Religion & Spirituality

Crash Course Catholicism

by Dr Caitlin West

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Latest episodes

125 - Should Catholics Celebrate Halloween?

October 26, 2026 · 24 min

Is Halloween a pagan festival or a Christian celebration? And is it okay for Catholics to dress up, go trick-or-treating, and celebrate Halloween? In this episode of Crash Course Catholicism, we explore the history and origins of…
Catechism 101: The Kalam Cosmological Argument Explained

October 19, 2026 · 16 min

Has the universe always existed, or did it have a beginning? And if it began to exist, what caused it? In this video, we explore the Kalam Cosmological Argument for the existence of God. The Kalam philosophical argument has its roots in…
124 - Your Body Reveals the Meaning of Life: Theology of the Body Part 5

October 12, 2026 · 29 min

What is the meaning of your life? And how is that meaning revealed through your body? In this episode, we continue our deep dive into St John Paul II's Theology of the Body, exploring one of its most important concepts: the spousal (or…
Catechism 101: The Teleological Argument

October 5, 2026 · 12 min

Why does nature behave in such consistent and purposeful ways? And can this tell us anything about the existence of God? In this final episode of our series on St Thomas Aquinas' Five Ways, we explore his Fifth Way, commonly known as the…
123 - You Were Made for Relationship: Theology of the Body Pt. 4

September 28, 2026 · 28 min

What if needing other people isn't a sign of weakness? What if it's actually part of God's design for the human person? In this episode, we continue our deep dive into St John Paul II's Theology of the Body. We return to Genesis to explore…

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Catechism 101: The Argument from Gradation

September 21, 2026 · 15 min

In this episode, we continue our series on St Thomas Aquinas' Five Ways by exploring his Fourth Way: the Argument from Gradation, or Degree. This is perhaps the most challenging of Aquinas' Five Ways. Beginning with the observation that…
122 - The World Can't Tell You Who You Are: Theology of the Body Pt. 3

September 14, 2026 · 34 min

Who are you when you strip everything else away? Before your job, your relationships, your achievements, and your possessions, what makes you you? JPII argues that the question "Who am I?" is one of the most fundamental human questions…
Catechism 101: The Argument from Contingency

August 31, 2026 · 7 min

In this episode, we continue our series on St Thomas Aquinas' Five Ways by exploring his Third Way: the Argument from Contingency. Aquinas begins with a simple but profound observation: the things we encounter in the world don't have to…
Catechism 101: The Argument from Efficient Causality

August 25, 2026 · 7 min

In this episode, we explore St Thomas Aquinas' Second Way, also known as the Argument from Efficient Causality. This is a classic cosmological argument for the existence of God. Aquinas begins with a simple observation: everything we…
Catechism 101: The Argument from Motion

August 17, 2026 · 13 min

In this episode, we explore St Thomas Aquinas’ First Way, also known as the Argument from Motion. This is one of the most influential philosophical arguments for the existence of God. Building on our introduction to cosmological arguments…
121 - How AI is Changing Warfare | Magnifica Humanitas Part 5

August 9, 2026 · 45 min

How is artificial intelligence changing war, and what does the Catholic Church have to say about it? In the final part of our series on Pope Leo's encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, we explore Chapter 5 and the conclusion of the encyclical…
Catechism 101: The Cosmological Argument for God's Existence

August 2, 2026 · 16 min

How do we know that God exists? Can reason lead us to God? In this episode, we begin a new series exploring one of the most famous arguments for the existence of God: St Thomas Aquinas’ cosmological argument. Before diving into Aquinas’…

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About the show

Catholicism can seem overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. Crash Course Catholicism breaks down the beliefs, traditions, and teachings of the Catholic Church in a way that's thoughtful, accessible, and engaging. The first 50 episodes of this podcast are a summary of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, while later episodes include deep dives into big questions about God, Scripture, Church history, the saints, morality, and the spiritual life. Our aim is to help you build a stronger understanding of the faith without requiring a theology degree. Find out more: https://www.caitlinwest.com