Cutting The Gordian Knot

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Lighthearted and informative commentary on theological, philosophical, societal, and economic topics all from a Catholic perspective.

Jacob Buscher


    • Feb 18, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 1h 3m AVG DURATION
    • 222 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Cutting The Gordian Knot

    Pope Francis vs JD Vance Immigration Face-Off

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2025 70:50


    We talk about the, "ordo amoris", what the Church teaches on immigration, and how Pope Francis actually wrote a pretty solid letter to the bishops.

    St. Augustine's Sermon on Samson

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2025 56:10


    Samson, in his own unique and often confusing way, pictures Christ's life to an extraordinary extent. In this episode we clarify a few quick points made in last episode, finish up the story of Samson, and reflect on St Augustine's sermon on Samson.

    Michael Knowles Vs Charlie Kirk Debate Review (less terrible audio version)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 8, 2025 69:33


    In this episode, Jake reviews a debate between Michael Knowles and Charlie Kirk, focusing on the Catholic faith, the significance of the Eucharist, the role of Mary, and the authority of the Pope. He critiques Knowles' arguments and emphasizes the importance of understanding Catholic doctrine, particularly regarding transubstantiation and the sacraments. The conversation also touches on the nature of salvation, the impact of schism, and the need for a living voice in the church. Jake concludes by urging listeners to pray for Pope Francis and to seek a deeper understanding of their faith.

    What You Must Prove to Be Protestant (& Mailbag)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 30, 2024 112:41


    Jake discusses the essential requirements for being a Protestant, emphasizing the need for legitimate pastoral authority, the historical context of Protestantism, and the importance of grounding beliefs in scripture and early church teachings. He critiques the simplification of doctrine and the implications of denial in faith, ultimately urging listeners to seek authentic Christianity rooted in historical continuity and scriptural authority.

    11 Non-Murderous Solutions to America's Heathcare System

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2024 75:00


    In this episode, Jake discusses the current state of the healthcare system in the U.S., addressing misconceptions about healthcare companies, profit margins, and the inefficiencies caused by government regulations. He proposes 11 non-murderous solutions to improve the system, emphasizing the importance of personal responsibility, competition, and the need for a more rational approach to healthcare spending. The discussion highlights the flaws in the current system and advocates for a shift towards healthcare savings accounts and other market-driven solutions. takeaways Murdering people is not a solution to healthcare issues. Health insurance companies are often wrongly blamed for high costs. The U.S. healthcare system is heavily regulated and not a free market. Competition in healthcare can drive down costs and improve quality. Healthcare savings accounts (HSAs) could revolutionize personal healthcare spending. Government mandates often complicate healthcare delivery. Incentives should align with personal responsibility in healthcare. The current system incentivizes poor lifestyle choices without consequences. Allowing competition for drugs from overseas can lower costs. An end-of-life plan can significantly reduce healthcare spending.

    Discussing Private Property with Fr. Brad Elliott

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2024 131:42


    Austrian Economics, Catholic Social Teaching and much more comes up as we discuss the role and moral basis of private property rights.

    A Deep Dive into Aquinas's 3rd way (Contingency) W/ Noah Chappell

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2024 144:29


    We cover every objection we can think of. We trace the roots of the argument through Jewish, Pagan, and Islamic thinkers. Not only that we think we ironed out some language shifts, and we also think that we sorted out a bit of the why behind Aquinas's version of the argument. Its a long episode but we had fun digging into this wonderful argument for God.

    Dr. Vance Ginn on Market Based Immigration

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2024 84:09


    Former Chief Economist of the White House's Office of Management and Budget, Vance Ginn joins the show to chat about immigration and how a market approach will make all of us better off. You can find his Podcast, "Let People Prosper" in the following links: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/let-people-prosper/id1639806532 https://open.spotify.com/show/3tzOSVMDF1FoUNW09x1IPC?si=352687a0bd594ebd

    The Christian Response to Haunted Houses

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 9, 2024 98:11


    Fr. Barton and I discuss hauntings and other such phenomenons just in time for everyone to have forgotten about Halloween.

    6 Useful Spiritual Practices

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2024 60:38


    In this episode, Jake discusses six spiritual practices that can help individuals grow in their faith and become more connected to God. He emphasizes the importance of penance, shutting off one's imagination, engaging with others, practicing humility, being a good steward of one's responsibilities, and embracing spiritual poverty through forgiveness. Each practice is explored in depth, with insights from saints and practical applications for daily life.

    Mailbag: Worship, Woodchucks, Sacrifice and Art

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 7, 2024 58:16


    Your burning questions answered! If you ever want to reach out just email me at thegordianknot101@gmail.com

    How Not to Read the Bible

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2024 66:32


    There is really just one huge thing that will torpedo your ability to get anything out of Scripture and we will talk about how to avoid it.

    What is the FairTax? W/ Steven Hayes

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 21, 2024 92:44


    We dive into the details of the FairTax proposal, discuss the advantages of a consumption tax and address many of the objections that are raise against the FairTax.

    Should a Philosopher Eat Doritos? W/ Pat Flynn

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2024 75:44


    We start with no topic, hit some moral philosophy and spend most of the time examining trends in health and fitness. Strange I know.

    Is "God" a Particle or Field? Does He Have a Mind or Will?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 7, 2024 57:05


    I answer 3 listener questions. One about whether God could be a thing in the universe, or the universe as a whole for that matter. A second about why we think God has a mind and will. And finally, we conclude by talking about Hell.

    Grace-Marie Turner on Fixing Healthcare with Free Markets

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2024 83:18


    Our guest today is the founder of the Galen institute https://galen.org and has advised the White House, the USCCB, and many others on healthcare. She advocates for patient centered healthcare, free-market solutions, and plain 'ole common sense in a sector devoid each.

    Fr. James Dominic Rooney on Integralism

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 24, 2024 95:52


    We contrast Intergralism with Liberalism and trace back the history of each in our discussion.

    Is Usury Still a Thing? W/ Mathew Advent

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2024 133:59


    Matt and I discuss the morality and the economics behind the tangled and fascinating history of what people call Usury. His paper is worth a read and can be found right here: https://www.academia.edu/122554073/Usury_and_Interest_Forgotten_Contributions_to_the_Thomistic_Tradition

    Are CEO's Paid Too Much?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2024 49:50


    The answer? Its quite literally none of my business. We take the Biblical advice to be content with our own wages and go our own way envy free after exploring the topic and figuring out a few reasons for the rise in CEO compensation.

    Interviewing Sal From MindPump

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2024 58:10


    We talk about connections between faith and fitness and learn about how he came to the faith.

    Should The Government Pay People to Have Kids?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 28, 2024 52:44


    A lot of countries are doing it in one way or another. Is this a good answer to our population problem? Email me anytime at thegordianknot101@gmail.com

    Are Tariffs a Good Idea?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2024 83:08


    They are now being pushed by the right and the left. Should we embrace tariffs? Or are they a tariffyingly bad idea?

    Judges Part 8: Samson's riddle

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 13, 2024 50:44


    We talk about his marriage, the time he kills a lion, and the time that he gets married, and then, however, everything goes wrong.

    Judges Part 7: Enter Samson

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 7, 2024 45:04


    The original Jewish warrior monk has one of the most fascinating stories in the Old Testament.

    Judges Part 6: Bad Vows

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2024 40:58


    We learned the scriptural lesson that one ought not murder their daughter, we read strikingly similar foreign policy issues to today, and end on a depressing note, befitting the overall tone of the book of judges.

    Judges Part 5: Political Philosophy

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 23, 2024 53:16


    We talk about one of my favorite parables in the Bible, see some unexpected Jesus typology, and hear some great ye ole' political Philosophy

    Freemarkets, Flourishing, & Friendship Interview

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2024 74:49


    I am interviewed by Denys Damon from the new YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_TdfpkjVks We chat about political philosophy, economics and even practical issues of work.

    Judges Part 4: Gideon

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2024 59:31


    Today we're looking past a lot of the surface level interpretation, which is typically applied to this excellent story.email me at thegordianknot101@gmail.com

    Judges Part 3: Deborah and Jael #girlpower

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2024 62:10


    We are onto one of the more famous parts of judges, the tent peg through the scull part. Email me at thegordianknot101@gmail.com

    Jack Ryan - Dismantling The Real Estate Cartel

    Play Episode Listen Later May 25, 2024 49:21


    Jack is the CEO of Rex homes https://www.rexhomes.com and the Author of a new book, bringing Adam Smith into the home: a case against homeownership https://www.amazon.com/Bringing-Adam-Smith-into-American/dp/B0CM26DHKR

    Judges Part 2: Fat People, Ox Goads, and the Word of God

    Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2024 72:53


    Yep, all that stuff and more. Thanks for joining me on the new series covering all of this outrageous and spectacular book.

    The Worst Arguments for Atheism (And Stronger Replacements)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2024 65:04


    Last time we talked about the worst arguments in favor of God. Today today's episode is kind of the opposite. John's book pdf: https://www.classicaltheism.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Answering-Atheist-Slogans_2.0.pdf reach out to me at thegordianknot101@gmail.com

    Book of Judges Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2024 66:57


    This book has a massive amount to teach us about the ways I which God purifies the Church.

    The Worst Arguments for God (And Ones I Like Instead)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2024 98:21


    Many of the most popular arguments for God are terrible. Let's use ones that actually work.

    “Build Baby Build!” With Dr Bryan Caplan

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 20, 2024 59:13


    His books are fantastic. You can find the one that we discussed right here: https://www.amazon.com/Build-Baby-Science-Housing-Regulation/dp/1952223415

    Chatting with Pat Flynn about objections to theism

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2024 122:09


    Yet another long and rambling discussion covering the problem of evil, things like existential inertia, and various ideas we've been thinking about to tackle contemporary objections.

    Reformed Theologian's Favorite Verses……Backfiring

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2024 59:29


    Read the context guys….. So many of these famous passages backfire hard.

    Is Universal Basic Income a Good Idea?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 30, 2024 84:05


    Compared to what? In what circumstances? What are the pros and cons? All of these things we will be addressing.

    The Question Protestants Can't Answer

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2024 60:04


    I won't leave you in suspense. The Question is, “What is the advantage of the New Covenant?”

    St. Joseph: The Last Old Testament Patriarch

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2024 61:52


    In the last 2000 years, interest in Saint Joseph has steadily risen. Today he stands as one of the most honored and respected saints.

    What they didn't tell you about the Least Read Book of the Bible

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2024 71:06


    And the mailbag is back and better than ever! Email me at thegordianknot101@gmail.com

    A Catholic Approach to Anxiety & Depression with Gary Capone

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2024 97:32


    Gary knows his topic from the inside and shares his story in addition to a number of great insights that we can all benefit from. His website is: https://eucharisticvirtue.com and he is open to speak at events.

    Fr. Sirico on Free-Markets and Catholic Social Teaching

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2024 68:57


    Fr. Sirico is the cofounder of the Acton institute https://www.acton.org which you all ought to explore. We talking about the links between economics and the Faith.

    Plato and The Death-Ponies (minor prophet series)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2024 81:37


    Today we compare Zechariah and Plato's dialogue on laws. And the mail bag returns.

    A Free Market Building & Zoning Scheme

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2024 70:15


    Not only does the mailbag return but we talk about the horror that is the current regulatory environment and how to fix it.

    Where are you God? The Problem of Divine Hiddeness

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 3, 2024 65:26


    This is a more contemporary objection which falls under the overall umbrella of the problem of evil. It has real persuasive power, and it's been felt by most everyone. Email me anytime at thegordianknot101@gmail.com

    8 Religious orders I wish existed

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2024 52:35


    The mail bag returns, and I have a few comments about last episode.

    Hell, Hope, and The Pope

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2024 69:13


    Pope Francis said things again…is an Empty Hell possible?

    Ben Shapiro versus Alex O'Connor a review

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2024 68:53


    Ben Shapiro recently had a clip of his conversation with atheist, Alex O'Connor also called the cosmic skeptic. They discussed free will. I'll be commenting on that discussion in this episode.

    The 8 Levels of Charity by Maimonides

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 6, 2024 99:05


    We cruze through a couple chapters in his commentary on the Torah's alms giving laws. Email me anytime about anything at thegordianknot101@gmail.com

    How Not to Make a New Years Resolution

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 30, 2023 55:28


    Using a verse in Proverbs as our guide, along with a section from Aristotle's ethics, we will learn how, and how and how not to make a good New Year's resolution. Email me at: thegordianknot101@gmail.com

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