Catholic Heritage Show W/ Dr. Estrada

What are some of the best tools for figuring out dates and places in Christian history? In this brief episode we talk about an important tool for the study of our Catholic faith, namely, the Atlas of Christian History, which was published by Dr. Tim Dowley. Church history is full of names, dates and places. How does one even begin to undertake this Herculean task? Every craftsman needs tools and some of the best tools for students of church history come in the form of atlases. An atlas is a book containing an entire series of maps about the world, a given region or a particular time in human history. The Atlas of Christian History will help students of church history orient themselves toward the geographic locations were many important events, gatherings and decisions were rendered. This atlas contains scores of maps from nearly 21 centuries of Christian history. Join us in this episode as we briefly discuss some of the benefits of using this resource when studying the history of Christianity. To comment on t

When was the Muratorian Canon written? A good number of scholars posit that this fragmentary list of New Testament books was written either in the second half the second century or sometime in the fourth. In this episode, we take a quick second to briefly review a recent claim made by a popular scholar on the history of the canon of Scripture concerning the dating of the Muratorian Canon. We note that contrary to this scholar’s claim, there exists in the academy fierce debate about the precise dating of this important fragment. In fact, the history of research on the Muratorian Canon is characterized far more by intense debate than anything else. For this reason, I encourage any student of the canon to take much caution before easily accepting any proposed date for its composition. Join us this week as we discuss this important early Christian witness to the New Testament canon.   The Catholic Heritage is devoted to helping Catholic Christians better understand the history, teachings and culture of their Cath

In this episode we talk about Thomas' Summa theologiae and why it is helpful to Catholic Christians who want to better understand their faith. To comment on this show or provide feedback, please navigate to https://catholicheritageshow.com/episode138 The Catholic Heritage is devoted to helping Catholic Christians better understand the history, teachings and culture of their Catholic faith so that they can better love and serve Christ, the Church and their neighbors. Dr. Erik Estrada is a Catholic scholar who holds a Ph.D. from the University of Notre Dame and specializes in the history of Christianity and historical theology. He also completed a licentiate (S.T.L) in theology and patristic science at the Augustinianum Patristic Institute in Rome and a S.T.B. at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas. If you would like to invite Dr. Estrada to speak at your next event, you can contact him at feedback@catholicheritageshow.com or 1-909-575-8035. iOS or Android App of the CH Show iOS App of CHS Android

Who Was Marcion? In this episode we discuss the work of Marcion of Pontus (fl. 140s AD). We note why Marcion of Pontus, a pivotal figure of second-century Christianity, play a key role in pushing Christian conversation around critical questions such as the canon of Scripture, Paul’s authority in the Church and the relationship between Judaism and Christianity. Join us this week as discuss this important thinker in ancient Christianity.   To comment on this show or provide feedback, please navigate to https://catholicheritageshow.com/episode137 The Catholic Heritage is devoted to helping Catholic Christians better understand the history, teachings and culture of their Catholic faith so that they can better love and serve Christ, the Church and their neighbors. Dr. Erik Estrada is a Catholic scholar who holds a Ph.D. from the University of Notre Dame and specializes in the history of Christianity and historical theology. He also completed a licentiate (S.T.L) in theology and patristic science at the Augustinian

One of the important reasons to study one’s faith for oneself is to overcome the limited presentations of others. In this episode we talk about why it is important to take the time to look into the records of one’s faith so as to verify the claims of others. Oftentimes, opponents of Christianity in general and Catholicism in particular like to offer limited presentations of the evidence so as to bolster their case. In light of this fact, it is critical for Catholics to know their heritage in order to respond appropriately. Join us as we continue to probe the reasons for studying the Catholic faith for yourself.   To comment on this show or provide feedback, please navigate to https://catholicheritageshow.com/episode136 The Catholic Heritage is devoted to helping Catholic Christians better understand the history, teachings and culture of their Catholic faith so that they can better love and serve Christ, the Church and their neighbors. Dr. Erik Estrada is a Catholic scholar who holds a Ph.D. from the Universit

The great authors of the Catholic faith were connected to others. It is easy to forget this basic truth, but most famous authors and other contributors to the Catholic heritage were part of an extensive network of friends and associates. Join us as we discuss the importance of recognizing the various cultural and religious which our authors used for their work.   To comment on this show or provide feedback, please navigate to https://catholicheritageshow.com/episode135 The Catholic Heritage is devoted to helping Catholic Christians better understand the history, teachings and culture of their Catholic faith so that they can better love and serve Christ, the Church and their neighbors. Dr. Erik Estrada is a Catholic scholar who holds a Ph.D. from the University of Notre Dame and specializes in the history of Christianity and historical theology. He also completed a licentiate (S.T.L) in theology and patristic science at the Augustinianum Patristic Institute in Rome and a S.T.B. at the Pontifical University of

What is an up to date and affordable resource for the study of the Catholic heritage? The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church has been for many years my go to resource when studying the vast history of the Christian tradition. The book is an excellent place to begin one’s investigation into the sources of the Catholic tradition.   Catholic readers should note that the volume was assembled by many members of the Church of England. As a result, some of the entries skew toward Protestant perspectives or are oriented toward the larger narratives of the Protestant Reformation. Nevertheless, for the price and for the accessibility to first rate scholarship on many people, movements and doctrines in the history of the Christian tradition, one would be hard pressed to find a better resource.   To obtain the most affordable and the most up to date version of this work, please use the following link: https://www.amazon.com/Dictionary-Christian-Church-F-Cross/dp/1598562509/. Note well, that the Catholic Heritage

What did Martin Luther and Ulrich Zwingli have to say about the Eucharist? In this episode, we discuss some of the major outcomes of the famous debate between Martin Luther and Ulrich Zwingli held in the city of Marburg (1529). We note that Luther was a fierce proponent of Christ’s real presence in the Eucharistic elements of bread and wine. Zwingli, however, was a staunch supporter of the symbolic nature of the Eucharist. This episode is part of our larger series on Protestant Agreements and Differences. The goal of these episode is to help Catholic Christians better understand what unites and divides Protestant Christians. The larger goal of this series is to help Catholics better understand that the differences between Protestant denominations touch the key beliefs of Protestantism as a whole, namely, salvation by faith alone and the sole authority of Scripture. Join us this week as we discuss how these two major thinkers in the early Reformation viewed the Eucharist and its bearing on salvation.   To comm

What is the best way to address historical objections to Christianity as a whole and Catholicism in particular? In this episode we talk about the importance of asking important questions of the one posing the objection. We note that any worthwhile historical investigation into any question will take time. Usually, people who raise these types of questions have not taken the time to investigate the matter in the primary sources. Instead, they rely exclusively on secondary sources, that is, popular books, magazines or online videos. Join us this week as we begin this new series of addressing historical objections to Christianity.   To comment on this show or provide feedback, please navigate to https://catholicheritageshow.com/episode132 The Catholic Heritage is devoted to helping Catholic Christians better understand the history, teachings and culture of their Catholic faith so that they can better love and serve Christ, the Church and their neighbors. Dr. Erik Estrada is a Catholic scholar who holds a Ph.D. f

Who was Melito of Sardis? In this episode, we briefly discuss some of the major contributions of Melito to second-century Christianity. We note that he is among the first church leaders to provide a list of canonical books and among the first to leave a collection of homilies. Join us today as we discuss the important work of this second-century father of the Church.   To comment on this show or provide feedback, please navigate to https://catholicheritageshow.com/episode131 The Catholic Heritage is devoted to helping Catholic Christians better understand the history, teachings and culture of their Catholic faith so that they can better love and serve Christ, the Church and their neighbors. Dr. Erik Estrada is a Catholic scholar who holds a Ph.D. from the University of Notre Dame and specializes in the history of Christianity and historical theology. He also completed a licentiate (S.T.L) in theology and patristic science at the Augustinianum Patristic Institute in Rome and a S.T.B. at the Pontifical Universi

What are the Vatican II documents? In this episode, we briefly discuss the major translation of the Vatican II documents made by Austin Flannery OP in the years following the conclusion of the council (1962-1965). We note that this translation is not only affordable but also contains the most easily accessible collection of texts issued by the council. Join us this week as we discuss a very important resource for the study of the Catholic Heritage.   To comment on this show or provide feedback, please navigate to https://catholicheritageshow.com/episode130 The Catholic Heritage is devoted to helping Catholic Christians better understand the history, teachings and culture of their Catholic faith so that they can better love and serve Christ, the Church and their neighbors. Dr. Erik Estrada is a Catholic scholar who holds a Ph.D. from the University of Notre Dame and specializes in the history of Christianity and historical theology. He also completed a licentiate (S.T.L) in theology and patristic science at th

Does Pope Francis believe in hell? Recent magazines and online media outlets have maintained that the pope has rejected hell’s existence. In this episode, we review some of Francis’ statements in this regard and the details of his recent interviews on the subject. Join us as we discuss the pope’s statements on the subject of hell.   To comment on this show or provide feedback, please navigate to https://catholicheritageshow.com/episode129 The Catholic Heritage is devoted to helping Catholic Christians better understand the history, teachings and culture of their Catholic faith so that they can better love and serve Christ, the Church and their neighbors. Dr. Erik Estrada is a Catholic scholar who holds a Ph.D. from the University of Notre Dame and specializes in the history of Christianity and historical theology. He also completed a licentiate (S.T.L) in theology and patristic science at the Augustinianum Patristic Institute in Rome and a S.T.B. at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas. If you woul

Down through the centuries, Catholic authors have engaged in a long conversation over the Life Questions. An integral aspect to the ways Catholics have answered these questions was to tap into the efforts of previous generations of Catholic Christians who likewise engaged the Life Questions.  Early catholic authors such as Origen, Augustine and Jerome made extensive use of earlier Catholic authors in their efforts to engage the records of the Christian tradition. They believed that the answers to the Life Questions were to be found in the Christian tradition and not apart from it. To determine the answers to these questions, they believed, the Catholic would do well to consult the labors of earlier Catholic thinkers. By building upon their efforts, correcting their mistakes and preserving their contributions, they maintained, the Catholic intellectual could come to a more precise understanding of the Christian faith. Join us this week as we discuss how Catholic authors drew upon earlier contributions.   To co

The second century was full of challenges for the Church. In this episode, we outline some of those challenges and the protagonists in those conflicts. We discuss the work of the Gnostics, the anonymous author of the Muratorian Canon and the phenomenon of persecution. Join us this week as we review the distinct problems facing Christians of the second century.   To comment on this show or provide feedback, please navigate to https://catholicheritageshow.com/episode127 The Catholic Heritage is devoted to helping Catholic Christians better understand the history, teachings and culture of their Catholic faith so that they can better love and serve Christ, the Church and their neighbors. Dr. Erik Estrada is a Catholic scholar who holds a Ph.D. from the University of Notre Dame and specializes in the history of Christianity and historical theology. He also completed a licentiate (S.T.L) in theology and patristic science at the Augustinianum Patristic Institute in Rome and a S.T.B. at the Pontifical University of S

A frequent question Protestant Christians ask about the Council of Trent is the following: Why did the Council of Trent repeatedly use the phrase “anathema” in reference to Protestants? In this episode we discuss the history of this term and what it meant when used by the council. Join us this week as trace the origins of this theological concept and its use in early ages.   To comment on this show or provide feedback, please navigate to https://catholicheritageshow.com/episode126 The Catholic Heritage is devoted to helping Catholic Christians better understand the history, teachings and culture of their Catholic faith so that they can better love and serve Christ, the Church and their neighbors. Dr. Erik Estrada is a Catholic scholar who holds a Ph.D. from the University of Notre Dame and specializes in the history of Christianity and historical theology. He also completed a licentiate (S.T.L) in theology and patristic science at the Augustinianum Patristic Institute in Rome and a S.T.B. at the Pontifical Un

We have used a key phrase throughout this show, namely, the “Life Questions.” What do we mean by this phrase? To help our audience figure out exactly what we mean, we have devoted an entire episode to discussing its definition. Join us as we discuss the meaning of this type of language and why the Life Questions face every human being.   To comment on this show or provide feedback, please navigate to https://catholicheritageshow.com/episode125 The Catholic Heritage is devoted to helping Catholic Christians better understand the history, teachings and culture of their Catholic faith so that they can better love and serve Christ, the Church and their neighbors. Dr. Erik Estrada is a Catholic scholar who holds a Ph.D. from the University of Notre Dame and specializes in the history of Christianity and historical theology. He also completed a licentiate (S.T.L) in theology and patristic science at the Augustinianum Patristic Institute in Rome and a S.T.B. at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas. If you

Were the early Christians persecuted? In this episode, we begin our new series on martyrdom in the history of early Christianity. In this episode, we discuss the evidence provided by the Roman historian Tacitus. Join us this week as discuss the second-century testimony in Tacitus’ Annals.   To comment on this show or provide feedback, please navigate to https://catholicheritageshow.com/episode124 The Catholic Heritage is devoted to helping Catholic Christians better understand the history, teachings and culture of their Catholic faith so that they can better love and serve Christ, the Church and their neighbors. Dr. Erik Estrada is a Catholic scholar who holds a Ph.D. from the University of Notre Dame and specializes in the history of Christianity and historical theology. He also completed a licentiate (S.T.L) in theology and patristic science at the Augustinianum Patristic Institute in Rome and a S.T.B. at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas. If you would like to invite Dr. Estrada to speak at yo

Recent English-speaking Catholic critics have adopted Gnostic approaches when evaluating the words and actions of Pope Francis and the bishops of the Catholic Church. In this episode, we talk about the use of radical skepticism and even hostility used by certain Catholic critics in their efforts to discredit the papacy of Pope Francis. Instead of finding truth within the episcopate, these critics point to themselves as the repositories of truth. They also assume that their understanding of the Catholic faith is indeed correct. Join us this week as we explain how this style of criticism resemble ancient Gnostic approaches toward the bishops of the Catholic Church.     To comment on this show or provide feedback, please navigate to https://catholicheritageshow.com/episode123   The Catholic Heritage is devoted to helping Catholic Christians better understand the history, teachings and culture of their Catholic faith so that they can better love and serve Christ, the Church and their neighbors. Dr. Erik Estrada i

Where does one find reliable translations for the study of the Church Fathers? In this episode, we discuss the Fathers of the Church series which is published by the Catholic University of America. Join us this week as we review this important series of translations for the study of the Catholic Heritage.   To comment on this show or provide feedback, please navigate to https://catholicheritageshow.com/episode122 The Catholic Heritage is devoted to helping Catholic Christians better understand the history, teachings and culture of their Catholic faith so that they can better love and serve Christ, the Church and their neighbors. Dr. Erik Estrada is a Catholic scholar who holds a Ph.D. from the University of Notre Dame and specializes in the history of Christianity and historical theology. He also completed a licentiate (S.T.L) in theology and patristic science at the Augustinianum Patristic Institute in Rome and a S.T.B. at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas. If you would like to invite Dr. Estra

One of the important things Catholic Christians must understand is the differences of religious beliefs held among Protestant Christians. All too often and in various ways, Catholics are mistakenly led to think that Protestant Christians are united in their two core Reformation convictions concerning salvation by faith alone and the authority of Scripture alone. To gain a better understanding of Protestantism, however, it is imperative for Catholics to recognize the important differences between the various founders of the various Protestant Christian denominations and their later followers. In this episode, views concerning baptismal justification set forth by John Wesley, the founder of Methodism. Methodism was originally a seventeenth-century parachurch movement in the Church of England, which after Wesley’s death became a distinct Christian denomination in England. In this show, we discuss how John Wesley understood the relationship between baptism and the Christian’s right standing before God, a concept