Shows / Considering Catholicism
Considering Catholicism
Catholic Church, faith, culture, and history are explained clearly and simply for anyone curious about historic Catholicism. Faithful to the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
Episodes
- Considering Catholicism
From the Vault: Can Catholics Be Patriotic? (#426)
Greg and Ed the Protestant explore a tension many feel today—does belonging to the truly universal ("catholic") Church mean we have to downplay or even…
- Considering Catholicism
Why Three Little Words Have Split Christianity for 1,000 Years (#425)
Greg and Cory dive into "the Filioque clause"—those three controversial words ("and the Son") added to the Nicene Creed in the West—and explores why it became…
Considering CatholicismOCIA: Catholic Moral Theology (#424)
In this installment of the "OCIA: The Bridge to Rome" series, Greg explores Catholic moral teaching, starting with the shared love of the Ten Commandments…
- Considering Catholicism
OCIA: The Liturgical Calendar (#423)
In this episode of the OCIA: The Bridge to Rome series, we dive into the Catholic liturgical calendar—what it is, how it works, and why it matters for anyone…
- Considering Catholicism
Meet Jacob: A Millennial's Road to Rome, Part 2 (#422)
In Part 2 of our conversation, Jacob opens up about the final stretch of his road to Rome—approaching the Tiber with an 80% conviction, navigating the…
- Considering Catholicism
Meet Jacob: A Millennial’s Road to Rome, Part 1 (#421)
Greg introduces Jacob, a 34-year-old software engineer (working in AI), husband, and father of soon-to-be-four who's recently come into the Catholic Church…
- Considering Catholicism
From the Vault: "Our Duty to Improve (#420)
As New Year's Eve approaches and many of us think about resolutions, we're pulling a classic episode from the vault: "Our Duty to Improve." In this candid…
- Considering Catholicism
How a 16th-Century Pope Saved New Year’s Day (#419)
Most of us flip to January 1 without a second thought, but that date only works because Pope Gregory XIII fixed a 1,600-year drift in the old Roman calendar…
- Considering Catholicism
The Star, the Gifts, the Surrender (#418)
They weren’t kings, there weren’t necessarily three, and they brought a funeral spice—Greg unpacks the Magi like you’ve never heard. Matthew 2 meets the Church…
- Considering Catholicism
Greg's Christmas Message 2025
Greg wishes all his listeners a blessed Christmas, shares his gratitude for their support, and looks ahead to the new year. SUPPORT THIS SHOW Considering…
- Considering Catholicism
The Ox, the Donkey, and the Baby Jesus (#417)
Standing in Bethlehem's ancient cave, it's easy to see why tradition loves the image of the Lamb of God born among temple lambs—yet every nativity scene adds…
- Considering Catholicism
The Real Christmas Starts in a Womb: the Annunciation Over the Nativity (#416)
Ever wonder why Catholics make a big deal about the Annunciation on March 25, nine months before Christmas? In this episode, Greg dives into the heart of the…
- Considering Catholicism
Debunking the "Christmas is a Pagan Holiday" Meme (#415)
Every December the same claim pops up: Christmas is just repackaged Roman paganism—Saturnalia with a cross on top. But when you actually read what…
- Considering Catholicism
The Pope vs. the Shriners: What’s the Real Problem with Freemasonry? (#414)
Everyone’s seen the Shriners in their tiny cars and funny hats, but why has the Catholic Church been warning against Freemasonry for almost 300 years — and…
- Considering Catholicism
Fractal Equations and the Creator Who Signed His Work (#413)
A peer-reviewed paper claims a glowing, seated-Buddha fractal generated from the Mandelbrot set is hidden in the Mona Lisa, Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel…
- Considering Catholicism
The Green Book (#412)
Greg and Ed explore the difference between worship that is objectively real and worship designed to produce feelings, using C.S. Lewis’s famous critique of…
- Considering Catholicism
Divine Mysteries: The Immaculate Conception (#411)
December 8 is the Solemn Feast of the Immaculate Conception, and every year we hear the same two objections: “Pius IX invented the Immaculate Conception in…
- Considering Catholicism
Dvine Mysteries: Theotokos (#410)
What does it mean to call Mary the “Mother of God”? In this episode, Greg dives into the ancient debate at the Council of Ephesus (431 AD) over the term…
- Considering Catholicism
Further Up and Further In (#409)
What if the Christianity you’ve always known is only the shallow end of a vast, ancient ocean? In this candid, burrito-fueled conversation (yes, really), Greg…
- Considering Catholicism
Divine Mysteries: Logos, Christ, Pantoccrator, Returning King (#408)
In Part 3 of Divine Mysteries, Greg lets five explosive Scripture passages—John 1, Colossians 1, Philippians 2, Hebrews 1, and Revelation—paint the full…
- Considering Catholicism
Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe (#407)
As "Ordinary Time" comes to an end this Sunday (November 23), here's a classic episode from the CC vault: Greg and Cory unpacking what "feasts" or "feast days"…
- Considering Catholicism
Divine Mysteries: The Incarnation (#406)
The Athanasian Creed doesn’t stop at the Trinity. In its second half it lays down the Chalcedonian definition of the Incarnation—two natures, one Person—and…
- Considering Catholicism
Divine Mysteries: The Trinity (#405)
What makes Christianity unique? It’s the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one God in three persons. In this episode, Greg dives into why the Trinity is…
- Considering Catholicism
Catholic Education Options for Parents (#404)
Greg and Cory dive into the practical options for Catholic parents educating school-aged children. They emphasize parents as primary educators, supported by…
- Considering Catholicism
Catholic Education: Goals and Challenges (#403)
Greg and Cory explore the foundational principles of education and what sets Catholic education apart. They discuss how true Catholic formation goes beyond…
- Considering Catholicism
OCIA: The Four Marian Dogmas (#402)
Why do Catholics make such a big deal about Mary? For many Protestants exploring Catholicism, the Blessed Virgin is the last hill to climb. In this episode…
- Considering Catholicism
OCIA: The Communion of the Saints (#401)
In this episode of OCIA: The Bridge to Rome, we unpack the communion of saints—the living, eternal family that unites the Church on earth with the triumphant…
Considering Catholicism400th Anniversary Episode: Big Plans for the Future! (#400)
In this milestone 400th episode, Greg and Ed celebrate at the Secret Compound, munching on gas station pizza and sipping celebratory beverages. They reflect on…
- Considering Catholicism
Why Proving God Misses the Point: A Fresh Look at Belief (#399)
Can you prove God exists like a math theorem? Greg shares his journey from a debate-obsessed college kid to a Catholic who sees belief differently. In this…
- Considering Catholicism
Catholic Social Teaching: Rorschach Test or Roadmap? (#398)
Catholic Social Teaching, rooted in Pope Leo XIII’s 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum, is meant to guide Catholics in building a just society, but today it’s often…
- Considering Catholicism
OCIA: Step Into Sacred Space – A Tour of the Catholic Church (#397)
In this follow-up to episode #396 in the OCIA: The Bridge to Rome series, Greg takes listeners on a virtual tour of a Catholic church, revealing how its…
- Considering Catholicism
OCIA: The Mass: A Portal to Eternal Worship (#396)
In this episode of the "OCIA: The Bridge to Rome" series, Greg explores the Catholic Mass as the central act of worship, explaining its purposes, structure…
- Considering Catholicism
Natural Law: Why the Church Cares About Your Past Vows (#395)
[DONATE WITH PAYPAL] When a Protestant or non-Catholic wants to join the Catholic Church, they often hit a surprising snag: If they’re divorced and remarried…
- Considering Catholicism
OCIA: Scripture and Tradition (#394)
[DONATE WITH PAYPAL] "OCIA: The Bridge to Rome: Scripture, Tradition, and the Catholic Bible" explores how God’s revelation flows through Sacred Scripture and…
- Considering Catholicism
What's Up With Ed the Protestant? (#393)
ONATE WITH PAYPAL] Join Greg and Ed the Protestant at the secret compound in the Piney Woods for a heartfelt and candid conversation as Ed shares a…
- Considering Catholicism
No Bad News = No Good News: The Cost of Soft-Pedaling Sin (#392)
[DONATE WITH PAYPAL] Greg and Ed the Protestant dive into a lively discussion about the fading concept of sin in contemporary Protestant and Evangelical…
- Considering Catholicism
OCIA: The Creeds, a Summary of the Gospel (#391)
[DONATE WITH PAYPAL] This episode in the series "OCIA: The Bridge to Rome" dives into the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds as vibrant summaries of the Gospel. Greg…
- Considering Catholicism
Holy Spirit Part 2: Catholic Mysticism and Miracles (#390)
[DONATE WITH PAYPAL] Greg delves deeper into the Catholic mystical tradition, defining mysticism as a profound union with God and tracing its history from…
- Considering Catholicism
Holy Spirit, Part 1: Speaking in Tongues and Slain in the Spirit? A Catholic Take on Pentecostalism (#389)
[DONATE WITH PAYPAL] In this first part of a series on the Holy Spirit’s role in extraordinary experiences, host Greg Smith explains charismatic gifts like…
- Considering Catholicism
OCIA: The Holy Spirit and the Seven Sacraments (#388)
[DONATE WITH PAYPAL] Discover the Spirit’s role and how sacraments like Baptism and Eucharist use matter—water, bread, oil—to effect divine change, rooted in…
- Considering Catholicism
Noah's Ark to Peter's Boat: Typology in the Sistine Ceiling (#387)
[DONATE WITH PAYPAL] Building on his episode about Michelangelo's Creation of Adam (#385, "God's Finger"), Greg shifts focus to the nearby Deluge panel on the…
- Considering Catholicism
OCIA: The Catholic Church (#386)
[DONATE WITH PAYPAL] Greg continues the series "OCIA: The Bridge to Rome" by exploring the Church as Christ’s living Body and instrument of grace. Discover its…
- Considering Catholicism
God's Finger: Are We Saved By Our Own Works? (#385)
[DONATE WITH PAYPAL] Dive into Michelangelo's iconic Creation of Adam fresco and uncover how it flips the secular view of religion as humanity's quest for the…
- Considering Catholicism
Feminine Genius: Catholic Ideals for Bold Women (#384)
[DONATE WITH PAYPAL] Building on the chivalry episode's exploration of masculine ideals, Greg humbly unpacks the complementary feminine genius as by St. John…
- Considering Catholicism
OCIA: Jesus Christ, the Main Character (#383)
[DONATE WITH PAYPAL] "OCIA: The Bridge to Rome" continues by focusing one the main character in the Gospel story: Jesus Christ. Delve into the…
- Considering Catholicism
Steel and Sanctity: The Medieval Ideal of Christian Manhood (#382)
[DONATE WITH PAYPAL] Greg explores the medieval Catholic ideal of chivalry—a powerful blend of manly courage, martial skill, and Christian virtue aimed at…
- Considering Catholicism
OCIA: The Gospel Story (#381)
[DONATE WITH PAYPAL] "OCIA: The Bridge to Rome" continues by describing the Gospel story of creation, fall, redemption, and restoration. Greg unpacks the grand…
- Considering Catholicism
Dying in Grace: Sacraments, Prayers, and the Catholic Art of a Happy Death (#380)
[DONATE WITH PAYPAL] In this sequel to “The Art of Dying, Then and Now” (#379), Greg delves deeply into the Catholic concept of a "good death," drawing from…
- Considering Catholicism
The Art of Dying, Then and Now (#379)
[DONATE WITH PAYPAL] In this episode, Greg explores the stark contrasts between the medieval Catholic guide "Ars Moriendi" and contemporary secular books on…
- Considering Catholicism
OCIA: Basic Catholic Prayers (#378)
[DONATE WITH PAYPAL] Learn why set prayers and saint intercessions enrich heartfelt devotion, with Catechism quotes and saint insights, then explore essentials…
- Considering Catholicism
OCIA: The Catechism of the Catholic Church (#377)
[DONATE WITH PAYPAL] Another installment of the series "OCIA: The Bridge to Rome." In this episode, Greg introduces the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC)…
- Considering Catholicism
Out of the Cave, Into the Cathedral: Catholicism's Bigger Vision (#376)
[DONATE WITH PAYPAL] What if the Christianity you’ve known is like the shadows on the wall in Plato’s cave—flat, limited, and only a fraction of the real…
- Considering Catholicism
OCIA: The Bridge (#375)
[DONATE WITH PAYPAL] The Considering Catholicism Podcast launches "OCIA: The Bridge to Rome," a series designed to illuminate the path into the Catholic…
- Considering Catholicism
Am I Going to Heaven? A Pamphlet, Protestants, and Catholic Truth (#374)
[DONATE WITH PAYPAL] Greg shares a story from a golf outing where an awkward stranger handed him a Gospel pamphlet asking, "Am I Going to Heaven?" He praises…
- Considering Catholicism
The Church and Her Fathers, Part 4: From Apostles to Fathers--The Church's Timeless Unity (#373)
[DONATE WITH PAYPAL] In the final part of "The Church and Her Fathers," Greg introduces key Church Fathers—their lives, writings, teachings, and…
- Considering Catholicism
The Church and Her Fathers, Part 3: Voices of the Early Church (#372)
[DONATE WITH PAYPAL] In Part 3 of "The Church and Her Fathers," Greg tackles an anti-Catholic X post dismissing the Church Fathers as mere “fragments” of…
- Considering Catholicism
The Church and Her Fathers, Part 2: Militant, Suffering, Triumphant—And What It Means for You (#371)
[DONATE WITH PAYPAL] In part two of the series on the Church, Greg delves deeper into Catholic teachings from the Catechism, emphasizing the Church as both…
- Considering Catholicism
The Church and Her Fathers, Part 1: It's Called "The Church," So Say The Church (#370)
[DONATE WITH PAYPAL] In Part 1 of a four-part series called “The Church and Her Fathers,” Greg dives into a pet peeve: why evangelicals insist on calling early…
- Considering Catholicism
Baptism, Part 2: Adults (#369)
[DONATE WITH PAYPAL] In this second part of the baptism series, Greg Sshifts to adults and older children, explaining when infant rules end (around age seven…
- Considering Catholicism
Baptism, Part 1: Infants (#368)
[DONATE WITH PAYPAL] In this first part of a two-episode series on Catholic baptism, Greg explores the doctrinal heart of the sacrament, explaining why infants…