Fr Gavan Jennings is a priest of Opus Dei, the editor of the position papers, and a presenter ⁨@ctmcatholic⁩ .

In this conversation, we explore the evolving landscape of faith in Ireland, discussing the gradual decline of religious practice, the crisis of meaning in modern society, the importance of intellectual engagement in strengthening faith, the significance of personal relationships with God and the journey towards theosis, highlighting the role of laypeople in revitalising the Catholic Church and the joy that comes from living a life aligned with faith.

*We had some technical difficulties hence Fr Gavan's miraculous background change halfway through.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Father Gavan Jennings

00:56 The Decline of Faith in Ireland

04:09 Cultural Identity and Catholicism

10:08 The Importance of Personal Faith

15:36 Intellectual Challenges Facing the Church

18:14 The Role of Catholic Intellectuals

28:20 Faith and Reason: A Balanced Approach

32:33 The Intellectual Crisis in Catholicism

39:26 The Role of Philosophy in Faith

47:42 Revitalizing Faith in Modern Ireland

54:29 Theosis: The Goal of the Christian Life

01:00:50 The Path to Sanctity and Happiness

The last podcast before a break over the Christmas!

More than delighted to be joined by Fr Columba Jordan for an unofficial Christmas special. Fr Columba is a Franciscan Friar of the renewal ( ⁨@cfr_franciscans⁩ ), and a presenter at Call To More ( ⁨@ctmcatholic⁩ ).In this conversation, shares his journey as a Franciscan priest, challenges faced by young people in connecting with their faith, entering the dance with God, St Maximilian Kolbe and sacrifice and love, practical steps for encountering God, and the role of the internet and artificial intelligence in the return to faith.

Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Father Columba02:56 Journey to the Priesthood05:51 Engaging the Youth: Addressing Boredom in Faith08:49 The Challenge of Familiarity in Faith12:02 The Proposal of Faith: A Call to Verify14:58 The Dance of Faith: Openness and Surrender17:53 The Role of Entertainment in Worship20:59 The Nature of Relationships and Vulnerability24:01 Shame and Its Impact on Faith26:55 The Journey of Growth and Transformation34:29 The Decline of Irish Catholicism36:19 Understanding God: Love and Justice39:39 The Image of God and Its Impact42:37 Living the Faith: A Personal Journey45:49 The Risk of Faith49:41 The Role of Doubt and Verification52:39 Surrendering to God56:12 The Power of Sacrifice01:00:06 Every Action Matters01:04:23 Practical Steps to Encounter God01:07:39 Entering the Dance of Faith01:10:24 The Role of Humility in Spiritual Growth01:11:42 The Impact of Prayer and Community01:12:10 The Intersection of Technology and Faith01:18:49 AI and the Future of Humanity01:25:06 The Internet as a Tool for Evangelization

Hey There,

New podcast on deck 🚨

This was an unbelievable conversation with Brendan Graham Dempsey on his new ‘evolution of meaning’ series!!

Evolution of Meaning part 1: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Universal-Learning-Process-Evolution-Meaning/dp/B0D88CV4GP

Evolution of Meaning part 2:https://www.amazon.com/Psyche-Symbolic-Learning-Evolution-Meaning/dp/B0FPV8M3Z8/In this conversation, we explored the themes of meaning, the meaning crisis, and the evolution of meaning through various philosophical and cultural lenses. We discuss the impact of nihilism, the role of metamodernism, and the significance of complexity theory in providing a foundation for meaning. With a new foundation in place, we explore a modern path to transcendence, the hero’s journey and the sacred! Check it out 👇

Chapters00:00 Introduction to the Evolution of Meaning02:18 Understanding the Meaning Crisis05:15 Philosophical Perspectives on Meaning08:34 The Role of Transcendence in Meaning11:31 Exploring Meaning in Life Literature14:26 The Journey Towards Meaning17:25 Complexity Theory and Meaning20:42 Active Inference and Meaning27:25 Understanding Surprise and World Models29:32 The Complexity of Human Models32:27 Cultural Evolution and Meaning Systems34:09 Moral Development and Complexity39:02 Human Learning as a Complexification Process44:48 The Role of Egocentrism in Meaning Making50:48 The Meaning Crisis and Anomie53:30 Breaking Frames: The Role of Technology and Social Media56:32 The Meta Frame: Embracing Chaos and Complexity59:40 Transcendence and Awe: The Sacred in Frame Breaking01:02:36 The Infinite Journey: Icons, Myths, and the Divine01:06:28 Faith and the Hero’s Journey: Navigating Uncertainty01:09:34 Learning and Meaning: The Evolution of Understanding

My new book Waiting For The Offo will be out next Monday 1/12/25!!!!

David Quinn, is a columnist for the Sunday Independent/Irish Catholic and Commentator on society, religion and politics since 1994.

Iona Institute Poll: https://ionainstitute.ie/big-revival-of-interest-in-religion-among-many-young-people-in-northern-ireland-says-new-poll/

In this conversation, David Quinn discusses the current state of Irish Catholicism, reflecting on its historical context and the evolving perspectives of younger generations towards religion. He emphasises the importance of religion in providing meaning, purpose, and community, especially in a society facing increasing secularisation. Quinn highlights signs of hope among younger people who are becoming more open to religion, suggesting a potential resurgence in religious engagement as they seek answers to life’s challenges.

Chapters:

00:00 The Evolution of Irish Catholicism

12:05 The Church’s Influence and Secularisation in Ireland

19:54 Generational Perspectives on Religion and Progress

24:40 Woke Ideology vs. Christianity: A Cultural Clash

32:25 The Crisis of Modernity and Mental Health

33:10 The Role of Religion in Society

34:11 Rediscovering the Great Tradition

35:01 Perceptions of Church vs. Christianity

37:53 Distinguishing Between Institution and Faith

40:12 Rationality and the Existence of God

42:31 The Shift from Default Theism to Atheism

44:40 The Changing Landscape of Belief

47:35 Materialism and Free Will

49:16 Transhumanism and the Future of Humanity

51:01 Demographic Shifts and Religion’s Role

55:47 Signs of Hope Among Younger Generations

Waiting For The Offo is coming out on 1/12/25!!!

Robert Freese converted to Catholicism in 2020 after 20 years of practicing and eventually teaching Vipassana meditation. He and his wife Gosia are volunteers in the Faustinium, the lay order of Saint Faustina who initiated the devotion to Divine Mercy.

In this conversation, Robert shares his profound journey from a secular upbringing in Texas to exploring Buddhism and eventually returning to Catholicism. He discusses the influence of his family background, the transformative power of meditation, and the importance of community in spiritual practices. Robert reflects on his experiences with Vipassana meditation, the challenges of balancing spiritual commitments with worldly responsibilities, and the ongoing quest for self-discovery and meaning in life. In this conversation, Robert Freese shares his profound journey of faith, detailing his experiences of encountering Jesus during meditation, the integration of his Buddhist practices with Catholicism, and the transformative power of suffering and grace. He reflects on the significance of communion, confession, and the importance of bringing one’s suffering to God, emphasising the deep connection between personal experiences and spiritual growth.

Chapters

00:00 Journey of Spiritual Exploration

10:11 The Shift to Buddhism

19:57 Deepening the Practice

29:49 Teaching and Transformation

39:57 Navigating Challenges in Spiritual Life

49:51 Encountering Jesus in Meditation

54:00 The Cross and Personal Suffering

58:08 Navigating Faith and Personal Crisis

01:01:22 The Journey to Catholicism

01:07:20 Integrating Buddhism and Catholicism

01:14:14 Desire, Suffering, and Spiritual Growth

01:20:50 The Role of Confession and Grace

Martin McManus is a Lukewarm Catholic to anti-Catholic psychology postgrad to schismatic traditionalist to now a normal Catholic devoted to Our Lady and working to help others back to their home, the Catholic Church.

In this conversation, Martin shares his profound journey from a lukewarm Catholic upbringing in Longford to a period of atheism influenced by modern psychology and prominent atheists. He discusses his struggles with nihilism and the eventual rediscovery of faith, sparked by the works of Jordan Peterson and his experiences in the mental health field. Martin emphasizes the importance of community and tradition in his return to Catholicism, particularly through the Legion of Mary, and advocates for sharing faith with love and understanding.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Martin’s Journey

02:39 Early Catholic Upbringing and Its Impact

05:34 Drifting Away from Faith and Academic Pursuits

08:27 Encountering Atheism and Intellectual Influences

11:12 The Shift Towards Seeking Meaning

13:56 Exploring Freedom and Reality

16:44 The Role of Jordan Peterson in Rediscovering Faith

19:42 The Paradox of Freedom and Responsibility

22:34 Finding Harmony in Faith and Reality

28:04 Awakening to Faith

30:20 Exploring Different Christian Denominations

32:04 The Search for Truth in Catholicism

35:09 Understanding the Magisterium

38:29 The Role of Doctrine and Tradition

40:49 Living Out the Faith in Modern Times

47:15 Engaging with the Legion of Mary

52:32 Encouragement for Faith Sharing

In this lecture, we delve into the Good! Particularly Plato’s analogy of the Sun, and the Divided Line from ‘The Republic’ to explain the un-hypothetical first principle of everything. After a quick re-cap of the Philosopher Kings, we discuss the change from politics to philosophy in the Republic book six. Plato’s analogy of the ship for the state, and why Philosophers know appearance from Reality and the three roles of the Good in Plato’s ethics, epistemology and ontology. Finally, the lecture summarises the dialectic process leading to the Form of the Good, emphasising its critical role in understanding reality and achieving a just society.

Chapters:

00:00 Plato’s Good and the Divided Line

00:26 Philosophers as Kings

02:39 The Analogy of the Ship

04:13 Corruption and Education

07:17 The Form of the Good

09:18 The Sun and the Divided Line

17:21 The Nature of Ultimate Reality

19:23 Conclusion and Next Steps

In this fifth installment of Mahon McCann’s lecture series on Plato’s Republic, we delve into Book Five to explore one of Plato’s most influential and controversial ideas: philosopher kings. McCann, a philosophy PhD researcher and lecturer, breaks down the concepts of love of wisdom, the distinction between appearance and reality, and the significance of forms in understanding true knowledge. This episode specifically addresses why Plato argues that philosophers should be rulers and provides an in-depth analysis of the philosopher king’s characteristics and their ability to discern real justice from mere appearances.

Chapters:

00:00 Philosopher Kings in Book Five of Republic

00:17 Overview of Book Five

01:02 The Concept of Philosopher Kings

02:21 Philosophy vs. Politics

02:59 The Nature of Philosophical Love

05:04 Plato’s Theory of Forms

13:48 Conclusion: Why Philosophers Should Be Kings

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