Eternal Christendom Podcast

Eternal Christendom Podcast

by Joshua Charles
Religion & SpiritualityPhilosophy

Ancient Church Shows Protestant Scholar Paul Was Catholic (Dr. Matthew Thomas) | Ep. 21

CULTIVATING SAINTS, SAGES, AND STATESMEN THROUGH THE GREAT TRADITION OF CHRISTENDOM In this episode, we interview biblical scholar Dr. Matthew Thomas, a convert to the Catholic faith from protestantism, on how the ancient Church showed him that St. Paul was Catholic. This was especially the case with respect to faith, works, and justification. Everywhere he looked in the ancient Church, the Church Fathers and other Christian documents exhibited a fundamentally Catholic understanding of Paul's teaching on "works of the law" and justification. This discovery became the basis for his book, "Paul's 'Works of the Law' in the Perspective of Second-Century Reception," as well as his conclusion that on this point, protestantism represented a 16th century novelty with no precedent in Church history. Dr. Thomas is the Associate Professor of Biblical Studies, and the Theology Department Chair at the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology in Berkley, CA. You can read more of his bio here: https://dspt.edu/matthew-thomas/ You can purchase Dr. Thomas's book here: https://www.amazon.com/Pauls-Works-Perspective-Second-Century-Reception/dp/0830855262/ VISIT OUR WEBSITE https://eternalchristendom.com/ BECOME A PATRON OF THE GREAT TRADITION As a non-profit, you can support our mission with a tax-deductible gift. Help us continue to dig into the Great Tradition; produce beautiful, substantive content; and gift these treasures to cultural orphans around the world for free: https://eternalchristendom.com/become-a-patron/ CONNECT ON SOCIAL MEDIA X: https://twitter.com/JoshuaTCharles Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joshuatcharles/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshuatcharles/ DIVE DEEPER Check out our “Becoming Catholic” resources, where you’ll find 1 million+ words of free content (bigger than the Bible!) in the form of Articles, Quote Archives, and Study Banks to help you become, remain, and deepen your life as a Catholic: https://eternalchristendom.com/becoming-catholic/ SUBSTACK Subscribe to our Substack to get regular updates on our content, and other premium content: https://eternalchristendom.substack.com/ EXCLUSIVE BOOKSTORE DISCOUNTS https://eternalchristendom.com/bookstore/ This podcast can also be heard on Apple, Spotify, and other podcast platforms.
E21
May 7, 2025
2:47:47

How I Concluded “Scripture Alone” Was False While Still a Protestant | Ep. 20

CULTIVATING SAINTS, SAGES, AND STATESMEN THROUGH THE GREAT TRADITION OF CHRISTENDOM In this episode, Joshua Charles unveils how he concluded—even while he was still a protestant—that "sola scriptura" (or "Scripture alone") was a false doctrine. He explains how he reached this conclusion in two primary ways: he recognized "sola scriptura" was both logically incoherent, and inconsistent with the sacred history recounted in the Bible itself. To his shock and amazement, Joshua's intuitions were ultimately confirmed by a famous and well-respected protestant teacher and theologian who advocated "sola scriptura." VISIT OUR WEBSITE https://eternalchristendom.com/ BECOME A PATRON OF THE GREAT TRADITION As a non-profit, you can support our mission with a tax-deductible gift. Help us continue to dig into the Great Tradition; produce beautiful, substantive content; and gift these treasures to cultural orphans around the world for free: https://eternalchristendom.com/become-a-patron/ CONNECT ON SOCIAL MEDIA X: https://twitter.com/JoshuaTCharles Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joshuatcharles/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshuatcharles/ DIVE DEEPER Check out our “Becoming Catholic” resources, where you’ll find 1 million+ words of free content (bigger than the Bible!) in the form of Articles, Quote Archives, and Study Banks to help you become, remain, and deepen your life as a Catholic: https://eternalchristendom.com/becoming-catholic/ SUBSTACK Subscribe to our Substack to get regular updates on our content, and other premium content: https://eternalchristendom.substack.com/ EXCLUSIVE BOOKSTORE DISCOUNTS https://eternalchristendom.com/bookstore/ CHAPTERS 00:00 - Introduction 03:45 - The Right Definition of "Sola Scriptura" 07:59 - Objection 1: Logically Incoherent 12:01 - Objection 2: Inconsistent with Sacred History 20:25 - My Intuitions Confirmed by a Protestant (RC Sproul) 40:17 - Conclusion This podcast can also be heard on Apple, Spotify, and other podcast platforms.
E20
Apr 30, 2025
43:58

Christ's Church is Roman, Part 1 (Dr. Alan Fimister) | Ep. 19

CULTIVATING SAINTS, SAGES, AND STATESMEN THROUGH THE GREAT TRADITION OF CHRISTENDOM In Part 1 of this fascinating interview, Catholic theologian and historian Dr. Alan Fimister defends this provocative assertion: the Church founded by Jesus Christ is Roman, in some mysterious sense prophesied in the Old, and fulfilled in the New Testament. The implications are astounding, not only in terms of how we understand the past, but the present, as well as the future history of the world. You can check out Part 2 here, where we dive into the details of Christ's cleansing of the Temple, and His transference of the Kingdom: https://youtu.be/wefYjPA5jGo?si=3nY_lAbK205BJ77h Purchase Dr. Fimister's "The Iron Sceptre of the Son of Man: Romanitas as a Note of the Church" with an Eternal Christendom exclusive discount through Os Justi Press at our Bookstore: https://eternalchristendom.com/bookstore/ Dr. Fimister is a member of Eternal Christendom's esteemed Advisory Board: https://eternalchristendom.com/advisory-board/ VISIT OUR WEBSITE https://eternalchristendom.com/ BECOME A PATRON OF THE GREAT TRADITION As a non-profit, you can support our mission with a tax-deductible gift. Help us continue to dig into the Great Tradition; produce beautiful, substantive content; and gift these treasures to cultural orphans around the world for free: https://eternalchristendom.com/become-a-patron/ CONNECT ON SOCIAL MEDIA X: https://twitter.com/JoshuaTCharles Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joshuatcharles/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshuatcharles/ DIVE DEEPER Check out our “Becoming Catholic” resources, where you’ll find 1 million+ words of free content (bigger than the Bible!) in the form of Articles, Quote Archives, and Study Banks to help you become, remain, and deepen your life as a Catholic: https://eternalchristendom.com/becoming-catholic/ SUBSTACK Subscribe to our Substack to get regular updates on our content, and other premium content: https://eternalchristendom.substack.com/ EXCLUSIVE BOOKSTORE DISCOUNTS https://eternalchristendom.com/bookstore/ This podcast can also be heard on Apple, Spotify, and other podcast platforms.
E19
Apr 23, 2025
2:43:15

Taking Up Christ's Cross in Holy Week (St. Augustine, Sermon 207) | Ep. 18

CULTIVATING SAINTS, SAGES, AND STATESMEN THROUGH THE GREAT TRADITION OF CHRISTENDOM In this third Lenten episode, we read St. Augustine's Sermon 207, delivered during Lent approximately 1,600 years ago. We then offer an exhortation based on his words to finish Lent strong by taking up Christ's cross this Holy Week as we approach the paschal joy of Easter. Thank you to the Catholic University of America Press, who has given Eternal Christendom permission to read from their "Fathers of the Church" series for our podcast. You can purchase the volume this sermon came from here: https://www.cuapress.org/9780813215655/sermons-on-the-liturgical-seasons/ VISIT OUR WEBSITE https://eternalchristendom.com/ BECOME A PATRON OF THE GREAT TRADITION As a non-profit, you can support our mission with a tax-deductible gift. Help us continue to dig into the Great Tradition; produce beautiful, substantive content; and gift these treasures to cultural orphans around the world for free: https://eternalchristendom.com/become-a-patron/ CONNECT ON SOCIAL MEDIA X: https://twitter.com/JoshuaTCharles Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joshuatcharles/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshuatcharles/ DIVE DEEPER Check out our “Becoming Catholic” resources, where you’ll find 1 million+ words of free content (bigger than the Bible!) in the form of Articles, Quote Archives, and Study Banks to help you become, remain, and deepen your life as a Catholic: https://eternalchristendom.com/becoming-catholic/ SUBSTACK Subscribe to our Substack to get regular updates on our content, and other premium content: https://eternalchristendom.substack.com/ EXCLUSIVE BOOKSTORE DISCOUNTS https://eternalchristendom.com/bookstore/ CHAPTERS 00:00 - Intro 03:58 - Reading: St. Augustine, Sermon 207 11:37 - Taking up Christ's Cross This Holy Week This podcast can also be heard on Apple, Spotify, and other podcast platforms.
E18
Apr 16, 2025
33:23

The Sacrifices Necessary to be Saved (St. Augustine, Sermon 206) | Ep. 17

CULTIVATING SAINTS, SAGES, AND STATESMEN THROUGH THE GREAT TRADITION OF CHRISTENDOM In this second Lenten episode, we read St. Augustine's Sermon 206, delivered during Lent approximately 1,600 years ago. We then offer our thoughts on this great Church Father's words about the kinds of sacrificial suffering Christ demands of us, and are necessary for our salvation. Thank you to the Catholic University of America Press, who has given Eternal Christendom permission to read from their "Fathers of the Church" series for our podcast. You can purchase the volume this sermon came from here: https://www.cuapress.org/9780813215655/sermons-on-the-liturgical-seasons/ VISIT OUR WEBSITE https://eternalchristendom.com/ BECOME A PATRON OF THE GREAT TRADITION As a non-profit, you can support our mission with a tax-deductible gift. Help us continue to dig into the Great Tradition; produce beautiful, substantive content; and gift these treasures to cultural orphans around the world for free: https://eternalchristendom.com/become-a-patron/ CONNECT ON SOCIAL MEDIA X: https://twitter.com/JoshuaTCharles Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joshuatcharles/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshuatcharles/ DIVE DEEPER Check out our “Becoming Catholic” resources, where you’ll find 1 million+ words of free content (bigger than the Bible!) in the form of Articles, Quote Archives, and Study Banks to help you become, remain, and deepen your life as a Catholic: https://eternalchristendom.com/becoming-catholic/ SUBSTACK Subscribe to our Substack to get regular updates on our content, and other premium content: https://eternalchristendom.substack.com/ EXCLUSIVE BOOKSTORE DISCOUNTS https://eternalchristendom.com/bookstore/ CHAPTERS 00:00 - Intro 08:55 - Reading: St. Augustine, Sermon 206 15:59 - Reflections, and Thoughts on the Role of Penance in Salvation This podcast can also be heard on Apple, Spotify, and other podcast platforms.
E17
Apr 2, 2025
30:29

My Sister's Miraculous Conversion to the Catholic Faith (Nancy Charles) | Ep. 16

CULTIVATING SAINTS, SAGES, AND STATESMEN THROUGH THE GREAT TRADITION OF CHRISTENDOM I'm honored to present a special interview of my sister, Nancy Charles, about her miraculous conversion to the Catholic Faith (we apologize for some minor tech issues we had with some of my audio). After the divorce of our parents, drugs, suicide attempts, and falling into the LGBTQ+ lifestyle, Christ illuminated my sister's mind and touched her heart on March 19, 2023 at a Latin Mass. She came into the Church on September 29, 2023, the Feast of her patron saint, St. Michael the Archangel. The Rosary and Eucharistic Adoration played a huge role in her conversion, as it has for many members of our family who have now come into the Church. Nancy is now working full-time for Eternal Christendom, doing so much behind the scenes to build this apostolate on solid foundations. Please remember her in your prayers, and consider including us in your Lenten almsgiving! VISIT OUR WEBSITE https://eternalchristendom.com/ BECOME A PATRON OF THE GREAT TRADITION As a non-profit, you can support our mission with a tax-deductible gift. Help us continue to dig into the Great Tradition; produce beautiful, substantive content; and gift these treasures to cultural orphans around the world for free: https://eternalchristendom.com/become-a-patron/ CONNECT ON SOCIAL MEDIA X: https://twitter.com/JoshuaTCharles Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joshuatcharles/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshuatcharles/ DIVE DEEPER Check out our “Becoming Catholic” resources, where you’ll find 1 million+ words of free content (bigger than the Bible!) in the form of Articles, Quote Archives, and Study Banks to help you become, remain, and deepen your life as a Catholic: https://eternalchristendom.com/becoming-catholic/ SUBSTACK Subscribe to our Substack to get regular updates on our content, and other premium content: https://eternalchristendom.substack.com/ EXCLUSIVE BOOKSTORE DISCOUNTS https://eternalchristendom.com/bookstore/ This podcast can also be heard on Apple, Spotify, and other podcast platforms.
E16
Mar 19, 2025
3:08:35

St. Augustine's 1,600 Year Old Sermon for the Beginning of Lent (Sermon 205) | Ep. 15

CULTIVATING SAINTS, SAGES, AND STATESMEN THROUGH THE GREAT TRADITION OF CHRISTENDOM On this Ash Wednesday, in the humbling and penitential spirit of Lent, we are publishing our first audio-only episode. Thanks to the Catholic University of America Press, who has given Eternal Christendom permission to read from their "Fathers of the Church" series for our podcast, we are going to read Sermon 205, delivered by St. Augustine at the beginning of Lent approximately 1,600 years ago. We will then offer some reflections on both the sermon, and an exhortation to a sacrificial Lent amidst the very dark and chaotic times in which we live. Let us offer great sacrifices during this season in which we most actively join ourselves to the sacrifice of Our Lord on the cross. You can purchase the volume this sermon came from here: https://www.cuapress.org/9780813215655/sermons-on-the-liturgical-seasons/ VISIT OUR WEBSITE https://eternalchristendom.com/ BECOME A PATRON OF THE GREAT TRADITION As a non-profit, you can support our mission with a tax-deductible gift. Help us continue to dig into the Great Tradition; produce beautiful, substantive content; and gift these treasures to cultural orphans around the world for free: https://eternalchristendom.com/become-a-patron/ CONNECT ON SOCIAL MEDIA X: https://twitter.com/JoshuaTCharles Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joshuatcharles/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshuatcharles/ DIVE DEEPER Check out our “Becoming Catholic” resources, where you’ll find 1 million+ words of free content (bigger than the Bible!) in the form of Articles, Quote Archives, and Study Banks to help you become, remain, and deepen your life as a Catholic: https://eternalchristendom.com/becoming-catholic/ SUBSTACK Subscribe to our Substack to get regular updates on our content, and other premium content: https://eternalchristendom.substack.com/ EXCLUSIVE BOOKSTORE DISCOUNTS https://eternalchristendom.com/bookstore/ CHAPTERS 00:00 - Intro 03:44 - Thank You to Catholic University of America Press 05:01 - Reading: St. Augustine, Sermon 205 16:13 - Exhortation to a Sacrificial Lent This podcast can also be heard on Apple, Spotify, and other podcast platforms.
E15
Mar 5, 2025
26:09

One Church to Rule Them All: Discovering the "Big C" Catholic Church of the Creeds | Ep. 14

CULTIVATING SAINTS, SAGES, AND STATESMEN THROUGH THE GREAT TRADITION OF CHRISTENDOM As protestants, we'd sometimes say one of the ancient Creeds, including the line affirming a belief in the "one, holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church." This always confused me, since we weren't Catholic. To get around this, I was frequently told that "Catholic" in the Creeds referred to "little c" catholic, a generalized reference to all, or most Christians. But when I dug into the writings of the Church Fathers, the men who wrote and defended the Creeds, I found absolutely nothing like this "little c" idea of the "catholic church." They everywhere asserted and defended only the "Big C" Catholic Church: a single, visible society possessing a unity of faith, worship, and government. VISIT OUR WEBSITE https://eternalchristendom.com/ BECOME A PATRON OF THE GREAT TRADITION As a non-profit, you can support our mission with a tax-deductible gift. Help us continue to dig into the Great Tradition; produce beautiful, substantive content; and gift these treasures to cultural orphans around the world for free: https://eternalchristendom.com/become-a-patron/ CONNECT ON SOCIAL MEDIA X: https://twitter.com/JoshuaTCharles Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joshuatcharles/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshuatcharles/ DIVE DEEPER Check out our “Becoming Catholic” resources, where you’ll find 1 million+ words of free content (bigger than the Bible!) in the form of Articles, Quote Archives, and Study Banks to help you become, remain, and deepen your life as a Catholic: https://eternalchristendom.com/becoming-catholic/ SUBSTACK Subscribe to our Substack to get regular updates on our content, and other premium content: https://eternalchristendom.substack.com/ EXCLUSIVE BOOKSTORE DISCOUNTS https://eternalchristendom.com/bookstore/ CHAPTERS 00:00 - Intro 02:05 - "Little c" catholic in the Creeds 04:28 - "Big C" Catholic in the Church Fathers 09:12 - St. Ignatius of Antioch 12:06 - Muratorian Fragment 13:52 - Tertullian 15:31 - St. Cyprian of Carthage 18:34 - Ecumenical Council of Nicaea 24:16 - St. Cyril of Jerusalem 28:30 - Ecumenical Council of Constantinople I 29:59 - St. Augustine 38:00 - St. Vincent of Lerins 43:27 - Ecumenical Council of Chalcedon 44:58 - Conclusion This podcast can also be heard on Apple, Spotify, and other podcast platforms.
E14
Feb 19, 2025
46:52

Why a Former Atheist Found Protestantism Unconvincing (Dr. Alan Fimister) | Ep. 13

CULTIVATING SAINTS, SAGES, AND STATESMEN THROUGH THE GREAT TRADITION OF CHRISTENDOM In our first full-length interview, we host Dr. Alan Fimister, a renowned theologian and seminary professor, to discuss his conversion to the Catholic Faith from atheism, and why he found protestantism so unconvincing. Not only did he find it unconvincing, he concluded it played a decisive role in the rise of secularism. We also discuss issues of political theology, Christendom, and the rise of liberalism (both "left" and "right" wing varieties). Dr. Fimister is a member of Eternal Christendom's Advisory Board. We hope to host him as a regular guest on the Eternal Christendom Podcast. You can find his bio here: https://eternalchristendom.com/advisory-board/ VISIT OUR WEBSITE https://eternalchristendom.com/ BECOME A PATRON OF THE GREAT TRADITION As a non-profit, you can support our mission with a tax-deductible gift. Help us continue to dig into the Great Tradition; produce beautiful, substantive content; and gift these treasures to cultural orphans around the world for free: https://eternalchristendom.com/become-a-patron/ CONNECT ON SOCIAL MEDIA X: https://twitter.com/JoshuaTCharles Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joshuatcharles/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshuatcharles/ DIVE DEEPER Check out our “Becoming Catholic” resources, where you’ll find 1 million+ words of free content (bigger than the Bible!) in the form of Articles, Quote Archives, and Study Banks to help you become, remain, and deepen your life as a Catholic: https://eternalchristendom.com/becoming-catholic/ SUBSTACK Subscribe to our Substack to get regular updates on our content, and other premium content: https://eternalchristendom.substack.com/ EXCLUSIVE BOOKSTORE DISCOUNTS https://eternalchristendom.com/bookstore/ This podcast can also be heard on Apple, Spotify, and other podcast platforms.
E13
Feb 6, 2025
2:33:59

Papal Snapshot: The Pope is the Head of the Church (St. Jerome) | Ep. 12

CULTIVATING SAINTS, SAGES, AND STATESMEN THROUGH THE GREAT TRADITION OF CHRISTENDOM In this Papal Snapshot, we dive into St. Jerome's incredibly Catholic view of the papacy and the authority of the Pope as outlined in his Letter 15 to St. Pope Damasus. St. Jerome was a Church Father who lived from c. 342-420, and is widely considered one of the greatest Scripture scholars of the ancient Church. VISIT OUR WEBSITE https://eternalchristendom.com/ BECOME A PATRON OF THE GREAT TRADITION As a non-profit, you can support our mission with a tax-deductible gift. Help us continue to dig into the Great Tradition; produce beautiful, substantive content; and gift these treasures to cultural orphans around the world for free: https://eternalchristendom.com/become-a-patron/ CONNECT ON SOCIAL MEDIA X: https://twitter.com/JoshuaTCharles Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joshuatcharles/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshuatcharles/ DIVE DEEPER Check out our “Becoming Catholic” resources, where you’ll find 1 million+ words of free content (bigger than the Bible!) in the form of Articles, Quote Archives, and Study Banks to help you become, remain, and deepen your life as a Catholic: https://eternalchristendom.com/becoming-catholic/ SUBSTACK Subscribe to our Substack to get regular updates on our content, and other premium content: https://eternalchristendom.substack.com/ EXCLUSIVE BOOKSTORE DISCOUNTS https://eternalchristendom.com/bookstore/ CHAPTERS 00:00 - Intro 03:10 - Historical Context 04:37 - St. Jerome's Letter 15 to St. Pope Damasus 14:14 - Conclusion This podcast can also be heard on Apple, Spotify, and other podcast platforms.
E12
Jan 22, 2025
16:53
8 of 19