Episodes
44
Aug. 18, 2022
Why Is the Eucharist So Important to Catholics? (#44)
In the first of a series of lessons on the Eucharist, Greg explains why it's such big deal to Catholics when it's only a medium-sized deal to Protestant Evangelicals.
40
Aug. 15, 2022
Making the Eucharist Matter Again (#40)
The bishops of America are deeply concerned that too few Catholics understand, believe in, or take the Eucharist in a "coherent" way. And so, they have launched a three-year "Eucharistic Revival." In this first episode in a regular feature on the Eucharist, Cory and I discuss the why, what, and how of this revival.
41
Aug. 11, 2022
Book Club: A Tale of Two Priests (#41)
Graham Greene's The Power and the Glory and Shusaku Endo's Silence both tell the story of a persecuted Catholic priest forced to choose between martyrdom and apostasy. In this installment of Book Club, Cory and I explore how the two novels are mirror images that explore the same theme with inverted characters and plots.
42
Aug. 8, 2022
What Does it Mean to ”Be Catholic?” (#42)
Who is, or isn't, "Catholic?" What do you have to believe or do to "be Catholic?" What about people who don't or won't do those things? Are they still Catholic?
39
Aug. 4, 2022
More Protestant Questions About the Pope: Can He Just Make Stuff Up? (#39)
In Episode 32, I answered Ed's question, "Why do Catholics have a pope?" But we kept going, and covered the everything from whether the pope can make up new doctrines, to megachurch pastors, to why Pope Francis seems to meddle in politics, and whether papal infallibility means he can tell me who will win the Super Bowl.
38
Aug. 1, 2022
A Protestant Asks, ”Why Do Catholics Have a Pope?” (#38)
Ed asked why Catholics have a pope, which seems crazy to them. I gave him an answer that most "cradle Catholics" wouldn't typically give.
37
July 28, 2022
Book Club: Is ’The Lord of the Rings’ the Greatest Catholic Story of the 20th Century? (#37)
Some argue that the novels of JRR Tolkien, particularly his 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy, are the greatest Catholic novels of the 20th Century. Generations of converts to Catholicism have cited it as an important step on their Road to Rome--including Cory and I. In this installment of Book Club, we share why.
36
July 25, 2022
Welcome to ”Book Club!” What Makes a Story ”Catholic?” (#36)
We're launching a new recurring feature on the podcast: "Book Club." In this first installment, Cory and I talk about what, exactly, makes a story "Catholic."
35
July 21, 2022
A Protestant Asks About the Virgin Mary (#35)
My Protestant friend Ed finally got around to asking me about the biggest problem that Protestants have with Catholicism: the Virgin Mary.
33
July 18, 2022
A Culture of Life? Or a Culture of Death? (#33)
I was asked to speak at a conference just a few days after the U.S. Supreme Court handed down the Dobbs decision. Here's what I said.
32
July 15, 2022
What Happened to Catholicism in America Over the Last 50 Years? Part 2 (#32)
Part 2 of a two-part episode exploring how and why the Catholic Church in America has shrunk and Catholicism has lost influence over the last half century. (Episodes 26-27.)
31
July 15, 2022
July 2022 Update (#31)
It's been exactly 30 days since the last episode released. An update on what's been going on, what's happening, and what's ahead for Considering Catholicism.
30
June 14, 2022
What Happened to Catholicism in America Over the Last 50 Years? Part 1 (#30)
Over the last half century, the Catholic Church in America has shrunk and Catholicism has lost influence. Why? Part 1 of a two-part episode.
29
June 7, 2022
Are Catholics Really Christians? (#29)
Greg's Protestant friend Ed brings up all the arguments that he's heard that Catholicism isn't real Christianity.
28
June 2, 2022
Worldviews: Plastic Modernity (#28)
This installment of the Worldviews series asks whether we can make our lives, and our world, anything we want it to be through the power of technology.
27
May 31, 2022
Why Do Catholics Have Cathedrals? (#27)
What makes cathedrals special? And how do they fit into the life of the Catholic Church?
26
May 26, 2022
Explaining the Saints to a Protestant (#26)
Is Catholic devotion to the saints pagan idolatry? Greg and his Protestant friend Ed talk about the saints.
25
May 23, 2022
Explaining Confession to a Protestant (#25)
Greg and his Protestant friend Ed talk about the sacrament of confession and reconciliation.
24
May 18, 2022
From Belize to Michigan to New York City (#24)
A conversation with the new president of the Paulist Fathers, Father René Constanza, about his journey of faith and the Paulist mission of evangelization and culture to the people of North America.
23
May 16, 2022
Worldviews: Moralistic Therapeutic Deism (#23)
This second installment in the Worldviews series examines a "nice" God whose primary purpose is to make you happy, on your terms.
22
May 12, 2022
Church Music: Catholic vs. Protestant, Part 2 (#22)
What are some of the practical challenges that church musicians face when planning and leading worship in their congregations? In this second part of the conversation between Ed and Audrey, they talk about volunteers, expectations, and generations. For the first part of the conversation, see Episode 17 in the podcast library.
21
May 10, 2022
Church Music: Catholic vs. Protestant, Part 1 (#21)
How and why is the music different in Catholic and Protestant churches? Part 1 of a conversation with two experienced professionals, one from each tradition. Ed Schief, representing Evangelical Protestantism and Audrey Thomas, representing Catholicism.
18
May 6, 2022
Worldviews: Marxism (#18)
A new feature on the podcast, "Worldviews" will explore the major competitors to the Catholic Christian worldview. This first installment explains why Marxism is fundamentally incompatible with Christianity.
20
May 3, 2022
Why Would a Teenager Convert to Catholicism? (#20)
Meet Devin Jenkins, an 18 year-old high school senior who discovered, considered, and converted to Catholicism. He shares why, and what the Church should do to reach more young people.