What do we know about the life of St Nicholas of Myra? What is his relationship with the modern-day Santa Claus? Should Catholics tell their children that Santa exists?
PLEASE NOTE: This entire episode is one giant spoiler about the existence of Santa Claus. If you have small children who have not yet been disillusioned, you might want to listen to this one when they're not in the room.
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 PayPal
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Contact the podcast: www.caitlinwest.com
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References and further reading/listening/viewing:
Catholic Encyclopedia, St Nicholas of Myra
Britannica Encyclopedia, St Nicholas
Catholic Answers:
Santa Claus for Catholics: Yes or No?
The Weird History of Santa Claus
St Nicholas of Myra, by Michael the Archimandrite
Amber Rose, Saint Nicholas or Santa Claus? Catholic Ways to Celebrate!
The Augustine Institute, St Nicholas and Santa Claus
Cardinal St John Henry Newman is a Catholic saint who lived in the nineteenth century and was canonised in 2019. In November 2025, he was officially declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Leo XIV. This is a title held by only 38 saints in the entire history of the church, and it is given to those whose writings are of benefit to the whole church.
John Henry Newman was an Anglican priest and Oxford academic who converted to Catholicism and was eventually made a cardinal. He is one of the most significant Catholic figures of the nineteenth century, known for his academic brilliance and his personal holiness.
In today's episode, we discuss the life of this incredible saint.
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 PayPal
Support us on Patreon!
Contact the podcast: www.caitlinwest.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/
References and further reading/listening/viewing:
The Newman Reader - Works of John Henry Newman
St. John Henry Newman:
"Conscience", from A Letter Addressed to the Duke of Norfolk
The "Biglietto Speech"
Philip Boyce, "Newman's Reception into the Catholic church"
Bishop Robert Barron:
Bishop Barron Q&A on St. John Henry Newman’s Life, Theology, and Books
Bishop Barron on St. John Henry Newman: Beyond the Left and the Right
Celebrating St. John Henry Newman Becoming a Doctor of the Church
Dr Scott Hahn on Newman's conversion
Cardinal Newman's Legacy | Scott Hahn w/ Jeff Morrow
St. John Henry Newman: Meeting the Challenges of Modernity
EWTN:
St. John Henry Newman: From Anglican to Saint Cardinal
Focus: The Life and Legacy of John Henry Cardinal Newman
The Life of Saint John Henry Newman: From Anglican Priest to Catholic Saint
Discover the life of St. John Henry Newman to-be Doctor of the Church
FINAL EPISODE OF THE DEEP DIVE LET'S GOOOO
In this episode, we consider common moral problems that people encounter when they read the Bible. Why does the God of the Old Testament seem so angry and cruel, while Jesus seems merciful and loving? Why does God give such harsh punishments to people in the Old Testament? Does the Bible condone things like slavery and genocide? What about all those people who do terrible things in the Bible?
Basically just a few really easy simple questions that aren't at all controversial, you're welcome.
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 PayPal
Support us on Patreon!
Contact the podcast: www.caitlinwest.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/
References and further reading/listening/viewing:
Matthew 22:37-40
Isaiah 13:9
2 Kings 13
Joshua 11:8-9
The Catechism of the Catholic Church, pts. 42, 53
Trent Horn, Hard Sayings
Jimmy Akin, Genocide in the Bible
Joe Heschmeyer, Did God Command Genocide in the Old Testament?
The Bible in a Year, Day 32: Cattle, Boils, and Hail
Catholic Answers:
Does the Bible Support Slavery?
Pope Benedict XVI: God and the World: Believing and Living in Our Time
The Catholic Encyclopedie, Slavery and Christianity
Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae, II.i, Q.79
Fr Mike Schmitz:
Old Testament God vs. New Testament God
Pints With Aquinas, The Problem of Violence in The Old Testament? /W Trent Horn
Bishop Robert Barron, Understanding Violence in the Old Testament
Breaking In The Habit, Why is God so Angry in the Old Testament?
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What should we do about all those apparent historical and scientific inaccuracies in the Bible? Like Genesis telling us the world was made in seven days, or that there was a flood that covered the whole earth, or that Jonah survived in the belly of a whale for three days?
And what about contradictions within the Bible? Why do some of the Gospel writers recount events differently? Do these discrepancies undermine the reliability of the Bible?
In this episode, we continue our discussion of common questions about the Bible.
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 PayPal
Support us on Patreon!
Contact the podcast: www.caitlinwest.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/
References and further reading/listening/viewing:
How did the Church decide which books to include in the Bible? Why are Catholic Bibles bigger than Protestant Bibles? Should we read the Old Testament? How do I read the Bible?
In this episode, we continue our deep dive into the Bible by addressing common questions about the Bible.
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 PayPal
Support us on Patreon!
Contact the podcast: crashcoursecatholicism@gmail.com.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/
References and further reading/listening/viewing:
In this episode, we conclude our overview of the Bible by looking at the 7 catholic epistles, and the book of Revelation.
The aim of these episodes is to provide us with a bird's-eye view of the whole Bible, to help equip us to begin reading it, or to read it more deeply.
In this episode, we'll look at the following books:
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 PayPal
Support us on Patreon!
Contact the podcast: crashcoursecatholicism@gmail.com.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/
References and further reading/listening/viewing:
Peter Kreeft, You Can Understand the Bible
Scott Hahn, Catholic Bible Dictionary
USCCB, Books of the Bible
The Catholic Encyclopedia:
Catholic Answers:
Letter Writing in the Ancient World
GUYS IT'S OUR 100TH EPISODE!!!
In this episode, we continue our overview of the Bible by looking at the 13 Pauline Epistles. We consider when each letter was written and why, and what its key aims and themes are.
The aim of these episodes is to provide us with a bird's-eye view of the whole Bible, to help equip us to begin reading it, or to read it more deeply.
In this episode, we'll look at the following books:
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 PayPal
Support us on Patreon!
Contact the podcast: crashcoursecatholicism@gmail.com.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/
References and further reading/listening/viewing:
Peter Kreeft, You Can Understand the Bible
Scott Hahn, Catholic Bible Dictionary
USCCB, Books of the Bible
The Catholic Encyclopedia:
Catholic Answers:
Letter Writing in the Ancient World
The Letters to the Corinthians
Augustine Institute: Introduction to St. Paul
In this episode, we continue our overview of the Bible by looking at the first five books of the New Testament: The Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. We consider who wrote each book, when it was written, and what its key aims and themes are.
The aim of these episodes is to provide us with a bird's-eye view of the whole Bible, to help equip us to begin reading it, or to read it more deeply.
In this episode, we'll look at the following books:
The Gospel of Matthew
The Gospel of Mark
The Gospel of Luke
The Gospel of John
The Acts of the Apostles
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 PayPal
Support us on Patreon!
Contact the podcast: crashcoursecatholicism@gmail.com.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/
References and further reading/listening/viewing:
Jesús Gil, Joseángel Domínguez, Bible Portico
Scott Hahn, The Catholic Bible Dictionary
Peter Kreeft, You Can Understand the Bible
USCCB, Books of the Bible
The Bible in a Year:
Catholic Answers:
The Gospel According to Matthew
The Catholic Encyclopedia:
Tim Gray, How to Read the Acts of the Apostles
Dr Regis Martin, A New Way To Read John's Gospel
Dr John Bergsma, Everything You Need to Know About St. Matthew (and His Gospel)
The Augustine Institute, The Gospel of Matthew (Part 1)
In this episode, we take a brief intermission from our Bible deep dive to chat with Tim Hutchinson, a convert from Protestantism to Catholicism. Tim grew up in a vibrant Evangelical Christian community where he learned to love God and the Bible deeply. But one question kept troubling him: why are Protestant denominations so divided? Surely the Church Jesus founded wasn’t meant to be so fractured. For years, he found no answer to his question, until one unexpected comment at a party struck him like lightning and set him on a journey that led him home to the Catholic Church.
In this conversation, Tim shares the joys and struggles of his conversion and the discoveries that he made along the way.
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Contact the podcast: crashcoursecatholicism@gmail.com.
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References and further reading/listening/viewing:
In this episode, we continue our overview of the books of the Old Testament. We discuss the Wisdom books and the Prophetic books, and consider what each book is about, who wrote it, when it was written, and what its key themes are.
The aim of these episodes is to provide us with a bird's-eye view of the whole Bible, to help equip us to begin reading it, or to read it more deeply.
In this episode, we'll look at the following books:
THE WISDOM BOOKS
THE PROPHETIC BOOKS
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Contact the podcast: crashcoursecatholicism@gmail.com.
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References and further reading/listening/viewing:
Welcome to the books of the Bible!
In these next few episodes, we'll go through all 73 (!!) books of the Bible - both the Old Testament and the New Testament. We'll briefly summarise each book, and discuss what it's about, what its key themes are, and where it sits in the Bible and the broader narrative of salvation history.
The aim of these episodes is to provide us with a bird's-eye view of the whole Bible, to help equip us to begin reading it, or to read it more deeply.
In this episode, we'll look at the following books:
Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Tobit, Judith, Esther, and 1 and 2 Maccabees.
STRAP IN FOLKS HERE WE GO
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Contact the podcast: crashcoursecatholicism@gmail.com.
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References and further reading/listening/viewing:
What is the Bible, really, and how do we read it? How can we say that the Bible is both the Word of God and the work of human authors? What should we do when we come across a tricky passage that we don't know how to interpret?
Welcome to our next deep dive! In these next few episodes, we'll unpack some of the most common questions about the Bible, and lay a foundation for how to approach it as Catholics.
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Support us on Patreon!
Contact the podcast: crashcoursecatholicism@gmail.com.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/
References and further reading/listening/viewing:
To wrap up our deep dive into the existence of God, in this episode we take a look at the life of St Augustine.
St. Augustine is a doctor of the church, and one of the greatest saints in the history of Christianity. But before his conversion, he spent his youth struggling with sin, heresy, vanity, and lust. He was the product of a culture that celebrated male sexual exploits as a sign of status and masculinity, and he felt that happiness was not possible for him without the freedom to satisfy his sexual appetites.
Although he was gifted and educated, and sincerely sought the Truth, Augustine's attachment to sin got in the way of a personal relationship with God. It took many years, and a lot of prayers and support from his mother and his friends, before he was able to reconcile himself to the Christian faith. Augustine struggled with many of the questions that people grapple with today: if God exists, why is there evil in the world? How can God say he loves us when he makes us suffer? Is chastity compatible with happiness?
Although Augustine lived 1600 years ago, his story is strikingly modern. His life demonstrates to us that God can always work miracles, and that it is never too late to turn back to him.
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Support us on Patreon!
Contact the podcast: crashcoursecatholicism@gmail.com.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/
References and further reading/listening/viewing:
Romans Chapter 13
The Confessions of St Augustine
Bishop Barron, "A Life of Heroic Sanctity: Augustine of Hippo"
The Catholic Encyclopedia, "St Augustine"
The Catholic Encyclopedia, "St Monica"
"The fact that people's religion tends to align with the culture and country that they grew up in shows that religion is just a cultural construct"
"There are so many hypocritical people who have used religion to abuse others, to start wars, or to seek power. These people undermine the validity of religion."
"We no longer need God; science explains everything we need to know."
"If God exists, then why is there so much suffering and evil in the world?"
In this episode, we wrap up our discussion of objections to belief in God.
Donate via PayPal
Support us on Patreon!
Contact the podcast: crashcoursecatholicism@gmail.com.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/
References and further reading/listening/viewing:
Pew Research Center, The Global Religious Landscape
St. Thomas Aquinas, The Summa Theologiae, 1.2
Trent Horn, Answering Atheism
National Catholic Register,
Does God Want Everyone to Be Catholic?
The Problem of Evil: Actually, It's Complicated
Catholic Answers:
Christian HypocrisyAre You a Hypocrite?How can the Church be true when it produces hypocrisy?
How to Answer the Problem of Evil
Fr Mike Schmitz,
"Judgmental, Bigoted, Homophobic, Elitist, and Hypocritical" (The World’s Perception of Christians)
Augustine of Hippo: God Enlarges the Capacity of Our Soul that He may Fill Us with His Presence
G.K. Chesterton on the Problem of Evil
Bishop Robert Barron,
Bishop Barron on Scientism and God's Existence
Bishop Barron on God, Tsunamis, and the Problem of Evil
Bishop Barron on Atheism and Philosophy
Bishop Barron Comments on Stephen Fry, Job, and Suffering
The Thomistic Institute,
The Problem of Evil (Aquinas 101)
Fr Gregory Pine, Does the Presence of Evil Disprove the Existence of God?
Word on Fire Institute, How the Problem of Evil Points to God's Existence
Peter Kreeft, God's Answer to Suffering
William Lane Graig on the Problem of Evil
The Counsel of Trent, God vs evil (with Alex O’Connor, Joe Schmid, and Cameron Bertuzzi)
Capturing Christianity, God Allows Evil and God is Evil?
"Atheists don't need to substantiate their position; the burden of proof lies with the theist because they're the one making a positive claim to belief."
"God is just something people turn to for comfort."
"Atheists just believe in one god fewer than Christians do."
"There is no evidence for the existence of God."
"If God is good and He loves me, then why is He so difficult to find?"
In this episode, we cover some common objections to belief in God.
Contact the podcast: crashcoursecatholicism@gmail.com.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/
References and further reading/listening/viewing:
What happens when we seek God but can't find Him? with Alex O'Connor and Fr. Pine
DEBATE: God's Existence - Alex O'Connor Vs. Trent HornBertrand Russell and Frederick Copleston Debate
Alex O'Connor, This is Why I Don't Believe in God
Ben Watkins: Why I Am An Atheist
Atheists Respond to The Fine Tuning Argument for God
Good example of rhetorical language: The All-Time Best Arguments Against Religion
Dan Barker, Losing Faith in Faith
Britannica, Flying Spaghetti Monster
Capturing Christianity:
Is There Really "No Evidence" for God?
Top 10 Christian vs. Atheist Debates EVERYONE Should Watch
Paul Chamberlain: Why People Don't Believe: Confronting Seven Challenges to Christian Faith
John DeRosa, One Less God Than You
Fr Gregory Pine, If God Exists, Where Is He?
Bishop Barron:
Bishop Robert Barron on Who God Is & Who God Isn't
Bishop Barron on Atheism and Philosophy
Bishop Barron on Stephen Hawking and Atheism
The best atheist arguments, explained by a Catholic bishop | Bishop Robert Barron
Catholic Answers:
Atheists keep making this terrible argument.
Is there sufficient evidence for God’s existence?
Can science prove or disprove the existence of God?
10 Possible Reasons for a ‘Hidden’ God
Does it Matter That Science Can't Detect God?
How Science Proves God's Existence
Trent Horn,
The "Evil God" Challenge (REBUTTED)
William Lane Craig vs. Frank Zindler, Atheism vs. Christianity
Word on Fire: How Can Anyone Say They "Know" Catholicism is True?
In this episode, we continue our deep dive into the question: How do we know God exists?
Today we will give an overview of various popular arguments for the existence of God, including the Kalam Cosmological Argument, the fine tuning of the universe, William Paley’s Watchmaker Argument, the argument from aesthetic experience, and Pascal’s wager.
Contact the podcast: crashcoursecatholicism@gmail.com.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/
References and further reading/listening/viewing:
William Lane Craig:
The Kalam Cosmological Argument - Part 1: Scientific
The Kalam Cosmological Argument - Part 2: Philosophical
The Fine-Tuning of the Universe.
Impossible Universe: The Reality of Cosmic Fine Tuning
Pascal’s Wager: A Good Argument?
Does the Kalam Argument Work? w/ Dr. William Lane Craig & Jimmy Akin
OK Go - This Too Shall Pass - Rube Goldberg Machine
Kalaam Argument for God Debated | Jimmy Akin & Trent Horn
Trent Horn:
Rebutting atheist objections to the fine-tuning argument
The Argument for God Atheists Fear the Most
Peter Kreeft
Pascal's Wager W/ Peter Kreeft
Twenty Arguments for God’s Existence
C.S. Lewis, Miracles, Chapter Three
Edward Feser:
Five Proofs of the Existence of God
In this short, bonus episode, we discuss what a papal conclave looks like. How does voting work? How many votes are needed for someone to be elected pope? Why is the process so secretive?
The information in this episode comes from "Universi Dominici Gregis", an apostolic constitution which outlines the prescriptions for papal elections. The full document can be found here.
Contact the podcast: crashcoursecatholicism@gmail.com.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/
In this episode, we continue our deep dive into the question: How do we know God exists?
Today we will wrap up our discussion of St. Thomas Aquinas's Five Ways by analysing the Fourth Way (the argument from gradation/degree) and the Fifth Way (the argument from order).
Aquinas' Five Ways are among the most famous arguments for the existence of God, and they have been hugely influential in the history of the Philosophy of Religion. They have also been at times misunderstood and misrepresented, so in this series, we're taking the time to delve deep and understand what, exactly, Aquinas is arguing.
Contact the podcast: crashcoursecatholicism@gmail.com.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/
References and further reading/listening/viewing:
Summa Theologiae Part 1, Question 2
Edward Feser:
Five Proofs of the Existence of God
Empirical science and the transcendentals
Four Causes and Five WaysRéginald Garrigou-Lagrange, The one God: a commentary on the first part of St. Thomas' Theological summa.
The Thomistic Institute:
St. Thomas Aquinas' Fifth Way & Arguments from Modern Science (Aquinas 101)
St. Thomas' SIMPLEST Proof for the Existence of God (Aquinas 101)Thomas Joseph White #9: The Fifth Way (I, 2, 3)
Thomas Joseph White #8: The Fourth Way (I, 2, 3)
Why is the Fourth Way the LEAST Popular of St. Thomas' Five Ways? (Aquinas 101)
Why Does Truth Depend Upon Being in St. Thomas' Fourth Way? (Aquinas 101)
The Fourth Way: If You’re the Tallest, You’re Also a Cause! (Aquinas 101)
Pints With Aquinas: Explaining Thomas Aquinas' Proofs
Welcome to our deep-dive into the question: How do we know God exists?
In this series, we return to the topic of God's existence, which we covered aaall the way back in Episode 2 (!!), and we break it open to explore it more deeply.
In this episode, we look at St. Thomas Aquinas's first three 'ways', or arguments for God's existence. These are among the most famous arguments for the existence of God, and they have been hugely influential in the history of the Philosophy of Religion. They have also been at times misunderstood and misrepresented, so in this series we're taking the time to delve deep and understand what, exactly, Aquinas is arguing.
Contact the podcast: crashcoursecatholicism@gmail.com.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/
References and further reading/listening/viewing:Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae Part 1, Question 2
Edward Feser:
Five Proofs of the Existence of God
"Scholastic regress arguments"
Catholic Answers, "What Caused God?"
Peter Kreeft, "The First Cause Argument"
Thomas Joseph White:
The Thomistic Institute:
"Five Ways to Prove God Exists (Aquinas 101)"
"St. Thomas Aquinas' Favorite Argument for the Existence of God (Aquinas 101)"
"What's Wrong With St. Thomas Aquinas' First Proof for the Existence of God? (Aquinas 101)"
"How St. Thomas Aquinas' Second Way for Proving the Existence of God Works (Aquinas 101)"
"How St. Thomas Proves God's Existence Through Efficient Causality (Aquinas 101)"
"What is Efficient Causality? (Aquinas 101)"
"St. Thomas' Third Way: You Didn't Have To Exist—But You Do! (Aquinas 101)"
"The Third Way: How St. Thomas Argues for God’s Existence From Contingency (Aquinas 101)"
"The Third Way: Another Take On The Argument (Aquinas 101)"
Bishop Barron on Thomas Aquinas and the Argument from Motion
Welcome baaaaaaaack it's Season 3!
In this season, we're plumbing the depths of Catholicism and the Catechism, doing deep-dives into topics that we have only touched on previously, like the existence of God, the bible, the social doctrine of the church, and theology of the body.
In this episode, we round off an exploration of the three theological virtues - Faith, Hope, and Love - which we began in our very first episode, by talking about Love.
What is Love? Is it just a feeling? Am I obliged to love people who have harmed me, or who are committing evil acts?
References and further reading/listening/viewing:
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Support us on Patreon!
Contact the podcast: crashcoursecatholicism@gmail.com.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/