Thomas and the New Atheists: Bishop Barron's Thomistic Institute Address

Friends, the “new atheists” have emerged as strident critics of religion. More often than not, though, Christians agree with them, for the God they deny is one that we would deny as well. In my address to the Thomistic Institute at St. Mark's University Parish of the University of California Santa Barbara, I explore this curious situation with the help of St. Thomas Aquinas, looking especially at Thomas’ treatment of the noncompetitive relationship between God and the world.
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Bishop Barron on The New Atheists: • Bishop Barron on The N...
Bishop Barron on Why I Loved to Listen to Christopher Hitchens: • Bishop Barron on Why I...
Joe Rogan, Richard Dawkins, and God (Part 1 of 2): • Joe Rogan, Richard Daw...
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[@marypinakat8594]

Thomas Aquinas: We must love them both, those whose opinions we share and those whose opinions we reject, for both have labored in search for truth, and both have helped us in finding it.

[@marypinakat8594]

@s Where exactly may we present the cases?

[@marymcdonoughmn]

You must not ever doubt Jesus!

[@marymcdonoughmn]

Only through Jesus will you know God.

[@ChillAssTurtle]

@1woksape but god went out of his way to make pedophiles and rapists.. people who could have been made as "normal" people he continues to allow to exist.. the same god that poisoned his own children with his own sin so he could use that as a way to control people into worshipping him lest this all loving entity send you to eternal fire instead of just talking to you for 5min lol (hes timeless and everywhere at once so its not even the slightest touch of effort on his part)

[@RealAtheology]

As Atheists, we love this quote and appreciate the sentiment.

[@heroicacts5218]

God bless Bishop Barron! We need more of this type of serious approach towards religion and all the deep questions of humanity. Thanks God that we can hear this speech! Thank you very much!

[@anneturner2759]

Dear Bishop Barron, found You Tube, found you, and found my beautiful Catholic faith. Thank you. I pray for you daily.

[@alvinscott6627]

It’s nice you’re a catholic Anne??

[@roaryswalsh4903]

Dear Bishop Barron, Your elocution and allocution are remarkable. Please keep this profundity flowing because it helps me and hopefully all to ascend the stairway of enlightenment. God's graced our lives with your presence.

[@nanettefernandez2863]

Cudnt agree more

[@stevecole3192]

Riveting lecture. Over my head at times but that's Thomas Aquinas. Thank you Bishop Barron.

[@theclapaolini4322]

It's no wonder you are who you arefor the people of all faiths.your mission for us all.thank you.

[@maryannchaisson6742]

Thank you Bishop! Even now at my great age (81) I still have problems with Thomas’s abstraction. However, amazing as it is I an still growing and learning in my faith. You have helped me and I thank you! 👏💕🇨🇦🙏

[@meganwalsh4775]

Thank you for your strength,insight, and intelligence all rooted in the love of our faith. Your media ministry is changing the world it's just not always obvious. Praying for your continued mission 🙏

[@markbirmingham6011]

So glad this video is out. I randomly came across the original reading video years ago and it it turned me on to classical theism and eventually to being someone who tries to be a practicing Catholic. It’s great.

[@Autobotmatt428]

Oh how old is the video?

[@antoniomoyal]

Like me. Keep practising till you get it right

[@williamwatkinson5838]

Bravo Mark your under standing of Theism has been truly repayed by a gift of the Holy Spirit of God

[@markbirmingham6011]

@@Autobotmatt428 i think this is a rereading of the original paper. He was father Barron in the old speech. But I’m not 100%

[@jlurodriguez8262]

I love every time you speak about Thomas Aquinas.. always something to learn from the infinity knowledge of GOD THE LORD. Blessings bishop Barron Grazzie Padre.. 🙏

[@soniaaltuzar6191]

Dios lo siga bendiciendo muchísimo

[@jgrillo638]

I am ashamed I ever turned my back on God, I told myself I was an Atheist. I was angry, full of hate, and resentment. I always knew God was there, and I'm so happy to be back in Christ's Church. Jesus, no matter how much I ran from him was right there waiting for me to come back.

[@rhwinner]

Welcome back 🙂

[@ryanskol83]

Been there.

[@briangeraghty1555]

Wonderful God Bless you

[@TheTruthisWritteninyourHeart]

Ditto been there been that glory to God welcome back 👊🌸🙏

[@antoniomoyal]

I was an agnostic and now in love with Christ

[@masteroffate5060]

Bishop Baron, Very deep meaningfully talk, spoken in exceptionally simplistic terms even a young person can unserstand. ( Harry Potter, J.K Rowlings reference) Fantastic! Thank you for sharing your Love of Theology and the Word of God. ❤ May God richly Bless you and us all with your talks and inciteful thoughts. 🙏🙏

[@ScreamingReel500]

I don't think they get the answers that they asked about the incarnation.

[@davido3026]

@@ScreamingReel500 if they do not believe in God, how can they believe in the Incarnation???

[@ScreamingReel500]

@@davido3026 If they do not believe after all of this them leave them be. Respect their freewill and decision. God do not make/force anyone to accept Him. They might reject God because they do not know Him (to them, its the idea of God, or concept of God). But if they rejected God after they know God exist, that is a different take. The incarnation is another mystery, just like the mystery of the Holy Trinity, but relating to each others. Mystery, after all the explanation still a mystery. God is 3 Divine Persons in one, all the time, equally, undivided, inseparable. God cannot be just the Father, or just the Father and the Son. WE only know that much if God is outside of a timeline, before the beginning (our beginning). When the Creed said the Son is from the Father that is inside a timeline, 2000 years ago, then the Advocate/Comforter/Paraclete/Holy Spirit come at the Pentecost. In human words/language we said so just to address the coming of Jesus in 2000 years ago and the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and still do now. God is not an Office that the 3 Divine Persons show up to work. God is a Being and like Bishop Barron said, not the same category as human 'being'. God is just Be. Well, I tried....But I know if someone says 1 of the Divine Person is outside of the Trinity then that is a heresy (and they don't know their faith). God cannot be separate as individual Divine Person. In the case of Jesus, is another mystery. Jesus is fully God and fully man. That is the only term that we can describe Jesus. Jesus the human pray to the Father, not Jesus as His Divinity praying to the Father. I think when we are in heaven some of this will be revealed to us, but not all of them. We cannot contain something infinite, ever changing, the love that ever growing. We are only can contain what we are exposed to contain not all of God. After all we are still creature not the Creator. We wrap ourselves into God but we cannot become a god, become the Creator. There is a flaw in this teaching "God become man, so that man can become a god". You see, that is when people view God as a concept or an idea. Sigh.

[@anneturner2759]

So much of this over my head, yet wanting , needing , to cling to every word. God bless Bishop Barron.

[@RealAtheology]

This is a great video Bishop Barron, thank you for sharing this (though I do recall you presenting a similar lecture some years ago). While we totally agree with you about many of the misrepresentations and misunderstandings that the New Atheists make when it comes to the Thomistic Classical Conception of God, we would point out that many contemporary analytic Atheist philosophers do not make the same mistakes as the New Atheists do. Unlike popular level atheists, many of these individuals understand the classical-theist tradition you belong to and have offered powerful critiques, that are respected and taken seriously by Theistic philosophers. We hope you will engage these individuals in the future.

[@dfhyland]

Bishop, this talk is wonderful and exciting. Thank you so much for all of your work for the Church, and may God bless you!

[@maryvictor1739]

Hi, YOUR EXCELLENCY BISHOP BARREN, YOU SOUNDS BRILLIANT ALWAYS! AND I CHECKED YOUR VIDEO WHEN YOU WAS HONORED BY GOOGLE AS THE MOST VIEWED ONLINE! AND I SHARE IT WITH OVER HUNDRED CATHOLICS, etc. MY THE LORD BLESS U ABUNDANTLY - Saba Koriale and I was born in Middle East, now Christian CATHOLIC & Canadian.

[@JRD_Youtube]

Imagine how peaceful it would be to simply be! That sounds like heaven.

[@theologyteacher230]

Thank you for your work to educate and evangelize, Bishop! I continue to pray for you and your work.

[@meereslicht]

¡¡Bravo!! Totalmente maravillosa :)

[@lynntparsons]

Excellent....thank you Bishop Barron

[@alvinscott6627]

Excellent message How are you Lynn??

[@mapaz555]

31:00 Sinking into God is as real as it gets. Underneath the noise of the mind, deeper, a little spark opens like a window to see. when God, Our Father, let’s us have a glimpse and says in ways only our heart can understand: hello my love, here you are. i’m right here with you and I love you. Our bodies Cannot contain the joy, joy itself, the sublimity of being. It’s heaven. I’m so happy when you also mention Thomas Merton, I still remember when I first read him and knew exactly what he was saying, he knew and he was able to explain as clearly as words allowed him. What a gift to see yourself in his experiences and know you’re in the right path. A teacher, such closeness through time, to guide us when we have no one else to explain. To help us reach for God through contemplation, he gives so much hope. Thank you, to Our Father, to Father Merton and to Bishop Barron for speaking the truth in ways we can comprehend, to guide us home.

[@nicolamustard7232]

Exquisite! ❤

[@laurenferguson194]

This was beautiful! We really need more sermons like this.

[@Tom-xe9iq]

God isn't trying to compete with His creation. He is constantly reaching out to his creation-- like the Loving Creator he is-- to a higher communion. Believe, be strong.

[@bukurie6861]

Thank you!It is interesting to hear!God bless&protect🙏

[@araghazarossian289]

Thank you bishop Barron and God bless you 🙏

[@vlorenz5825]

Thank you for this, your explanation of the faith and Aquinas’ writings has transformed my own understanding of faith. You are doing God’s work, Bishop.

[@jake115577]

May God bless Bishop Barron

[@lizmiddleton2382]

Thank you Bishop Barron! It sounds like I am listening to Thomas Aquinas himself!! You are Blessed 🙌 😇

[@richardemerson8381]

Wonderful - thank you Bishop Barron

[@antoniomoyal]

Brillant as always. Best is how he makes St Thomas easy.

[@tommore3263]

Wonderful stuff. The church and Aquinas are the key to understanding reality. Sanity and Truth.

[@cindirose3390]

Wonderful diction, I hung on and the ride was wholesome "trip", wow. Thanks, I grew from you explanation of God as Incomprable.

[@shajanosb]

Wonderful Talk. Thanks Bishop.

[@josephverissimo4769]

This was good Bishop, thank you!

[@johnohara9941]

Thank you for a brilliant lecture..Bishop Barron at his best.!

[@luluq01]

Agree

[@rcabert70]

Thank you so much! I thoroughly enjoyed that!

[@swiggitysk8]

Please come to Texas A&M sometime!

[@wbf275]

Bishop, you are 100% correct that the post-Vatican II Church has been "inept" at evangelizing these truths. Thank you for being the change we so desperately need!

[@gvremdata4660]

Hmmm... right, but don't forget that "the Church" is composed of people. That is, you and me. So on pointing to these weaknesses we must surely point first to ourselves, speak in the first person, and strive to become the catholics that the Church needs to have today.

[@davido3026]

Bishop Barron, Brilliant presentation!!!

[@twac750]

Hi Bishop Barron. Great talk. Is this the same paper you gave at at The University of St. Thomas in Minnesota a couple of years ago? Have you considered writing a book on this topic? I think it may be helpful for a lot of people. Also are you aware of David Bentley Hart’s work on this topic? I see a lot of overlap between you guys. Regardless, very important work. Thanks and God Bless!

[@babum3215]

Thank you very much Bishop

[@STRENGTHFROMABOVE]

When it’s your right time, God says, “I, the Lord, will make it happen.” It may seem impossible; the experts say no way. But like Sarah, God is asking you, “Is there anything too hard for the Lord?” You don’t know what God is up to. There are right times that are not just ordinary, not just a good break, but they are supernatural. It’s the hand of God that defies the odds, that thrusts you into places you can’t go on your own, that makes ways where there is no way. What you’re up against may look bigger, stronger, more powerful, but it’s no match for our God. Stay in peace. You have the most powerful force in the universe on your side.

[@pop6997]

Beautiful! Ty 🙏

[@learnbibleversethroughpict6027]

@@pop6997 👍🏼

[@ancillatheresecortes1773]

True, very rich, powerful, deep and articulate! DEO Gratias!

[@wimvanackooij2594]

Is the paper from which Bishop Barron reads available for download somewhere ?

[@DL-nk6ut]

Great talk, is there a transcript of this anywhere? Thanks.

[@gertrudeuri885]

Dear Bishop Robert Barron, It is with Great GRATITUDE that your teachings guided by the Holy Spirit has helped me (for years) more than I can say. While I appreciate your rich and deep accidemic theological understandings, I need to say that there are times, about 1/4 of what I've read & heard of your teachings; is that, I would hope sometimes you would not use such big words that don't meet the masses of people that listen. It is confusing and I shut down when I have to get out the dictionary to understand your Incredible Gifts of knowledge of our GOOD LORD. Please do not misunderstand me, I am writing this today because I find the way you understand and Express God is genius! I am afraid your genius way of teaching may not reach as many people as you could and maybe you could make your talks more "lay" appropriate without losing your deep rich messages of TRUTH! I feel people like myself... sometimes we cannot see ourselves as clearly and I know I appreciate others keeping me accountable to the things I do good, not so good & great. I know you have helped so many people and for your Gifts to me personally, I am Truly Grateful.

[@BishopBarron]

I write and do videos for a variety of different audiences. I've produced lots and lots of material for the average listener/reader, and occasionally I produce something for a more advanced audience.

[@elitisthavoc3949]

St. John Vianney, St. John Bosco, Fulton Sheen, St. Peter Damian, Saint Augustine, St. Mary of Egypt, St. Catherine of Siena, St. Aloysius Gonzaga, pray for us.

[@sophrapsune]

While I don’t worship in the tradition of Thomas Aquinas, this has to be one of the best and most relevant discussions of theology for our Postmodern times that I have heard in years. It allows us to leverage the New Atheist movement constructively, as a gift. However, I do suspect that many of the New Atheists would be incapable or unwilling to understand the metaphysics of this discussion. Some of the theological language is really beautiful and does make me think that there is something positive to take away from Aquinas for my own tradition.

[@antoniomoyal]

Deepen Saint Thomas. Hard but worth.

[@ColeB-jy3mh]

Hey Bishop could you do a video on What is the self?

[@gabrieldevitto712]

Dear Bishop Barron, excellent lecture! Now, I'm left with a footnote: around 5:30, you quoted Saint John of Cross ("the mind is an idol making machine"). But isn't that phrase from John Calvin? Thank you very much!

[@dynamic9016]

Really appreciate this video.

[@astro_monist2559]

Thank you Bishop!!

[@WorldOfConversionandManhoodESP]

Saint Thomas Aquinas has been the saint who has shown me that God is reached through reason and with this faith is defended, therefore, seeing people with masks in a conference of such a great and rational Saint is extremely irrational. In the words of Saint Thomas himself "if you can live in the midst of injustice without feeling anger, then you are both immoral and unjust"

[@Causeriesaucoindufeu]

Nous avons besoin de cette hypothèse!

[@Causeriesaucoindufeu]

@@oliverclark5604 I don't get it? Laplace responded to Napoleon's questioning about God " I don't Need (besoin) that hypothesis". I was just saying the contrary.

[@rev.fr.spyridonchiones3963]

Excellent !

[@OrigenisAdamantios]

Bishop Barron , Your blessing! May we please have access to the text of your talk? God’s omnipotence establishes our freedom! “In Him we live and move and are…” Thank you!

[@bridgett5738]

I was going to ask the same thing.

[@katherinebrumley7794]

If you can share the transcripts, Bishop Barron, I would be greatly appreciative. I took notes but I still missed much. Thank you.

[@slahts]

You can turn on closed caption, that may help with notes.

[@reneecostello3824]

Would love to see a written copy of this, a book perhaps?

[@luluq01]

Bishop Barron as his best!

[@lourdesbalo9066]

Bp very long days we cant send message to our friends cause of storm odette in our province almost all post electrecity full down ,just now is back to normal but not all,God bless & peace to the world,welcome 2022...

[@petertherock7340]

Thank you, Bishop Barron!

[@fashilaoyue5942]

🙏 thank you

[@hawaiiebikes707]

Absolutely incredible

[@gerihall8265]

My life is a dance with God with Him leading. My cooperating and dancing well is entirely attributed to Him. If I’m uncooperative, dance poorly, it’s all on me. 🙏Lord, help us to surrender our will to you!🔥

[@lizmiddleton2382]

Always loved Thomas Aquinas ❤️

[@JuanRPF]

Excellent!!! 👏👏👏

[@paulamoses408]

“The Glory of God is a human being fully alive” Irenaeus!

[@Bazerkly]

"EXCELLENT"

[@robertpoetprince7362]

Some of the Bishop's address would have been beyond me if I hadn't some time ago, watched his Pivotal Players DVD on Thomas Aquinas. It's kind of Thomas & the New Atheists--light.

[@lizmiddleton2382]

God chosen you for a reason!! You are gooood!!

[@Autobotmatt428]

It's also worth pointing out that theres is controversy on wether Pierre Simon Laplace said that or what he meant by it.

[@davido3026]

Question for astrophysicists, scientists and mathematicians: If all you need in geometry is two points to draw and ellipse, how is it that only the Sun located on one focus of the earth orbit pulls the earth steadily, when nothing lies on the other focus? how is it that the earth keeps rotating on its elliptical orbit steadily as if in a circle???? what is it on the other focus that causes our planet to follow the elliptical path?

[@Ghost_Electricity]

Bishop Barron, please talk with Cornel West and publish it on here and Word on Fire!

[@anneturner2759]

Yes! Love him .

[@bikecameraaction3334]

Bishop Barron is a great example of the intellectual, spiritual and rational search for God in all his forms. The atheists idolise their own intellects and become imprisoned by them. The great theologians use their intellects in the service of others and for the worship of God and become freed by them, not imprisoned. It is a curse to be at the mercy of your own, cynical intellect. It is a blessing for all when you use your intellect in the service of God.

[@nicolamustard7232]

Beautifully put!

[@reginaclaire4680]

that was awesome ty

[@luigimoonriver2017]

God conceived as the rival of man, overpowering, governing his freedom, is one of the main reasons modern and new atheism is active.

[@lohikaarmeherra-1753]

The problem is not God, it is his fans. God (of bible) being all nutty and angry does not help.

[@dm20422]

✝️

[@learnbibleversethroughpict6027]

✝️

[@pawekawalec2903]

38:32 (Obj. 16) Lord, you have wrought all our works in us (Isa 26:12)

[@pierreleroy6826]

Could you translate yours speeches in French. Blessings from Lyon,father Barron

[@Causeriesaucoindufeu]

Je pourrais essayer de traduire cette conférence. Sinon pour plus de contenus du même genre en français venez visiter notre chaîne. Bonne semaine à vous! Salut du Québec! 🙏🏼⚜️

[@joeschmoe4205]

I'm the type of atheist that can see a world operated by God, and also a world that is operated only by natural order. If I was born without a god detector, and no faith to lean against. What am I to do? My answer is to wait, listen, and carry on.

[@marypinakat8594]

God bless you heaps and for always☆ Do appreciate your gracious presence☆☆

[@downenout8705]

As an atheist I would agree with your sentiments, except that I would replace "... by God" with "... by a god or gods".

[@JohnR.T.B.]

Thank you Bishop Barron, God bless always. They also like to argue why there are great evils if God is all loving and powerful, why God doesn't or can't cure children with cancer, war victims, etc. Prevention of evil, or death, is one act of good, but it is not the only good nor it is the highest good, again placing God as a kind of variable, or a constant, to be added to balance an equation for our own limited and imperfect purposes. Our human operations, or any creaturely, are limited to the present and hence our own greatest acts of good can only be manifested by changing things presently; such as to undo bad things, to not do bad things, to do good things, to believe and follow God, and to love others. One or series of acts of preventing evil or illnesses or death, will never stop evil or illnesses or death to occur again and hence it will never be a true act of goodness, and it will not stop evil overall without having to compromise the act of genuine love, that is freedom of will and liberation in truth. On the contrary, God is not constrained by needs to prevent or to do constant act of balancing the equation, something like a plane that needs to do constant flight adjustments to maintain its trajectory. God's very own essence as Love that sustains all things in all spaces and times, no matter how fallen or broken a creature is, or how sad or tragic a situation is (since God always desires a change of heart to His goodness for salvation before His justice is delivered, that is God's steadfast love), means God will never lose anything in all instances possible, and in His divine justice, full control, and fullness of providence, God brings forth the greatest manifestation of love by taking on evil, the taking away of goodness, not in necessitated momentary corrections (although God can bring about signs and miracles to open our hearts), but ultimately in the act of redemption, Himself as the Sacrifice, that makes certain a perfectly just conclusion for everything, and at the same time allows freedom of will, which is a gift of genuine love, to manifest and take part. And hence everything from God is pure, loving, honest, and never forceful or manipulative, but freeing and life-giving to the very end, culminating eventually in the coming eternal and glorious resurrected life, justified by being fully in communion with God when evil is still present, for every rational creature that is justified in God, by cooperating in His divine will, in His Sacrifice.

[@tommysur]

Amen

[@iqgustavo]

🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation: 00:18 🕊️ Thomas Aquinas greatly influenced Bishop Barron's spiritual and intellectual journey, leading him to a life dedicated to God. 02:27 🧐 Bishop Barron's lecture title: "Thomas Aquinas and Why the New Atheists Are Right" explores the compatibility between Thomas's view of God and the critiques of the New Atheists. 05:37 🌌 New Atheists like Dawkins and Hitchens emphasize what God is not, exposing the limitations of their straw man conception of God. 10:07 🤔 New Atheists misconstrue God as just another cause in a chain of contingent causes, failing to grasp Thomas Aquinas's concept of God's uniqueness. 12:23 🚀 New Atheists' approach to God lacks depth and neglects the concept of divine transcendence. 13:50 🕊️ Thomas Aquinas emphasizes the agnosticism of human language when referring to God, highlighting that we can only describe what God is not. 16:08 🕊️ Thomas Aquinas's concept of God's simplicity means there's no distinction between essence and existence in God, setting God apart from created beings. 20:25 🕊️ God's self-designation as "I am who I am" to Moses signifies God's radical difference from any creaturely being. 23:07 🕊️ Thomas Aquinas's understanding of God as the creator ex nihilo (out of nothing) emphasizes the uniqueness of God's creative power. 24:39 🕊️ Bishop Barron suggests that understanding God's creative act ex nihilo helps address misconceptions raised by the New Atheists. 26:12 🌌 Thomas discusses the concept of time as a creature and how it relates to space, matter, and energy. 27:21 💡 Thomas explores the elusive nature of creation and its relationship with the creature and God. 28:13 🌟 Thomas describes how God's creative act defines the creature's ontological identity. 29:37 🙏 Thomas emphasizes the continuous relationship of creation, contrasting it with the notion of submission to a tyrant. 30:19 🌐 Thomas delves into God's transcendence and immanence, explaining how God's lordship over creation is gentle yet powerful. 32:13 📖 Thomas discusses the non-violent nature of creatio ex nihilo and how God's creative act contrasts with other ancient myths. 33:09 🎨 Thomas explores the reasons behind God's act of creation, emphasizing divine love and the lack of self-interest. 35:09 💭 Thomas addresses the challenge of divine providence and human freedom, demonstrating the synergy between God's causality and human agency. 37:03 🔗 Thomas explains how God's influence on creatures and events harmonizes with their unique causal efficacy. 42:56 🤝 Thomas connects God's involvement in the world to the incarnation, highlighting the unique relationship between the divine and the human. 48:02 🧬 Thomas explores the coexistence of human freedom and God's providence, with God energizing human will from within. 51:03 👥 Thomas clarifies the nature of personal relationship with God, emphasizing intimacy and non-competitive closeness. 53:05 🌌 God's omnipresence explained: God is everywhere but not as a dominant being, like the analogy of J.K. Rowling in the Harry Potter stories. 54:27 🤔 The analogy of being: Explained as the prime reference for the word "to be" being God. Carl Barth's rejection based on drawing God and the world together too much. 57:13 🧐 Modernity's rejection of God's simplicity: Post-Aquinas, the analogical conception of being faded away, leading to a more contrastive understanding of God's relation to the world.

[@brendamyc3057]

"Father, they are your gift to me. I wish that where I am* they also may be with me, that they may see my glory that you gave me, because you loved me before the foundation of the world."-Jesus on humanity John Chapter 17 verse 24.

[@AdelSalti]

“Lord, you will decree peace for us, for you have accomplished all we have done.” Isaiah‬ ‭26:12‬ ‭NABRE

[@shanecovey1901]

God is the box you put him in. God is the will to create the box you put him in. God is the you, you can't escape. God is the escape you wish to find. God is in the corner you've painted to elude him. God is kind. God is just. God is just the kind of box we find the divine in all of us to paint a box to find GOD in all of us.

[@ashwith]

Towards the end you talked about the Incarnation in response to a question around the 48 minute mark. You talk about the unity of two natures being possible because God is "radically so other." Does the same principle work for Transubstantiation - how what looks like Bread and Wine is infact Christ Himself?

[@BishopBarron]

Yes.

[@ashwith]

@@BishopBarron thank you so much your excellency! :)

[@maciejpieczula631]

@@BishopBarron doesn't this imply consubstantiation?

[@fr.rongarry5822]

At about 13:00 what Thomas teaches about God. At 24:00 God the Creator, relating to what He makes and holds in being.

[@glynissequeira5544]

What is the point that you are trying to say? I suppose it is this. Aquinas Thomas ( who is not Thomas the apostle of Christ) says about God that we cannot know what He is but we can know what He is not. Now this seems to be contradicting what Christians say ("God the Father, the Almighty, the Maker of heaven and earth" ) and also some things in the Bible. Let me also say that Aquinas Thomas' writings are not the word of God. I have read that in the generations of Aquinas some priests in the Church learned Greek and other philosophies from some Muslims, and they taught these things to others in the Church. There is much of this in Aquinas' writings. Someone who has studied these matters well, needs to confirm this.

[@clive2296]

Thats what the atheists do, they put the words in your mouth saying what is God, eternity and so on and then they say "I don't believe in God" but the God they put in our mouth is the God that we don't believe as well. Seems that the concept of God is much more close to an atheist than a believer. The believer can barely say what is God and how God operates in the world, even though we believe by an act of faith.

[@downenout8705]

I am an atheist and I have never heard any atheist attempt to put a god that a theist doesn't believe in into anyone's mouth. For my part I simply ask for evidence of the god that a theist believes in and when none is provided or contradictory attributes are proposed I simply say that I don't believe in that god. Let me give you any example. If a theist says that they believe in the truth of 1 Corinthians 15: 14, I would reply that there is zero empirical evidence to support the biblical resurrection claim. The theist will invariably deflect, bloviate and make excuses but will never provide even a mustard seed's worth of empirical evidence. I will then simply say that they have failed to provide sufficient evidence to justify a belief in their god.

[@learnbibleversethroughpict6027]

@@downenout8705 Are you growing in faith now??

[@downenout8705]

@@learnbibleversethroughpict6027 I have been in communication with Barron on this subject, he referred me to a litany of apologetic works, but when I asked him for a single sentence containing just a mustard seed's worth of empirical evidence to support the biblical resurrection claim from these thousands of pages, he, to this day, has remained silent. As, yet again, he has failed to provide empirical evidence to support the god that he actually believes in, the answer is no.

[@Livel1]

@@downenout8705 I'm curious, what empirical evidence would satisfy you? Jesus entirely ascended. Evidence of a broken bone would counter the resurrection. Empirical by observation/experience -- what about the testimonies of his contemporaries?

[@downenout8705]

@@Livel1 What a strange question, I presume that you believe in the truth of 1 Corinthians 15: 14, yet you ask me to tell you what empirical evidence is required, when my assertion is simply that I don't believe because I don't have any empirical evidence to evaluate. Provide some empirical evidence and then we can discuss if it is sufficient to justify a belief in the biblical resurrection claim. Testimonial evidence is not empirical evidence, but there is not even any contemporary testimonial evidence. There not even a single "contemporary" sentence written about the Jesus character. The first we learn of Jesus is in the Pauline letters and Paul makes it very clear that his knowledge of Jesus came from no man. Please remember telling me what the story says is not evidence that the story is true.

[@robbieguerrero3351]

Thank You Bishop Barron. Yet I Have a Question, Would You Fight an MMA Atheist? I Would.

[@jimluebke3869]

So we've seen God come together with material world in the Incarnation. Does this not give credence to the idea of consubstantiation in the Eucharist?

[@briangeraghty1555]

We must remember that God is free to reveal himself or not reveal himself to whom he chooses. I am thankful he has revealed himself to me. I am waiting and hoping to see a “prominent” atheist come forward and share that God has revealed himself to me. It would just be so wonderful to see them come out and deny their life’s work to beat the path of modern day Paul. I’m praying that he will touch a said soul and soon !

[@downenout8705]

When I called myself a Christian I, just like you, believed that god had revealed himself to me. I now know that my revelation was indistinguishable from a transient psychotic episode.

[@Seanph25]

@@downenout8705 no you’re just being edgy and trying to tear down peoples beliefs

[@downenout8705]

@@Seanph25 I suggest that you read Matthew 7: 3-5, is not Brian attempting to "tear down" peoples lack of belief with his post? I am simply defending my lack of belief. Is it your intent to deny a voice to all who don't share your God beliefs? Why does your supposed "truth" need to hide behind the ad hominem that is Pslam 14? Is the god that you believe in that weak that it is incapable of defending itself against the few words that a nobody like me has written? If that is your best 1 Peter 3: 15 reason for the hope that you have, I suggest that you try a lot harder.

[@Seanph25]

@@downenout8705 I don’t believe in God, and I no longer practice the faith. But all you’re doing is trying to use big words and references to make yourself seem smarter than everyone, while needlessly trying to deny people’s beliefs that don’t harm you. And no, you are not defending your “lack of belief”, because it has not been attacked. You are just willingly talking the time to thrust your beliefs upon people while acting under the guise of intellectual superiority.

[@downenout8705]

@@Seanph25 How dare you assert that religion has not "harmed" me, you know nothing about me or my motivations. I am no more "smarter" or "intellectually superior" than the average nuero typical person. I am not responsible for the fact many people, because of the poor education that they received, are not able to make the best use of their intellectual potential. We all have access to a dictionary full of "big" words and I see nothing wrong or impressive about using them. Just as I am unimpressed by Barron and his vast vocabulary.

[@marianweigh6411]

Those interested in going deeper should definitely get a copy of Henri de Lubac's _The Discovery of God!_

[@JuanRPF]

God bless you Bishop, and hopefully, want you yo be Pope someday.

[@markbirmingham6011]

Now rerelease the 7 deadly sins 7 lovely virtues talk at Duke. Just a thought. That one was best treatment of the virtues and vices I’d heard. Oh yeah and it’s all occums fault lol

[@Autobotmatt428]

On the Bright side the new atheist are now on the decline. Heck you @Bishop Robert Barron are more searched than them. Keep it up

[@Autobotmatt428]

​@@russellmiles2861 Yes but. Like I said before they have lost they'er influence. Also the nones most are still believes in God though they are Spiritual.

[@Autobotmatt428]

​@@russellmiles2861 I agree

[@bwhaz]

57:38 modernity is simple. God is complex, while having varying simple versions of Him.

[@patjansen5339]

Why did they stop saying the AMEN after the Our Father in the Rosary? Why wouldn't you??

[@pakramer89]

How should we read the Old Testament’s more literal interactions with what seems like a very personified or matter-like being? God itself often seems to be idolised in a way similar to what you describe at the beginning of your lecture. Should we simply see all the texts as inspired by the Holy Spirit but not containing anything remotely on God’s actual existence in the more literal way?

[@BishopBarron]

They’re symbolic anthropomorphisms.

[@meathiew.f.wild.p.nature4735]

You are highly intelligent your excellency, I would really want to see a video of you debating with Richard Dawkins with all his nonsense arguments

[@downenout8705]

Richard Dawkins is low hanging fruit. Richard Carrier is a PhD First century historian who has published peer reviewed books on Jesus. Go read some of his works.

[@DualFrodo]

@@downenout8705 There's a good video of Richard Carrier discussing the historicity of Jesus with an intelligent Catholic called Trent Horn

[@downenout8705]

@@DualFrodo I'm personally not interested in historicity a first century apocalyptic preacher named Jesus who said and did some things that upset the Romans who, as they normally did, killed him. It what Richard writes about the biblical resurrection claim that I would point you to.

[@marypinakat8594]

@@DualFrodo Stay blessed as always☆ Trolls do appear in the Comments section of Bishop Barron's videos here.

[@Tzimiskes3506]

@@downenout8705 wait are you serious? Carries idiocy has been deemed as fringe or psuedohistory! Even bart Ehrmans books (agnostic) has published numerous books proving the existence of jesus that is peer reviewed!