Exploring Real Catholic Faith
A Podcast Adventure Beyond the Ordinary, this episode of The Catholic Experience explains why orthodoxy, while important, is not enough. Holiness is the point
In the world of spirituality, faith and religious rules often get mixed up. But this eye-opening episode of The Catholic Experience podcast—titled, “The Church is Not the Point”—encourages listeners to explore a deeper kind of faith — one that goes beyond church and invites a journey towards true holiness. The sacramental life of the Church is the means to holiness. but “the Church” and the faith experience are often treated as the destination itself.
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The episode kicks off by diving into the wisdom of early Christianity, starting with St. Polycarp’s strong warnings against people who twist God’s teachings for their own benefit. St. Polycarp makes it clear: such folks are far from God, almost like “Satan’s firstborn.” He calls us to let go of the “foolishness and fake teaching of the crowd” and go back to the original message — seen not just as scripture or tradition, but a direct invitation to live like Jesus Christ.
As the episode continues, the focus shifts to St. Cyprian of Carthage, who explains the close relationship between God and the church beautifully. “No one can call God his father if he doesn’t see the church as his mother,” he says, highlighting the church’s role as a pathway to God, not the final destination.
“The Church is not the point of the faith. Holiness is. The sacramental life of the Church is the means to that end, not the end itself.”
The episode is a crash course in church wisdom, sharing a mix of quotes from early church figures like Tertullian and St. Athanasius. These ancient voices all share one message: the quest for holiness (not merely orthodoxy). It’s a loud call to live a life based Truth—values, charity, patience, and humility. It’s an invitation to change in a way that lines up with the sacred plan of who we’re meant to be, as shown by Jesus Christ, the “authentic man”. I explain the nature and importance of “Jesus as the authentic man” in the episode.
The podcast points out a common trend in some Catholic groups — thinking that following church orthodoxy equals “being good”. However, as an old school Catholic who believes in the indispensability of orthodoxy and doctrine, I ask listeners to reconsider this idea. While I agree that genuine Catholic teaching is important, I describe my sadness that following rules seems to be more important to many in the faith than being holy. Jesus’ own criticisms of the ‘rule-following but not good’ Pharisees of his time are used as a clear reminder that being good isn’t just about believing the right things, but about living a life that looks like Christ’s.
This episode isn’t just a religious lecture but a sincere call to self-examination and spiritual change. It asks listeners to think about whether our faith is just a routine, or if it’s an active journey leading us to be more like God.
In a world where religion can sometimes lose its real meaning, this episode episode serves as a much-needed guide, leading us back to the core of what it means to be Catholic and to live a holy life. It’s a journey that needs bravery to question our deepest beliefs and the readiness to be changed by the Truth — Jesus Christ himself.
For anyone wanting to deepen their understanding of faith and start a life-changing spiritual adventure, this podcast episode is a must-listen. It’s an invitation to follow in the saints’ footsteps, not just within the church, but in the everyday quest for a good and genuine life.
“Bonus Round”
Concluding the episode, I talk about why the terms “Liberal” and “Conservative” have no place in “Catholicism” or “Christianity.” I discuss this in a way that’s applicable to the subject of holiness, and as a sort of admonition to those who fall into the common habit of secularizing or politicizing the faith.
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