The Word on Fire Show - Catholic Faith and Culture

In this new "Bishop Barron Presents" discussion, Bishop Barron sits down with bestselling author Tara Isabella Burton to discuss her new book,  Strange Rites: New Religions for a Godless World . Burton argues that while younger generations are supposedly the most secular according to surveys, they're actually notably religious—it's just that they have adopted strange new religions. She claims toda...

Friends, our culture is obsessed with self-determination: finding our own voice, setting our own agenda, doing things according to our own lights. But is this problematic? And what does the Bible have to say about self-determination? On today's episode of "The Word on Fire Show," Brandon Vogt and I discuss how, in the Christian tradition, heroes are never those who "find themselves," but rather th...

In this new "Bishop Barron Presents" discussion, Bishop Barron sits down with evolutionary biologists Dr. Heather Heying and Dr. Bret Weinstein, the best-selling authors of  A Hunter-Gatherer's Guide to the 21st Century: Evolution and the Challenges of Modern Life . They discuss several topics, such as: Evolution, science, and religion The importance of public discourse G.K. Chesterton's fence The...

  Friends, what can St. Benedict, a sixth century monk, teach us about evangelization today? That's what Brandon Vogt and I discuss in today's episode of "The Word on Fire Show." We explore several Benedictine principles including humility, justice, the cultivation of beauty, the intellectual life, community, and becoming masters of the spiritual life. Also, a listener asks whether I truly do my o...

Friends, in the book of Revelation, Jesus says, "Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you and you with me." But how does this work? How do we allow him into our hearts? That's what Brandon Vogt and I discuss in today's episode of "The Word on Fire Show." A listener asks, what do you think about the series,  The Chos...

Friends, did you know that nearly 60% of religious believers agree with the statement that "religion and science conflict with one another"? This tragic confusion is especially prevalent among young people. In today's episode of "The Word on Fire Show," Brandon Vogt and I discuss five ways to help young people escape this false dilemma and come to understand that there is no actual conflict betwee...

Friends, today we share a sample lesson from another great Word on Fire Institute course titled "To the Peripheries!," taught by Fr. Damian Ference. In this course, Fr. Damian Ference will take us through numerous examples from the Gospels, his own life, and the philosophy of several saints on ways in which we evangelize. Each of these examples are modeled on the life of Christ. Want more? Join th...

Friends, today we share a sample lesson from another great Word on Fire Institute course titled "The Five S's of Effective Evangelization," taught by Elizabeth Scalia. In this course, Elizabeth Scalia walks us through the five S's of effective evangelization: storytelling, Scripture, sacraments, saints, and small moments. Want more? Join the Word on Fire Institute at https://wordonfire.institute/...

Friends, the Liturgy of the Hours is the highest form of prayer after the Mass. It is an ancient, structured way of praying Scripture throughout the day, focusing especially on the Psalms. In today's episode of the "Word on Fire Show," Brandon Vogt and I discuss why this prayer is so powerful and how to get started with it. We also introduce a new resource from Word on Fire that makes it easier to...

Friends, I recently had the privilege of speaking with Fr. Mike Schmitz, host of the popular "Bible in a Year" podcast. We spoke at the 2021 Good News Conference, and our conversation ranged over a variety of topics, including our vocation stories, our early efforts on YouTube, our favorite movies, arguing on social media, and much more. We also shared what inspired us to take creative new approac...

Friends, today I take several questions from kids all over the world, including: 1:40 - Why did Jesus appear so long ago? 4:26 - Why did God the Father send Jesus to be born if God could be born himself? 7:28 - How can you be happy in heaven if someone you love isn't there? 12:10 - What would happen if Jesus didn't get crucified? 14:38 - Can God die? 18:35 - How will God end the world? 21:08 - How...

Friends, today we share a sample lesson from a new Word on Fire Institute course titled  "Living the Liturgical Year in the Home,"  taught by Haley Stewart. In her course, Haley Stewart unpacks the treasures of the Liturgical Year and explores how liturgical living can strengthen the Domestic Church or the life of faith in the family. Want more? Throughout the month of Lent, enjoy a FREE trial of...

Friends, cynicism is on the rise. Our culture is increasingly pessimistic, characterized by a general distrust of others people's motives. So, how do we escape this decline? That's what Brandon Vogt and I discuss in today's episode of "The Word on Fire Show." A listener asks, how can adult children evangelize their parents who have left the faith? NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron an...

Friends, today we share a sample lesson from a new Word on Fire Institute course titled "The Art of Happiness," taught by Dr. Arthur Brooks. Blending social science and Catholicism, this course combines cutting-edge research and top-notch scholarship with the lives of great saints and our incredible inheritance of Church teaching. There are even surprising places to discover where secular science...

Bishop Barron recently had the experience of recording all 150 Psalms for the Catholic app Hallow . Listen as he shares about that experience, discusses his favorite Psalm, and helps us better understand this songbook of the Church. A listener asks, how do I fall in love with God? NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content,...

Friends, today we conclude our "Word on Fire Show" series on how to understand Genesis by focusing on Joseph, the great figure who went from slave to ruler of Egypt. How should we understand his sinking into slavery and prison? Or his gift for interpreting dreams? As Christians, what's the big takeaway from the Joseph story? A listener asks, how do you begin learning philosophy casually without ge...

Friends, today we share a sample lesson from Bishop Barron's new Word on Fire Institute course titled "Reading Scripture with the Early Church Fathers." In this course, Bishop Barron introduces the spiritual dynamics of Biblical exegesis in Origen and St. Augustine of Hippo. The Church Fathers did not separate Scripture and spirituality but saw the form of the spiritual life within the Scripture....

Friends, today we discuss an interesting new book titled​​ Strange Rites: New Religions for a Godless World by Tara Isabella Burton. Burton argues that while younger generations are supposedly the most secular according to surveys, they're actually notably religious—it's just that they have adopted strange new religions. She claims today's Americans are embracing a kaleidoscopic panoply of spiritu...

Friends, today we share a sample lesson from a new Word on Fire Institute course titled "Evangelizing the Open-Minded." In this course, Dr. Matthew Nelson explains how to engage people who are confident in their nonbelief but willing to seriously consider reasons for believing in Christianity. Get the rest of the lessons by joining the Word on Fire Institute at https://wordonfire.institute . NOTE:...

Friends, the long-awaited  Word on Fire Bible, Volume II   (Acts, Letters, and Revelation)  is now available! Today, we give you a peek inside. Brandon Vogt and I discuss what's new about this volume and why it's even better than Volume I. A listener asks, if God is full of love, does God love the devil? NOTE:  Do you like this podcast?  Become a patron  and get some great perks for helping, like...

Today we share Lesson 1 from Bishop Barron's latest Word on Fire Institute course titled "Dante's Catholic Imagination." Listen as Bishop Barron leads us on a journey through the life of Dante and his major work, The Divine Comedy , the great literary treasure dedicated to the dynamics of the Christian spiritual life. In this first lesson from the course, Bishop Barron introduces us to Dante Aligh...

What makes life meaningful? What is meaning, and where do we find it? Those are the pressing questions Brandon Vogt and I discuss today on "The Word on Fire Show." We also recap my conversation with Jordan Peterson, Jonathan Pageau, and John Vervaeke, and highlight two recent surveys dealing with the question of meaning. A listener asks whether it's really true that nobody pursues evil for its own...

Today we share a sample from our new Word on Fire Institute course titled "Faith, Science, and Sin" taught by Dr. Christopher Baglow. Dr. Baglow considers the mysteries of the Catholic faith in dialogue with scientific discoveries, allowing us to avoid the shallowness that John Paul II says debases the Gospel and leaves us ashamed before history. This course introduces us to some of the richest in...

Friends, today we continue our "Word on Fire Show" series on how to understand Genesis by focusing on Jacob, the son of Isaac and a patriarch of the ancient Jews. How should we understand his early struggle with Esau, the famous "Jacob's ladder," and his mysterious wrestling match and name change? That's what we discuss today. A listener asks, why is it that we just got this information from God,...

During the past five decades, the Second Vatican Council has been alternately celebrated or maligned for its supposed break with tradition and embrace of the modern world. But what if we've gotten it all wrong? Have Catholics—both those who embrace the spirit of Vatican II and those who regard it with suspicion—misunderstood what the council was really about? Fr. Blake Britton discovered the truth...