Theology & Apologetics
All Episodes
540 Episodes
WOF 407: What's Next for the Word on Fire Institute?
Friends, five years ago, we started what has become the largest online community of Catholic evangelists: the [Word on Fire Institute](https://wordonfire.org/institute).
WOF 406: The Genius of G.K. Chesterton's "St. Francis"
Today we share Bishop Barron's keynote talk from the [2023 Chesterton Conference](https://chesterton.org/) from July 27, 2023, in Minneapolis, MN. The theme of the conference was "Chesterton and St. F
WOF 405: Why We Love Distractions
Friends, why do we love being distracted from the important things of life? The great French philosopher Blaise Pascal observed, "The sole cause of man's unhappiness is that he does not know how to st
WOF 404: Understanding Flannery O'Connor w/ Ethan and Maya Hawke
Today, we're thrilled to share with you the newest episode in our "Bishop Barron Presents" series. In this discussion, Bishop Barron talks with well-known Hollywood actors Ethan and Maya Hawke. Ethan
WOF 403: Scapegoating in the Digital World
Friends, why are we so tempted to scapegoat people, especially online? And how do we escape that trap?
WOF 402: The Faith of J.R.R. Tolkien w/ Holly Ordway
J.R.R. Tolkien's masterpiece, *The Lord of the Rings*, is one of the best-selling books ever, selling over 150 million copies. In a 1999 poll of Amazon.com customers, *The Lord of the Rings* was judge
WOF 401: A Theology of Work
Friends, is work something good or bad? Is it central to being human, or a punishment resulting from sin? And how do we understand our work theologically, tying it to God?
WOF 400: Three Paths Beyond Scientism
Today we share with you Bishop Barron's keynote talk from the 2023 Wonder Conference, hosted by Word on Fire.
WOF 399: Why You Should Ponder Your Death
Friends, death is a topic most of us try to avoid. So, why does Catholicism teach we should meditate regularly on our death?
WOF 398: The Most Important Decision in Life
Today we share Bishop Barron's 2023 Commencement Address at Hillsdale College, delivered on May 13, 2023.
WOF 397: What Makes Great Leaders Great?
Friends, what makes great leaders great? Why do certain men and women seem to lead with such effectiveness?
WOF 396: Why Parishes Fail to Engage 93% of Parishioners w/ Matthew Warner
We know Church leaders need to be trained well in theology, morality, scripture, liturgy, and pastoral ministry. But if we want them to be able to wield those skills as effective leaders, they must al
WOF 395: Knowing Jesus Personally
Friends, Christians often speak of "having a personal relationship with Christ" or "knowing Jesus personally," but what does this actually mean? Is it possible? How do we go beyond *knowing* *about* C
WOF 394: The Beauty of Sainthood w/ Dr. Gianna Emanuela Molla
In this talk from the 2022 Good News Conference, Dr. Gianna Emanuela Molla shares the story of her mother, St. Gianna Beretta Molla, patron saint of mothers, physicians, and unborn children. She also
WOF 393: Mrs. Davis, Algorithms, and God
Friends, my favorite current TV show, "Mrs. Davis," features an adventurous nun, a search for the Holy Grail, and an all-powerful algorithm. It also raises many interesting questions about artificial
WOF 392: Poetry, Beauty, and the Shock of Grace w/ Fr. Paul Murray, OP
In this talk from the 2022 Good News Conference, Fr. Paul Murray reminds us that the God whom we are seeking is endlessly seeking us. It is through beauty that our hearts can be pierced with the desir
WOF 391: Why Modern Men Look Elsewhere for Spiritual Wisdom
Friends, an interesting article was published at The Gospel Coalition titled ["Savior or Stoics? Why Modern Men Look for Spiritual Wisdom Outside the Church"](https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/articl
WOF 390: Finding Beauty in the Loss of Control w/ Britt Fisk
In this talk from the 2022 Good News Conference, Britt Fisk, shares her wisdom on what it means to hand over complete trust to the Lord, particularly in times of great suffering. Though we may feel li
WOF 389: Catholics and the Culture of Contempt
Friends, what fuels our modern "culture of contempt," so prevalent online? And how can Catholics resist it?
WOF 388: What Is the Laity's Role in Evangelization?
Friends, in February 2023, at the Sharing the Church's Story Conference in London, I reflected on the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience, and how these counsels can be lived out