Catholic Studies Academy
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“What the Catholic faith believes about Mary is based on what it believes about Christ, and what it teaches about Mary illumines in turn its faith in Christ. “ (CCC 487). Join Dr. Richard H. Bulzacchelli, Lecturer in Theology for Catholic Studies Academy, as he leads a live, virtual four-session seminar on the central dogmas concerning the Virgin Mary formally recognized by the Catholic Church. What evidence do we have for these dogmas in Scripture? How did the Church gain clarity on them over the course of the centuries? How do they fit in with the proclamation of the Gospel?
Episode 91: The Myth of Self, Part 2
Episode 91: The Myth of Self, Part 2 Jason and Dr. Smith continue their discussion on the false idea of "true self". We cover: - Undefined consciousness - The "true self" vs the "false self" - Writings of Richard Rohr - Centering Prayer - Buddhist and Hindu influences...
The Invisible Schism: Part II The Heterodox Majority
In the first installment in this series, I presented the idea that self-identifying and even practicing Catholics may well espouse radically different understandings of what Catholicism is. I suggested that we can pray side-by-side with someone at Mass, externally...
The Keys to Effective Writing: Purpose and Concision
Originally posted June 25, 2019 UPDATED Dec. 12, 2020 You do not need to struggle with writing. In fact, effective writing should be as natural as talking. Unless you are writing for artistic or rhetorical purposes, the best way to improve your writing is to use the...
Episode 90: The Myth of Self
Episode 90: The Myth of Self In this episode, Jason and Dr. Smith discuss the erroneous and modern idea of "self." We cover:- The pervasiveness of "self"- Philosophical foundations- Descartes and Kant- Undefined consciousness- Arguments against the idea of "self" Read...
Episode 89: Divine Providence and the Patience of Martyrs
Episode 89: Divine Providence and the Patience of Martyrs In this episode, Jason and Dr. Smith discuss the topic of divine providence in relation to difficult and uncertain times. We cover:- God as First Cause- Summa Prima Pars, Question 22- God in history- The...
The Myth of Self, Part 3: Objections and Resolutions
In previous posts (part 1 and part 2) I have described the modern notion of the “self” and tried to explain its appeal. Modern belief in the self consists in the conviction that the human person is bare consciousness without additional definition — an irreducible...
Episode 88 – Modern Political Ideas in the Light of Christian Faith and Right Reason
Episode 88 - Modern Political Ideas in the Light of Christian Faith and Right Reason In this episode, Dr. Bulzacchelli, Dr. Smith and special guest, Dcn. Bob Gorman, Emeritus Professor of Political Science, discuss Dr. Smith's new book, Understanding Modern Political...
Episode 87: Understanding Modern Political Ideas
Episode 87: Understanding Modern Political Ideas We discuss Dr. Smith's new book! In Understanding Modern Political Ideas, Dr. Benjamin Smith defines and critically evaluates the major political ideologies of the modern period in the light of classical political...
Episode 86: Marxism and the Human Person
Episode 86: Marxism and the Human Person In this episode, Jason and Dr. Smith finish their series on Marxism. We cover:- Marx's view of the fulfillment of history- The evolution of conscience- Three critiques of Marxism - Flawed Anthropology- Reduction of the Human...
Episode 85: Marxism, Culture, And Capitalism
Episode 85: Marxism, Culture, And Capitalism In this episode, Jason an Dr. Smith continue their discussion on Marxism. We cover:- Review of Hegel's view history- Marx and culture- The dialectic- Capitalism as a necessary stage- Marx's critique of capitalism- Revolt of...
The Invisible Schism: Part I – Can there be two “Catholicisms” side-by-side?
What if you could get into the minds of a hundred different people to see what they think Catholicism is? I think, if you could, you’d find that few of them really understand the religion the same way. You probably expected me to say that “you’d get a hundred...
Episode 84: Introduction to Marxism
Episode 84: Introduction to Marxism In this episode, Jason and Dr. Smith discuss Marxism. We cover:- The resurgence of Marxism- The historical context of Karl Marx- Kant and Idealism- Hegelian view of history- The "Geist"- The materialism of Marxism- Freedom in the...
Episode 83: The Cultivation of Natural Law
Episode 83: The Cultivation of Natural Law In this episode, Jason and Dr. Smith continue their discussion of the natural law. We cover:- Natural Law known in degrees- Must be cultivated- Do Good, Avoid Evil- Responsibilities derived from Natural Law- Private Property-...
Episode 82- Written on the Heart: Introduction to Natural Law
Episode 82- Written on the Heart: Introduction to Natural Law In this episode, Jason and Dr. Smith discuss natural law. We cover:- Christianity and Natural law- Legacy of natural law- Basic position- Known by all but to different degree- Two Hypothesis and evidence-...
Episode 81 – In the Breach: The Legacy Of Pope St. John Paul II
Episode 81 - In the Breach: The Legacy Of Pope St. John Paul II In this episode, Jason and Dr. Bulzacchelli discuss how Pope St, John Paul II stood in the breach in many different ways. We cover:- The historical context- The breach in philosophical approaches-...
The Myth of Self, Part II
In a previous post I sketched the meaning and uses of the modern idea of the self. One important source of this idea is Rene Descartes. For Descartes, the ideas of the self emerges from his application of critical, methodical doubt to his own experience. The upshot of...
Episode 80 – Modern Philosophy: David Hume
Episode 80 - Modern Philosophy: David Hume In this episode, Jason and Dr. Smith discuss the ideas ad influence of David Hume. We cover:- The period of Modern Philosophy- Who was David Hume- The influence of Hume on other philosophers- Newton and Hume- Hume's...
Episode 79 – Modern Philosophy: Science, Reason, and Autonomy
Episode 79 - Modern Philosophy: Science, Reason, and Autonomy In this episode, Jason and Dr. Smith discuss his new course on Modern Philosophy. We cover:- Time period- What led to 'modern' philosophy- Historical context- Effects of Scientific Revolution- Man's ability...
