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 CatholicismFaith or Works? Part 6: Purgation (#307)
We've been talking about how salvation is a multi-phase process, not a single event. It involves justification, which is entirely by grace through faith and…
- Considering Catholicism
Can Suffering Have Value? (#306)
Greg and Ed discuss their friend Danny, who is going through an extremely difficult experience. Ed realizes that before he began considering Catholicism, he…
- Considering Catholicism
Faith or Works? Part 5: Types of Sin and Whether We Can "Work Them Off" (#305)
Catholicism identifies three categories of sin: original, mortal, and venial. What are the differences? How are they addressed or overcome in salvation? And to…
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Faith or Works, Part 4: A Call to Growth (#304)
Protestants teach that we have "imputed righteousness" because Christ, in a one-time legal transaction, swaps our guilt and debt for his innocence and perfect…
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Faith or Works? Part 3: Where to Begin—Jesus or Paul? (#303)
Greg explains that the "Romans Road," a handful of cherry-picked verses from the first half of Paul's Letter to the Romans, is the interpretive lens for man…
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Faith or Works? Part 2: Biblical Examples (#302)
Greg takes the tired old cliche that Catholicism is a works-based religion in which we earn our way to heaven on our own steam by looking at some Bible stories…
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Faith or Works? Part 1: Bringing the Receipts (#301)
This next installment of the Arguing with Protestants series, takes on the tired old cliche that Catholicism is a works-based religion in which we earn our way…
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Arguing with Protestants, Part 3: Proof Texting Proves Nothing (#300)
This is the 300th episode of the podcast, released almost to the day on the third anniversary of the show. Greg explains that so many arguments with…
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Arguing with Protestants, Part 2: What Came First, the Bible or the Church? (#299)
Protestant apologists claim that the Bible is the foundation, the beginning of the Church. Catholicism has always said the Church came first and the Bible…
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Arguing with Protestants, Part 1: "The Early Church Wasn't Roman Catholic!" (#298)
Protestant apologists like Wesley Huff claim that the Roman Catholic Church didn't exist in ancient times, that the early church was a sort of…
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Finishing the Race (#297)
Hebrews 12:1 tells us to "run with perseverance the race marked out for us." In 1 Corinthians 9:27, St. Paul said that he did works of faith lest "after I have…
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What's the Greatest Thing You Can Love on This Earth? (#296)
The author J.R.R. Tolkien was not only one of the greatest storytellers of the 20th century, he was also a devout Catholic. In a letter to his son, he…
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The Twelfth Day of Christmas: Epiphany (#295)
In the song, on the twelfth days of Christmas, his true love gave to him "12 drummers drumming." But in Catholicism, the twelfth day of Christmas is Epiphany…
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Starting the Year on the Right Foot: The Feast of Mary, the Mother of God (#294)
From the podcast vault, this is Greg's annual response to something that blows Protestant minds: Catholicism kicks off the new calendar year with the Solemnity…
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Mary and the Messiah (#293)
A reflection on Mary and the Messiah she gave birth to on this happy morn. Support this ministry so more people can consider Catholicism! Website…
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A Considering Catholicism Classic: What Happened to Christmas Carols? (#292)
Every Christmas, we revisit this classic episode from the Considering Catholicism Podcast. Greg, Ed, and Cory discuss the disappearance of genuine Christmas…
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Traditional Catholic Christmas Celebrations (#291)
For thousands of years, Catholics used to celebrate Christmas communally with processions, public gatherings, pilgrimages, etc. But in America, especially over…
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What's Going On With This Podcast? (#290)
Greg shares an update on what's been going on behind the scenes and where the podcast is going next. Support this ministry so more people can consider…
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The 12 Days of Christmas? (#289)
Lords a leaping? Maids a milking? Partridges in pear trees? What's the "12 Days of Christmas" and what does it have to do with Catholicism? Greg and Ed explain…
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Our Lady of Guadalupe (#288)
Every year on December 12, the Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. She is the patron saint of Mexico and dear to the Mexican people…
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What is a "Year of Mercy?" (#287)
The Catholic Church, through Pope Francis, has declared 2025 to be a Jubilee Year, a Year of Mercy. The faithful are invited to travel to Rome, or to their…
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What is the "Immaculate Conception?" (#286)
Every year, the Catholic Church celebrates the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Ed asks what this doctrine means and why it matters so very…
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What is the "Feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe?" (#283)
Every year at this time, the Church celebrates the Feast of Christ the King. What is this celebration, and why did the Church adopt it only 100 years ago?…
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What is the "Sacred Heart of Jesus?" (#282)
Catholics talk about the "Sacred Heart of Jesus." There are images, paintings, and devotional prayers dedicated to it, and Pope Francis just released a 30,000…
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From the Vault: What is Hell? (#281)
The most sobering and somber subject in Christianity is Hell. Greg and Ed discuss what it is and why some souls end up there. Support this ministry so more…
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From the Vault: What is Purgatory? (#280)
The Catholic Church teaches that in addition to Heaven and Hell, there is a third possible destination for a soul upon death: Purgatory. Protestants reject…
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From the Vault: "What is Heaven?" (#279)
In this first of three episodes on the "Last Things," Greg and Ed explore what heaven is, and is probably not, like. Support this ministry so more people can…
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Where Did the Catholic Mass Come From? (#278)
Ed asks Greg how the Catholic liturgy evolved. Was the worship of the early Church more informal and unstructured? When did all the complex parts and pieces of…
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How Are Catholic Funerals Different? (#277)
Recently, Ed went to a Protestant Evangelical funeral, which was more of a "celebration of life." He asks Greg if Catholic funerals are different. Why and how?…
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From the Vault: Unhappy Reformation Day!
For secular folks this is Halloween, for Catholics it's the eve of All Saints Day, but for Protestants it's Reformation Day, when Martin Luther nailed his…
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From the Vault: Can We Celebrate Halloween?
Last year, Greg and Ed talked about Halloween. Since it's coming up, we thought it's worth revisiting the conversation. Can Christians participate? Are its…
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Is There Salvation Outside of the Catholic Church? (#276)
If, as we say in the Nicene Creed, the Catholic Church is the "one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church," what about those outside of it? Can they be saved and…
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Catholicism and Other Religions (#275)
Recently, Pope Francis made some headlines by saying that religions are like languages, each trying to express something about God in its own way. A lot of…
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Anointing the Sick (#274)
One of the Catholic Church's seven sacraments is Anointing of the Sick. It used to be called "last rites" or "extreme unction," but the new name more…
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Heresies Recycled (#273)
When it comes to theological errors, there's nothing new under the sun. There are only so many ways to fall off the tightrope of orthodox Catholic doctrines…
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From the Vault: The 'Five Solas' of Protestantism (#272)
Protestantism is built upon "Five Solas." "Sola" is Latin for "alone," and so the battle cry of the Reformation became: Sola Scriptura ("Scripture Alone")…
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From the Vault: Explaining Confession to a Protestant (#271)
Several years ago, one of the first conversations between Greg and Ed the Protestant was about the Catholic sacrament of Confession (or Reconciliation as the…
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"I'm Spiritual, Not Religious!" Part 2 (#270)
Greg and Ed continue their conversation about those who say they are spiritual but not religious. What exactly does that mean? And why does Greg say that he's…
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"I'm Spiritual, Not Religious!" Part 1 (#269)
It's popular to say, "I'm spiritual, not religious" as a reason for not attending church or participating in organized religion. Where did this idea come from…
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The Pope Says We Should Read Novels (#268)
We should read the Bible (of course), and devotional literature, and catechetical and apologetics. But what about stories, literature, novels? Support this…
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Has the Virgin Mary Been Appearing in Bosnia? (#267)
For the last 43 years, Catholics have been going on pilgrimages to a town in Bosnia and Herzegovina called Medjugorje, where a group of "visionaries" or…
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Does Science Disprove Religion? (#266)
A common objection to religious faith or belief in anything supernatural is that "Science" has disproved that there is anything outside of the material…
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Should You Go On a Spiritual Retreat? (#265)
Cory recently went on a spiritual retreat to a monastery. He shares why, what, and how of retreats. Have you ever considered going on one? Support this…
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Beware The Noontime Demon! (#264)
Greg describes one of the most troublesome afflictions that a Christian can face, what it can do to you, and how to overcome it. Support this ministry so more…
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Why Don't People Go To Church? Part 4: Have You Invited Them? (#263)
What keeps some people away from Christ and the Church? In Part 5 of this series, Greg and Ed talk about how some people need an invitation, how hard it can be…
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IVF: Catholicism and In Vitro Fertilization (#262)
Catholics are talking about In Vitro Fertilization after the major political candidates in the US elections have indicated support for IVF. Why does the Church…
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Updates on the Podcast (#261)
Greg shares some news and updates about the podcast and this ministry. Support this ministry so more people can consider Catholicism! Website…
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It Has to Matter, Part 2 (#260)
What keeps some people away from Christ and the Church? Greg and Ed revisit why we must offer a Christianity that wrestles with the ultimate questions. Support…
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Why Are Young Catholic Women Wearing Chapel Veils? (#259)
Greg and Dominican friar Father Nick Monco discuss why young Catholic women are drawn to traditional expressions of faith, the cultural and theological…
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Why Don't People Go To Church? Part 4: Talking About Theology (#258)
What keeps some people away from Christ and the Church? In Part 4 of this series, Greg and Ed talk about how to talk to those around you about what the…
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Why Don't People Go to Church? Part 3: It Has to Matter (#257)
What keeps some people away from Christ and the Church? In Part 3 of this series, Greg and Ed talk about "vaccinating people against the Gospel" by offering a…
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Listener Questions: Tabernacles? Anglicanism/Episcopalianism? (#256)
What are “tabernacles” and where should they be placed in a Catholic Church? How are Episcopal or Anglican churches similar to or different from the Catholic…
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Listener Questions: Dreams? Catholic Continuity? (#255)
What does the Catholic Church teach about the meaning and interpretation of dreams? And how has the Catholic Church both changed and yet remained the same over…
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Why Don't People Go to Church? Part 2: Attachments (#254)
What keeps some people away from Christ and the Church? In Part 2 of this series, Greg and Ed discuss the most basic reason: "attachments," things that we love…
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Why Don't People Go to Church? Part 1 (#253)
What keeps some people away from Christ and the Church? How do we understand their lack of interest or their motivations? And more importantly, how do we…
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The "End Times?" Catholic Eschatology, Part 2 (#252)
Greg and Cory continue their discussion of Catholic eschatology and how it differs with much of American evangelicalism. Will there be a "rapture" of…
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The "End Times?" Catholic Eschatology, Part 1 (#251)
When will Jesus return? How will the world end? These are the sort of questions addressed by the branch of theology known as "eschatology." But Catholic…
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Can Our Pain and Suffering be Redemptive? (#250)
The Lord can comfort and bless us in times of pain and suffering. But can our suffering be redemptive for others? Greg shares the Catholic practice of…