Dr. Chapp is one of my favorite theologians. I was so honored to have a conversation with him. It was a lot of fun! I sincerely hope you enjoy and appreciate the convo. Please consider sharing this post and help Good Distinctions grow!
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Summary of Today’s Episode
Dr. Larry Chapp, author of the book 'Confession of a Catholic Worker,' discusses his journey from academia to living on a Catholic Worker farm. He shares his inspiration for starting a blog and writing a book, emphasizing the need for radical Catholicism in a culture of beige Catholicism. Dr. Chap explores the importance of prayer and the role of liturgy as the highest act of culture. He also discusses the connection between cult, culture, and cultivation, as well as the significance of localism and subsidiarity. The conversation concludes with a focus on the universal call to holiness.
In this conversation, Larry Chapp and Will Wright discuss various themes related to evangelization and the Catholic faith. They explore the importance of welcoming others into the Church on Christ's terms, rather than compromising on doctrine. They also discuss the need for a balanced approach to evangelization, avoiding both a superficial apologetic mode and a self-righteous approach. They emphasize the importance of understanding the question behind the question and empathizing with the struggles of others. They also discuss the need for deep prayer and contemplation in order to effectively evangelize. Finally, they explore the controversy surrounding the theology of Hans Urs von Balthasar.
In this conversation, Larry Chapp and Will Wright discuss the theological work of Hans Urs von Balthazar. They explore Balthazar's dialogue with German idealism, the evolution of ideas and Bible critique, the desire for truth and its service to the church, Balthazar's primary vocation and importance to the church, the impact of theology on catechesis, and recommended readings for understanding Balthazar.
Takeaways
Embrace radical Catholicism in a culture of beige Catholicism.
Prioritize prayer and make it a central part of daily life.
Recognize the importance of liturgy as the highest act of culture.
Cultivate a connection between faith, culture, and the land.
Embrace the principles of localism and subsidiarity.
Answer the universal call to holiness in your own life. Welcoming others into the Church should be done on Christ's terms, not compromising on doctrine.
Effective evangelization requires understanding the question behind the question and empathizing with the struggles of others.
Deep prayer and contemplation are essential for effective evangelization.
The theology of Hans Urs von Balthasar, while controversial, offers insights into the suffering and solidarity of Christ. Hans Urs von Balthazar engaged in a dialogue with German idealism in his theological work.
The evolution of ideas and Bible critique can be traced back further than the Enlightenment.
The desire for truth and continual examination of the mystery of Christ is important as long as it serves the church.
Balthazar's theology is of profound importance to the church and has influenced theologians like John Paul II and Ratzinger.
Theology has a direct impact on how catechesis is conducted.
To understand Balthazar, it is recommended to start with his work 'Theologic' and volume five of 'Theological Aesthetics' where he engages with Aquinas.
Chapters
00:00 - Introduction and Background
01:00 - Dr. Larry Chapp's Journey
03:28 - Transition to Catholic Worker Farm
05:01 - Starting a Blog and Writing a Book
07:14 - Inspiration for Good Distinctions
09:03 - Critique of Beige Catholicism
14:31 - The Choice and Radical Catholicism
19:21 - Individual vs. Collective
21:38 - The Importance of Prayer
26:21 - Liturgy as the Highest Act of Culture
31:38 - Cult, Culture, and Cultivation
35:11 - Localism and Subsidiarity
39:05 - The Universal Call to Holiness
41:46 - The Church's Terms
42:25 - Compassion and Mercy
43:13 - Ultra Progressive vs. Ultra Orthodox
44:09 - Cultivating Soil for Evangelization
45:05 - Understanding the Question Behind the Question
46:08 - Stepping into Their Shoes
47:24 - Moving Beyond Argument Mode
48:20 - Reformulating the Question
49:31 - Taking Questions Seriously
50:31 - The Need for Deeper Teaching
51:28 - Translating Big Ideas into Common Words
52:41 - The Importance of Prayer and Contemplation
53:34 - God Speaking to Us
54:23 - The Thin Veil Between Worlds
57:13 - The Influence of Protestant Views of Atonement
58:15 - The Doctrine of the Mass of Damn Not
59:43 - A Positive Vision of Salvation
01:01:59 - Motivation to Evangelize
01:04:11 - Living for Christ
01:06:31 - The Controversial Theology of Hans Urs von Balthasar
01:09:20 - The Loneliness of Jesus
01:21:36 - Balthazar's Dialogue with German Idealism
01:22:10 - The Evolution of Ideas and Bible Critique
01:23:07 - The Desire for Truth and the Service of the Church
01:23:42 - Balthazar's Primary Vocation and Importance to the Church
01:24:17 - The Impact of Theology on Catechesis
01:25:02 - Recommended Readings for Understanding Balthazar
01:25:41 - Conclusion and Farewell
🔗 Dr. Chapp’s Book and Blog:
Dr. Chapp’s Blog - Gaudium et Spes 22 - gaudiumetspes22.com
“Confessions of a Catholic Worker” from Ignatius Press - https://ignatius.com/confession-of-a-catholic-worker-ccwp/
NC Register Author Page: https://www.ncregister.com/author/larry-chapp
🔗 Links for Good Distinctions:
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@gooddistinctions
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/gooddistinctions/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/gooddistinctions/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/wwrightphx/
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Ep. 24 - Insights from Larry Chapp, PhD: Embracing Radical Catholicism