A Catholic Priest Talks About - The Inner Ring

The Inner Ring

09/19/20 • 17 min

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We examine C.S. Lewis’ essay, “The Inner Ring.” We then develop some of the themes of wanting to fit in. We see how some groups are worth belonging to, and some are not. We see how those Inner Rings are unavoidable, and can even be good. Other times, whether in families, friends, education or employment, being ‘in the know’ is a dangerous thing, and doesn’t help us, or others. It can be about excluding others, and then we can never be happy, since there is always another level. It can also tempt us, because of Pride, to lose our souls. When we join an Inner Ring out of genuine love of the people, or because we like the task at hand, we find peace, and it helps us grow in God’s grace.

Previous Episode

The Problem of Evil

We discuss Theodicy, specifically the Problem of Evil: How can an all-loving, all-powerful God exist, if evil exists as well. It is a classic problem of the Existence of God and Evil. We separate Moral Evil from Natural Evil, and look at why God doesn't stop bad people, but also why God allows natural disasters. We look at various answers, like the answer from the Book of Job in the Bible, to atheism, limited theism, and why Christianity has a different answer. Finally, we touch on John Paul II's encyclical, Salvifici Doloris, and what meaning we can give suffering.

Next Episode

The Communion of Saints

We look at the phrase 'the Communion of Saints' as it appears in the Nicene Creed. We examine how Saint Paul refers to all believers as saints, and how that phrase still refers to the community of all believers. We also see how our actions and personal choices matter to others, and how to change the world, to stop systems of injustice or sin, we need to start by changing ourselves. We finish with a look at the Church Militant, Church Suffering and Church Triumphant, and how we can relate to saints.