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Polycarp's Paradigm

Eric Robinsonpolycarpsparadigm.com
Uniquely contributing to the conversation on faith and spirituality from the perspective of the Early Church Fathers and a modern-day Catholic convert from Evangelical roots. Support the work here: https://www.patreon.com/polycarpsparadigm
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Episodes

Poly 200 – Finale (for now)

The last episode (for now) of Polycarp's Paradigm! The mission has been fulfilled and it is time to retire the podcast. In this episode Eric parts ways with final thoughts and advice for his listeners. Enjoy!

Aug 10, 202150 min

Poly 197 – Recap: Gospel of John (PolyPat 71)

Pat and Eric finished their commentary on all 21 chapters of the Gospel of John and it is time to summarize the key themes: Jesus is God, Mary's Role as Intercessor and Mother, and the sacramental life of the Church (Baptism & Eucharist), among other themes.

Jul 30, 202133 min

Poly 196 – Together in Holiness: Marriage Enrichment (w/ Arland Nichols)

Arland Nichols is the Founder and President of the St. John Paul II Foundation. "Together in Holiness" is one of their initiatives that provides marriage enrichment to couples. Arland not only speaks to this program, but being a husband and a father of nine children, he gives Eric some great marriage and parenting advice in this episode. https://forlifeandfamily.org/

Jul 27, 202148 min

Poly 194 –The Wisdom of the Word (w/ Dr. Michael Dauphinais)

Dr. Michael Dauphinais, Professor and Chair of Theology at Ave Maria University, helps unpack biblical answers to ten pressing questions about Catholicism. He co-authored a book with Dr. Matthew Levering, "The Wisdom of the Word." Check it out at https://www.wordonfire.org/wisdom/.

Jul 20, 20211 hr 12 min

Poly 192 – NT Letters: Catholic Bible Verses

Salvation is a process. The sacraments and our cooperation with the grace God gives us through them is integral to our salvation. In this episode, we will explore some of the rich Scriptures in the New Testament that underscore Catholic teaching.

Jul 13, 202126 min

Poly 190 – Gospels: Catholic Bible Verses

Jesus speaks about the Church, her sacramental life, and the necessity of following his commands. In this episode we explore different Bible verses from the Gospels that every Catholic should know when in dialogue with others.

Jul 06, 202125 min

Poly 189 – John 18 (PolyPat 67)

The suffering of Christ begins in this chapter with the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus is struck by soldiers, denied by Peter, and condemned as a heretic.

Jul 02, 202127 min

Poly 188 – OT: Catholic Bible Verses

There are specific Bible verses I believe every Catholic should know when speaking with non-Catholics. Going over these verses allows us to see the Scriptural roots of our faith. We begin in this episode with the Old Testament.

Jun 29, 202127 min

Poly 187 – Prime Thinker (PolyPat 66)

If you only believe in that which you can see, taste, touch, smell, or test under a microscope, then how do you begin to grapple with invisible realities like concepts, math, abstractions, etc. If these dimensions are real, then what is their cause? There must be a Prime Thinker, namely God.

Jun 25, 202134 min

Poly 186 – Essays: Visible Unity

Ought all Christians to become Catholic? Most Christians think of Christian unity as a good thing, but oftentimes due to having a differing view of the nature of the Church, they have conflicting views as to what unity looks like. In this episode we explore my essay from "Essays in the Deep" on the necessity for all Christians to be visibly unified in the Catholic Church.

Jun 22, 202128 min

Poly 185 – John 17 (PolyPat 65)

On the eve of Christ’s Passion, Jesus prayed to the Heavenly Father for his disciples, “that they may all be one… so that the world may believe that you have sent me”(Jn 17:21 RSV-2CE ). What kind of unity is Jesus praying for and why? Is this unity only an invisible bond between believers, or is it something more, something both invisible and visible?

Jun 18, 202135 min

Poly 184 – Essays: Protestant Revolt & Catholic Reform

This is my favorite essay from my new book, "Essays in the Deep," which can be found on Amazon.com. In it we discover what true reform is and why the Protestant Reformation was really a revolt against the Church Christ established, the Catholic Church.

Jun 15, 202132 min

Poly 183 – John 16 (PolyPat 64)

Jesus consoles his disciples by reassuring them that it is better for him to leave so the Spirit can come to them who will guide them into all truth. Oftentimes we think of this individually, rather than collectively for the Church. Pat and I unpack this passage and much more in John 16.

Jun 11, 202134 min

Poly 182 – Essays: Jesus & His Resurrection

Christ is clearly portrayed as divine in the latest written Gospel, the Gospel of John, but what about the earlier Gospels? Did the early Christians just have hallucinations of a bodily resurrection and then make the man Jesus into a divine being? Or did the resurrection actually happen and Christ was shown to be divine from the beginning? Eric's new book: "Essays in the Deep"

Jun 08, 202143 min

Poly 181 – John 15 (PolyPat 63)

We must abide in Christ as a branch remains on the vine, or else we will not bear fruit and be cut off. How do we abide in Christ?

Jun 04, 202138 min

Poly 180 – Authentic Liturgical Renewal (w/ Adam Bartlett) (PolyPat 62)

Currently, there is a movement going on in the Catholic Church regarding authentic renewal of the liturgy. Adam Bartlett, founder of Source & Summit, shares with Eric and Pat his personal journey with the liturgy and explains what this authentic liturgical renewal looks like, the role of music in the liturgy, and why it is essential for the new evangelization. The liturgy is the source and summit of the Christian life. In the liturgy we get to participate in the heavenly liturgy, give perfec...

Jun 01, 202150 min

Poly 179 – Worshipping Mary or Venerating God? (PolyPat 61)

Protestants sometimes accuse Catholics of worshipping Mary, but perhaps the problem is that there is a misunderstanding of what true worship really is. Worship involves sacrifice, the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross made present to us in the Eucharist. So, perhaps the problem is not that Catholics worship Mary, because they don't, but that Protestants do not worship God is the fullest sense of that word since they lack the sacrifice of the Mass.

May 28, 202131 min

Poly 177 – John 14 (PolyPat 60)

In John 14 we hear Jesus say, "I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father, but by me." What does this mean? Is Jesus being exclusive? Jesus then promises the gift of the Holy Spirit while commanding us to love as he loves. The Holy Trinity will come and make a home in our hearts.

May 21, 202127 min

Poly 176 – Essays: Contraception, Abortion, Transgenderism

What is the root problem of contraception? How has contraception led to the great evil of abortion? What is the undercurrent of the transgender movement? These are some of the questions I explore in this episode through my new book, "Essays in the Deep."

May 18, 202149 min

Poly 175 – John 13 (PolyPat 59)

Jesus washes our feet; Satan enters Judas; John has his head on the heart of Jesus; and Peter is prophesied to deny his Lord. John 13... here we go!

May 14, 202133 min

Poly 174 – Essays: Unity of Faith, Philosophy, & Science (PolyPat 58)

There are no contradictions between faith, philosophy, and science. A false dichotomy, a false war between faith and reason, has been raging through the modern era. Yet, the classical thinkers never saw this dichotomy since God is the source of all truth. There is a beautiful unity between theology, philosophy, and natural science. Check out Eric's new book: "Essays in the Deep: Faith & Reason, Meaning & Morality, Protestantism & Catholic Thought"

May 11, 202136 min

Poly 173 – How I changed my views about Mary (PolyPat 57)

Mary was my biggest stumbling block in coming into full communion with the Catholic Church. Now I have a deep devotion to the Blessed Mother. How did this transformation happen? That's what Pat and I explore in this episode.

May 07, 202151 min

Poly 171 – John 12 (PolyPat 56)

Judas condemns Mary for anointing the feet of Jesus with expensive ointment. Jesus rebukes Judas and sets the tone for his upcoming death and Resurrection. Jesus says that all men will be drawn to him when he is lifted high on the cross and tells us we must follow him to the cross.

Apr 30, 202132 min
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