Podcast
Crash Course Catholicism
Hosted by Dr Caitlin West · EN
Catholicism can seem overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be.
Crash Course Catholicism breaks down the beliefs, traditions, and teachings of the Catholic Church in a way that's thoughtful, accessible, and engaging. The first 50 episodes of this podcast are a summary of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, while later episodes include deep dives into big questions about God, Scripture, Church history, the saints, morality, and the spiritual life. Our aim is to help you build a stronger understanding of the faith without requiring a theology degree.
Find out more: https://www.caitlinwest.com
13episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Catechism 101: The Cosmological Argument for God's Existence
1w ago00:16:29Tap to summarizeHow do we know that God exists? Can reason lead us to God?In this episode, we begin a new series exploring one of the most famous arguments for the existence of God: St Thomas Aquinas’ cosmological argument.Before diving into Aquinas’ First Way, we take a step back and look at the big picture. What exactly is a cosmological argument? How does it work? And why did Aquinas think that observing the ordinary world around us could lead us to the existence of a First Cause or Unmoved Mover?In this episode, we discuss: What a cosmological argument is Why we often reason from visible effects to invisible causes Aquinas’ observations about change, causation, and contingent existence The difference between temporal and hierarchical causes What Aquinas means by a First Cause or Unmoved Mover Why Aquinas is not yet trying to prove every Christian belief about God How this overview prepares us for Aquinas’ First Three Ways This is the first episode in a series unpacking St Thomas Aquinas’ arguments for the existence of God. Whether you’re interested in philosophy, theology, apologetics, or simply wrestling with life’s biggest questions, I hope these episodes help make Aquinas’ thought more accessible and encourage you to explore these remarkable arguments for yourself.SUPPORT THE PODCASTThis podcast relies 100% on the generosity of viewers. If you have found these episodes helpful and would like to support the future of Crash Course Catholicism, please consider donating through the following links: Donate via PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=6WSCLFHLCDXH2 Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/caitlinwest Contact: www.caitlinwest.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/
Transcribe →120 - Truth & Freedom Under Threat | Magnifica Humanitas Part 4
2w ago00:38:05Tap to summarizeIn Part 4 of our series on Pope Leo's encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, we explore Chapter 4, which describes how artificial intelligence is reshaping truth, work, and freedom.Pope Leo warns that AI is not simply changing the tools we use. Instead, it is transforming the way we seek truth, the way we work, and the way we exercise our freedom. In this episode, we discuss:* How AI is amplifying disinformation and blurring the line between truth and opinion* Why Truth is a common good and not a tool for power* The importance of education, critical thinking, and digital sobriety* Why work is so important for humans* How AI should support human work rather than replace the human person* How digital technologies can weaken our freedom * The hidden human cost of AI, including exploitation, modern slavery, and digital colonialismThis is Part 4 of our chapter-by-chapter journey through Magnifica Humanitas. Whether you're interested in AI ethics, Catholic social teaching, philosophy, technology, or the future of humanity, I hope these reflections encourage you to read the encyclical for yourself and discover the Church's hopeful vision for placing technology at the service of the human person.SUPPORT THE PODCASTThis podcast relies 100% on the generosity of viewers. If you have found these episodes helpful and would like to support the future of Crash Course Catholicism, please consider donating via the following links:Donate via PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=6WSCLFHLCDXH2Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/caitlinwestContact: www.caitlinwest.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/
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Conversations Ep. 2 – Bit by Bit with Lucinda
3w ago00:57:25Tap to summarizeConversion doesn't always happen in a single blinding moment of clarity. Sometimes, like drops of water slowly filling a glass, conversion to the Catholic faith is the result of countless conversations, experiences, and quiet moments accumulated over many years.In today's episode, I speak with Lucinda -- a teacher and Cambridge graduate -- about her journey to the Catholic Church. Through conversations with friends, encounters with Evangelical Christians and faithful Catholics, and even a visit to Auschwitz, Lucinda gradually came to understand and embrace the Catholic faith.Lucinda's conversion story is a powerful reminder that every small act of kindness, every thoughtful conversation, and every example of faithful living can shape another person's search for truth in ways we may never see.Donate via PayPalSupport us on Patreon!Contact the podcast: crashcoursecatholicism@gmail.com.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/
Transcribe →119 - AI, Transhumanism, and the Fight to Stay Human | Magnifica Humanitas Part 3
Jul 1200:36:31Tap to summarizeWhat are the greatest threats that artificial intelligence poses, and how can we remain fully human in the age of AI?In Part 3 of our series on Pope Leo's encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, we explore Chapter 3 of the encyclical and examine the opportunities, dangers, and moral questions surrounding artificial intelligence.Pope Leo argues that AI is not simply another technological innovation. It is reshaping the way we think, make decisions, relate to one another, and even understand what it means to be human. Drawing on the Church's rich philosophical and theological tradition, he warns against the rise of a "technocratic paradigm" -- a culture that prizes efficiency, control, and profit above the dignity of the human person.In this episode, we discuss:* What Pope Leo means by the "technocratic paradigm"* Why technological progress must be accompanied by moral progress* How artificial intelligence differs fundamentally from human intelligence* The dangers of overreliance on AI, algorithms, and simulated relationships* Why AI should never replace human moral judgment or accountability* The importance of political oversight, subsidiarity, and the common good in AI governance* Why we need to "disarm AI"* The rise of transhumanism and posthumanism* Why our limitations are not defects to eliminate but part of what it means to be human* How God's grace and not technology is the path to becoming truly "more than human"This is Part 3 of our chapter-by-chapter journey through Magnifica Humanitas. Whether you're interested in AI ethics, Catholic theology, philosophy, technology, or the future of humanity, I hope these reflections encourage you to read the encyclical for yourself and discover the Church's deeply hopeful vision for the digital age.SUPPORT THE PODCASTThis podcast relies 100% on the generosity of viewers. If you have found these episodes helpful and would like to support the future of Crash Course Catholicism, please consider donating via the following links:Donate via PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=6WSCLFHLCDXH2Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/caitlinwestContact: www.caitlinwest.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/
Transcribe →Catechism 101: How to be Certain God Exists
Jul 600:12:04Tap to summarize“God, the first principle and last end of all things, can be known with certainty from the created world by the natural light of human reason.” The Catechism of the Catholic Church, p. 36In this episode of Catechism 101, we discuss how we can know for sure that God exists. This podcast relies 100% on the generosity of viewers. If you have found these episodes helpful and would like to support the future of Crash Course Catholicism, please consider donating via the following links:Donate via PayPalSupport us on Patreon!Contact the podcast: www.caitlinwest.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/
Transcribe →118 - Social Doctrine in the Digital Age | Magnifica Humanitas Part 2
Jun 2900:39:12Tap to summarizeWhat does Catholic Social Doctrine have to say about artificial intelligence?In Part 2 of our series on Pope Leo's encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, we explore chapters 1 and 2 of the encyclical and discover why the Church's social doctrine is more relevant than ever in the digital age.Pope Leo does not create an entirely new moral framework for AI. Instead, he shows how the timeless principles of Catholic Social Teaching (human dignity, the common good, solidarity, subsidiarity, social justice, and integral human development) help us navigate the opportunities and challenges of artificial intelligence.In this episode, we discuss:What Catholic Social Teaching actually isWhy the Church speaks about AI, politics, economics, and technologyHow Pope Leo applies Catholic social doctrine to the digital revolutionWhy human dignity is the foundation of human rightsThe common good, solidarity, subsidiarity, and social justice in the age of AIWhy algorithms, data, and digital platforms raise new moral questionsHow Christians can think faithfully about emerging technologiesThis is Part 2 of our chapter-by-chapter journey through Magnifica Humanitas. Whether you're interested in AI ethics, Catholic theology, philosophy, technology, or Catholic Social Teaching, I hope these reflections encourage you to read the encyclical for yourself and think more deeply about what it means to remain fully human in the digital age.This podcast relies 100% on the generosity of viewers. If you have found these episodes helpful and would like to support the future of Crash Course Catholicism, please consider donating via the following links:Donate via PayPalSupport us on Patreon!Contact the podcast: www.caitlinwest.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/
Transcribe →Catechism 101: The Universal Desire for God
Jun 2200:17:16Tap to summarize“The desire for God is written in the human heart, because man is created by God and for God; and God never ceases to draw man to himself. Only in God will he find the truth and happiness he never stops searching for” The Catechism of the Catholic Church, p 27In this episode of Catechism 101, we discuss the universal desire for God. This desire is written in our hearts, and is made visible through our search for Truth, Goodness, and Beauty.This podcast relies 100% on the generosity of viewers. If you have found these episodes helpful and would like to support the future of Crash Course Catholicism, please consider donating via the following links:Donate via PayPalSupport us on Patreon!Contact the podcast: www.caitlinwest.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/
Transcribe →117 - AI, Humanity, and the Church | Magnifica Humanitas Part 1
Jun 1500:29:11Tap to summarizeIn this first episode of our series on Pope Leo's encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, we explore what the Catholic Church has to say about artificial intelligence, the digital revolution, and what it means to be truly human.Pope Leo argues that AI is not simply another technological innovation. It is reshaping the way we work, communicate, think, and even understand ourselves. Drawing on the biblical stories of the Tower of Babel and Nehemiah, he challenges us to build a future rooted not in pride or efficiency alone, but in human dignity, communion, and the common good.This episode covers:Why Pope Leo compares aspects of the digital age to the Tower of BabelHow AI is transforming society and human relationshipsThe difference between unity and uniformityWhy technology is neither inherently good nor inherently evilThe Catholic understanding of AI and human dignityHow Christians can remain deeply human in an increasingly digital worldThis is Part 1 of our chapter-by-chapter journey through Magnifica Humanitas. Whether you're interested in Catholic social teaching, AI ethics, technology, philosophy, or theology, I hope these reflections encourage you to read the encyclical for yourself and join the conversation.Question for listeners:How can we remain “profoundly human” in the age of artificial intelligence?00:00 – Introduction01:12 – Why We're Reading Magnifica Humanitas03:15 – The Lay of the Land: AI and the Digital Revolution06:48 – Big Tech Today Has More Power Than Governments09:36 – We Must Act Now, Before a Crisis10:31 – The Tower of Babel vs. Nehemiah14:26 – Unity vs. Uniformity18:07 – The “Babel Syndrome”20:48 – The “Way of Nehemiah”23:36 – We Are All Responsible for What Happens Next25:15 – The Morality of AI Depends on How We Use It26:33 – Remaining Profoundly Human27:37 – What’s Coming in Part 2This podcast relies 100% on the generosity of viewers. If you have found these episodes helpful and would like to support the future of Crash Course Catholicism, please consider donating via the following links:Donate via PayPalSupport us on Patreon!Contact the podcast: www.caitlinwest.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/
Transcribe →Catechism 101: Signs of Faith
Jun 800:10:30Tap to summarizeFaith is more than intellectual belief. If we think about it, even the devil technically *believes* in God. So what does true faith actually look like? In this episode of Catechism 101, we talk through four key signs of faith from the Catechism: Faith is free, active, overflowing, and dynamic. This podcast relies 100% on the generosity of viewers. If you have found these episodes helpful and would like to support the future of Crash Course Catholicism, please consider donating via the following links:Donate via PayPalSupport us on Patreon!Contact the podcast: www.caitlinwest.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/
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116 - You Were Made for Love: Theology of the Body pt.2
Jun 200:34:01Tap to summarizeWhat does it mean to be a human person? What does love actually look like? What does the body reveal to us about God and the meaning of life?Theology of the Body isn't just about sex. It's about what it means to be human.In this episode, we explore some of the foundational ideas that St. John Paul II returns to again and again in his catechesis. We introduce key themes including the dignity of the body, the meaning of love, JPII's famous claim that the opposite of love isn't hate: it's use.This podcast relies 100% on the generosity of listeners. If you have found these episodes helpful and would like to support the future of Crash Course Catholicism, please consider donating via the following links:Donate via PayPalSupport us on Patreon!Contact the podcast: www.caitlinwest.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/References and further reading/listening/viewing:St. John Paul II:Theology of the BodyLove and ResponsibilityRedemptor HominisTheology of the Body in Simple LanguageGaudium et SpesPope Paul VI, Humanae VitaeTheology of the Body InstituteChristopher West: "What Is the Theology of the Body? | Introduction to Theology of the Body"Our Bodies Tell God's StoryGood News About Sex and MarriageThe Ask Christopher West Podcast"This is the Opposite of Love"Fr Mike Schmitz, Theology of the Body Crash Course (pdf)Theology of the Body Crash Course (video)The Thomistic Institute, "Theology of the Body: An Overview"St Paul Centre, "What's the Point of Theology of the Body? Dr. Scott Hahn Explains"
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