Crash Course Catholicism
Crash Course Catholicism
A summary of the teachings of the Catholic Church, given to you in short, easy-to-digest episodes, uploaded fortnightly.
- 29 minutes 11 seconds105 - St. John Henry Newman
Cardinal St John Henry Newman is a Catholic saint who lived in the nineteenth century and was canonised in 2019. In November 2025, he was officially declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Leo XIV. This is a title held by only 38 saints in the entire history of the church, and it is given to those whose writings are of benefit to the whole church.
John Henry Newman was an Anglican priest and Oxford academic who converted to Catholicism and was eventually made a cardinal. He is one of the most significant Catholic figures of the nineteenth century, known for his academic brilliance and his personal holiness.
In today's episode, we discuss the life of this incredible saint.
This podcast relies 100% on the generosity of listeners. If you have found these episodes helpful and would like to support the future of Crash Course Catholicism, please consider donating via the following links:
Donate via PayPal
Support us on Patreon!
Contact the podcast: www.caitlinwest.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/
References and further reading/listening/viewing:
The Newman Reader - Works of John Henry Newman
St. John Henry Newman:
"Conscience", from A Letter Addressed to the Duke of Norfolk
The "Biglietto Speech"
Philip Boyce, "Newman's Reception into the Catholic church"
Bishop Robert Barron:
Bishop Barron Q&A on St. John Henry Newman’s Life, Theology, and Books
Bishop Barron on St. John Henry Newman: Beyond the Left and the Right
Celebrating St. John Henry Newman Becoming a Doctor of the Church
Dr Scott Hahn on Newman's conversion
Cardinal Newman's Legacy | Scott Hahn w/ Jeff Morrow
St. John Henry Newman: Meeting the Challenges of Modernity
EWTN:
St. John Henry Newman: From Anglican to Saint Cardinal
Focus: The Life and Legacy of John Henry Cardinal Newman
The Life of Saint John Henry Newman: From Anglican Priest to Catholic Saint
Discover the life of St. John Henry Newman to-be Doctor of the Church
8 December 2025, 11:28 pm - 33 minutes 16 seconds104 - Common Questions about the Bible Pt. 3
FINAL EPISODE OF THE DEEP DIVE LET'S GOOOO
In this episode, we consider common moral problems that people encounter when they read the Bible. Why does the God of the Old Testament seem so angry and cruel, while Jesus seems merciful and loving? Why does God give such harsh punishments to people in the Old Testament? Does the Bible condone things like slavery and genocide? What about all those people who do terrible things in the Bible?
Basically just a few really easy simple questions that aren't at all controversial, you're welcome.
This podcast relies 100% on the generosity of listeners. If you have found these episodes helpful and would like to support the future of Crash Course Catholicism, please consider donating via the following links:
Donate via PayPal
Support us on Patreon!
Contact the podcast: www.caitlinwest.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/
References and further reading/listening/viewing:
Matthew 22:37-40
Isaiah 13:9
2 Kings 13
Joshua 11:8-9
The Catechism of the Catholic Church, pts. 42, 53
Trent Horn, Hard Sayings
Jimmy Akin, Genocide in the Bible
Joe Heschmeyer, Did God Command Genocide in the Old Testament?
The Bible in a Year, Day 32: Cattle, Boils, and Hail
Catholic Answers:
Does the Bible Support Slavery?
Pope Benedict XVI: God and the World: Believing and Living in Our Time
The Catholic Encyclopedie, Slavery and Christianity
Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae, II.i, Q.79
Fr Mike Schmitz:
Old Testament God vs. New Testament God
Pints With Aquinas, The Problem of Violence in The Old Testament? /W Trent Horn
Bishop Robert Barron, Understanding Violence in the Old Testament
Breaking In The Habit, Why is God so Angry in the Old Testament?
27 November 2025, 9:17 pm - 27 minutes 34 seconds103 - Common Questions about the Bible Pt. 2
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What should we do about all those apparent historical and scientific inaccuracies in the Bible? Like Genesis telling us the world was made in seven days, or that there was a flood that covered the whole earth, or that Jonah survived in the belly of a whale for three days?
And what about contradictions within the Bible? Why do some of the Gospel writers recount events differently? Do these discrepancies undermine the reliability of the Bible?
In this episode, we continue our discussion of common questions about the Bible.
This podcast relies 100% on the generosity of listeners. If you have found these episodes helpful and would like to support the future of Crash Course Catholicism, please consider donating via the following links:
Donate via PayPal
Support us on Patreon!
Contact the podcast: www.caitlinwest.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/
References and further reading/listening/viewing:
- The Catholic of the Catholic Church, pts. 112 and 2290
- Trent Horn, Hard Sayings
- Vatican II, Dei Verbum
- Pope Leo XIII, Providentissimus Deus
- Catholic Answers:
- How to Resolve Alleged Gospel Contradictions
- Jimmy Akin: Your Bible Questions - Catholic Answers Live
- Jimmy Akin:
- History As the Ancients Wrote It—Part I
- History As the Ancients Wrote It—Part II
- Pints With Aquinas:
- The Right Way to Read Holy Scripture (Dr. John Bergsma)
- Mind-Blowing Bible Study (Dr. Scott Hahn)
- Your Bible Questions Answered (Dr. John Bergsma)
- Peter Kreeft, The Bible: Myth or History
- Ascension Presents:
- Internet's Most Asked Questions about the Bible (w/ Jeff Cavins)
- How Can the Church Say the Bible Is without Error?
- Tim Gray and Jeff Cavins, Walking With God: A Journey through the Bible
12 November 2025, 10:26 am - 30 minutes 21 seconds102 - Common Questions about the Bible Pt. 1
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How did the Church decide which books to include in the Bible? Why are Catholic Bibles bigger than Protestant Bibles? Should we read the Old Testament? How do I read the Bible?
In this episode, we continue our deep dive into the Bible by addressing common questions about the Bible.
This podcast relies 100% on the generosity of listeners. If you have found these episodes helpful and would like to support the future of Crash Course Catholicism, please consider donating via the following links:
Donate via PayPal
Support us on Patreon!
Contact the podcast: [email protected].
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/
References and further reading/listening/viewing:
- CCC, pts 120-130
- Vatican II, Dei Verbum
- Universalis, Daily Mass Readings
- The Bible in a Year Reading Plan
- Scott Hahn, Catholic Bible Dictionary
- Dr. John Bergsma, "Why are Catholic Bibles Bigger than Protestant Bibles?"
- Catholic Answers, Who Compiled the Bible and When?
- Canon of Scripture: What criteria did the early Christians use to determine
- What were the criteria for determining the books of the Bible?
- Protestantism’s Old Testament Problem
- Scripture and Tradition
- Did Catholics Add 7 Books to the Bible? Or Did Protestants Remove Them?
- Trent Horn, Why are Protestant Bibles Smaller?
- Jimmy Akin, The Bible is a Catholic Book
- Shameless Popery, How were the books of the Bible decided?
- Gary Michuta, Why Catholic Bibles are Bigger
- Matt Fradd, Why Catholic Bibles are Bigger
- Catholic Encyclopedia, Canon of the New Testament
- Septuagint Version
- Aleteia, What is the Septuagint and why is it important?
- Ascension, How the New Testament Canon was Chosen
28 October 2025, 10:00 pm - 24 minutes 42 seconds101 - The Books of the Bible: The New Testament Pt. 3
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In this episode, we conclude our overview of the Bible by looking at the 7 catholic epistles, and the book of Revelation.
The aim of these episodes is to provide us with a bird's-eye view of the whole Bible, to help equip us to begin reading it, or to read it more deeply.
In this episode, we'll look at the following books:
- Hebrews
- James
- 1 and 2 Peter
- 1, 2, and 3 John
- Jude
- Revelation
This podcast relies 100% on the generosity of listeners. If you have found these episodes helpful and would like to support the future of Crash Course Catholicism, please consider donating via the following links:
Donate via PayPal
Support us on Patreon!
Contact the podcast: [email protected].
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/
References and further reading/listening/viewing:
Peter Kreeft, You Can Understand the Bible
Scott Hahn, Catholic Bible Dictionary
USCCB, Books of the Bible
The Catholic Encyclopedia:
Catholic Answers:
Letter Writing in the Ancient World
30 September 2025, 10:00 pm - 27 minutes 39 seconds100 - The Books of the Bible: The New Testament Pt. 2
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GUYS IT'S OUR 100TH EPISODE!!!
In this episode, we continue our overview of the Bible by looking at the 13 Pauline Epistles. We consider when each letter was written and why, and what its key aims and themes are.
The aim of these episodes is to provide us with a bird's-eye view of the whole Bible, to help equip us to begin reading it, or to read it more deeply.
In this episode, we'll look at the following books:
- Romans
- 1 Corinthians
- 2 Corinthians
- Galatians
- Ephesians
- Philippians
- Colossians
- 1 Thessalonians
- 2 Thessalonians
- 1 Timothy
- 2 Timothy
- Titus
- Philemon
This podcast relies 100% on the generosity of listeners. If you have found these episodes helpful and would like to support the future of Crash Course Catholicism, please consider donating via the following links:
Donate via PayPal
Support us on Patreon!
Contact the podcast: [email protected].
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/
References and further reading/listening/viewing:
Peter Kreeft, You Can Understand the Bible
Scott Hahn, Catholic Bible Dictionary
USCCB, Books of the Bible
The Catholic Encyclopedia:
Catholic Answers:
Letter Writing in the Ancient World
The Letters to the Corinthians
Augustine Institute: Introduction to St. Paul
16 September 2025, 10:00 pm - 27 minutes 50 seconds99 - The Books of the Bible: The New Testament Pt. 1
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In this episode, we continue our overview of the Bible by looking at the first five books of the New Testament: The Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. We consider who wrote each book, when it was written, and what its key aims and themes are.
The aim of these episodes is to provide us with a bird's-eye view of the whole Bible, to help equip us to begin reading it, or to read it more deeply.
In this episode, we'll look at the following books:
The Gospel of Matthew
The Gospel of Mark
The Gospel of Luke
The Gospel of John
The Acts of the Apostles
This podcast relies 100% on the generosity of listeners. If you have found these episodes helpful and would like to support the future of Crash Course Catholicism, please consider donating via the following links:
Donate via PayPal
Support us on Patreon!
Contact the podcast: [email protected].
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/
References and further reading/listening/viewing:
Jesús Gil, Joseángel Domínguez, Bible Portico
Scott Hahn, The Catholic Bible Dictionary
Peter Kreeft, You Can Understand the Bible
USCCB, Books of the Bible
The Bible in a Year:
Catholic Answers:
The Gospel According to Matthew
The Catholic Encyclopedia:
Tim Gray, How to Read the Acts of the Apostles
Dr Regis Martin, A New Way To Read John's Gospel
Dr John Bergsma, Everything You Need to Know About St. Matthew (and His Gospel)
The Augustine Institute, The Gospel of Matthew (Part 1)
2 September 2025, 10:00 pm - 1 hour 24 minutesBONUS - From Protestant to Catholic w/ Tim Hutchinson
In this episode, we take a brief intermission from our Bible deep dive to chat with Tim Hutchinson, a convert from Protestantism to Catholicism. Tim grew up in a vibrant Evangelical Christian community where he learned to love God and the Bible deeply. But one question kept troubling him: why are Protestant denominations so divided? Surely the Church Jesus founded wasn’t meant to be so fractured. For years, he found no answer to his question, until one unexpected comment at a party struck him like lightning and set him on a journey that led him home to the Catholic Church.
In this conversation, Tim shares the joys and struggles of his conversion and the discoveries that he made along the way.
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Support us on Patreon!
Contact the podcast: [email protected].
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/
References and further reading/listening/viewing:
19 August 2025, 10:00 pm - 37 minutes 40 seconds98 - The Books of the Bible: The Old Testament Pt. 2
In this episode, we continue our overview of the books of the Old Testament. We discuss the Wisdom books and the Prophetic books, and consider what each book is about, who wrote it, when it was written, and what its key themes are.
The aim of these episodes is to provide us with a bird's-eye view of the whole Bible, to help equip us to begin reading it, or to read it more deeply.
In this episode, we'll look at the following books:
THE WISDOM BOOKS
- Job
- Psalms
- Proverbs
- Ecclesiastes
- Song of Songs
- Wisdom
- Sirach
THE PROPHETIC BOOKS
- Isaiah
- Jeremiah
- Lamentations
- Baruch
- Ezekiel
- Daniel
- Hosea
- Joel
- Amos
- Obadiah
- Jonah
- Micah
- Nahum
- Habakkuk
- Zephaniah
- Haggai
- Zechariah
- Malachi
Donate via PayPal
Support us on Patreon!
Contact the podcast: [email protected].
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/
References and further reading/listening/viewing:
- The Bible (New Revised Catholic Edition)
- The Great Adventure Catholic Bible
- USCCB, The Books of the Bible
- Pope Pius XII, Humani Generis
- Scott Hahn, Biblical Resources: Old Testament
- Vatican II, Dei Verbum
- Peter Kreeft, You Can Understand the Bible
- The Council of Trent, Decree Concerning the Canonical Scriptures
- The Bible in 10 Minutes (feat. Fr. Mike Schmitz)
- Catholic Answers:
- The Old Testament Isn't Strict History
- Catholics Need to Read Their Bibles
- The Book of Job
- The Books of the Twelve Minor Prophets
- How Do We Know the Old Testament Prophets Weren’t Lying?
- The Book of Isaiah
- The Book of Jeremiah
- The Book of Proverbs
- Christopher West, What Is The Song of Songs Doing in the Bible?
- The Catholic Encyclopedia:
- Old Testament
- Job
- Prophecy, Prophet, and Prophetess
- Book of Daniel
- Proverbs
- Ecclesiastes
- Ecclesiasticus
- Jimmy Akin:
- How to Understand Old Testament Prophecy
- History as the Ancients Wrote It
- How Ancient Authors Wrote
- The Bible in a Year: Day 16: The Suffering of Job
- Catholic Central: Prophets
- Ascension, The Bible Timeline Chart
5 August 2025, 11:02 pm - 38 minutes 41 seconds97 - The Books of the Bible: The Old Testament Pt. 1
Welcome to the books of the Bible!
In these next few episodes, we'll go through all 73 (!!) books of the Bible - both the Old Testament and the New Testament. We'll briefly summarise each book, and discuss what it's about, what its key themes are, and where it sits in the Bible and the broader narrative of salvation history.
The aim of these episodes is to provide us with a bird's-eye view of the whole Bible, to help equip us to begin reading it, or to read it more deeply.
In this episode, we'll look at the following books:
THE PENTATEUCH
- Genesis
- Exodus
- Leviticus
- Numbers
- Deuteronomy
THE HISTORICAL BOOKS
- Joshua
- Judges
- Ruth
- 1 and 2 Samuel
- 1 and 2 Kings
- 1 and 2 Chronicles
- Ezra
- Nehemiah
- Tobit
- Judith
- Esther
- 1 and 2 Maccabees.
STRAP IN FOLKS HERE WE GO
Donate via PayPal
Support us on Patreon!
Contact the podcast: [email protected].
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/
References and further reading/listening/viewing:
- The Bible (New Revised Catholic Edition)
- The Great Adventure Catholic Bible
- USCCB, The Books of the Bible
- Pope Pius XII, Humani Generis
- Peter Kreeft, You Can Understand the Bible
- The Council of Trent, Decree Concerning the Canonical Scriptures
- The Bible in 10 Minutes (feat. Fr. Mike Schmitz)
- St Paul Centre, How to Approach the Bible
- Catholic Answers:
- The Old Testament Isn't Strict History
- Is Genesis Authentic History?
- What Do the Days in Genesis Mean?
- Catholics Need to Read Their Bibles
- Judith and Esther
- The Catholic Encyclopedia:
- Old Testament
- Pentateuch
- Jimmy Akin:
- History as the Ancients Wrote It
- How Ancient Authors Wrote
23 July 2025, 2:00 pm - 29 minutes 12 seconds96 - Introduction to the Bible
What is the Bible, really, and how do we read it? How can we say that the Bible is both the Word of God and the work of human authors? What should we do when we come across a tricky passage that we don't know how to interpret?
Welcome to our next deep dive! In these next few episodes, we'll unpack some of the most common questions about the Bible, and lay a foundation for how to approach it as Catholics.
Donate via PayPal
Support us on Patreon!
Contact the podcast: [email protected].
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/
References and further reading/listening/viewing:
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, pts. 101-141
- Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation, Dei Verbum
- Benedict XVI, Verbum Domini
- The Catholic Encyclopedia, "Bible"Scott Hahn, Tools for Bible Study
- Mark Shea, The Catholic Weekly:
- The Four Senses of Scripture: The Literal Sense
- The Four Senses of Scripture: The Allegorical Sense
- The Four Senses of Scripture: Part 3 The Moral Sense of Scripture
- The Four Senses of Scripture: Part 4 The Anagogical Sense of Scripture
- Catholic Answers:
- We’re Not a ‘Religion of the Book’One Text, Four Senses
- How to Read the Bible
- How to Read the Bible as a Catholic
- Figuring out the Bible?
- United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Understanding the Bible
- Ascension Presents:
- Ways to Read the Bible
- How to Start Reading the Bible in 10 Steps
- Peter Kreeft, You Can Understand the Bible
- The St Paul Centre
- Bishop Barron, Bishop Barron on How to Read the Bible
- The Great Adventure Bible
- Ignatius Study Bible
- The Navarre Bible
8 July 2025, 1:00 pm - More Episodes? Get the App