Episodios

  • ITEST Webinar Bioethics & AI as Human Flourishing: Where Catholic & Orthodox Social Teaching meet in One Christian Social Ethos Jun 14, 2025

    ITEST Webinar Bioethics & AI as Human Flourishing: Where Catholic & Orthodox Social Teaching meet in One Christian Social Ethos Jun 14, 2025
    Jun 14 2025
    In this episode of I Thought You'd Like to Know This, Too, ITEST presents a webinarentitled "Bioethics & AI as Human Flourishing: Where Catholic & Orthodox Social Teaching meet in One Christian Social Ethos" (June 14, 2025)Dr. Constantine PsimopoulosBIOETHICS AND AI AS HUMAN FLOURISHING: WHERE CATHOLICS AND ORTHODOX MEET IN ONE CHRISTIAN SOCIAL ETHOSConstantine Psimopoulos is a Professor (Adj.) of Bioethics at Hellenic College Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, teaching Christian Ethics and Social Ministries and is on the faculty at Harvard’s Initiative on Health, Spirituality and Religion, of which he is also Senior Program Administrator, and the Human Flourishing program. He has another Academic research appointment in Global Health and Social Medicine and the Center for Bioethics at Harvard Medical School. At Harvard, he co-teaches the course Religion and Public Health and a new required module taught to all MD/PhD students. Constantine serves as the Director of the Division of Bioethics of the Orthodox Academy of Crete (Ecumenical Patriarchate), and as an Invited Member to the Inaugural National Committee on AI – Artificial Intelligence (and Theology) of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.AbstractThis presentation draws a comparison between Catholic social teaching and the Social ethos of the Orthodox church. Both traditions have some parallels in the way they approach AI, from a bioethical perspective that addresses social justice. The document ‘For the Life of the World’ (F.L.O.W.) of our Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, emphasizes that science and technology are a wonderful product of a God-given human creativity, and that “the desire for scientific knowledge flows from the same wellspring as faith’s longing to enter ever more deeply into the mystery of God.” It is an imperative to use AI for Human Flourishing. From a Christian bioethical lens, science and technology, and in particular Artificial Intelligence (AI), can serve as one concrete example of how this can be addressed.Fr. Michael Baggot, LCProgramming with Purpose: Guiding AI through Catholic Social TeachingFr. Michael Baggot is Legionary of Christ, an Associate Professor of Bioethics at the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum, and an Invited Professor of Theology at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (the Angelicum) and the Catholic Institute of Technology (CatholicTech). He also serves as a professor for the Joint Diploma in Leadership: Service through Virtues and the Catholic Worldview Fellowship summer program. In addition, Fr. Michael is a Research Scholar at the UNESCO Chair in Bioethics and Human Rights and a member of the Scholarly Advisory Board for Magisterium AI. He is also a fellow of the Fr. James L. Heft, SM Generations in Dialogue program at the Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies at the University of Southern California.AbstractAs an expert in humanity, the Catholic Church is deeply interested in the AI technologies that are shaping family life, education, medicine, religious practice, and other key aspects of social life. The presentation draws on the social doctrine of the Catholic Church to highlight the virtues and social structures most conducive to using AI tools to promote human flourishing. It gives special attention to the influence of AI companion systems on the loneliness epidemic and the quest for social connections. The conference also examines the significance of ecumenical dialogue, interreligious dialogue, and dialogue with secular traditions in addressing the perennial philosophical questions that emerging technologies raise.Bioethics and AI as Human Flourishing: Where Catholic and Orthodox Social Teaching meet in One Christian Social Ethos - Institute for Theological Encounter with Science and Technology
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    2 h y 2 m
  • ITEST Webinar AI and Sin: Medieval Robots and the Theology of Technology (April 5, 2025)

    ITEST Webinar AI and Sin: Medieval Robots and the Theology of Technology (April 5, 2025)
    Apr 6 2025
    In this webinar entitled AI and Sin: Medieval Robots and the Theology of Technology, hosted by the Institute for Theological Encounter with Science and Technology, Dr. Chris Reilly and Dr. Jordan Joseph Wales offer their insights into the promises and challenges of Artificial Intelligence. (April 5, 2025)Christopher M. Reilly, ThDAI and Sin: How Today’s Technology Motivates EvilChristopher M. Reilly writes and speaks in regard to a Christian response to advanced technology, and he has written numerous articles on bioethics and moral theology and philosophy. Chris holds a doctor of theology degree and three masters degrees in philosophy, theology, and public affairs. He resides in the greater Washington, DC region. His website is ChristopherMReilly.com. Chris is Associate Director of ITEST.AbstractArtificial intelligence technology (AI) motivates persons’ engagement in sin. With this startling argument drawn from Catholic theology and technological insight, Christopher M. Reilly, Th.D. takes on both critics and proponents of AI who see it as essentially a neutral tool that can be used with good or bad intentions. More specifically, Reilly demonstrates that AI strongly encourages the vice of instrumental rationality, which in turn leads the developers, producers, and users of AI and its machines toward acedia, one of the “seven deadly sins.”Jordan Joseph Wales, PhDResponse: Medieval Robots and the ​Theology of TechnologyJordan Wales is the Kuczmarski Professor of Theology at Hillsdale College. With degrees in engineering, cognitive science, and theology, his scholarship focuses on early Christianity as well as contemporary theological questions relating to artificial intelligence. He is a member of the AI Research Group for the Holy See’s Centre for Digital Culture, under the Dicastery for Culture and Education; a fellow of the Centre for Humanity and the Common Good; and a fellow of the International Society for Science and Religion.AbstractMedieval theologians and storytellers grappled with humankind’s tendency to confine our aims to what a technology can represent rather than to situate that technology within the wider horizon of the human journey to God. Responding to Dr. Reilly, I draw on legends of robots that illustrate a theological approach to AI as a perilous but also potent instrument mediating between human volition and our natural and social environment. In their diverging outcomes, these texts suggest paths toward a more humane positioning of AI within our lives.Webinar resourcesChris Reilly’s ResourcesRadio interview on Relevant Radio, Trending with Timmerie: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/ai-reason-acedia–64575876Book – AI and Sin: How Today’s Technologies Motivate Evil: https://enroutebooksandmedia.com/aiandsin/Chris Reilly’s website: https://christophermreilly.com/Chapter – “Seven Christian Principles for Thriving with Artificial Intelligence”: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5e3ada1a6a2e8d6a131d1dcd/t/66bb63fdcdba62679b200277/1723556861413/Artificial+Intelligence-1.pdfJordan Wales’ Resources“What Will a Future with Androids among Us Look Like”: https://churchlifejournal.nd.edu/articles/what-will-a-future-with-androids-among-us-look-like/“The Image and the Idol: A Theological Reflection on AI Bias”: https://churchlifejournal.nd.edu/articles/the-image-and-the-idol-a-theological-reflection-on-ai-bias/“Encountering Artificial Intelligence: Ethical and Anthropological Investigations”: https://jmt.scholasticahq.com/article/91230-encountering-artificial-intelligence-ethical-and-anthropological-investigations
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    1 h y 58 m
  • Fr. Christopher Seith on his book Rekindling Wonder on EWTN's "Life on the Rock" with Fr. Mark Mary, MFVA (Part 2) (January 13, 2025)

    Fr. Christopher Seith on his book Rekindling Wonder on EWTN's "Life on the Rock" with Fr. Mark Mary, MFVA (Part 2) (January 13, 2025)
    Mar 28 2025
    Fr. Christopher Seith deepens his conversation with Fr. Mark about the role of social media and the importance of silence from technology and other such distractions in our lives. (January 13, 2025)
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    25 m
  • Fr. Christopher Seith on his book Rekindling Wonder on EWTN's "Life on the Rock" with Fr. Mark Mary, MFVA (Part 1) (January 6, 2025)

    Fr. Christopher Seith on his book Rekindling Wonder on EWTN's "Life on the Rock" with Fr. Mark Mary, MFVA (Part 1) (January 6, 2025)
    Mar 28 2025
    Fr. Christopher Seith joins Father Mark to talk about his book, Rekindling Wonder, and the immense importance of and benefits from stepping away from screen time in daily life. (January 6, 2025)
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    25 m
  • Sr. Ilia Delio, OSF - An Evolutionary and Integrative Approach to Faith and Science (February 24, 2025)

    Sr. Ilia Delio, OSF - An Evolutionary and Integrative Approach to Faith and Science (February 24, 2025)
    Feb 25 2025
    In this episode of I Thought You'd Like to Know This, Too, Sr. Carla Mae Streeter, OP, interviews Sister Ilia Delio, OSF, a Franciscan sister with a background in science and theology. Sr. Ilia discussed her journey from neurobiology to historical theology, emphasizing the integration of science and religion. She highlighted the need for a dynamic understanding of Christology and the role of figures like Francis of Assisi, Bonaventure, and Teilhard de Chardin in bridging science and faith. Sr. Ilia advocated for a shift from traditional doctrines to a more evolutionary and integrative approach, stressing the importance of revisiting core theological concepts in light of modern scientific insights. She also emphasized the need for a robust religious education that includes both science and faith to address contemporary challenges.
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    59 m
  • ITEST Webinar on The Anthropic Principle with Dr. Bob Kurland and Dr. William M. Briggs (February 22, 2025)

    ITEST Webinar on The Anthropic Principle with Dr. Bob Kurland and Dr. William M. Briggs (February 22, 2025)
    Feb 23 2025
    Bob Kurland's Slide Links

    In all protein functions, parts of the proteins bind loosely to other parts of the protein and thus form appropriate structures that are essential to their function. This is shown very nicely in this TED YouTube video, by Professor Ken Dill https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zm-3kovWpNQ Here is another nice YouTube video showing protein flexibility https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZ2aY5lxEGE

    Webinar Title

    The Anthropic Principle: “Are We Special?”--Did God make our “Goldilocks Universe” for man?

    Abstract

    The universe in which we live and came to be is not ordinary, but unusual. As the Church Lady in Saturday Night Live of old would say, “Now, isn’t that special!” Or is it? Some scientists would agree with Roger Penrose – that if it weren’t special, we wouldn’t be here to remark on it. Many other scientists and philosophers would agree with Thomas Nagel that an explanation giving only the result is not an explanation. (And, of course, if it is special, then there is the implicit conclusion that this is so because of a Creating Intelligence, which we Catholics recognize as the Trinitarian God.) In my presentation I will discuss some of the so-called “anthropic coincidences” necessary for carbon-based life. Although some examples from cosmology and particle physics will be included, I’m going to focus on the wonderful parts of chemistry and molecular biology, processes that point to the hand of a Creating Intelligence. And of course the prophets of the Old Testament and saints of the early Church knew this all along, without the benefit of science.

    Dr. Robert Kurland, a convert to Catholicism in 1995, is a retired physicist who has applied magnetic resonance to problems of biological interest in his research (web search: “Kurland-McGarvey Equation”). Dr. Kurland is a graduate of Caltech (BS, 1951, “with honor”) and Harvard (PhD, 1956). His scientific career at Carnegie-Mellon, SUNY/AB, Cleveland Clinic, Geisinger Medical Center, has focused on biological applications of magnetic resonance, including MRI. Since his conversion to Catholicism, he has tried to spread the message that there’s no war between Catholic teaching and science.

    Respondent:

    William M. Briggs, PhD Against the Anthropic Principle Dr. William M. Briggs, the Statistician to the Stars, has a background in statistics, philosophy, meteorology, and cryptography. Born in Detroit, he left the city when it was at its peak, which some might jokingly suggest led to its decline. Briggs holds a PhD in Mathematical Sciences and an MS in Atmospheric Physics, and has served in various roles including professor, consultant, and statistician. He is known for his work in probability and statistics, as well as his cultural commentary on various social and scientific issues.
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    1 h y 57 m
  • Jesse Romero interviews Joseph Freymann on his book Summa Apologetica (January 30, 2025)

    Jesse Romero interviews Joseph Freymann on his book Summa Apologetica (January 30, 2025)
    Jan 31 2025
    In this episode of Jesus 911, Jesse Romero interviews Joseph Freymann on his book Summa Apologetics (January 30, 2025)

    Summa Apologetica is for adults and mature teens. It is specifically designed for a year-long course in Catholic Apologetics at the late high-school or early-college level. The book contains 160 questions and answers on Catholicism, Christianity, and faith in general. There are six categories: Natural Apologetics, Christian Apologetics, Catholic Apologetics, Historical Apologetics, Moral Apologetics and General Questions. The book is based on the philosophy and theology of St. Thomas Aquinas, as well as magisterial documents and the writings of authors whose views are consistent with sound Catholic theology. In each answer, scriptural verses appear in bold print for quick reference. The study questions at the end of each chapter are helpful for classroom discussions, quizzes and tests. This textbook has a digital companion, available in the App Store and the Google Play Store. It is a mobile app called Appologetics, written by the same author and containing the same content, a helpful pocket resource for convenience and quick reference.

    Summa Apologetica: Catholic Apologetics and Moral Questions by Joseph Freymann | En Route Books and Media
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    51 m
  • Dr. Angelyn Arden interviews Chai Mahfood on her book Damnatio Memoriae (January 25, 2025)

    Dr. Angelyn Arden interviews Chai Mahfood on her book Damnatio Memoriae (January 25, 2025)
    Jan 26 2025
    In this episode of I Thought You'd Like to Know This, Too, Dr. Angelyn Arden interviews Chai Mahfood on her book Damnatio Memoriae (January 25, 2025)

    After confronting unspeakable paranormal entities and narrowly escaping with his life, a young man faces the challenges of survival in the aftermath.

    Damnatio Memoriae by Chai Mahfood | En Route Books and Media
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    39 m