talking about Love.

    What is Love? Is it just a feeling? Am I obliged to love people who have harmed me, or who are committing evil acts?


    References and further reading/listening/viewing:

    • The Catechism of the Catholic Church, pts. 1822-1829
    • Benedict XVI, Deus caritas est
    • C. S. Lewis, The Four Loves
    • C. S. Lewis, The Four Loves (Audio)


    Donate via PayPal
    Support us on Patreon!
    Contact the podcast: crashcoursecatholicism@gmail.com.
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/
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    39 m