Best Darrick N Taylor Podcasts (2024)

1
The Papacy and the Orthodox: an Interview with Erick Ybarra 1:17:25

4d ago1:17:25

1:17:25

This episode is a special one, as I present you with a Controversies in Church History interview, normally reserved for patrons of the podcast. Here is our interview author and apologist Erick Ybarra. We discuss his book The Papacy: Revisiting the Debate Between Catholics and Orthodox, the state of the evidence for papal claims in the first millenn…

1
Upcoming Events: ICC Lecture & Interview with Erick Ybarra 6:12

1M ago6:12

6:12

Just a brief preview of some upcoming events I am involved in the next month or so, including the next Controversies in Church History interview. Cheers!

1
Chateaubriand and the Genius of Catholicism 1:11:27

2M ago1:11:27

1:11:27

The latest episode of Controversies in Church History takes a look at the early 19th century writer and apologist Francois Rene Chateaubriand (1768-1848), and his work, The Genius of Christianity. Often considered one of the first "Romantic" authors, we will take a look at Chateaubriand's life and background and how it shaped his approach to arguin…

1
Latinization IX: The Papacy and the Eastern Churches, 1846-1958 50:48

3M ago50:48

50:48

Hello! The latest episode in our series on the Latinization of the Eastern Catholic Churches is now available. In this episode, we take a broad look at the policy of the papacy toward the Eastern Churches--both Catholic and Orthodox--from the reign of Pius IX to the death of Pius XII. The episode discusses how the centralization of authority in the…

1
The Church WEIRD: How the Medieval Church Invented Modern Society 39:31

4M ago39:31

39:31

The latest episode of Controversies in Church History covers a curious topic and debate among academics. Why are modern Western societies so different from other civilizations? Why are they WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democratic) when so much of the world is not? In this episode, we take a look at the thesis that the medieval Ch…

1
Latinization VIII: A Ruthenian Tragedy, 1870-1910 53:34

5M ago53:34

53:34

Hello everyone! The latest installment in our series on the Latinization of the Eastern Churches is now available to all of our listeners. In it, we discuss the conflict between the Latin rite bishops of the United States in the late nineteenth century and the immigrant clergy of the Ruthenian Catholic Church, which resulted in the defection of ten…

1
Baldwin IV: the Leper King 32:27

6M ago32:27

32:27

The latest Catholic Lives episode, in which we look at notable non-saints in Catholic history, delves into the brief life of Baldwin IV, King of Jerusalem (1174-1185). Famous for contracting leprosy when he was a child, he fought multiple battles with the Muslim emir Saladin, and successfully protected the kingdom while he lived. Face with particul…

1
What We've Been Reading (2023) 51:42

7M ago51:42

51:42

Hello! The latest episode of the podcast is now available. Last year I did a "what I've been reading episode" and the feedback was in favor of a repeat, so here we go. In this episode, I recount the ten best books I have read this year, from poetry to history and liturgy. Enjoy! Books Covered: 1. John Dryden, The Hind and the Panther (1687), Poetry…

1
What Happened to the Liturgical Movement? 1:10:10

7M ago1:10:10

1:10:10

In this episode, we take a look at the Liturgical Movement of the early twentieth century in the Catholic Church. The Liturgical Movement's original aim was to make the Catholic faithful partake of the Church's liturgy more deeply and fruitfully. However, it did not originally envision a radical revision of the liturgy as actually occurred after Va…

1
Latinization VII: Southern & Eastern Europe, 1450-1800 1:04:11

7M ago1:04:11

1:04:11

In the final episode on the Early Modern Era, our series on Latinization covers the relations of the Latin Church with Eastern Christians in Eastern Europe, primarily the Ukrainians, as well as the sad tale of the Italo-Albanian Church and its struggles to maintain its heritage in Italy. Finally, we also take a look back at the Early Modern Period …

1
Latinization VI: The Latinization of the Thomas Christians, c. 1500-1800 57:54

9M ago57:54

57:54

The latest episode in our series on the Latinization of the Eastern rites is now available. In the latest installment, we examine how and why Catholic missionaries in the 16th century forced Latin customs on the Thomas Christians of India, native Indian Christian communities who trace their ancestry back to St. Thomas the Apostle.…

1
Where Does it Say What the Pope Can't Do? 38:18

10M ago38:18

38:18

In this episode, I take a look at some of the most important magisterial documents that state there are limits to papal authority issued in the recent history of the Church (since 1870).

1
Of Smurfs and Synodality 13:58

11M ago13:58

13:58

Hey everyone. On this episode of the podcast, I read a blog post in which I look at the term and concept of "synodality," and argue that it is an unnecessary novelty which neither "conservative" or "traditionalist" Catholics should not use.

1
Latinization, Episode V: The Church of the East, 1450-1800 35:34

11M ago35:34

35:34

The latest episode in our series on Latinization deals with the Church of the East, the ancient Church of Persia associated with the Nestorian heresy, which flourished in the first millennium but declined thereafter. In this, we talk about how some of these Eastern Christians came into communion with Rome in 1553, creating the Chaldean Catholic Chu…

1
Listener Response and Updates 13:50

11M ago13:50

13:50

In this brief episode, I respond to a listener's question about Elisabeth Anscombe and Truman, while also giving an update on future episodes of the podcast.

1
ReView: God Owes Us Nothing 41:39

11M ago41:39

41:39

In this episode, I take a look back at a 1995 book by the Polish philosopher Lezsek Kolakowski, "God Owes Us Nothing: A Brief Remark on the Religion of Pascal and the Spirit of Jansenism." Kolakowski's book tackles the problem of theodicy (how a good and just God can allow evil in the world) via an examination of the 17th century heresy of Jansenis…

1
Word Youth Day Syndrome 14:34

12M ago14:34

14:34

From the blog, a meditation on the controversy over World Youth Day, and what it says about larger trends in the Church since Vatican II. You can check out the original post on the website here: https://churchcontroversies.com/2023/08/14/world-youth-day-syndrome/

1
Anscombe, Truman and the Bomb 17:49

12M ago17:49

17:49

In this brief episode, I discuss Elisabeth Anscombe's argument against the dropping of the atom bomb on Japan and defenses of Harry Truman's actions. But the real purpose is to ask the listeners what they think--was Anscombe right in saying that Truman was a mass murderer?

1
Modernism as Colonialism 28:34

12M ago28:34

28:34

In this episode, I read an article of mine which takes at look at the attitude so common in Western life today, which sees its past and its heritage as a backward stage in history that needs to be overcome. In doing so, I compare the influence of Modernism to that of 19th century Western Colonialism, reading this attitude through the prism of Chinu…

1
ReView: Kingdom of Heaven 26:29

12M ago26:29

26:29

In this episode, we take a look back at Ridley Scott's 2005 film "Kingdom of Heaven," his epic about the Third Crusade which ended with capture of Jerusalem by the Muslim prince Saladine. We examine how it treats the beliefs of characters in the past, specifically those of Christian Crusaders, and what it says about modern Hollywood's sense of hist…

1
The Rise and Fall of the Integrated Humanities Program, 1966-1979 1:16:35

1y ago1:16:35

1:16:35

In 1970, three professors at the University of Kansas created a unique humanities program--the Pearson Integrated Humanities Program--that captivated students, introducing them to the "Great Books" of the Western tradition and the "perennial philosophy." But some in the university did not care for this program, and pointed to the Catholic faith of …

1
Latinization, Episode IV: the Ottoman World, 1450-1800 57:54

1y ago57:54

57:54

In the fourth installment of our series on Latinization of the Eastern Churches, we take a look at Rome during Renaissance and Reformation era and its relationship with the Eastern Churches that come into communion with it, above all the Maronite Church. We also take a look at the influence of European powers on this process, as well as the creatio…

1
ReView: Becket 37:28

1y ago37:28

37:28

In this episode of Controversies in Church History, we take a look at the 1964 feature film Becket, a bio pic about the medieval marytr and bishop St. Thomas Becket. After a brief relation of the history of Becket's martyrdom, we take a look at the film, which based on the play by Jean Anouilh, and assess its strengths and weaknesses as a film and …

1
Shorts: The Maronites in Renaissance Rome 5:55

1y ago5:55

5:55

Hey everyone! This is new Short, a preview of the latest patron only episode for everyone else. This is from Episode IV of our series on Latinization, which is on Rome's relationship with Eastern Christians in the Ottoman Empire between 1450 and 1800. In this clip, I discuss the relationship between Rome and the Maronite Church of Lebanon during th…

1
ReView: A Man For All Seasons 35:59

1y ago35:59

35:59

Hello! The latest episode of the podcast is another "ReView" of an historical film This time, I riff on the one of the most heralded movies about a ever made about a Catholic historical figure. I am of course talking about "A Man For All Seasons," the biopic about St. Thomas More which won six Oscars in 1966, and in the film I discuss what it gets …

1
Latinization, Episode III: The Era of Reformations, 1450-1750 41:03

1y ago41:03

41:03

Hi everyone! In this episode, we give a brief overview of the trends in the early modern era that affected Rome's attitude toward Eastern Christian customs, and how that led to instances of "Latinization." We take a look at papal policy in that era, as embodied by a papal encyclical of Benedict XIV, which lays out the papal rationale for altering (…

1
Galileo's Ghost: The Trial of Galileo & the Modern Myth of Expertise 1:03:24

1y ago1:03:24

1:03:24

Our latest episode is now available. In this installment, I take a look at the "Galileo Affair" as it is often called, and talk about how it became a founding myth of modernity, not only concerning the relationship between science and religion, but also the myth of the modern "expert," which is very much still a crucial part of our world today.…

1
Shorts: Benedict XIV on Latinization 5:33

1y ago5:33

5:33

Hey everyone! This is a new feature I will be using going forward. I provide early access to certain episodes to my supporters on Patreon, in particular the episodes in my longer ongoing series. After a month, I drop the episode for everyone. So, to give non-subscribers a sneak preview, I am going to share clips of the full episodes before they dro…

1
Is the Pope an Absolute Monarch? 32:34

1y ago32:34

32:34

It is common to hear Catholics say the pope is an "absolute monarch." But is that true? In this episode, I examine the question and conclude that yes, he is--but not in the way you probably think.

1
The Arian Crisis, c320-381 1:02:03

1+ y ago1:02:03

1:02:03

In this re-recording of an earlier episode, I take a look at the Arian Crisis of the Fourth Century, when conflict over the nature of Christ's divinity shook the Church for over half a century. In it, I discuss the nature of the dispute as well as how the Roman emperors played a role in the conflict. Finally, I consider the Arian Crisis in comparis…

1
Latinization, Episode II: The Middle Ages 53:32

1+ y ago53:32

53:32

In this second installment of our series on Latinization, we tell the story of how Rome's reforms in the 11th and 12th centuries led to conflicts in the border lands of Eastern and Southern Europe with the Byzantine Orthodox, and how the Crusades set in motion the (mostly) voluntary Latinization of the Armenian and Maronite Churches. We end with a …

1
ReView: HBO's Rome 43:24

1+ y ago43:24

43:24

Hello everyone! On this episode of Controversies in Church History, I take a look back at another piece of recent cultural history. This time, I review the HBO TV series Rome, which aired from 2005-2007, and look at how the creators of the Show framed the series as a contrast between pagan Roman and Christian morality.…

1
Pope Joan 2:55

1+ y ago2:55

2:55

In this episode of Controversies in Church History, we look at the reign of Pope Joan (855-857), the only woman ever to reign as bishop of Rome. If you like the podcast, please follow us on Spotify for Podcasters, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel, and if you are so inclined, become a patron of th…

1
ReView: The Tudors 33:44

1+ y ago33:44

33:44

In this episode, I take a look back at the Showtime historical drama The Tudors (2007-2010), and show why it was a worthy attempt to depict the Reformation era of Henry VIII, despite being what its own producers called a "soap opera." In it, I discuss what they did and did not get right about Thomas More, and why long series like this are better ve…

1
ReView: William Oddie's "The Roman Option" 43:06

1+ y ago43:06

43:06

For this episode of Controversies in Church History, we are doing something a bit different. In it, we take a look back "The Roman Option: Crisis and Realignment in English Speaking Christianity" by the Catholic journalist William Oddie. Published in 1998, Oddie details how a group of Anglicans disaffected by the Church of England's decision to "or…

1
Cardinal McElroy's Dubious History 15:40

1+ y ago15:40

15:40

In this brief episode, I take a look at a very suspect historical claim that Cardinal McElroy makes in his recent response to critics in America Magazine. If you like what hear, please follow us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel, and if you are so inclined, became a patron of Controvers…

1
Latinization, Episode I: What It Is, Why It Matters 36:37

1+ y ago36:37

36:37

In the first episode of our new series on Latinization, I define what Latinization is, and why it is important for understanding the Catholic Church today. If you like this topic, please follow us on Spotify for Podcasters, Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also listen on the Controversies in Church History YouTube channel …

1
The Reformation of the World: the Gregorian Reform, c.1050-1150 53:18

1+ y ago53:18

53:18

In this re-recording of a lecture given in early 2020, I take a look at the Gregorian Reform movement, a medieval movement that sought to reform the Christian world with the papacy as its champion. Beginning with monastic reforms in the tenth century, a series of reforming monks and clergy sought to free the Church from lay control while reforming …

1
Updates & an Ordinariate Defense 27:51

1+ y ago27:51

27:51

Hello friends! I am busy at work on the next few episodes of the podcast, and will be dropping some shorter episodes available to all listeners and not just subscribers. This begins now, with a short episode in which I give some updates but also read a post from my blog that I wrote several years ago, defending the Ordinariate liturgy (if you don't…

1
State of the Podcast Update 11:23

1+ y ago11:23

11:23

An update on the podcast, personal news, and an appeal to help grow the podcast from yours truly.

1
What We've Been Reading: 2022 44:15

1+ y ago44:15

44:15

A review of some of the more interesting/enlightening books I've read this past year, though not all of them have to do with Catholicism. Enjoy!

1
Catholic Lives, Episode 15: Orestes Brownson--the American Newman 41:24

2y ago41:24

41:24

Our series of mini-biographies we call "Catholic Lives" takes a look at the life and career of Orestes A. Brownson (1803-1876), a convert from New England whose spiritual journey took him from Evangelical revivalism to Unitarianism and the Transcendentalist Movement, before entering the Catholic Church in 1844. A thinker with a wrestling, combative…

1
Church Musings 10/22 13:23

2y ago13:23

13:23

Controversies in Church History will return to regular (or semi-regular) podcasting in the spring. Until then, take a listen to a short audio presentation of post on the blog post concerning recent news items involving the Church in the past week. Cheers!

1
Much Ado About Integralism, 1872-Present 48:38

2y ago48:38

48:38

There is a specter haunting the Catholic world, whose name is "integralism." The term "integralism" has been used in recent years by Catholic thinkers who want to reassert the Church's teaching on the superiority of the spiritual power to that of the temporal power, and the rights of the Church over society. Some Catholic thinkers have even brought…

1
Kulturkampf: the German War on Catholicism, 1871-1890 46:21

2y ago46:21

46:21

In 1871, the German Empire began passing laws meant to control the Catholic Church in Germany, which it regarded as a potential fifth column. This legislation inspired attempts by other German speaking countries, and within five years governments arrested and exiled bishops, removed priests from their parishes, seized church property and expelled r…

1
Heresy, American Style: The Americanist Crisis, 1890-1900 50:00

2y ago50:00

50:00

In 1899, pope Leo XIII wrote a letter to Cardinal Gibbons of Baltimore, condemning something called "Americanism." Many contemporary Catholic historians and scholars have claimed that "Americanism" is a phantom, a term of abuse by "conservative" Catholics hurled at their opponents. In this episode, we will talk about what "Americanism" is and and i…

1
Was Shakespeare Catholic? 52:30

2y ago52:30

52:30

Catholic images, beliefs, and even practices, dot the plays of William Shakespeare, the greatest playwright in the English language. And relatives of his can be identified as Catholic, even one that was executed for treason. But was William Shakespeare himself a Catholic? In this episode, we dive into the evidence for Shakespeare as a Roman Catholi…

1
Mass of the Ages & Conspiracy Theories 41:43

2y ago41:43

41:43

In this episode, I take a look at the otherwise admirable "Mass of the Ages" film, and claims of conspiracy with regard to history. Specifically, I talk about why the liturgical reform of the 1960s was NOT the result of a conspiracy and why conspiracy theories in general are poor explanations for complicated historical events.…

1
My Conversion Story 1:05:19

2y ago1:05:19

1:05:19

In response to a viewer's request, I hereby present you with the story of my conversion to the Catholic Church, and how I went from atheism to believing in Jesus Christ.

1
Catholic Lives, Episode 15: Orestes Brownson, The American Newman 41:21

2y ago41:21

41:21

Our series of mini-biographies we call "Catholic Lives" takes a look at the life and career of Orestes A. Brownson (1803-1876), a convert from New England whose spiritual journey took him from Evangelical revivalism to Unitarianism and the Transcendentalist Movement, before entering the Catholic Church in 1844. A thinker with a wrestling, combative…

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