Classical Theism Podcast

What is an embryo and what happens when identical twins are formed? Does the metaphysics of twinning call into question the view that embryos are human beings? How should we understand the mathematics and metaphysics of twinning? Dr. Richard Playford joins us to tackle these questions and more. The Classical Theism Podcast aims to defend Catholic Christian ideas in conversation. With the help of v...

Does the God of classical theism have properties? Does he have attributes? Can we make conceptual distinctions about the simple God? How should we understand the notion of 'rigid designation' and its relevance to the modal collapse debate? What is Dr. Ryan Mullins' latest proposed modal collapse objection? How does Christopher Tomaszewski respond to it? In this Commentary bonus episode, I'm joined...

What are the differences between philosophical physics and modern physics? What's the difference between metaphysics and physics? How should we understand St. Thomas' First Way? Is it a physical or metaphysical demonstration? What are the key premises and how are they defended? How can Aquinas leap to God as the conclusion of his First Way? Dr. Michael Sirilla joins us to discuss these issues and...

What do Catholics believe about the atonement? Why does it matter that some guy died 2000 years ago? How can we distinguish Catholic views from Reformed protestant views of the atonement? How might we understand Leviticus 16, Isaiah 53, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Romans 8:3, and 1 Peter 2:24 in light of the Catholic view? Michael Gormley joins us to tackle these issues head-on. The Classical Theism Podca...

What were the problems with the doctrine of analogy that others raised after Aquinas? How did different Thomistics respond to these problems? How might Thomists respond to professor Thomas Williams' challenge that analogy reduces to univocity or unintelligibility? Dr. Domenic D'Ettore joins me to discuss these topics and more as we look at his book Analogy After Aquinas . The Classical Theism Podc...

This is an interview from inside ClaritasU . Who is God? What are some common mistakes Catholics make when talking about God? How can we distinguish classical theism from other kinds of theism? What are some tips or strategies you would give to Catholics for improving their conversations about God? Brandon Vogt and I sit down to discuss these questions. The Classical Theism Podcast aims to defend...

What is the doctrine of analogy? What are the different kinds of analogy? Why is analogy especially important for theologians? Does analogy reduce to univocity or intelligibility? Dr. Joseph Trabbic 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 Christian...

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, (2) Jesus is our Messiah and Lord, and (3) He founded the Catholic Church. We place a strong emphasis on the first pillar, defending classical theism, drawing upon the work of Thomi...

What is happiness and how can we get it? Would St. Thomas have anything to say about comparing ourselves to other people? What will not make us happy according to St. Thomas Aquinas? How can we be happy when life is difficult? Matt Fradd joins the podcast to discuss these topics and more as we look at his new book How to Be Happy: Saint Thomas' Secret to a Good Life . The Classical Theism Podcast...

Why and how did you change your mind regarding Trinitarian classical theism? What are some common mistakes you see being made in contemporary theology? How can metaphysics and Scriptural exegesis work together? What does it mean to say we can know God without comprehending him? Why is Isaiah an important book of Scripture for understanding the nature of God? Can the traditional authorship of Isaia...

Is Aquinas best described as a philosopher or theologian? What is most notable about his work as a biblical theologian? How does Aquinas understand prophetic revelation and sacra doctrina? What does it mean that Aquinas holds that the human nature of Christ acts as the instrumental cause of the communication of divine revelation and as the perfection of its reception"? Dr. Dauphinais joins us to d...

What are the divine ideas? How do they relate to creation? What should Catholics believe about the 6 days of creation? Why is it important to believe in Adam and Eve and how can belief in an original couple be harmonized with the genetic evidence? What do you discuss about the atonement in your book on creation? Dr. Matthew Levering joins us to answer these questions as we discuss his book Engagin...

What is God? What does the Catholic Church teach about the nature of God? How is such teaching supported by Sacred Scripture? Is it still tenable to hold that God is immutable given so much Old Testament language to the contrary? Dr. Elizabeth Klein joins us to tackle these topics and more as we discuss her book God: What Every Catholic Should Know . The Classical Theism Podcast aims to defend Cat...

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, (2) Jesus is our Messiah and Lord, and (3) He founded the Catholic Church. We place a strong emphasis on the first pillar, defending classical theism, drawing upon the work of Thomi...

What is knowledge? What is the view "explanationism" that Dr. Bogardus defends? How would it account for sensory, memory, or rational knowledge? Can the view explain various pieces of religious knowledge? Can Catholics know that they are saved? Dr. Tomas Bogardus joins us to discuss these questions and more. The Classical Theism Podcast aims to defend Catholic Christian ideas in conversation. With...

How is the Eucharist prefigured in the Old Testament? What New Testament texts support Catholic doctrine on the Eucharist? Why should we think the mass is a sacrifice? Didn't Pope Gelasius say that the substance of bread and wine do not change ? Doesn't this sacrifice re-crucify Christ or take away from the all-sufficiency of the crucifixion? Dr. Lawrence Feingold joins us to discuss these questio...

What does the Catholic Church teach about homosexuality? Why does she teach this? What are the most important distinctions we need to present in dialogues on this topic? How should you respond when someone accuses you of being hateful or bigoted? Brandon Vogt joins us to discuss these questions and more as we examine What to Say and How to Say it (Volume 2) . The Classical Theism Podcast aims to d...

How should we think of the Gospel of John compared to the Synoptic Gospels? Is there strong evidence in favor of the traditional authorship? When was the Gospel written? What are the main themes? Why is it important to study the Gospel of John as Catholics? Sal Ciresi joins us for a two-part introduction to the Gospel of John to dive into these questions and more. The Classical Theism Podcast aims...

Why believe in God and in Jesus Christ? Why listen to the Catholic Church? Doesn't the Church have too many rules? Why is the Church so strict about sex? How can people consider Catholicism if they don't agree with Church doctrine? I'm joined by Dr. Matthew Levering and Dr. Michael Dauphinais to discuss these questions and more as we look at their new book The Wisdom of the Word: Biblical Answers...

John interviews a Scripture scholar who provides an introduction to the Gospel of John (pt. 1).  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, (2) Jesus is our Messiah and Lord, and (3) He founded the Catholic Church. We place...

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, (2) Jesus is our Messiah and Lord, and (3) He founded the Catholic Church. We place a strong emphasis on the first pillar, defending classical theism, drawing upon the work of Thomi...

If God is causing everything, then how can we be free? Doesn't God's universal causality make us puppets and lead to occasionalism? And wouldn't He be different if He were to cause different things? So, how can He be simple and immutable as classical theists say? Dr. W. Matthews Grant joins us to discuss these issues and more as we look at topics from his book Free Will and God's Universal Causali...

Who was Fr. James V. Schall and why is his work important? How did attorney Peter Cavallaro become interested in theology and apologetics? What benefits are there to doing apologetics in a story/dialogue format? What arguments for the existence of God are presented in his book Fragments . Peter joins the podcast to discuss these questions and more. The Classical Theism Podcast aims to defend Catho...

Why did 20th-century theologians argue that God must suffer? Why do many traditional theologians think that God does not suffer? How should we understand divine impassibility in light of the Incarnation? What does it mean that God is "not really related" to creatures? Fr. Thomas Weinandy joins us to discuss these questions and more. The Classical Theism Podcast aims to defend Catholic Christian id...

What did Fr. Garrigou mean by saying perfections are "formally and eminently" in God? What other distinctions do Thomists typically make when discussing the divine nature? How would Fr. Garrigou defend the principle of finality against a Humean skeptic? Dr. Matthew Minerd joins the show to discuss several essays written by Fr. Garrigou-Lagrange. The Classical Theism Podcast aims to defend Catholic...