Catholic Studies Academy Podcast

Perhaps the most notorious statement in the history of philosophy is Friedrich Nietzsche's claim that "God is Dead." In this episode of "Take Every Thought Captive," Dr. Smith and Dr. Bulzacchelli discuss the death of God, the rise of unbelief, and the sources of unbelief identified by Nietzsche. Ironically, Nietzsche turns out to be a useful resource for Christians, because of his keen understand...

In this episode of Take Every Thought Captive Dr. Smith and Dr. Bulzacchelli discuss the sixtieth anniversary of the Second Vatican Council. The conversation focuses on the continuity of the Council with the prior Catholic tradition. Through this interpretive lense, a taxonomy of approaches to Catholic faith is developed. It is hoped that this discussion will contribute to a better understanding o...

In this episode of Take Every Thought Captive, Dr. Bulzacchelli and Dr. Smith explore the idea of Christian monarchy. Smith and Bulzacchelli critique false misconceptions of Christian monarchy, and discuss some features that have made this form of government attractive to Christiians over the centuries. This discussion is an excellent opportunity for rethinking our assumptions about democracy and...

In this episode of Take Every Thought Captive, Jason and Dr. Smith discuss Hegel's view of freedom. We cover: - Kantian freedom: freedom of rational (universal and consistent) decision making - Kantian freedom + mutual recognition - Our self-recognition is only verified by the mutual recognition of someone else - But the "other" is a problem - Freedom and the end of history is a social and cultura...

In this episode of Take Every Thought Captive, Dr. Bulzacchelli and Dr. Smith explore the metaphysical structure of transubstantiation. The launch point for this discussion is the treatment developed by Saint Thomas Aquinas in the Summa Theologiae. If you have ever wanted to gain more insight into the meaning and ontology of the Eucharist this is a great opportunity for you. ST III.75 Natural plac...

In this episode of Take Every Thought Captive, Jason and Dr. Benjamin Smith discuss the topic of freedom. We cover: - William of Ockham and historical context - Servias Pinckaers on rivaling views of freedom - Freedom for Excellence vs Freedom of Indifference/License - Freedom and the Good - The Nature of the will - Reason and will - The role of virtue - The role of the law - Authentic Freedom and...

Episode 125: June 24, 2022 - Victory For Virtue by Jason Gale

In this episode, Dr. Bulzacchelli and canonist, Tyler Ross discuss the theological and canonical issues surrounding the ban of Nancy Pelosi from Holy Communion. We cover: - The issue - Is this excommunication? - Types of excommunications - Mortal Sin and Excommunication - Canon 915 and 916 - The relationship of ethics and politics - Conditions – obstinate, manifest, and gravity (serious) - Scandal...

In this episode, Jason and Dr. Bulzacchelli discuss the current debate over abortion, the Dobbs case, and the elements of the culture war. We cover: - The Dobbs Case - The reaction to the Dobbs case - The culture behind abortion - Elements of the Abortion Worldview - History and the Narrative - Lifestyle - Eschatology

In this episode, Dr. Smith and Jason discuss the influence of Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel. We cover: - Hegel's place in history - Hegel's idea of history history: human experience changes - Progress: achievement, inadequacy, new stage of consciousness - Trajectory of history and Geist - Omega point of history: the fully adequate realization of consciousness

In this episode of Take Every Thought Captive, Dr. Smith and Mr. Joe Grossheim discuss the Thomist theory of human dignity, including Thomas Aquinas's controversial claim that human dignity can be lost. We also explore whether human dignity can serve as the foundation of ethics. This discussion is inspired by the recent debates surrounding Alisdair MacIntyre's critical comments regarding human dig...

In this episode, Jason and Dr. Smith discuss 4 modern objections to Christianity and how to combat them. We cover: - Relativism - Pluralism - Scientism - Neo-Marxism

In this episode, Jason and Dr. Smith discuss his upcoming course in philosophy covering 20th century philosophy. We cover: - The end of Idealism - Husserl and Phenomenology - Neo-Marxism - Heidegger - Existentialism - Logical Positivism - Post-modernism and more

In this episode, Dr. Bulzacchelli, Dr. Smith, and Jason discuss the current crises we are experiencing in the world, the Church, and seemingly everywhere we turn. We take a 30,000 foot view of the current culture underlying the crises. We cover: - Diagnosing the problem - We cannot think rationally - Reactionary thinking - Public reasoning for public reasoning - Decline of public reasoning - Trunc...

In episode 116, Jason and Dr. Smith welcome special guest, Joe Grossheim to discuss a classical saying, "Nature Acts for an End." We cover: - Why this is an important question - Aristotle and the Physics Book II - What is Nature? - Art and Nature - Necessity and Chance - Intelligence and chance - Nature, ends, and ethics https://www.newadvent.org/summa/2001.htm#article2

Go to: https://catholicstudiesacademy.com/shop-courses/ and use code: csasoundcloud to get any course for $25! shhhhhhh...don't tell anyone!

In this episode, Jason and Dr. Smith welcome special guest, Joe Grossheim to discuss a classical saying, "Nature Acts for an End." We cover: - Why this is an important question - Aristotle and the Physics Book II - What is Nature? - Art and Nature - Necessity and Chance - Intelligence and chance - Nature, ends, and ethics

In this episode, Dr. Smith and Dr. Bulzacchelli discuss Aquinas' 4th Way to understand the existence of God. We cover: - Reading the 4th Way - The uniqueness of this argument - Gradation and degree - The metaphysical foundation The 4th Way - "The fourth way is taken from the gradation to be found in things. Among beings there are some more and some less good, true, noble and the like. But "more" a...

In this episode, Jason and Dr. Smith discuss the topic of predestination in the writings of St. Thomas Aquinas. We cover: Principles of Predestination - God is the cause of every perfection, including the good of order to an end (means and end) - Providence is God’s plan for the good of order - Providence presupposes the intention/ will of God - Everything subject to God’s infallible providence -...

In this episode, Jason and Dr. Smith discuss the difficult but important topic of Divine Providence from the writings of St. Thomas Aquinas. We cover: - Principle of Causality - First and Second Causes - Important Corollaries - What is subject to God's Providence - Providence and Evil - Does God cause Evil? - Does Providence negate Free Will? Read Summa I, ques. 22 - https://www.newadvent.org/summ...

In this episode of Take Every Thought Captive, Dr. Smith and Dr. Bulzaccelli discuss the role that Christians should play in the political sphere. What kinds of policies should Chrsitians support? What are the obligations of the Christian to the state? How is the political community related to the kingdom of God? These and other questions are addressed in this deep dive discussion. We cover: - Esc...

In this episode, Jason and Dr. Smith discuss lessons to be learned from the trial and death of Socrates. We cover: - Historical background - Transition to democracy from Aristocracy - The Sophists, rhetoric, and relativism - The Socratic method. - The importance of asking questions - The Trial - Philosophy helps the city - Is there a tension between politics and philosophy?

In this episode, Jason and Dr. Smith discuss the necessity of philosophy. We cover: - Socrates "The unexamined life is not worth living." - What does philosophy do for the human person? - Ultimate questions - The big three categories - Place of Science - Where do I begin? - Do I love wisdom or do i want to be foolish?

In this episode, Dr. Richard Bulzacchelli and Canonist, Tyler Ross discuss the liturgy as was envisioned by the documents of the Second Vatican Council. We cover: - Traditiones Custodes - Preservation of Latin and Use of Vernacular - Girl Altar boys - The placement of the altar - ad orientum and versus populum - and much more

In this episode, Dr. Smith and Dr. Bulzacchelli discuss many different aspects of death. We cover: - The ancient view of death - Life after death in ancient philosophy? - The Stoics - Greeks, Romans, and Manicheans - Energies and Pseudo-science - Christianity - Worship a God who is not part of the cosmos - Heidegger and Christianity