Crash Course Catholicism

Why does nature behave in such consistent and purposeful ways? And can this tell us anything about the existence of God? In this final episode of our series on St Thomas Aquinas' Five Ways, we explore his Fifth Way, commonly known as the Teleological Argument. Aquinas observes that things in nature consistently act towards particular ends, even when they have no intelligence or understanding o...

What if needing other people isn't a sign of weakness? What if it's actually part of God's design for the human person? In this episode, we continue our deep dive into St John Paul II's Theology of the Body. We return to Genesis to explore the creation of Eve and two fundamental experiences of the human person: original unity and original nakedness. Through Adam and Eve's encou...

In this episode, we continue our series on St Thomas Aquinas' Five Ways by exploring his Fourth Way: the Argument from Gradation, or Degree. This is perhaps the most challenging of Aquinas' Five Ways. Beginning with the observation that things possess qualities like truth and goodness to varying degrees, Aquinas asks what makes these comparisons possible. Ultimately, he argues that these d...

Who are you when you strip everything else away? Before your job, your relationships, your achievements, and your possessions, what makes you you ? JPII argues that the question "Who am I?" is one of the most fundamental human questions. Through his experience of original solitude, Adam discovers that he is not just another animal, or a passive part of Creation. He is something else: a child of Go...

In this episode, we continue our series on St Thomas Aquinas' Five Ways by exploring his Third Way: the Argument from Contingency. Aquinas begins with a simple but profound observation: the things we encounter in the world don't have to exist. You exist, but you could have failed to exist. The same is true of trees, mountains, planets, stars, and everything else we encounter in the created world....

In this episode, we explore St Thomas Aquinas' Second Way , also known as the Argument from Efficient Causality . This is a classic cosmological argument for the existence of God. Aquinas begins with a simple observation: everything we encounter in the world has a cause. Houses are built by builders, paintings are painted by artists, and trees grow from seeds. But if every cause depends on another...

In this episode, we explore St Thomas Aquinas’ First Way, also known as the Argument from Motion. This is one of the most influential philosophical arguments for the existence of God. Building on our introduction to cosmological arguments, we unpack Aquinas’ reasoning step by step. What does he mean by “motion”? Why does every change require a cause? And how does observing change in the world lead...

How is artificial intelligence changing war, and what does the Catholic Church have to say about it? In the final part of our series on Pope Leo's encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, we explore Chapter 5 and the conclusion of the encyclical, examining how artificial intelligence is reshaping warfare, global conflict, and the pursuit of peace. Pope Leo argues that the digital revolution is transforming...

How do we know that God exists? Can reason lead us to God? In this episode, we begin a new series exploring one of the most famous arguments for the existence of God: St Thomas Aquinas’ cosmological argument. Before diving into Aquinas’ First Way, we take a step back and look at the big picture. What exactly is a cosmological argument? How does it work? And why did Aquinas think that observing the...

In Part 4 of our series on Pope Leo's encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, we explore Chapter 4, which describes how artificial intelligence is reshaping truth, work, and freedom. Pope Leo warns that AI is not simply changing the tools we use. Instead, it is transforming the way we seek truth, the way we work, and the way we exercise our freedom. In this episode, we discuss: * How AI is amplifying...

Conversion doesn't always happen in a single blinding moment of clarity. Sometimes, like drops of water slowly filling a glass, conversion to the Catholic faith is the result of countless conversations, experiences, and quiet moments accumulated over many years. In today's episode, I speak with Lucinda -- a teacher and Cambridge graduate -- about her journey to the Catholic Church. Through convers...

What are the greatest threats that artificial intelligence poses, and how can we remain fully human in the age of AI? In Part 3 of our series on Pope Leo's encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, we explore Chapter 3 of the encyclical and examine the opportunities, dangers, and moral questions surrounding artificial intelligence. Pope Leo argues that AI is not simply another technological innovation. It i...

“God, the first principle and last end of all things, can be known with certainty from the created world by the natural light of human reason.” The Catechism of the Catholic Church, p. 36 In this episode of Catechism 101, we discuss how we can know for sure that God exists. This podcast relies 100% on the generosity of viewers. If you have found these episodes helpful and would like to support the...

What does Catholic Social Doctrine have to say about artificial intelligence? In Part 2 of our series on Pope Leo's encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, we explore chapters 1 and 2 of the encyclical and discover why the Church's social doctrine is more relevant than ever in the digital age. Pope Leo does not create an entirely new moral framework for AI. Instead, he shows how the timeless principles of...

“The desire for God is written in the human heart, because man is created by God and for God; and God never ceases to draw man to himself. Only in God will he find the truth and happiness he never stops searching for” The Catechism of the Catholic Church, p 27 In this episode of Catechism 101, we discuss the universal desire for God. This desire is written in our hearts, and is made visible throug...

In this first episode of our series on Pope Leo's encyclical Magnifica Humanitas , we explore what the Catholic Church has to say about artificial intelligence, the digital revolution, and what it means to be truly human. Pope Leo argues that AI is not simply another technological innovation. It is reshaping the way we work, communicate, think, and even understand ourselves. Drawing on the biblica...

Faith is more than intellectual belief. If we think about it, even the devil technically *believes* in God. So what does true faith actually look like? In this episode of Catechism 101, we talk through four key signs of faith from the Catechism: Faith is free, active, overflowing, and dynamic. This podcast relies 100% on the generosity of viewers. If you have found these episodes helpful and would...

What does it mean to be a human person? What does love actually look like? What does the body reveal to us about God and the meaning of life? Theology of the Body isn't just about sex. It's about what it means to be human. In this episode, we explore some of the foundational ideas that St. John Paul II returns to again and again in his catechesis. We introduce key themes including the dign...

How does faith actually work? There's a gap between logically knowing something is true and actually believing it. In this episode of Catechism 101, we unpack exactly what it takes to cross that gap. This episode covers: The difference between knowing something is true and actually believing it Why faith is a gift from God The four things that have to happen to make an act of faith Why the wil...

What is the Theology of the Body? Why was it developed, and why is it still relevant today? In this episode, we begin our next deep dive (!) by telling the story of the development of ToB. From the fallout of the sexual revolution to Humanae Vitae and Pope St. John Paul II’s revolutionary vision of the human person, we ask why TOB remains one of the Church’s most important teachings today. This po...

What is faith, really? In this episode of Catechism 101, we unpack what faith actually means according to Catholic teaching. Spoiler: it's NOT blind faith. This episode covers: Why "blind faith" (fideism) is something the Catholic Church actively rejects The story of Saint Augustine that explains exactly what faith is Why faith and reason aren't opposed to each other How to explo...

"At the hour of death we are going to be judged on what we have been to the poor, to the hungry, naked, the homeless." Mother Teresa lived this truth with radical simplicity and unwavering love. From the streets of Calcutta, she dedicated her life to serving the poorest of the poor, restoring dignity to those the world had forgotten. Today, her legacy continues through the Missionaries o...

Video mini-episodes are here! In this introductory video, I explain an exciting new chapter for Crash Course Catholicism. Thank you to all the Patrons and supporters who have made this work possible! This podcast relies 100% on the generosity of listeners. If you have found these episodes helpful and would like to support the future of Crash Course Catholicism, please consider donating via the fol...

In this episode, we explore the human person's right to: Marriage and Family Meeting and association Work A just wage Private property Humane working conditions Migration Political activity and engagement. This podcast relies 100% on the generosity of listeners. If you have found these episodes helpful and would like to support the future of Crash Course Catholicism, please consider donating v...

In this episode, we explore every human person's right to: Life Bodily integrity Dignity Equality Freedom of speech Truth Transcendence Freedom of Religion Medical care Education This podcast relies 100% on the generosity of listeners. If you have found these episodes helpful and would like to support the future of Crash Course Catholicism, please consider donating via the following links: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...