Classical Theism Podcast

What are you really? What is a person? How can reason and science shed light on these questions? How can persons originate? Dr. Josh Rasmussen joins us to discuss his new book-length investigation into these topics.  The Classical Theism Podcast aims to defend Catholic Christian ideas in conversation. With the help of various guests, I defend three pillars of the Catholic Christian worldview: (1)...

Who really wrote the Pentateuch? What are the arguments for the Documentary Hypothesis? Why don't those arguments succeed? What evidence supports an ancient Pentateuch? Dr. John Bergsma joins us to address these topics.  The Classical Theism Podcast aims to defend Catholic Christian ideas in conversation. With the help of various guests, I defend three pillars of the Catholic Christian worldview:...

What are persons? Why are persons "irreducible" and what does that mean? Can we argue from human persons to the existence of God? What was the De Auxilius debate and where does Dr. Spencer come down on that in his book? We discuss these topics and more.  The Classical Theism Podcast aims to defend Catholic Christian ideas in conversation. With the help of various guests, I defend three pillars of...

Why are there so many different Catholic Bible translations? How did the Catholic ESV come about? Why is an essentially literal translation come about? Dr. Mark Giszczak joins the show to discuss these questions and mroe.

What is metaphysics? How does a Thomist approach God's existence? Can one prove God's existence using the real distinction between essences and their acts of existence? How does Dr. Kerr respond to several objections including the issue of existential inertia? We tackle these topics and more in the episode.  The Classical Theism Podcast aims to defend Catholic Christian ideas in conversation. With...

What is God? What did St. Thomas Aquinas teach about the nature of God in the prima pars? Could God reveal someone's entire future to them? Dr. Kevin Vost joins us to discuss his brand new book out titled  What is God?  www.classicaltheism.com/episodes

Were Adam and Eve REAL? Why is this an important topic for young people? Gary Michuta and I discuss the topic in some detail. 

What did the First Vatican Council teach about faith and reason? How do Thomists parse the act of faith? How does the Vatican Council's account of faith and reason fit well with Thomistic hylomorphic dualism over and against Descartes' view? Dr. Gaven Kerr joins the podcast again to discuss these issues. The Classical Theism Podcast aims to defend Catholic Christian ideas in conversation. With the...

Lydia McGrew joins the show again to defend the reliability and historicity of John's Gospel. In part 2, she tackles the objection that Jesus sounds  too different in John's Gospel compared to the Synoptics. Therefore, critics allege, John must have highly edited, adapted, and revised the words of Jesus. Also, we discuss why the evidence supports the traditional authorship that the Beloved Discipl...

Is the Pope worth defending? What should we think of his controversial statement, "Who am I to judge?" What about the proper understanding of  Amoris Laetitia ? Is the "Pachamama incident" a black mark on the Francis Pontificate? Dr. Robert Fastiggi joins the show to discuss these issues.  The Classical Theism Podcast aims to defend Catholic Christian ideas in conversation. With the help of variou...

Professor Kevin Gutzman discusses his new book  The Jeffersonians.  I ask him what we should think about those who want to cancel the legacy of Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe due to their involvement in slavery. We also discuss the constitutionality of the Louisiana Purchase.  Consider this a  special bonus episode for those interest in U.S. History. I also announce this year's BIG Xmas/New Year's...

We discuss the Essence/Energies distinction and how it is similar/different from how Aquinas thinks about Divine Simplicity. Also, a special thanks to Jack Boczar of the CT Research team for his help in preparing for this episode. 

Jake Buscher joins the podcast to explain and defend St. Thomas Aquinas's 4th way to God's existence. Jake thinks the argument is valid and sound. He explains the premises and defends it against several objections.  Support the Classical Theism Podcast: One-time donations: www.classicaltheism.com/contribute Monthly contributions: www.classicaltheism.com/support Hop on the email list to learn about...

We look at the traditional authorship and meaning of the book of Isaiah. 

I sat down with Jimmy Akin to debrief his recent debate on Capturing Christianity against  The Other Paul . The debrief is also available in video format at www.youtube.com/jimmyakin The Classical Theism Podcast aims to defend Catholic Christian ideas in conversation. With the help of various guests, I defend three pillars of the Catholic Christian worldview: (1) the God of classical theism exists...

Who are the "Four More Witnesses" that give insight into the early Church? Why is Origen such an important figure and why are his contributions sometimes qualified? Who was Clement of Alexandria and why are his writings important? How old did Irenaeus think Jesus was? Rod Bennett joins us to discuss these topics. The Classical Theism Podcast aims to defend Catholic Christian ideas in conversation....

How might a philosophical Thomist analyze the problem of evil? Why is evil and suffering so debilitating in the lives of many such as Rachel in the Old Testament? What should we think about the work of Fr. Brian Davies and Dr. Eleonore Stump on the problem of evil? Dr. John Knasas joins us to discuss these topics.  In this episode, he focuses his comments on the work of two other prominent Thomist...

How might a philosophical Thomist analyze the problem of evil? Why is evil and suffering so debilitating in the lives of many such as Rachel in the Old Testament? What should we think about the work of Fr. Brian Davies and Dr. Eleonore Stump on the problem of evil? Dr. John Knasas joins us to discuss these topics.  The Classical Theism Podcast aims to defend Catholic Christian ideas in conversatio...

Is Pascal's Wager still defensible today? Is it even possible to take Pascal's wager if we don't have willful control over what we believe? Supposing we can take the wager, ought we to do so? Is it rational to choose a belief for practical reasons and not merely evidential reasons? Dr. Liz Jackson joins us to discuss these topics. The Classical Theism Podcast aims to defend Catholic Christian idea...

What is beauty? How can we define it? Is beauty merely in the eye of the beholder? How should with think about God's beauty? How can there be such a thing as 'divine beauty' if divine simplicity is true? Dr. Samuel G. Parkison joins us to discuss these topics.  The Classical Theism Podcast aims to defend Catholic Christian ideas in conversation. With the help of various guests, I defend three pill...

What are the sacraments? Why do Catholics add sacraments to the simple faith of the New Testament? Do sacraments constitute an earning of salvation? How does a new ITC document shed light on these ideas? Michael Gormley joins us to discuss these topics. The Classical Theism Podcast aims to defend Catholic Christian ideas in conversation. With the help of various guests, I defend three pillars of t...

What does the Catholic Church teach about justification? Is faith the only thing necessary for salvation? Are we saved by our own works? What are the similarities between the Catholic and Lutheran positions? What should Catholics think about Paul's assertion in Romans 7 that sin dwells in him? Dr. Christopher J. Malloy joins us to discuss these topics and his book False Mercy . The Classical Theis...

Does the God of classical theism exist? What metaphysical arguments has Dr. Koons been working on as of late? Does the passage of time itself point to a purely actual cause of time's flow? Dr. Robert Koons joins us to discuss these topics. The Classical Theism Podcast aims to defend Catholic Christian ideas in conversation. With the help of various guests, I defend three pillars of the Catholic Ch...

What is the so-called "psychological analogy" and what is its role in Trinitarian theology? What is the filioque? Why should we affirm the filioque? Is there a path forward for discussing this issue with Eastern Orthodox Christians? Fr. Thomas Joseph White O.P. joins the podcast to discuss these topics. The Classical Theism Podcast aims to defend Catholic Christian ideas in conversation. With the...

How can the parable of the sower teach us about the different audiences that need the new evangelization? What do young people need most by way of apologetics and evangelization? What should give us hope as a Church at this point in time? Fr. Blake Britton joins us to discuss these topics. The Classical Theism Podcast aims to defend Catholic Christian ideas in conversation. With the help of variou...