Introduction

> When we abandon foundational ideas like equality and rights, which are rooted in God, we set ourselves up for chaos, as history shows us tragic outcomes like death camps. It’s a stark reminder that without a transcendent moral order, power can become destructive.

> Moreover, moving beyond mere good and evil into a landscape dominated by the “will to power” reveals a troubling reality: the powerful often pursue their own agenda at the expense of the vulnerable. We must learn to cling to the truths of faith to guide our understanding of justice and human dignity.

Who is God?

> The concept of God in Christianity, especially within Catholicism, is deeply influenced by Thomas Aquinas, who describes God as "ipsum esse subsistens" - the subsistent act of to be itself. This means that God is not a being among beings but the very act of existence in which essence and existence are unified. This perspective rejects the idea of God as a mere entity within the universe, a fundamental misconception made by atheists.

> Understanding God requires a metaphysical and philosophical approach, using analogical language rather than literal descriptions. While everything in our experience is a particular being, God transcends these categories, making our ordinary language inadequate. Thus, terms like "God is a rock" or "God is like a lion" in the Bible are metaphorical, capturing aspects of God's nature without limiting Him to a creaturely form.

> Faith in God is not an irrational belief but rather a super-rational endeavor that goes beyond what reason can attain. As theologian Paul Tillich suggests, faith isn't sub-rational or blindly credulous but is situated at the horizon where reason meets the unknown. Authentic faith acknowledges the limits of reason and opens to the transcendent mystery of God’s presence.

> The analogy of an author and a book helps clarify God's relationship with creation. Like J.R.R. Tolkien, who is fully responsible for every aspect of his stories yet not a character within them, God is intimately involved in the universe but not a character within it. This understanding avoids the error of looking for God as an entity among other entities and underscores God’s unique transcendence and immanence simultaneously.

Christianity

> Christianity is defined by the unique belief in the incarnation, where "God becomes a creature in such a way as to make humanity radiant and beautiful."

> The significance of the incarnation lies in the idea of divinizing creation, where God draws all of humanity and creation to himself, leading to a profound humanism and a non-competitive relationship with God.

Sin

> Pride serves as the fundamental sin, acting like a black hole that draws everything into oneself, creating a heavy and isolated existence. It's essential to recognize this tendency, as "we're all sinners," and overcoming pride allows light to shine through and fosters genuine connection with others.

> The essence of love in Christianity goes beyond mere sentiment; it's about "willing the good of the other as other." This self-emptying stance leads us to a more authentic relationship with God and each other, moving us closer to joy and fulfillment instead of bondage to our ego.

> The journey toward salvation involves oscillating between moments of grace and sin, with the goal being to "be fully alive." The grandeur of life is measured by our ability to love deeply and generously, reflecting the divine purpose instilled in our lives.

> Understanding the Trinity deepens our comprehension of love, portraying it as dynamic and relational. God is not a monolithic being but a community of love—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—inviting us into the divine dance and reminding us that "God is love."

The Trinity

> Christianity uniquely presents God as love, necessitating a unity where God is simultaneously the lover, the beloved, and the love shared between them. This Trinitarian relationship poetically embodies the very nature of divine love.

> The concept of the Holy Trinity emerges from the infinite mind of God, where God has a perfect self-image—the Son—that is inherently loved, resulting in a shared love—the Holy Spirit. This relationship perfectly encapsulates divine interaction within the single essence of God.

Catholicism

> The Catholic Church is not just an organization but an organism, a mystical body of interconnected cells gathered around Christ in a mystical union, despite the presence of buildings and titles that can sometimes be a source of pride and corruption.

> In Catholic ecclesiology, the hierarchy, including the Pope, bishops, and pastors, symbolizes and embodies the unity of the church, serving as unifying figures around which the community organizes itself symbolically and organically, rather than merely organizationally.

> Detachment from worldly success is crucial, as seen in the rejection of the prosperity gospel, where the focus shifts to using whatever circumstances, good or bad, as vehicles of love to increase the amount of love in the world; living at the center of the wheel of fortune, where Christ is, allows for detachment from the ever-changing cycles of success and failure, as beautifully epitomized in the lyrics of John Lennon's song "Watching the Wheels."

Sexual abuse scandal

> The ongoing tragedy of sexual abuse within the Church is a profound issue that has plagued us since the 11th century. While the last 30 years have seen sickening revelations, I believe critical strides have been taken since the Dallas Accords in 2002, which implemented protocols that have helped reduce these incidents significantly.

> Celibacy is a path of love, allowing priests to dedicate their lives to serving God and others. It reflects a mystical form of love that transcends familial bonds, akin to the love we will experience in heaven. Though many find value in the intimate expression of love through marriage, celibacy offers a unique capability to redirect energies into ministry and spiritual endeavors.

> The issue of sexual abuse cannot be directly tied to celibacy; rather, it’s a consequence of sinful human nature existing in any institution that grants access to vulnerable individuals. Statistics and research support that celibacy itself is not a contributing factor, but rather, the struggle lies within flawed individuals who misuse their power.

Evil

> The problem of evil is profound, and it's something the Christian tradition has grappled with deeply. Augustine's idea that "God permits evil to bring about a greater good" is rational but emotionally unsatisfying. As complex and often unsettling as this explanation is, it aligns with the understanding that our limited human perspective can't grasp God's reasons fully.

> The Church does not shy away from the reality of evil and suffering; it confronts it head-on through the examples of Job, Dostoevsky's characters, and even contemporary atheists like Stephen Fry. These voices, although challenging, echo within the tradition, showing that grappling with suffering is integral to faith. The existential confrontations in these narratives push us to trust that there is a higher purpose beyond our understanding.

> My pastoral experiences, such as the heartbreaking story of a policeman who tragically shot his son and himself, underscore the Church's role in these spaces of profound suffering. We may not have all the answers, but like Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice on the cross, our mission is to be present in these moments of human pain, providing comfort and pointing toward a trust in God's greater plan, even when it is beyond our immediate comprehension.

Atheism

> There is a challenge in understanding atheism when it comes to explaining everything through natural causes, as it limits our understanding to the empirically observable, indicating a need to step out of Plato's cave.

> The limitation of the empirical scientific method is seen in scientism, which reduces all knowledge to the scientific realm, missing certain dimensions of being that are not capturable through this method, such as the realm of pure mathematics.

> The intelligibility of the world raises questions about the source of mathematical structures and the beauty and purpose of mathematics, leading to reflections on the creator imbuing the world with intelligibility from the beginning.

> The term "universe" itself hints at a deeper metaphysical reality that transcends mere empiricism, suggesting an intuition of being turned towards a unifying principle, leading to a metaphysical analysis beyond the physical and mathematical realms.

Jordan Peterson

> Engaging with Jordan Peterson has illuminated a fascinating tension in our understanding of faith. While he grapples with Jesus as both a historical and archetypal figure—seeing Him as "the image of the person perfectly pleasing to God"—I emphasize that Christianity centers on the true historical reality of Jesus. Faith isn't merely a psychological archetype; it’s an encounter with a living person who "invaded our world" to redeem us from sin and death.

> Moreover, I notice that Peterson’s approach reflects a Kantian perspective, insisting on living "as though God exists." While I appreciate the moral urgency in his thought, I believe that this view stops short of the fullness of Christian revelation. True faith encompasses the Incarnation and the resurrection as pivotal historical events, not just mythological constructs. In essence, Christianity reveals a God who truly enters human history, offering us salvation in a way that transcends mere moral philosophy.

Jesus

> Christianity is fundamentally rooted in the historical reality of Jesus Christ, not merely as an archetype or myth but as a real figure whose life, death, and resurrection have a concrete, transformative impact. The New Testament conveys this urgency and reality, capturing the intense, personal testimonies of those who witnessed these events, rather than presenting detached psychological musings or mythic narratives.

> The historical details of events, whether biblical or secular like the rise of Nazi Germany, are crucial for understanding and grappling with their deeper implications. It's through examining these concrete incidents that we can truly engage with the complexities and potent lessons of human nature, morality, and the operation of power within institutions, ensuring our reflections are grounded in reality.

The Bible

> The Bible is like a library, not a single book. It contains a variety of genres, including poetry, song, history, gospel, epistolary literature, and apocalyptic writing. Each genre serves as a unique way for God to speak to us.

> God breathes through all the different parts of the Bible, using various human authors and genres like instruments in a symphony. Whether it's through the Psalms, apocalyptic literature, the Gospels, or the Pauline letters, God's message is conveyed through diverse voices and styles that we need to appreciate and understand.

America

> The founding principles of America embody an essential truth: our rights are "endowed by their creator," which reflects a profound Christian influence on the Enlightenment ideals interwoven with the political thought of the time. The idea that "all men are created equal" underscores our shared identity as children of God, highlighting that as we remove God from our understanding of rights and equality, we risk descending into a society that embraces inequality and chaos.

> This connection to God is not just a quaint notion but anchors the rational foundations of our democracy, asserting that the divine must remain integral to our conception of justice and human dignity. Without this relationship, history has shown us that the very fabric of equality can unravel, leading to a conflation of rights and moral standards.

Nietzsche

> The concept of God in modern culture and its implications can be profound. Reflecting on Nietzsche's idea that "God is dead," there's a lamentation in recognizing how society has distanced itself from divine accountability. This detachment from God has often led to significant moral crises, as seen in the totalitarian states of the 20th century. When we abandon divine principles of equality and rights, power tends to corrupt, leading to atrocities—as humanity loses the moral compass anchored in a higher power.

> The search for meaning and the ultimate good is a journey that every individual undertakes, often implicitly seeking God even if they are not explicitly aware of it. For example, Aristotle's idea of final causality suggests that every action is directed towards some higher good. Personally, my choices, like engaging in deep, meaningful conversations, are part of my broader mission to connect more people to the divine truths of the Church. At the core of our desires and actions lies a supreme good, a "summum bonum," which is ultimately God. This continuous search embodies our intrinsic yearning for a relationship with the divine, showcasing that at every moment, humankind is inherently oriented towards God.

Word on Fire

> I started Word on Fire over 20 years ago, beginning with a radio show in Chicago funded by my parish, and it has evolved into using new and social media to spread the gospel worldwide.

> What excites me most is engaging with a diverse range of thinkers, from atheists to complex thinkers like Jordan Peterson, and even those with different worldviews like Dave Rubin. It's challenging but incredibly rewarding to have conversations that extend beyond just the narrow Christian world and dive into wider cultural dialogues.

Gay marriage

> The essence of marriage, as taught by the Church, centers around two dimensions: "unitive and procreative." We recognize marriage as the appropriate expression of human sexuality between a man and a woman, reflecting our deep understanding of human nature and its finality.

> While the Church maintains its teaching on marriage, it also reaches out "to everybody in love and in respect," embracing the love and friendship found in the LGBTQ+ community. It's crucial to affirm the deep love that exists between individuals, acknowledging that the issue lies in the physical expression of that love, not the love itself.

Abortion

> Pro-life Stance and Legal Critique: The church views life as sacred from conception, deserving respect and protection at every stage. Both Roe v. Wade and the Casey decision were poorly adjudicated, undermining the intrinsic value of life and wrongly empowering individuals to interpret their existence without reference to a moral order. Overturning these rulings returns the debate to the states, which doesn't fully resolve the issue but is a step forward.

> Understanding Freedom: In classical philosophy, freedom isn't mere self-determination but the discipline of desire to achieve the good effortlessly. Modern interpretations, rooted in thinkers like William of Ockham, misconstrue freedom as sovereign choice devoid of moral order, leading to existential chaos. True freedom involves aligning personal choices with objective goods.

> Cultural Implications: Our society's fixation on individual autonomy echoes Nietzsche's "will to power," abandoning communal and inherited values. Authentic freedom arises from being shaped by family, education, and religion, which orient us towards higher values. The dog on the beach metaphor illustrates how these external influences guide us to graceful and intuitive freedom, unlike the isolating burden of self-created meaning.

Advice for young people

> Find something you're good at and dedicate it to love. Use your talents not for personal gain, but to benefit others and the world around you. It's a process of trying things out, figuring out what brings joy and light to the world, and constantly asking how your actions are making the world a better place. Your freedom is not absolute, but guided towards a purpose greater than yourself.

Mortality

> Thinking about my own mortality is something that occupies my mind daily. The fear associated with death stems from its uncertainty; I can’t claim to know what comes next, despite the comfort offered by prayer. The Hail Mary encapsulates this reflective process for me, reminding us all that we encounter the idea of our own death throughout life. It's the ultimate limit that has fascinated artists, writers, and philosophers alike.

> I hold a deep hope that after death, I will be drawn into the "deeper embrace of God’s love." I resonate with John Polkinghorne's ideas about existence beyond this life—he suggests that while our physical bodies decay, a unique "pattern" of who we are persists in God’s mind. This pattern is what allows for re-embodiment, leading to the resurrection—not as a mere escape from material existence but as a fulfillment of our earthly identity in a higher state. That is the essence of my faith: the resurrection of the body and the promise of a future that's intimately connected to the present.

Meaning of life

> The meaning of life is rooted in love, as God is love, and our purpose is to become God’s friends by becoming more conformed to love. It's like the burning bush becoming more radiant with God's presence; our lives find true meaning as we grow more on fire with divine love.

> Meaning in life comes from having a purposive relationship to the highest value, which is God, the ultimate value of values. This alignment with God, who is supremely good, intelligible, and knowable, leads us to a fully meaningful existence, encapsulating the beautiful, the good, and the true.