Podcasts about eastern orthodoxy

Considered issues relating to Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy today, looked a bit at the new "Gay-washed" translation of the Bible accepted by the USCCB (the NRSVue), watched a video with someone washing the foot of a dead saint and then people fighting to get some of the water that fell from the foot, etc., all in reference to veneration and worship.

Learning to See as Christ Sees: Phronema, Sacrament, and the Healing of the Whole PersonWhen friends tear open a roof to lower a paralytic, Jesus forgives because of their faith—and the room's understanding of God, sin, and healing is turned inside out (Mark 2). What if the Christian life is, at its core, learning to see as Christ sees?In this conversation, Deacon Anthony (St. Anthony the Great Orthodox Church, San Diego) joins us to unpack the Orthodox phronema—the Church's way of seeing and living—which is not just ideas on a page but a formation of the heart through Scripture, sacrament, repentance, and community.What we exploreWhat is “phronema”? More than a “mindset,” it's a ecclesial way of perceiving: how Christians notice, judge, and love. It's shaped by the Church's worship, her Scriptures in their liturgical home, and a life together that actually heals.Body and soul—no split life: Christianity is incarnational. God meets us through tangible signs—mud on eyes (John 9), bread and wine, water and oil—so grace reaches the whole person.Confession as diagnosis, not humiliation: We don't “check a box” for breaking rules; we name the illness so the Great Physician can heal its root. The priest's role is merciful and confidential; accountability is real, not shaming.Repentance (metanoia): A change of mind and course—cleansing the inside of the cup—that frees us from self-deception and pride. Orthodoxy invites us to tell the truth about ourselves and to begin again.The Eucharist as mystery (not mere symbol): Communion is an encounter with the living Christ that binds wounded people into one Body—the Church as a hospital for the soul.From the apostles to the saints: How the same mind of Christ echoes across centuries and cultures—Saints Macarius, Paisios, and modern elders—so different in personality, yet recognizably one in humility, mercy, and love.Heaven and hell begin now: Entitlement, isolation, and self-invention taste like hell—a life disconnected from reality. Humility, communion, and thanksgiving taste like heaven—alignment with the Truth who is Christ.Countering today's scripts: Why “live for today” and “my truth” leave us lonely and unstable—and how the Church's life offers a steadier identity rooted in Christ and community.Practical takeawaysAccountability with love: spiritual fathers, godparents, spouses, and friends who won't let us settle for less than the truth.Guarding your tongue: how community and confession help us master reactions before they harm.Role models that last: why our children need saints more than celebrities—and how holy lives reawaken desire for God.Unity without centralization: the Church's phronema holds people together even across languages and jurisdictions because Christ is the center.A different question: not “What's the least I must do?” but “How can I give more of myself to the One who gave all?”Questions about Orthodoxy? Please check out our friends at Ghost of Byzantium Discord server: https://discord.gg/JDJDQw6tdhPlease prayerfully consider supporting Cloud of Witnesses Radio: https://www.patreon.com/c/CloudofWitnessesFind Cloud of Witnesses Radio on Instagram, X.com, Facebook, and TikTokPlease leave a comment with your thoughts!

Welcome back to The Perspectivalist. I'm your host, Uri Brito, joined again by my good friend Austin Brown. Our goal is simple: to think more clearly as Christians with Scripture as our starting point.In today's episode, we continue our series on the psychology of conversion, turning our focus to Eastern Orthodoxy. We'll discuss the challenges of tradition, liturgy, and continuity, and interact with Pastor Josh Shooping's book Disillusioned. Along the way, we'll raise some key questions: What does it really mean for a church to claim apostolic tradition? How do we discern between authentic continuity and the “mirage of the ancient”? And what can the early church fathers teach us about these debates?Let's dive in.Resources:Book: Disillusioned by Josh SchoopingPart 1: In this episode, Pastor Uri Brito welcomes Austin Brown for a thoughtful conversation on the psychology of conversion to Eastern Orthodoxy in the age of social media. They explore the rise of “Twitter conversions,” where personality-driven online voices attract seekers who are weary of shallow evangelicalism and searching for depth, antiquity, or beauty.Together, they wrestle with the despair and uncertainty that often accompany these journeys, the overwhelming complexity of historical debates, and the temptation to trade truth for aesthetics or novelty. They reflect on the clarity and sufficiency of Scripture, the importance of local church community, and the need for patience and discernment in exploring different traditions.The discussion offers both pastoral counsel and personal testimony, reminding listeners that truth, not taste, must remain central; that beauty and antiquity are valuable but secondary; and that faith should be nurtured in community, prayer, and Scripture before making life-shaping decisions.Whether you've felt the pull of Rome or the East, or you're walking alongside friends who are, this episode provides clarity, caution, and encouragement to walk slowly, faithfully, and wisely.

Do Orthodox Christians “worship icons”? Is Orthodoxy “works-based”? If you've heard those claims and weren't sure how to respond, this episode is your Bible-and-history reality check—clear, charitable, and straight to the point.What Protestants Often Miss About OrthodoxyA surprising witness: Martin Luther once described Greek Orthodox believers as “the most Christian people and the best followers of the gospel on earth.” That startling line sets the stage for a serious, Scripture-anchored look at salvation, saints, and sacred images.1) Salvation: Moment or Journey?Orthodoxy doesn't deny conversion moments—it simply insists the New Testament speaks of salvation in past, present, and future (you have been saved, are being saved, will be saved). Think medicine, not just legal acquittal: sin is a sickness Christ heals, and the Church is the hospital where grace transforms us into His likeness.2) Faith & Works: James's Actual ArgumentJames 2 doesn't pit faith against grace—it shows that living faith is energetic. “Faith without works is dead” is like a body without a soul: the works don't earn salvation; they animate faith, revealing the life of Christ within. This is why the Fathers speak of theosis (2 Peter 1:4): by grace, believers partake of the divine nature, cooperating with God's energies as He reshapes us.3) Saints & Icons: Honor vs. WorshipOrthodoxy draws a bright line between veneration (honor) and worship (adoration due to God alone).Bowing isn't necessarily worship. Scripture shows people bowing in honor without idolatry.Images aren't automatically idols. From the cherubim over the Ark to symbolic imagery throughout Scripture, the Bible distinguishes forbidden idols from holy reminders that direct hearts to God.Intercession is biblical. If the “prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective,” it remains so for those alive in Christ (Hebrews 12:1). We ask the saints to pray with us, not instead of Christ.4) Earliest Christian PracticeArchaeology and early Christian witness show that sacred images and prayers for the departed were part of the Church's life from the beginning—not late medieval inventions. The point isn't art for art's sake; it's Christ-centered remembrance that teaches the faith to hearts, minds, and even our senses.Why this mattersIf you love Jesus, Scripture, and the unity He prayed for, you'll want to understand how the apostolic Church held these truths together: grace-filled transformation, living faith that acts, and worship that engages the whole person. Whether you're Protestant, Orthodox, or just curious, this conversation offers a road map through common objections toward a richer, more historic Christianity.Join us as we walk through the texts, the Fathers, and the first centuries of the Church—and see how today's Orthodox faith connects to the faith once delivered to the saints.Please leave a comment with your thoughts!

“I've built my own faith from spare parts.”If that sounds familiar, you're not alone. Our guest calls it “Frankenstein Christianity”—picking what feels good, discarding what doesn't. After years of debates and burnout, he unplugged from church, Bible studies, and Christian content altogether… until one unexpected YouTube video on Orthodox church architecture broke through. For the first time, he saw a faith that engages all five senses—where every line, light, icon, and hymn points to Christ.Hosted by Jeremy Jeremiah, Mario Andrew, James St. Simon, and special guest Eddie G.Then came his first Divine Liturgy: the “spiritual punch” of incense, the priest turning to ask the people's forgiveness, and the ancient exchange—“Christ is in our midst.”  “He is and ever shall be.”He wept: “These people believe Jesus is really here. Why haven't I been like this?”Along the way, the so-called “problem areas” (Mary, icons, censers, traditions) snapped into focus. Torn from their purpose they can look foreign; rooted in the Incarnation, they become signposts to the living God. Orthodoxy doesn't bend to modern preferences—it invites us into ancient, Christ-centered worship that has remained steady for centuries.In this episode you'll hear:How “Frankenstein Christianity” gives way to received, embodied worshipWhy faith + works in James 2 describes a living, grace-energized faithWhat the Church means by theosis (2 Peter 1:4)—and why it's not “earning” salvationHow Mary, icons, and tradition function as Incarnation theology, not add-onsPractical first steps toward a stable rule of prayer (Scripture, Psalms, Jesus Prayer)Who this is for:Christians weary of performative spirituality, Protestants curious about the apostolic faith, and anyone wondering if the ancient path might be what your soul has been searching for.Subscribe to Cloud of Witnesses for more conversations where ancient faith meets real life.Questions about Orthodoxy? Please check out our friends at Ghost of Byzantium Discord server: https://discord.gg/JDJDQw6tdhPlease prayerfully consider supporting Cloud of Witnesses Radio: https://www.patreon.com/c/CloudofWitnessesFind Cloud of Witnesses Radio on Instagram, X.com, Facebook, and TikTokPlease leave a comment with your thoughts!

Stephen Angliss | Paul describes Christ as the “icon” of the invisible God. Because of this, stemming back to the giving of the Ten Commandments, God has always forbidden people from worshipping through any physical images other than the ones He provides and prescribes. Join us in God's Word to discover why only Christ is worthy of worship and why worshipping God in any created thing is idolatry.   

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“Never Orthodox.” Famous last words.“I will never become Orthodox.”  And he meant it. He was days away from getting Sola Scriptura tattooed on his kneecaps—ink as conviction—when his closest friend, James St. Simon, entered the Orthodox Church. The line he'd sworn by began to wobble.What changed him wasn't a debate or a takedown. It was prayer.  Join Cloud of Witnesses discussion between Jeremy Jeremiah, Mario Andrew, James St. Simon, and special guest, Orthodox Catechumen, Eddie.  “My heart has always been about prayer,” Eddie says. “My Protestant background told me to pray. Orthodoxy showed me how to pray.” He found “step one” clarity—morning and evening prayers, psalms on the lips, a simple rule that steadied the heart when emotions ran thin. Prayer moved from improvisation to communion.Others recognized the same hunger. James realized his spontaneous prayers had drifted into performance—aimed at people, not God. Mario found freedom from the anxious loop of “Am I saying enough? Am I praying right?” The ancient patterns didn't smother the Spirit; they formed the heart—Scripture-soaked, Christ-centered, time-tested.Then came the moment Eddie couldn't shake. During the Divine Liturgy, his two-year-old tried to make the sign of the cross—clumsy, sincere, unforgettable.“This is why Christianity outlasts civilizations and fashions,” Eddie reflects. “It isn't just for us—it's for them, when we're gone.”The man who almost branded Sola Scriptura into his skin is now learning the rhythms of ancient Christianity—not rejecting Scripture, but receiving it within the prayer-shaped life of the Church. The vow “never Orthodox” didn't end in an argument. It ended in adoration.If you've ever said your own version of “never,” or longed for a prayer life that's deeper than resolve and stronger than mood, Eddie's journey is your invitation. Look again at the ancient paths.Subscribe for more stories that bridge ancient faith and modern discipleship, and consider supporting us on Patreon for uncut conversations and extended testimonies.Find an Orthodox Church near you today. Visit https://www.antiochian.org/home Questions about Orthodoxy? Please check out our friends at Ghost of Byzantium Discord server: https://discord.gg/JDJDQw6tdhPlease prayerfully consider supporting Cloud of Witnesses Radio: https://www.patreon.com/c/CloudofWitnessesFind Cloud of Witnesses Radio on Instagram, X.com, Facebook, and TikTok.Please leave a comment with your thoughts!

Stephen Angliss | Part 2 of this three-part series examining the lies of Eastern Orthodoxy against Scripture focuses on the supremacy and centrality of Christ. There is no other mediator, intercessor, savior, or icon of worship other than Christ alone. Join us as we study God's Word and what it says about the importance of Christ.  

From Platform to Pilgrimage: Pastor Ben, Cleave to Antiquity, and a Journey to the Apostolic FaithFaith over fame. Conviction over career. What would you give up to follow truth where it leads? These questions sit at the center of Pastor Ben's move from Protestant ministry into Eastern Orthodoxy—a decision he announced on his YouTube channel, Cleave to Antiquity.For years, Cleave to Antiquity was a thoughtful Protestant apologetics channel engaging Catholics and Orthodox Christians. So when Pastor Ben posted his conversion announcement on Cleave to Antiquity, many were stunned. The cost was immediate: he resigned his pastorate, lost followers, and faced criticism from former allies. As he admits, “It would be much more lucrative for me to remain Protestant.” Yet he chose faithfulness over familiarity.In this episode, Mario Andrew and Jeremy Jeremiah of Cloud of Witnesses react to Pastor Ben's announcement video from Cleave to Antiquity—pausing to consider what his story means for Christians wrestling with questions of unity, authority, and continuity. They highlight how Ben's journey combines heart and mind: a moment in prayer with Orthodox elements where he sensed a holy presence (a fragrance of incense, a gentle warmth), and an intellectual crisis where he could no longer defend certain Protestant positions in good conscience. Integrity demanded he follow the truth—even when it led away from comfort.Ben's path raises the questions many of us ask:Unity: How do we pursue oneness in Christ amid denominational fragmentation?Authority: Is it Scripture alone, or Scripture within the apostolic tradition?Continuity: Can today's faith and worship be traced to the early Church?As Pastor Ben enters the catechumenate—a season of learning before reception into the Church—he's reframing Cleave to Antiquity from teaching to learning, inviting his audience to explore the Fathers, the Creeds, and the liturgy with him. Mario and Jeremy reflect on how this posture of humility models the kind of discipleship the whole Church needs.If you've ever felt drawn toward Orthodoxy or the apostolic faith, or you're simply curious what's moving thoughtful Protestants in this direction, join us. Watch our reaction and discussion of Pastor Ben's Cleave to Antiquity announcement, pray for him in this transition, and consider exploring the ancient paths for yourself.Wherever you are on the journey, may Christ lead us all deeper into truth, unity, and love. Visit Cloud of Witnesses Radio: https://cloudofwitnessesradio.com/ Questions about Orthodoxy? Please check out our friends at Ghost of Byzantium Discord server: https://discord.gg/JDJDQw6tdhPlease prayerfully consider supporting Cloud of Witnesses Radio: https://www.patreon.com/c/CloudofWitnessesFind Cloud of Witnesses Radio on Instagram, X.com, Facebook, and TikTok Please leave a comment with your thoughts!

https://reformedjournal.com/2025/09/12/the-kids-are-alright-more-or-less/  @greyhamilton52  Beauty is an Act of War with Jordan Hall Jordan Hall's Tweet. Is 5th Gen Warfare Spiritual Warfare? Is "War" the right word? https://www.youtube.com/live/uHuygjZ_OlQ?si=b5XLpbX_xiAjCIh1 https://x.com/jgreenhall/status/1942734576402497826 https://x.com/jgreenhall/status/1943329873738530907  @mallorysplace303  Charlie Kirk Quite Literally Saved My Life https://youtu.be/q3CIrkoIE1s?si=7U29jqxD9h3B1PGf  @Melissa_Cecilia  Convert reflection after 4 years in Eastern Orthodoxy https://youtu.be/56OaSgW7jqo?si=7HFSvenYrAx5z4g7 https://www.graphsaboutreligion.com/p/the-nones-project-ninos  @transfigured3673  John Vervaeke & Jonathan Pageau - Fellowship in the Spirit https://youtu.be/3yk8HtOQBuE?si=CEdYBroZ5A-h5sd6  @Quillette  Who Is Tyler Robinson? Inside the Digital Culture and Brain Rot Behind Charlie Kirk's Alleged Killer https://youtu.be/pcbWHzmwLL8?si=n46s-3hi1TXFQX05   https://www.southeastuary.com/ https://www.livingstonescrc.com/give Paul Vander Klay clips channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX0jIcadtoxELSwehCh5QTg https://www.meetup.com/sacramento-estuary/ My Substack https://paulvanderklay.substack.com/ Bridges of meaning https://discord.gg/MGC5Mm9d Estuary Hub Link https://www.estuaryhub.com/ If you want to schedule a one-on-one conversation check here. https://calendly.com/paulvanderklay/one2one There is a video version of this podcast on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/paulvanderklay To listen to this on ITunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/paul-vanderklays-podcast/id1394314333  If you need the RSS feed for your podcast player https://paulvanderklay.podbean.com/feed/  All Amazon links here are part of the Amazon Affiliate Program. Amazon pays me a small commission at no additional cost to you if you buy through one of the product links here. This is is one (free to you) way to support my videos.  https://paypal.me/paulvanderklay Blockchain backup on Lbry https://odysee.com/@paulvanderklay https://www.patreon.com/paulvanderklay Paul's Church Content at Living Stones Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh7bdktIALZ9Nq41oVCvW-A To support Paul's work by supporting his church give here. https://tithe.ly/give?c=2160640 https://www.livingstonescrc.com/give

The boys drink and review "I Just Crush A Lot" a blueberry hibiscus tart ale from Calvert Brewing. In 1054, a dramatic split forever changed the face of Christianity. Known as the Great Schism, it divided the Church into Roman Catholicism in the West and Eastern Orthodoxy in the East. But the break didn't happen overnight—it was centuries in the making.In this video, we'll explore:* The immediate crisis: papal legates and Patriarch Michael Cerularius trading excommunications.* Political and cultural tensions: Rome vs. Constantinople, Latin vs. Greek, and the rise of Islam.* Authority disputes: papal supremacy in the West vs. conciliar authority in the East.* Theological differences: the Filioque controversy, Monophysitism, and contrasting spiritual emphases.* Divergent practices: from unleavened vs. leavened bread, to clerical celibacy and fasting rules.* The aftermath: how the Crusades, especially the sack of Constantinople, deepened the divide.The Schism was not just about doctrine—it was about culture, politics, and identity. Understanding it helps explain why the Christian world looks the way it does today.#GreatSchism #1054 #ChristianHistory #Catholic #Orthodox #ChurchHistory #Byzantine #Rome

Gavin Ortlund offers three big picture reflections on the current health of Protestant apologetics in light of Cleave to Antiquity's recent conversion to Eastern Orthodoxy.Truth Unites (https://truthunites.org) exists to promote gospel assurance through theological depth. Gavin Ortlund (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary) is President of Truth Unites, Visiting Professor of Historical Theology at Phoenix Seminary, and Theologian-in-Residence at Immanuel Nashville.SUPPORT:Tax Deductible Support: https://truthunites.org/donate/Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/truthunitesFOLLOW:Website: https://truthunites.org/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truth.unites/X: https://x.com/gavinortlundFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/TruthUnitesPage/

This is our weekly live show where we take questions from email and our live audience.Questions and Timestamps:How political should a Christian be, especially in response to major events like assassinations? 10:21Should pastors address tragedies like the Charlie Kirk assassination from the pulpit? 31:56What guidance does the Bible give for governing? 36:15Did the early church misunderstand Christianity for hundreds of years? 46:35
Should I consider converting to Eastern Orthodoxy if I feel drawn but don't want to dishonor God? 46:35How do you decide when to move a congregation from “milk to meat” in teaching? 1:00:00
How should a church respond when asked if it is “gay friendly”? 1:03:07
What factors should guide choosing a church when options are limited? 1:05:07
Is my marriage invalid because we were both previously divorced before salvation? 1:15:09
How should Christians navigate friendships with unbelievers, especially hostile ones? 1:18:17
Does Isaiah 53 teach substitutionary atonement for the elect, or is it broader? 1:23:30
Am I saved if I have blasphemous and intrusive thoughts but still desire holiness? 1:25:55
How can I deal with anxiety and lack of assurance when I fall into repeated sin? 1:31:04
What is the Reformed view of assurance compared with Provisionist/Arminian views? 1:33:55
How can one learn to rest and abide with God more deeply? 1:41:30
Is the NLT a trustworthy Bible translation? 1:45:40
How should we teach textual criticism without undermining confidence in Scripture? 1:50:30
What does Reformed theology say about evangelism compared to IFB “soul winning”? 1:54:10
Is ‘final justification by works' a gospel issue or just a different interpretation? 1:57:40
Was Jesus truly a rabbi, and did He teach His disciples to read and write? 2:02:09
Why is Jephthah listed in Hebrews 11, and how do we reconcile Esau's story? 2:04:35
Why did God seek to kill Moses in Exodus 4? 2:08:06Support the Show: http://www.buymeacoffee.com/Yourcalvinisthttps://www.TinyBibles.comYou can get the smallest Bible available on the market, which can be used for all kinds of purposes, by visiting TinyBibles.com and when you buy, use the coupon code KEITH for a discount.Love Coffee? Want the Best? Get a free bag of Squirrelly Joe's Coffee by clicking on this link: https://www.Squirrellyjoes.com/yourcalvinistor use coupon code "Keith" for 20% off anything in the storeDominion Wealth Strategies Visit them at https://www.dominionwealthstrategists.comhttp://www.Reformed.Moneyand let them know we sent you! https://www.HighCallingFitness.comHealth, training, and nutrition coaching all delivered to you online by confessionally reformed bodybuilders and strength athletes.Visit us at https://www.KeithFoskey.comIf you need a great website, check out https://www.fellowshipstudios.com

Stephen Angliss | Christ warned that in the last days many with itching ears would wander off into myths and accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions (2 Tim. 4:3-4). Perhaps no myth exemplifies this more in our current age than Eastern Orthodoxy.  What should be made of Eastern Orthodoxy? Is it the true Church? Simply another form of Christianity? Or something else entirely? Join us Sunday at 9am & 10:30am for a message examining the falsehoods of Eastern Orthodoxy and discovering in Scripture how authentic, sincere, and intentional devotion to Christ can only be done according to His Word alone.

The "dream team", Erick Ybarra, Ben Bollinger, and Elijah Yasi respond to Seraphim Hamilton's case for Eastern Orthodoxy.

Finding Authentic Christian Worship: A Journey Through History, Tradition, and FaithThe search for authentic Christian worship often begins with a simple but profound question: “Is this how the apostles worshipped?”In this special Cloud of Witnesses (https://www.patreon.com/c/CloudofWitnesses) mini-episode, our guest hosts, Ben and Ashley Langlois—Ben known online as Orthodox Luigi—invite us into their personal journey of wrestling with that very question. As a husband-and-wife team, their perspectives bring a unique richness to the conversation: Ben shares from his theological study and exploration of history, while Ashley offers a heartfelt and distinctly feminine perspective on what it means to seek beauty, meaning, and belonging within the Body of Christ.Raised in contemporary Protestant settings, they began to sense subtle but growing tensions during worship: as guitars played, lights dimmed, and emotions ran high, they couldn't shake the feeling that something essential was missing. Were coffee shops, branded merchandise, and high-energy worship experiences truly what Christ intended for His Church?This questioning sparked a spiritual journey that led them through seven different churches, eventually settling for online services when no physical community seemed to reflect the fullness they longed for. Along the way, family connections played an important role. Brothers who were exploring Catholic and Orthodox traditions introduced Ben and Ashley to writings from the Church Fathers and early Christian practices that challenged many modern assumptions.Some discoveries were unexpected—like learning that Luther, Calvin, and Zwingli, leaders of the Protestant Reformation, all practiced infant baptism, a tradition many evangelical churches have set aside. For Ashley, these realizations opened new questions about how faith traditions shape the spiritual life of families and the formative role of women in the Church.Their journey eventually brought them to a Presbyterian congregation that offered what they call “pseudo-tradition”—wooden pews, touches of liturgy, and references to early writers. Yet, as Ashley shares, there was still a lingering sense of longing: the beauty was there, but the roots felt incomplete. Exploring historically grounded Protestant traditions like Anglicanism and Lutheranism only deepened this tension, as they often discovered a paradox—churches with the richest liturgical practices frequently embraced the most progressive theology, raising concerns about spiritual and doctrinal stability.Through prayer, study, and reflection, Ben and Ashley's path eventually led them to Eastern Orthodoxy, where they encountered a faith deeply rooted in apostolic succession, ancient liturgies, and a vision of salvation as a lifelong journey of transformation in Christ. Ashley speaks to how Orthodoxy's reverence, beauty, and communal worship resonated with her desire for a faith that engages not just the mind, but the heart and the senses—inviting the whole person into relationship with God.This is more than a story about leaving one church for another—it's about the deeper longing many Christians feel today: to encounter something enduring, rooted, and unchanging in a rapidly shifting world.Entire uncut, unedited conversation between Ben and Ashley available now on our Patreon!Visit Cloud of Witnesses Radio: https://cloudofwitnessesradio.com/ Questions about Orthodoxy? Please check out our friends at Ghost of Byzantium Discord server: https://discord.gg/JDJDQw6tdhPlease prayerfully consider supporting Cloud of Witnesses Radio: https://www.patreon.com/c/CloudofWitnessesFind Cloud of Witnesses Radio on Instagram, X.com, Facebook, and TikTok. Please leave a comment with your thoughts!

In this episode, Pastor Uri Brito welcomes Austin Brown for a thoughtful conversation on the psychology of conversion to Eastern Orthodoxy in the age of social media. They explore the rise of “Twitter conversions,” where personality-driven online voices attract seekers who are weary of shallow evangelicalism and searching for depth, antiquity, or beauty.Together, they wrestle with the despair and uncertainty that often accompany these journeys, the overwhelming complexity of historical debates, and the temptation to trade truth for aesthetics or novelty. They reflect on the clarity and sufficiency of Scripture, the importance of local church community, and the need for patience and discernment in exploring different traditions.The discussion offers both pastoral counsel and personal testimony, reminding listeners that truth, not taste, must remain central; that beauty and antiquity are valuable but secondary; and that faith should be nurtured in community, prayer, and Scripture before making life-shaping decisions.Whether you've felt the pull of Rome or the East, or you're walking alongside friends who are, this episode provides clarity, caution, and encouragement to walk slowly, faithfully, and wisely.

Fr. Michael Copenhagen is a Melkite (Eastern Catholic) priest, husband, and father, at St. Nicholas the Wonderworker Melkite Catholic Church in Gates, New York. He holds a Bachelors of Sacred Theology from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome. In Today's Show: Many of my traditional Catholic friends are exploring Eastern Orthodoxy because they feel it has preserved liturgy and doctrine more faithfully than the post-Vatican II Church. How should we respond to these claims, especially when Orthodoxy seems to outwardly resemble pre-conciliar Catholicism more than modern Rome? Is it okay to listen to YouTube talks given by Eastern Orthodox priests? In the Confiteor, it talks about sinning in one's thoughts. Is it truly possible to sin simply in your thoughts? When does anger/raising voice at a family member become a mortal sin? Does it matter if they have dementia or another illness that affects mental processes? I've been invited to a Kingdom Hall service, as well as a meeting of the Freemasons (as a guest). Is it safe to say I should decline those invitations? Is there a greater efficiency in having an individual Mass for a person vs a family Mass for all the members of the family? If partaking in the body and blood of Christ is essential to eternal life according to scripture, why do faithful Christians struggle to understand the belief of feeling worthy of it? As an altar server, I can't touch the ciborium without gloves on. How can laymen be authorized to touch the Eucharist with their bare hands as parishioners or Eucharistic ministers? I've seen some exorcists claim that tattoos are a portal to demons (although I don't believe it is backed by the Church). I have a few tattoos and plan to get more (all related to my religion and heritage), so I'm just wondering your stance and the official teaching on if it's really a “portal”? Visit the show page at thestationofthecross.com/askapriest to listen live, check out the weekly lineup, listen to podcasts of past episodes, watch live video, find show resources, sign up for our mailing list of upcoming shows, and submit your question for Father!

Thousands of American Christians are converting to the Eastern Orthodox faith — yet most American Catholics and Protestants know little to nothing about it. What do the Orthodox believe, what sets them apart from other denominations, and what has it attracting so many converts? Charlie spoke to Orthodox convert, priest, and author Fr. John Strickland for more than hour to learn the ins and outs of this ancient form of Christianity that is brand new to most of America. You can find "The Age of Nihilism" and other books by Fr. Strickland at https://store.ancientfaith.com/the-age-of-nihilism-christendom-from-the-great-war-to-the-culture-wars/ Watch every episode ad-free on members.charliekirk.com! Get new merch at charliekirkstore.com!Support the show: http://www.charliekirk.com/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thousands of American Christians are converting to the Eastern Orthodox faith — yet most American Catholics and Protestants know little to nothing about it. What do the Orthodox believe, what sets them apart from other denominations, and what has it attracting so many converts? Charlie spoke to Orthodox convert, priest, and author Fr. John Strickland for more than hour to learn the ins and outs of this ancient form of Christianity that is brand new to most of America. You can find "The Age of Nihilism" and other books by Fr. Strickland at https://store.ancientfaith.com/the-age-of-nihilism-christendom-from-the-great-war-to-the-culture-wars/ Watch every episode ad-free on members.charliekirk.com! Get new merch at charliekirkstore.com!Support the show: http://www.charliekirk.com/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Canon Stephen Sharpe, ICKSP serves as Parochial Vicar at St. Joseph Shrine in Detroit, Michigan. He was ordained in 2020. In Today's Show: Should I discourage a fallen-away Catholic friend from looking into Eastern Orthodoxy? When someone starts to suffer from severe memory loss due to dementia, how does that affect their need to go to confession? Does the precept to confess at least once a year still apply? If we are justified by grace through our faith in Him (CCC 1989, 1991, 1996), why then is the Sacrament of Confession mandatory for Catholics? Why is there no short prayer for the dead at the end of Compline, unlike every other canonical hour except Matins, which are/were supposed to be followed by Lauds)? Is it still required for Catholics to abstain from meat on Fridays outside of Lent? What can Catholics learn from Eastern Orthodox Christians? As a convert for the last 26 years, has my confirmed Protestantism been erased? Am I absolved by faith either way? Should I never receive the Eucharist because I am aware of so many sins even after confession? Canon, what do you miss most about Canada? Are Catholics permitted to eat Halal meat? Any advice for scrupulosity? Recommendations for reading to better understand the time between the year 33 and 100 How should we understand Genesis considering modern fallible accounts that man might be only 200,000 years old? Visit the show page at thestationofthecross.com/askapriest to listen live, check out the weekly lineup, listen to podcasts of past episodes, watch live video, find show resources, sign up for our mailing list of upcoming shows, and submit your question for Father!

Andrew Heaton is a comedian, political commentator, author, and political orphan best known for his skits on ReasonTV. I've had the pleasure of knowing Andrew for many years and traveling in similar media circles. We both love to chat and interview people, and so when I saw he'd joined Substack, I knew we'd have to do something together. Both Heaton and I love to talk about fantasy and sci-fi, so we cover great fiction that has inspired Andrew's worldview, and we get into the weeds of Andrew's atheism and roots in Eastern Orthodoxy. Geeky Stoics is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.What to expect (Pretty decent AI summary)* Good, evil, and C.S. Lewis. Kent and Heaton, with Lewis's idea that evil is merely “a corruption of good,” and use A Clockwork Orange to probe whether pure malice can really exist.* Demonic dread in a secular mind. Despite skepticism, Kent and Heaton admit demonic possession (and even Ouija boards) still terrifies them—evidence that ancient spiritual anxieties survive modern disbelief.* Wealth and the eye of the needle. Heaton asks whether our unprecedented creature comforts, more than raw income, blunt any sense that we need transcendence, and discusses Jesus' warning about riches.* Eco-Calvinism. Heaton argues parts of today's environmentalism act like a new religion—humanity as fallen, Earth as sacred, redemption through self-denial—echoing Joseph Campbell's predicted “eco-myth”.* Stories that shape a worldview. Heaton shares how Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide taught him the power of shifting perspective; Star Trek and Madeline Miller's Circe reveal why being mortal trumps immortality * Love beyond belief. Leaving the church didn't sever bonds for Andrew Heaton—his old church still checks on him and offers help, showing religion's unmatched knack for forging lasting “kinship networks”.If you want to join up with the Political Orphanage and Andrew Heaton…. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.geekystoics.com/subscribe

Pastor David Jay Webber of Bethany Lutheran-Princeton, MN Pr. Webber's Series on Eastern Orthodoxy The post The Lutheran-Orthodox “Common Statement on the Filioque” Adopted by Evangelical Lutheran Church of America – Pr. David Jay Webber, 8/4/25 (2163) first appeared on Issues, Etc..

Of all the prophecies in the Bible, Revelation 17 is the most astonishing. It culminates a series of visions of four world empires, the fourth to be revived in the "last days" and ruled by Antichrist through ten subordinate "kings"—a series of visions which began 600 years earlier in Daniel 2 with Nebuchadnezzar's image. The image's "head of gold" was the first world empire, the Babylonian; the "breast and arms of silver" pictured the succeeding Medo-Persian Empire; next was the Grecian represented by "belly and thighs of brass"; and finally the "legs of iron, and feet [with ten toes signifying ten kings] part of iron and part of clay" depicted the fourth world empire arising out of Rome.Daniel's prophecy (continued in chapters 7-12) foretold accurate details of coming world empires which we can't enumerate. Apropos of our subject, however, the image's two legs foretold the Roman Empire's division into East and West. And so it happened, first politically; centuries later, religiously. Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy (which in July again gained control of religion in Russia) remain divided to this day. They will, however, be reunited as the core of Antichrist's new world religion.

Ever wondered why Orthodox churches are filled with icons while Catholic ones aren't? This fascinating conversation with David Latting and Ben Langlois (Orthodox Luigi) takes us deep into the heart of Orthodox Christianity and its distinctive practices.  The discussion uncovers how icons serve as "windows into heaven" for Orthodox believers—not just beautiful art, but portals into the divine realm. Langlois explains the theological reasoning behind the two-dimensional nature of icons, tracing this tradition back to the Second Council of Nicaea in 787 CE. For those curious about Christian history, the episode offers a refreshing perspective on how the ancient Church used visual imagery to teach biblical stories to illiterate believers, challenging common misconceptions about scripture access in early Christianity.  One of the most enlightening segments addresses the Great Schism between Eastern and Western Christianity. Rather than a simple split in 1054, we learn how the separation evolved gradually over centuries, with fascinating insights into how the pre-schism Western Church was considered Orthodox despite cultural differences. This nuanced historical understanding helps bridge denominational divides and fosters appreciation for shared Christian heritage.  The conversation doesn't shy away from difficult questions, including a thoughtful Protestant concern: "Why would I give my attention to anyone but Jesus?" The response offers a compelling parallel between asking friends for prayer and requesting intercession from saints, demonstrating how Orthodox veneration practices ultimately maintain Christ's centrality while honoring the communion of saints across time.  Whether you're deeply familiar with Orthodox traditions or completely new to them, this episode will transform your understanding of Christian worship, history, and theology. Subscribe to Cloud of Witnesses for more thought-provoking conversations that explore the depth and richness of Christian faith across traditions. Visit Cloud of Witnesses Radio: https://cloudofwitnessesradio.com/ Questions about Orthodoxy? Please check out our friends at Ghost of Byzantium Discord server: https://discord.gg/JDJDQw6tdhPlease prayerfully consider supporting Cloud of Witnesses Radio: https://www.patreon.com/c/CloudofWitnessesFind Cloud of Witnesses Radio on Instagram, X.com, Facebook, and TikTok.Thank you for journeying w/ the Saints with us!

The recent American Eagle advertisements featuring Sydney Sweeney have sparked intense public reaction, but amidst the noise, a deeper conversation is being overlooked—one that speaks to the heart of Christian discipleship in our image-driven culture.  Join Jeremy Jeremiah and James St. Simon as we discuss this cultural issue head on.Rather than getting swept up in ideological debates or surface-level controversies, we invite believers to reflect on what Scripture teaches about beauty, modesty, and the dignity of the human person. The human body is a gift from God—fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14)—but how we present that gift reveals whom we serve.In today's culture, where marketing often trades in provocation and the reduction of persons to visual consumption, Christians are called to something higher. The lives of women like Sarah, Hannah, Ruth, and above all, the Theotokos—the Virgin Mary—remind us that true beauty is inseparable from virtue. Their strength, humility, and faithfulness reveal a radiance that no advertisement can replicate.Modesty, in the Christian tradition, is not about shame or repression. It is about reverence—for oneself, for others, and for the God who made us. As St. Paul writes, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit?” (1 Corinthians 6:19). Our bodies are not commodities to be marketed, but sacred vessels meant for glory, love, and service.Marriage itself, the first covenant established by God, points us beyond mere physical attraction toward a deeper union of souls, grounded in sacrificial love and spiritual communion.As followers of Christ, we are called to rise above the culture wars and bear witness to a Kingdom where beauty is not exploited but honored, not flaunted but cherished. Let us strive for a vision of womanhood and manhood rooted in holiness—not in trends, but in timeless truth.Join us for a thoughtful conversation on how we, as Christians, can respond with grace, clarity, and conviction in a world that often forgets the sacredness of the human form. Visit Cloud of Witnesses Radio: https://cloudofwitnessesradio.com/ Questions about Orthodoxy? Please check out our friends at Ghost of Byzantium Discord server: https://discord.gg/JDJDQw6tdhPlease prayerfully consider supporting Cloud of Witnesses Radio: https://www.patreon.com/c/CloudofWitnessesFind Cloud of Witnesses on Instagram, X.com, Facebook, and TikTok.Thank you for journeying w/ the Saints with us!

“Why doesn't St. Ignatius mention belief in Mary as essential for salvation?” This episode explores this intriguing question while also addressing the distinctions between latria and dulia, the Catholic Church’s stance on supporting the modern state of Israel, and the differences between Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy. Tune in for a thoughtful examination of these important topics. Join The CA Live Club Newsletter: Click Here Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com Questions Covered: 04:42 – Why doesn't St. Ignatius of Antioch mention belief in Mary as essential salvation? 17:41 – What is the difference between latria and dulia? 25:05 – Are Catholics required to support the modern state of Israel? 30:11 – Why does the Catholic church typically only have communion with the bread and not wine? 40:52 – What is the main difference between the Catholic church and Eastern Orthodox? 44:30 – I don't believe in God or the supernatural? What might help me believe in a God?

When Masculinity Encounters the Machinery of Oppression: A Christian Reflection on One Flew Over the Cuckoo's NestWhat happens when the God-given strength of masculinity is distorted or suppressed by the world's systems? In this illuminating conversation with literature professor James St. Simon, and Cloud of Witnesses host, Jeremy Jeremiah, we journey through the themes of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest—a film whose prophetic imagery speaks to the Christian soul struggling amid a culture that often denies the nobility of manhood.Through the cold, clinical corridors of Kesey's mental institution, we glimpse a microcosm of modernity's spiritual sickness. Bureaucracy replaces communion. Control supplants freedom. And like so many today, the men within its walls have forgotten their true personhood—imago Dei veiled under layers of compliance and fear. As Professor James notes, “They're losing their dignity, their soul, themselves.” This echoes the patristic warning against passions and structures that deaden the nous—the spiritual eye of the heart.Enter McMurphy—a rough, unruly figure, but one who bears an almost prophetic defiance. Though flawed, his unfiltered vitality ignites a spark in others long dormant. He calls the men to remembrance—an anámnēsis—of their dignity, their freedom, their calling as persons, not patients. His presence challenges the false peace of institutional order, much like the prophets of old who unsettled the kings of Israel.Most striking is the arc of Chief Bromden. Silent and hidden, like the hesychast in his cell, he awakens through sacrificial love. His final act—breaking free and fleeing into the dawn—is a paschal image: a resurrection from the tomb of spiritual paralysis. In this, we see not just personal liberation, but the restoration of the masculine soul through kenosis, strength expressed in silence, in sacrifice, in love. It is Christ's path, echoed in Chief's wordless ascent into freedom.We also reflect on C.S. Lewis's warning in The Abolition of Man: the tragedy of “Men Without Chests”—a condition not merely psychological, but spiritual. Without the chest—the seat of rightly ordered desire—man becomes a ghost, unable to act with either courage or compassion. This, too, afflicts both McMurphy and the society that seeks to neutralize him.Even in a work of secular art, we recognize the divine imprint—the logoi of God present in all true beauty and truth. This story, though tragic, points to higher realities: the sacrificial love that restores, the healing silence of remembrance, and the call to awaken from spiritual slumber. As Orthodox Christians, we are reminded that true masculinity is not domination, but self-emptying strength—strength crucified and risen.For those wrestling with their place in a disordered world, seeking to reclaim their God-given identity amid soulless systems, this conversation is a call to rise—to stand, like Chief, in the light of morning, and walk forward in freedom.How might Christ be calling you to remember who you are? To tear away the fog of forgetfulness and rediscover the image within? Visit Cloud of Witnesses Radio: https://cloudofwitnessesradio.com/ Questions about Orthodoxy? Please check out our friends at Ghost of Byzantium Discord server: https://discord.gg/JDJDQw6tdhPlease prayerfully consider supporting Cloud of Witnesses Radio: https://www.patreon.com/c/CloudofWitnessesRadioFind Cloud of Witnesses Radio on Instagram, X.com, Facebook, and TikTok. Thank you for journeying w/ the Saints with us!

In this conversation, Paul shares his transformative journey from being an angry atheist to embracing Christianity and redefining masculinity through his brand, Manifesto. He discusses the impact of relationships, the importance of celibacy in spiritual awakening, and the necessity of accountability among men. Paul emphasizes the significance of tradition in understanding masculinity and the role of men in society today. He also explores the dynamics of sexuality within marriage and the need for supportive communities for men.   Want to know more about Paul's work? Maniphesto's website    Know more about Sathiya's work: JOIN DEEP CLEAN INNER CIRCLE   Got a Question? Submit It Anonymously Through This Form  Get A Free Copy of The Last Relapse, A Blueprint For Recovery  Watch Sathiya on Youtube For More Content Like This   Chapters: (00:00) Paul's Journey from Atheism to Faith (03:04) The Impact of Relationships and Pornography (05:58) The Spiritual Search and Awakening (08:49) Understanding Masculinity and Relationships (11:53) The Role of Eastern Orthodoxy in Paul's Life (14:39) The Transformation of Relationships and Family Life (17:31) Finding Purpose and Community in Faith (30:37) The Essence of Orthodox Worship (33:24) Transforming Men's Ministry: A Radical Shift (36:21) The Need for Male Accountability (40:52) Navigating Modern Masculinity (43:20) The Significance of Sexual Intimacy in Marriage (52:05) Reviving Tradition: The Path of Manliness

In this video I'm joined by Pastor Joshua Schooping to discuss the story of why he joined the Orthodox Church and why he ultimately left Eastern Orthodoxy to become a Lutheran pastor. In this course of the interview, we tackle questions about the consistency of Eastern Orthodox teaching, penal substitutionary atonement, the state of Orthodoxy in America, and why Lutheranism presented the most appealing option to Schooping in terms of theology. Want to support the channel? Here's how!Give monthly: https://patreon.com/gospelsimplicity    Make a one-time donation: https://paypal.me/gospelsimplicityBook a meeting: https://calendly.com/gospelsimplicity/meet-with-austinRead my writings: https://austinsuggs.substack.com/Support the show

Of all the prophecies in the Bible, Revelation 17 is the most astonishing. It culminates a series of visions of four world empires, the fourth to be revived in the "last days" and ruled by Antichrist through ten subordinate "kings"—a series of visions which began 600 years earlier in Daniel 2 with Nebuchadnezzar's image. The image's "head of gold" was the first world empire, the Babylonian; the "breast and arms of silver" pictured the succeeding Medo-Persian Empire; next was the Grecian represented by "belly and thighs of brass"; and finally the "legs of iron, and feet [with ten toes signifying ten kings] part of iron and part of clay" depicted the fourth world empire arising out of Rome.Daniel's prophecy (continued in chapters 7-12) foretold accurate details of coming world empires which we can't enumerate. Apropos of our subject, however, the image's two legs foretold the Roman Empire's division into East and West. And so it happened, first politically; centuries later, religiously. Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy (which in July again gained control of religion in Russia) remain divided to this day. They will, however, be reunited as the core of Antichrist's new world religion.

Why I Haven't Converted to Orthodox or Catholic ChristianityIn this thought-provoking episode, Ruslan KD unpacks the real reason he hasn't converted to Eastern Orthodoxy or Catholicism—despite growing up Oriental Orthodox and having deep respect for high church traditions. Drawing from personal experience, theological study, and conversations with priests across Christian streams, Ruslan explores the debate around apostolic succession and the structure of church leadership. He challenges the common assumption that Protestants lack historical or biblical legitimacy and explains why many remain unconvinced by the high church claim to be the "one true church." This episode also features insights from the YouTube channel Biblical Understanding and tackles early church writings from Ignatius, Clement, and Jerome. Whether you're Protestant, Orthodox, Catholic, or just curious, this conversation sheds light on the theological framework behind Ruslan's convictions—and why he believes Scripture remains the final authority.

In this final installment of our introductory series on Eastern Orthodoxy for Reformed Christians, Camden Bucey explores Orthodox worship and sacramental theology through a Reformed lens. This episode provides a careful and charitable overview of Eastern Orthodox liturgical practices, including the Divine Liturgy, veneration of icons, and the centrality of the Eucharist. What makes Eastern Orthodox worship distinct? Why are icons and incense used? What theological principles undergird these practices? Camden discusses the symbolism of Eastern Orthodox worship while also addressing key doctrinal differences—especially concerning the second commandment, the regulative principle, and the doctrine of salvation. Whether you're a Reformed believer curious about the traditions of the East or seeking to understand why some are drawn to Orthodoxy's mystery and aesthetic, this episode offers insight, clarity, and biblical reflection. Series Part 1 (The Church and Scripture) Part 2 (The Doctrine of God and Salvation) Part 3 (Worship and the Sacraments) Watch on YouTube Chapters 00:00 – Introduction 00:26 – Worship and the Sacraments in Eastern Orthodoxy 01:49 – Theology of Liturgy and Participation 04:14 – Worship as Theology in Action 05:36 – Icons, Veneration, and the Second Commandment 10:02 – The Eucharist 14:09 – Reverence and Symbolism 15:33 – Prayers for the Dead 16:44 – Summary of Theological Differences 18:10 – Final Reflections

Join Jeremy Jeremiah and Cloud of Witnesses Radio to welcome Professor Robert Fortuin to discuss the transformation of a humble midwife from a forgotten Alaskan village into America's newest recognized Orthodox saint!  This event represents a profound spiritual moment that defies all conventional expectations. Matushka Olga of Alaska emerges as both the first woman and first Yupik person glorified as a saint in America, her story a powerful testament to how extraordinary holiness can manifest in seemingly ordinary lives.• Glorification services will be held in Kwethluk (Alaska), Anchorage, and Phoenix to make this historic event accessible to more people • Matushka Olga was known for her boundless hospitality while her priest husband traveled to remote villages • She served as a midwife and spiritual support for her community, never turning away anyone with problems • After her repose, many healings were attributed to her, leading people to make difficult pilgrimages to remote Kwethluk From her remote home in Kwethluk—a village so isolated that visitors must fly to Bethel and then travel upriver by boat to reach it—Matushka Olga became the spiritual anchor for her community of just 200 people. While her priest husband traveled for weeks through dangerous terrain to minister to other villages, she remained behind, arms perpetually open to anyone in need. As the local midwife without modern medical facilities, she delivered babies in villagers' homes. But her ministry extended far beyond physical care—she became known for her boundless emotional and spiritual hospitality, never turning away anyone with troubles. What makes her glorification particularly significant is how it challenges our notions of sainthood. Rather than emerging from ecclesiastical prominence or dramatic martyrdom, her sanctity blossomed through consistent, humble acts of love in a place many would consider desolate. After her earthly repose, numerous healings were attributed to her intercession, leading pilgrims to undertake difficult journeys to her remote village. As one icon of her beautifully states, "God can create great beauty from complete desolation." The glorification ceremonies—scheduled across Kwethluk, Anchorage, and Phoenix—serve a dual purpose: honoring this remarkable woman while also drawing crucial attention to the ongoing needs of Orthodox Christians in remote Alaskan communities. Matushka Olga's story reminds us that divine grace works powerfully through those society might overlook, proving that no place is too remote and no person too humble to become a vessel of transformative love. If you're interested in Orthodoxy or learning more about St. Olga, please visit oca.org for more information. Come visit an Orthodox parish near you today.Saint Olga of Alaska, pray to God for us!  Visit Cloud of Witnesses Radio: https://cloudofwitnessesradio.com/ Questions about Orthodoxy? Please check out our friends at Ghost of Byzantium Discord server: https://discord.gg/JDJDQw6tdhPlease prayerfully consider supporting Cloud of Witnesses Radio: https://www.patreon.com/c/CloudofWitnessesRadioFind Cloud of Witnesses Radio on Instagram, X.com, Facebook, and TikTok.Thank you for journeying w/ the Saints with us!

What happens when the claims of a 200-year-old American religion collide with the 2,000-year history of Orthodox Christianity? Ben Langlois (Orthodox Luigi) (https://x.com/orthodoxluigi) joins Jeremy Jeremiah and Cloud of Witnesses Radio for a fascinating exploration of Mormon theology and its fundamental differences from historic Christian faith.  If you are an LDS believer, please watch this video and confront the challenges it brings.    The conversation begins with what Ben Luigi calls "the most devastating argument against Mormonism" – the historical continuity of the church through the ages. If Mormonism's foundational claim about a "Great Apostasy" is true, then what happened to Christianity for 1,800 years? How do we explain Christ's promise that "the gates of hell shall not prevail against my church" and that He would be with His followers "until the end of the age"?  Jeremy and Ben dive deep into the theological inconsistencies within modern Mormon apologetics, particularly around their concept of the Godhead. While traditional Mormon teaching holds that God the Father was once a man who achieved divinity (part of an infinite regression of gods), many contemporary Mormon thinkers are adopting positions that sound increasingly like classical theism – creating major internal contradictions.  The discussion also examines historical influences on Joseph Smith's theology, including his involvement with Freemasonry just months before introducing temple ceremonies with striking Masonic similarities. Yet perhaps most fascinating are the unexpected bridges between Mormonism and Orthodox Christianity – from language about becoming "like God" (though with crucial distinctions) to concepts around the Father's role within the Trinity.  Whether you're a former Mormon seeking answers, a current member with questions, or simply curious about these theological traditions, this conversation offers compassionate clarity on what separates Mormon teaching from historic Christian faith while highlighting pathways toward deeper understanding between these communities. Find an Orthodox Church near you today. Visit https://www.antiochian.org/home Visit Cloud of Witnesses Radio: https://cloudofwitnessesradio.com/ Questions about Orthodoxy? Please check out our friends at Ghost of Byzantium Discord server: https://discord.gg/JDJDQw6tdhPlease prayerfully consider supporting Cloud of Witnesses Radio: https://www.patreon.com/c/CloudofWitnessesRadioFind Cloud of Witnesses Radio on Instagram, X.com, Facebook, and TikTok.Thank you for journeying w/ the Saints with us!

Can someone outside the Orthodox Church be saved? It’s a question many ask — and the answer might surprise you. In this episode, we explore what Eastern Orthodoxy actually teaches about salvation beyond its visible boundaries. Drawing from the Church Fathers, councils, and contemporary Orthodox theologians, we dive into the nuanced and often misunderstood doctrine […]

Today's Topics: 1, 2) Why are some Catholics taking the wrong path of Eastern Orthodoxy? https://www.tfp.org/why-are-some-catholics-taking-the-wrong-path-of-eastern-orthodoxy/ 3, 4) How Gregorian Chant benefits the health of the body…and soul https://www.tfp.org/how-gregorian-chant-benefits-the-health-of-the-bodyand-soul/?PKG=TFPE3606

In this second installment of our introductory series on Eastern Orthodoxy, Camden Bucey considers key theological distinctions and points of contact between Eastern Orthodox and Reformed theology. This episode focuses on the doctrine of God and the nature of salvation. We examine the shared commitment to Nicene Trinitarianism, while highlighting distinct emphases in Eastern and Western Trinitarian formulations. The discussion also explores the Eastern Orthodox concept of the essence-energies distinction, theosis (deification), and the centrality of Christ's incarnation and resurrection in their soteriology. Crucially, we contrast the Reformed doctrine of justification by grace through faith alone with the synergistic model of salvation found in Eastern Orthodoxy, raising important questions about assurance, divine simplicity, and the relationship between justification and sanctification.  Chapters 00:00 – Introduction 00:29 – The Holy Trinity in Eastern Orthodoxy  03:32 – The Filioque Controversy 07:51 – Essence-Energies Distinction 12:46 – Theosis and Deification 18:54 – Justification and Forensic Categories 26:10 – Synergism vs. Monergism 31:11 – Assurance and Pastoral Implications 34:21 – Summary and Preview of Part 3 Watch Part 1: https://youtube.com/live/HulZlUXAJ78?feature=share

In this video I'm joined by Javier Perdomo, a former Baptist pastor who became Lutheran and now creates videos about Protestantism on YouTube with special attention given to stories of people who chose traditional Protestantism over Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy. You can check out his channel here:  youtube.com/@javierperd2604  Javier's Substack: https://substack.com/@javierperd2604Want to support the channel? Here's how!Give monthly: https://patreon.com/gospelsimplicity    Make a one-time donation: https://paypal.me/gospelsimplicityBook a meeting: https://calendly.com/gospelsimplicity...Read my writings: https://austinsuggs.substack.com/00:00 - Trends in Protestant Conversions10:40 - Certainty, Unity, Rootedness17:03 - Ecclesial Anxiety27:35 - The Dangers of the Internet34:00 - "Ecclesialist"45:30 - Sola Ecclesia49:20 - Inconsistency in RC apologetics01:00:00 - Does History support Protestantism?01:05:15 - Advice for ProtestantsSupport the show

Many today are coming out of atheism and even other religions and embracing the traditional path of Catholicism or Eastern Orthodoxy. Yet scripture and history warn us clearly that such is the end of all things, and many will be deceived by a counterfeit system of worship in the end posing as the will of God on Earth. Today we will look at several reasons why tradition is not the truth, because it fails the test of scripture.For the written study please go here.TIMESTAMPS:* 00:00 - Introduction* 01:43 - Disclaimer* 02:42 - Not All Traditions are Equal* 05:43 - Two Important Notes* 08:08 - Reason 1: Call No Man On Earth Your Father* 10:07 - Reason 2: Only One Mediator* 11:31 - Reason 3: Transubstantiation* 12:45 - Reason 4: The Second Birth & Baptism* 15:50 - Reason 5: No Salvation Outside the Church* 17:04 - Reason 6: The True Universal Church* 20:21 - Reason 7: The Nature of Salvation* 23:50 - Reason 8: Predestination* 27:52 - Reason 9: The Nature of Apostasy* 31:50 - Reason 10: The Afterlife* 36:43 - Reason 11: Veneration* 38:55 - Reason 12: The Nature of Prayer* 40:49 - Reason 13: Cosmology* 43:24 - Reason 14: The Apocrypha* 46:30 - Reason 15: The Climate Justice Gospel* 49:21 - Reason 16: Changing Times & Laws* 58:44 - Reason 17: The Pope* 1:01:58 - Final Thoughts This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.danceoflife.com/subscribe

Eastern Orthodox parishes in the USA have been seeing a remarkable increase in numbers, especially among young men. Justin speaks to converts, priests and journalists about why this ancient church stream is encountering a fresh wave of seekers. Fr Andrew Stephen Damick, John Mark Reynolds, Jonathan Pageau and Rod Dreher explain the attraction of Orthodoxy's ritual and sense of the supernatural. Storyteller Martin Shaw, Gen Z influencer Freya India and 'Apostate Prophet' Ridvan Aydemir, tell their stories of conversion to Eastern Orthodoxy. More info, book & newsletter: https://justinbrierley.com/surprisingrebirth/ Support via Patreon for early access to new episodes and bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/justinbrierley/membership Support via Tax-deductible (USA) and get the same perks: https://defendersmedia.com/portfolio/justin-brierley/ Give a one-off gift via PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/brierleyjustin Buy the book or get a signed copy: https://justinbrierley.com/the-surprising-rebirth-of-belief-in-god/ Got feedback? Share it with us by emailing: feedback@think.faith Ep 13 show notes: https://justinbrierley.com/surprisingrebirth/season-2-episode-13-the-orthodox-boom-new-converts-to-an-ancient-faith The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God is a production of Think Faith in partnership with Genexis, and support from The Jerusalem Trust. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is a special edition of YourCalvinist podcast where Keith Foskey welcomes Gavin Ortlund to discuss his book What it Means to be Protestant. They discuss some of the reasons why protestantism is historically defensible, some of the issues of Rome and Eastern Orthodoxy, and even some of the areas where they would disagree. To get a copy of Gavin's book, click this link:https://a.co/d/bHtlWPMThis podcast is a ministry of Sovereign Grace Family Churchhttp://www.SGFCJAX.orgThis episode is brought to you by Squirrelly Joe's Coffee and Dominion Wealth Strategists. Get your free bag of coffee at http://www.Squirrellyjoes.com/yourcalvinistAlso, use KEITH in the coupon code for a discount on your next order.Dominion Wealth Strategists http://www.dominionwealthstrategists.comhttp://www.Reformed.Money

Send us a textThe guys kick off this weeks episode addressing a pastor's recent comments about a historic Christian doctrine being "crap theology". In the second half, we explore some of the history and key theological distinctives of the Eastern Orthodox Church. Support the show

Join us for this special introductory livestream where Dr. Camden Bucey offers an accessible first look at Eastern Orthodoxy from a Reformed theological perspective. This session represents only the beginning of our exploration into this tradition. Drawing from leading introductory texts—including works by Andrew Louth, Timothy Ware, Anthony Coniaris, and Frederica Mathewes-Green—Camden will guide us through the fundamental themes and distinctives of Eastern Orthodox theology and practice. In this initial presentation, we'll examine key doctrines such as Scripture, the Church, the Trinity, and theosis, while also considering the underlying assumptions that shape Orthodox spirituality. What distinguishes Orthodoxy from Protestantism—not just in its answers, but in the questions it asks? This introductory session is designed for: Reformed Christians seeking to understand the profound theological differences between Orthodox and Reformed interpretations of Scripture Those wanting to recognize how Eastern Orthodoxy's foundational assumptions and hermeneutical approaches diverge significantly from Reformed convictions Viewers interested in discerning the substantial distinctions in how these traditions approach authority, salvation, and worship Those who desire to strengthen their grasp of Reformed theology by understanding a tradition that takes significantly different paths on core doctrines Our aim is to begin understanding a historic Christian tradition on its own terms, while also evaluating its claims in light of the confessional Reformed faith. Initial topics we'll introduce: The foundations of Eastern Orthodoxy Orthodox understandings of Scripture and tradition The Trinity: mystery, apophaticism, and communion Theosis and sanctification Authority and conciliarity vs. sola Scriptura Orthodox perspectives on Protestantism and Roman Catholicism Reformed responses to Orthodox claims This livestream serves as an entry point for further exploration. Future sessions will explore these complex theological matters in greater detail. Join us for this engaging first exploration—and come ready to think theologically. Watch on YouTube

Original Publish Date: 5/8/2025 Description: The conclave is over and the prediction markets were dead wrong. In this episode of History of the Papacy, we dive into the fascinating rise of Cardinal Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope. Just days before his election, he barely registered in the prediction markets. So how did he win in less than five ballots? We explore how these markets work, why they usually get things right, and why the conclave is one place where money can’t predict the Holy Spirit. Support the show: Buy me a coffee! https://buymeacoffee.com/historyofthepapacy Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/historyofthepapacy Buy me a book! https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1MUPNYEU65NTF Have questions, comments or feedback? Here are ways to contact me: Email Us: steve@atozhistorypage.com https://www.atozhistorypage.com/podcast Music Provided by: "Sonatina in C Minor" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) "Funeral March for Brass" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) "Crusade Heavy Perfect Loop" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Agnus Dei X - Bitter Suite Kevin MacLeaod (incomptech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Begin Transcript: [00:00:00] Welcome back to the History of the Papacy Podcast, a podcast about the Popes of Rome and Christian Church. Prepare yourself to step behind the ropes and leave the official tour of the story of the Popes and Christianity. I am your host, Steve Gura, and I thank you for joining me on this journey. Hey everybody, it's Steve here. I recorded this episode about, uh, maybe two days ago, and a lot has changed since that recording. We do have a new Pope, Pope Leo the 14th, who was former Cardinal. Robert Prevost, who is the [00:01:00] first American Pope, or who is the first American pope. We'll get into a lot of the details about this future Pope. We'll probably do an episode on this Cardinal Prevost, where he came from. There's a lot of interest. Details with his life. We probably won't get into a tremendous amount of detail because there's just so much new information coming out about him, but related to this episode that I recorded before, and I think this, this, uh, you should definitely hang on all the way to the end because it's so interesting. This whole episode was based around the prediction markets around who would be Pope, and I said it in this episode and I've said it many times. Prediction markets are very accurate in some ways, but I think that it was very inaccurate with this current Pope and just it would be inaccurate with Popes in general because it's such a unique election and that the only data points are the [00:02:00] 140 cardinals who go in, or the X amount of Cardinals will say in future conclaves. And we just don't know what the politics are. We don't a hundred percent know what the politics are going in, and we know. Basically 0% of what political machinations went on in that enclave. It must have been fascinating because of how quickly they came up with him. It was less than five ballots to get Cardinal Privos to become Pope Leo the 14th. It's one of the shortest conclaves of all times, only two days to get white smoke. So I think that that is fascinating. So definitely keep listening and let's see a little bit of how these markets worked. I'll just say that going in Cardinal Perlin was up. To 67% and Prevost was [00:03:00] pretty low down there. I don't even think he was on my uh, radar at all. He was on the poly market in the under 5%. So this will be definitely an interesting pay papacy to watch out for with this young pope, relatively young, not super young. 69 for an elected leader or of any sort or stripe in this era. That's young. So let's, let's check out and think a little bit more about these markets today. I'm going to address some of the top contenders for the, uh, next Pope. I'm not gonna get too much into the, the detail of each of these Cardinals, because again, there's 140 of them. All of them are in play as. To be the next Pope. So what I'm gonna do is I'm gonna take a little different tack than our friends over at Pontax or Popular History. Definitely tune [00:04:00] into both of them because they are doing continued coverage as well. Way I'm going to look at it today is I wanna look at some of the, what are these cardinals who are meeting in conclave looking for in the next Pope? And then what I'm also going to look at is. The poly market prediction. Market website. And what the poly market is, is people literally put their money where their mouth is. They put um, I guess what you might call wagers or their maybe investing in their own money on who they, the next Pope is. Honestly, they don't, most of these people, they're not gonna have any more insider information than you or I do. They're just predicting who they think the next Pope is. And what I think is valuable about poly market is this was more, this website was more accurate in the 2024 [00:05:00] presidential election than any of the polling and generally. Poly market is very accurate, especially as it gets closer and closer to the actual events, the more accurate it becomes. Again, there's some problems with the, the nature of. The conclave process because once they're in conclave, these 140 cardinals, a lot of politics breaks down when they're face to face and they're horse trading inside of the inside of the conclave. Somebody could be up, up, up, up, up in the ballots, but they're just not hitting that number, and then the whole conclave starts to switch and they could. Do a 180 turn that person who on the first initial ballots could have been the top contender, and then they start to lose steam and it [00:06:00] starts swinging towards somebody else. That can very easily happen when these popes. When these cardinals are on lockdown, could this be a quick conclave or could it be a long, drawn, drawn out affair? We just don't know at this time. Now, before we get too far into the actual, who's the, who are our top contenders? As on poly market. Let's talk a little bit about what these cardinals are actually looking for and what are some of the, the factors at play. This, it really is the, the chest, the 3D chest, the five D chest, if you will, of a conclave. What, what some of the factors that they're looking for is regionality. Is it going to be somebody from Europe inside of Europe? Is it an, is it an Italian or a Southern European versus the [00:07:00] Germans who have a really powerful block? Is it, are they looking? Are they looking for somebody who is. Theologically driven from a certain bent. Are they a moderate theologically? Are they liberal? Are they conservative? Are they a moderate conservative or liberal politically? And that politically charged moderate tism or liberalism or conservatism can very much change whether they are depending based on what region they're from. And then another factor, of course, is the. The person's age, are they looking for a pope that is younger or older? Are they looking for somebody who could be a placeholder? Fra? Pope Francis was Pope for a long time. He made a lot of changes. Are they looking for that cardinal? Who will become Pope, who's gonna be pretty much status quo? Are they gonna be a [00:08:00] Francis site, so to speak and continue his. Reforms and his changes and his policies, or are they going to look for somebody who's Auntie Francis, who's gonna go back on a lot of the things that he's done? Then there's the, it's sort of the X factor. Most of the popes who are real contenders are, uh, are all Latin, meaning that they're Roman. Roman and they're vet. But there's also this, uh. The so-called Sury Juris or Sury juris churches that are self-governing autonomous churches within the Roman Catholic Church. They're generally, uh, on the outside they would look like an Eastern Orthodox or an Oriental Orthodox, but they're not in communion with the Orientals or the. Or the Eastern Orthodox, but externally they look like them and [00:09:00] they have a lot of the same theological bents. None of these guys are really in the running, but it, it could be interesting that they wind up going with one of these. It's kind of an a way outsider possibility, but it's not. Impossible. So let's just talk about region quickly. Regions, we have the United States, we have South America, Europe. Then Africa and the East China and, uh, China really being the, that 800 pound gorilla in the room, generally speaking, the I. African cardinals are much more theologically conservative than maybe your European cardinals. You've got South America who many of their cardinals are much more. [00:10:00] Liberal politically and liberal, more liberal on the theological bent America, a real mixed bag. You have some very conservatively political and conservatively theological cardinals mixed in with some very liberal on both political and theological. Issues Europe. Again, a a mixed bag, but generally more liberal theologically and a mixture of liberal conserv or conservative politically. Now talking about theologically, you have your conservatives, your liberals, and your moderates, and your moderates. It's not like they're 50 50. A lot of times they don't have a a, they haven't drawn stark lines either liberal or conservative, or they do [00:11:00] have a mixed bag of both opinions. I. As far as somebody liberally, theologically, they're gonna be people who are more for remarriage, which was always a big no-no in the, uh, in the Catholic church where if you got divorced and you're not. You haven't been, your marriage wasn't a nulled in an official church capacity. These people, people, these laypeople who were married and divorced, were not allowed to get communion. They were essentially ex-communicated. So there's a lot of cardinals who wanna liberalize that. You have liberals who want to be ecumenical, meaning they wanna have strong ties and maybe even form communion again with some of the Protestant groups or some of the Eastern Orthodox and I. Oriental Orthodox [00:12:00] churches, they want much tighter, much tighter connections with these other churches that are not in communion with Rome. Conservatively, uh minded Cardinals want to be much stricter on those issues and they don't wanna. Necessarily have stronger ecumenical relationships with the other churches, or if the other churches wanna have relations with the Catholic church, they're gonna have to become Catholic and fall in line with Catholic Church dogmas. There's this big issue of the ordination of women. Liberals are leaning more towards the ordination of women. Maybe not full, full-blown priests, but maybe women, deacons. The conservatives are really against that. Then you have the issue of the Latin mass and the Latin mass is a. Huge [00:13:00] issue. Pope Francis the co, the Council of Vatican ii, all the way back in the sixties kind of dialed back and went back on the traditional Latin mass. And what we should really just say is the traditional Latin mass is not just saying the mass in Latin. There's a whole. Environment around that, where the people who are into the traditional Latin mass have certain political views, certain theological views. Popes later on, after Vatican two started to give the Latin mass a little bit more consideration. John Paul two light loosened up and allowed more groups to do this Latin mass. And then Pope Benedict. Loosened it a lot more, but Pope Francis really pulled back the reigns on how much the Latin mass was allowed and he fairly much banded except for certain groups and [00:14:00] certain circumstances. Hey, Steve here. If you're enjoying the history of the Papacy podcast joining us. On Patreon at patreon.com/history, ofthe papacy, we're working toward going completely listener funded, which means no more ads ever. When you join, you get early access to episodes, monthly book giveaways, and most importantly, your name is added to the history of the papacy dip. Dicks our own list of commemorated supporters. You can become an Antioch level supporter. For just $3 per month, but it makes a huge difference to making the history of the papacy ad-free and independent. Nobody likes ads, not you, not me, and I'm the guy who records them, so let's just give rid of them. Visit patreon.com/history of the papacy and join [00:15:00] today. Now, politically speaking, that's a whole different ball of wax. Like I said, regionally that's gonna change a lot because a conservative in Europe is going to look a lot different than, uh, conservative from say, the United States and what they believe in. Another big issue is on abortion, generally speaking. Abortion is an ex communicatable offense. If somebody gets an abortion, you're out and there's not a lot of options to get back in. You're more liberally inclined. Uh, pres and Cardinals would be willing to give people who have women who have had an abortion an option to get back into the church. Then we have this age issue, and age is very, it can be complicated because. Popes do not have to resign. [00:16:00] So you a, a cardinal could be right on the cusp of nine, uh, that 80-year-old of where they're no longer payable, but that cardinal could be 79 and 364 days old. Get elected Pope and still have good 10 years or more left in them and could still make a lot of changes. But then again, you have Cardinals who are in their fifties. They could have a 20 year reign no problem, and be very transformative. You could have a cardinal get picked who's very administrative minded and doesn't wanna make these big changes and all these different issues that are at play. There's just, we're talking about. Each, each single category that I've laid out, four, four different, five different categories, that they could be all over the place on these and inside of the conclave. They could be looking for somebody who's a little bit [00:17:00] of this, a little bit of that. It could just get down to the fact that as the, as the ballots start rolling out. They could go to somebody all together who's not any of these, and the cardinals could go for somebody who's in a way, opposed to them on many of the issues just because of way, the way this balloting inside of the conclave breaks down. There's probably going to be a lot of impetus for them to make it a, a conclave short. Like just let's boom, boom, boom and get it done with. There could be, but they could also get drawn out and it could take months. We just don't know. Pope Francis was a very quick conclave, not many ballots, but that doesn't necessarily mean the way it, it could play out in this current enclave. There's just so, so many factors at play. Then the, there's the, also the issue, a big issue [00:18:00] that in a lot of ways Pope Francis pun punted on, he talked a big game, but he didn't do much with the huge issue of the child sex abuse scandal. That's really been rocking the church since the sixties, but it's really played out during Francis' Reign. And Francis in Word took a very hard line, but then he didn't do much. And a lot of cardinals who are in sitting in conclave right now have very questionable backgrounds on what they, they actually did to fight against this. Major, major scandal. They, uh, some of the cardinals were very loose on who they were, who they clamped down on of priests that were known to have been essentially predators, and some cardinals came down hard on them.[00:19:00] Just another issue at hand. Now getting into who were the really, the guys who are in the top on Poly Market. We have Pietro Parlin. He's the top contender right now by far on Poly Market. He is. Coming in at 29% chance there's over a million dollars in play at his, uh, election. You can buy a, a share in Cardinal Parlin at uh, 29 cents us. He's youngish at 70 years old. He's an Italian, he's all of these cardinals. Uh, the thing you can really say is that they're all insiders. They all have top jobs. They are top, um, they're really ingrained into the, the whole. [00:20:00] Administration of the church. You can't really be a cardinal without doing that. He is the Cardinal Bishop of Santi, Simon, uh, GI Angela. As his, um, official post, he's also a member of the Council of Cardinal Advisors, and he's had a bunch of jobs. He was consecrated. He's actually one of the rare, uh, cardinals that was put in place by Pope. Uh. Pope Benedict. So he's been a, he's been around, even though he is only 70 years old. Most of the, of the vast majority of the Cardinals were actually appointed by Francis at this point. So this Pietro Harlene, he is definitely one to keep your eye on. Steve here with a quick word from our sponsors. The next one on the list [00:21:00] is coming in at 18% with, um, a, a well over $1.1 million in volume trading volume. So he's being heavily traded. Is Luis San Antonio Tagle and he is a Filipino. Uh, Cardinal. He seems to lean a little bit more on the theologically and politically liberal side, just from, you know, real broad strokes. And he is very young coming in at 67 years old and he's a. Probably, uh uh, what you could really call is a Francis site, and I think if he became Pope, he would definitely continue Francis' reforms and Francis' policies going forward. And somebody like him, you could see a easily a 20 year reign out of somebody [00:22:00] like him, maybe 25 year reign, somebody who's only 67 years old. Then we have coming in just a few percent lower Mateo Zui. He is coming in at about eight, $800,000 in volume on poly market. He's another Italian. He's a, uh, straight from Rome again. Young at 69 years of age. He's, uh, he's the bishop of Bologna, which is a powerful Italian episcopate. Again, I mean, these guys, they're, uh, they're, every single one of the, the top contenders resumes are totally, totally. Insiders, uh, inside of the, the papal, the curia, and the administrative arm of the papacy. [00:23:00] He's definitely another liberal who, uh, on political issues for sure. And again, he's another one who's probably would very much continue a lot of Francis' policies. Then you have. Coming in at 9%. So these top four that I've mentioned, they are, they're taking up about 70% of poly market. Turkson is an African Pope, or he's a African Cardinal Archbishop of Cape Coast in Africa Again. Full resume of all these jobs inside of the curia. A lot of these, uh, it, it's very interesting amongst the African Cardinals. Uh, Cardinal Syrah is another one who, uh, he's a little bit lower on the list only coming in at 3%. Where to Turin [00:24:00] is in at 9%, but with a lot of trading volume of over a million dollars. In volume. The African cardinals are of particular note because they are, the Catholicism is just exploding in Africa and it's bringing in a lot of, uh. New converts who are converting from either different Protestant groups or from the Native African religions, but they're, they're bringing in a lot, a lot of new, new converts. So that's something to watch because you're really in a, uh, an, an expansion mode. So they have to make certain compromises with native. Internal politics in Africa as well as the particular needs of these, the, these new groups of people who are coming into the church [00:25:00] who. Have their own beliefs, but are with an evangelistic faith. Some are, when they become Catholics, they're going to be very much, they wanna follow the letter of the law, but also they have their own thoughts on issues. I. And because they are growing so much, they're a force to be reckoned with. And I think that it's not impossible that they could go with an African cardinal just because this is such a powerful and growing block. And then the last Pope coming in at, or the last PO potential Pope is Pierre Batista Pizza Ball, who is an Italian again. He's leaning in. He's leaning in some ways towards the conservatives, but also the liberals. He is kind of a moderate. But he's really big into interfaith dialogue or ecumenical relationships between the different churches. Now, [00:26:00] another huge issue that I didn't mention is where cardinals are falling on some of the big hot button issues and. Two of the big hot button international issues in 2025 is the UK Russo Ukrainian War, which really pits in a lot of ways Catholicism versus Eastern Orthodoxy because there's, wow. We could get into a lot of issues here. Western Ukraine is largely Roman Catholic. Eastern Ukraine is largely amongst, especially amongst the Russian population. Russian Orthodox with deep, deep, deep ties to the Russian Orthodox Church under the patriarch Cial. Then in the middle, stuck in the middle are the what the Eastern Orthodox will call uni eights. But, [00:27:00] um, they're these, uh, the self-governing. Churches that would on the outside look Eastern Orthodox, but are actually in communion with Rome and they're stuck in the middle. But then you also have Eastern Orthodox who are a part of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church that's split away from the Russian Orthodox Church. They're accepted by some Eastern Orthodox but not accepted by the Russian Orthodox, so that's a huge issue going on. The popes of Rome have been sort of leaning more towards the, the breakaway Ukrainian Orthodox Church and against the Russian. Orthodox church inside of Ukraine. Huge political issue. Then you have the whole fight in the war that's currently going on in Gaza. [00:28:00] Now, that mostly focuses mu, most of the Gazen, uh, people are Muslim, but there's a significant Christian population and many of them are tied to the Eastern Orthodox Church. So beyond the religious issues, there's also the humanitarian issues for the Muslims and the Christians inside of Gaza. All issues that we're gonna have to look at, that we look at, uh, as outsiders not sitting inside of the conclave issues that. Many Catholics find very important to them, be it, uh, revolving around the Russo Ukrainian war and the war that's currently going inside of Gaza. Very important to many people in sitting inside of that conclave, the cardinals and the priest's laity, everybody who's outside of the conclave, [00:29:00] all issues that. Uh, we should be looking at and thinking about, and that these cardinals will certainly be looking at. So this is my little take on what to look for in the conclave, and definitely send in your comments and look for more. Coverage of conclave of 2025 coming up soon. I will talk to you next time. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Not that long ago many church-going Americans saw Russia as a godless place, an “evil empire” in the words of Ronald Reagan. But in President Trump's second term, US-Russia relations have been turned on their head. The White House sided with the Kremlin at the United Nations, voting against a resolution to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine.This seismic shift is also being felt in parishes across America. Increasing numbers of US Catholics and Protestants are embracing Eastern Orthodoxy. Many converts disillusioned by the showbiz elements in many megachurches, say they are drawn to a faith with enduring traditions. Some, uneasy with social and demographic change, believe the churches they were raised in have lost their authority by going “woke” – shorthand for supporting equal marriage, female clergy, pro-choice, Black Lives Matter and other liberal issues.Some converts have hundreds of thousands of followers online, and push Kremlin narratives that Russia is the world's last bastion of true Christianity - a few of the most radical have even emigrated there. Lucy Ash has been to Texas – one of the most religious states in the US – to meet some new converts.

While Catholicism and Orthodoxy share deep roots, key differences remain—especially on authority. We explore one of the most compelling arguments against Orthodoxy and also touch on Catholic miracles, lost apostolic letters, and starting fruitful Bible studies with Protestants. Join The CA Live Club Newsletter: Click Here Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com Questions Covered: 03:13 – Why should we read the apocryphal books? 06:53 – Why does Genesis specify the building material in the building of the tower of babel? 11:49 – Suppose the letter of Paul to the Athenians is found, would it be considered scripture? 18:57 – Why does it seem like there’s not a lot of evidence for Catholic miracles? 28:56 – What is the best argument against Orthodoxy? 35:08 – I'm starting a bible study with protestants. What can I do for them to be open to it? 42:47 – I'm reverting to Catholicism. My in-laws are very anti-Catholic. How should I approach them? Could you expand on your comments on Matt Fradd's show about intelligent life on other planets and how Christ' sacrifice would apply to them? 52:31 – What are your thoughts on the AI Confessional in Europe?