Dr. Peter Kreeft & the Most Destructive Belief in History 

Great conversation! Some gems: Who is Jesus? (29:49) "We reflect the universe rather than the universe reflecting us, or rather both we and the universe reflect God who is Himself not just one person but a love relationship among persons. And that relationship - between the Father and the Son - is so perfect that it eternally becomes the third Person, Love itself."(42:13) "The image of God is reflected in everything that has been made, so maybe it's not surprising that we see that in the universe, or in nature (42:57) "But he credits the existence of God in that stone, saving his sanity.” (44:14) "You want that divine image in the human to be redeemed." (47:14) "The greatness of the name of Christ." (1:02:06) "God for us as God's savior." (01:02:27) "We were to be images of God." (01:02:54) "I made the middle name Ambrose." (1:10:24) "Augustine's famous, ‘Oh felix culpa!’." (1:17:20) I'll perform a brief matchmaking among these terms and an apology of Christ centeredness: The understanding of things must always be obtained through the idea that God has of things, through anagogy (descent), not catagogy (descent). It is not the man who, by eating, performs an animalistic action, but the ox who, by eating, performs a human action. The center of the poem of creation that was thought of is man, then there was the hierarchical gradation. But man from eternity, from the beginning is thought, exemplified, finalized, placed in radical connection and willed in Christ the Redeemer, crucified and risen, head of all creation and then of the Church. Every man belongs to him even before being reached and transformed by His Spirit, by an act of the individual or of the community. He reproduces his face, subsists universally, indelibly even before participating in his divine life with Baptism, even if only partial, in image, in-forced. It is the authentic sketch of a picture that claims to be ontologically defined, finalized (Aristotelian efficient causality), connected (Augustinian or Neoplatonic exemplary causality), and resembling a masterpiece. The Christian is not lacking something. It is the unredeemed, unjustified man who is like a black hole. Man, according to the Father's plan, is the realized image of Christ. Man without grace is less man. Mankind is within the concrete human nature as it was willed by the Father's plan. There is no pure nature to which the theological virtues must be taken away. Loving one's neighbor is the precept of Christianity, even the one who is spiritually distant. It is enough for one to be a man to be an icon of Christ, of one who deserves to be loved. For St Ambrose, Christ is the closest, the head of the members. If values are good, if they are authentic, they are Christ, a reverberation of his light. There is no non-Christian beauty, because Christ is the archetype, summit, sum of all beauty, and justice. There is no Christian and non-Christian truth. Either there is the true or there is the false.

Our hearts are restless Lord until they rest in You!

Commenting for the algorithm. I see PK videos I watch and like. Dude is a titan.

Never seen this channel but arrived to check out another Kreeft gem. And he doesn’t disappoint. But I was really impressed with the hosts as well. Well done.

Dr. Kreeft is a masterful and yet gentle teacher and philosopher. His direct, thoughtful, and unvarnished (but not argumentative or mean) style is engaging and reassuring.

Beautiful conversation. I left the Chuch 25 years ago (am now in my early 40s), but am now wrestling with an, I think, inevitable return home. These videos help to clarify what I’m struggling with.

Finally I can listen to a good conversation. And I feel so much connection with these man of God. Bless you eternally. God bless us all ♥️❤️♥️

Never a dull moment with Dr. Kreeft!

What a wonderful conversation! The panel was well-prepared and the personal witnesses shared brought out amazing insights from Dr. Kreeft.

I love Peter kreeft!

Very insightful, relevant, and inspiring talk. Thank you & God bless❤

I could listen to Dr. Kreeft for hours. This panel has really made me think. Thank you for posting this conversation. 🙏❤️ Edit: I subbed to your channel.

Thank you so much!! I was feeling like I had adhd tonight, couldn’t find a thing to listen to, then I found this!! I have dr. Kreefts great courses… god bless him!❤

Kreeft is my favorite.

God bless you guys cheers

I don't think i've even read 100 books in my life, let alone written 100 books. That is absolutely insane!

I am always totally immersed by the ideas Dr.Peter. I love them

Very enlightening!

Beautiful!! Simply BEAUTIFUL!! I Believe that we are all in the presence of ..if not the greatest biblical free thinking scholar, "excuse please" he's damm close! God bless you all and thanks so much !🙏

Thank for you all for the amazing work. Have dozens of notes from this talk now to go through about each subject. Appreciated it, God bless you all.

Thank you!

you have a beautiful cathedral...was blessed to visit about six yrs ago on a parish trip to Gethsemane

Wonderful dialogue! God bless!

wonderful! thank you

'It's God or nothing, and we've got nothing' says Dr Kreeft. We do indeed need to return to and address the notion - and reality - of God.

So glad to have found your channel ! Great interview, I love prof. Kreeft’s work.

🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation: 03:14 🌐 The most dangerous idea in the world is the idea of God because it destroys all idols and poses a threat to false beliefs. 03:43 🧠 If all human ideas were weighed against the idea of God, the latter would infinitely outweigh all others due to its concept of infinite perfection. 04:11 🐍 The worst idea in history is forgetting God or replacing Him with other idols, leading to destruction and moral decay in Western Civilization. 09:20 🌊 Embracing the absence or lack of God, or worshiping false gods, leads to a dangerous path, whereas hitting rock bottom can lead to conversion and returning to God. 15:03 💡 The lukewarmness and complacency in comfortable societies can be more dangerous than the desperation and suffering in those facing hardships, as the latter may lead to deeper conversions and stronger faith. 20:07 🤔 While the existence of evil and suffering remains a profound question, it is suggested that God, in His infinite wisdom and love, allows suffering to bring forth greater goods, virtues, and a deeper understanding of His heart, ultimately leading to the beatific vision. 24:00 😇 The beatific vision is about knowing God, not just knowing about Him, and it involves intuitive knowledge and direct contact with God. 25:25 😔 In times of suffering, instead of seeking answers, we should trust in God and seek to know Him on a deeper level through faith and surrender. 26:21 🙏 God's wisdom often exceeds human comprehension, and He answers our questions in ways that lead us to deeper understanding and faith. 27:27 👍 Justice is just, and God's love is beyond justice. Love is more than justice, and a purely just world would lack hope. 28:43 👉 God's wrath is His response to our sin, and it's an expression of His love to cleanse and purify us, not mere punishment. 32:07 💔 Double predestination, the idea that God wants some people to be in hell, is a terrible heresy and goes against the nature of a loving God. 33:19 🗣️ Misconceptions about the God of the Old Testament are prevalent, but the New Testament also contains severe language about divine justice. 35:13 🌅 Profound transformation often comes through suffering, leading to a deeper understanding of God and His purpose. 37:40 💬 Socratic dialogues offer a powerful method for seeking truth, exposing misconceptions, and finding deeper understanding. 41:25 👫 Humanity, particularly in male and female relationships, reflects the image of God in its completeness and love, making it distinct from angelic relationships. 45:41 💔 The devil targets the family and sexuality as a primary means of attacking humanity's core and seeks to promote a comfortable, diluted version of religion. 46:39 🌐 Addressing contemporary challenges like transgenderism requires both firm opposition to falsehoods and deep compassion and love for the individuals involved. 47:23 🤔 Truth and love must be combined to address sensitive topics like gender; finding the right balance is challenging but necessary. 48:17 💬 Accompanying individuals with love and truth requires discernment; no universal formula exists due to the uniqueness of each person's situation. 49:12 🌟 Personal relationships and love can have a profound impact on people's willingness to reconsider their beliefs or choices. 50:33 ❤️ Love is a powerful force; people may disagree with you, but they will respond to love and compassion. 51:30 🙏 The name of God is sacred, and names have profound significance and identity, reflecting encounters with the divine. 01:09:50 🎙️ People often give multiple names to their children in the Catholic tradition, including saints' names and confirmation names. 01:11:16 🌟 The Book of Revelation speaks of those who overcome being given a new name, signifying a transformed identity and a unique relationship with God. 01:11:57 💔 Purgatory is not an in-between place but the ante room to heaven, where Christ purifies and transforms souls. 01:14:27 🙏🏼 Prayer and sacrifice for loved ones are important, even when we don't see immediate results or know their ultimate destiny. 01:16:03 🕊️ The Theology of the Body provides a language to address the breakdown of the family, gender confusion, and addiction with love and truth. 01:19:25 🕊️ Heaven is not a fluffy, unrealistic place, but a profound and real state of being, more substantial than hell. The Holy Spirit's presence in us is better than Jesus physically being present with us. 01:29:16 🙌🏼 Jesus' ascension enabled the sending of the Holy Spirit, a more intimate presence within us, leading to faith and transformation. The Eucharist, though appearing as ordinary bread, is the real presence of Christ, with rare mystical experiences being the exception, not the norm. 01:31:22 🤖 Emotions in the right relationship with God don't guarantee good behavior. 01:31:37 🌊 The Eucharist's impact is subtle and transformative, like tides rather than spectacular waves. 01:32:04 ❄️ Symbolism of snow representing the countless children affected by Roe vs. Wade's overturning. 01:33:01 🤗 We can't cling to Jesus, but He's not disembodied either; we need to let go to go deeper in our relationship. 01:34:25 🍬 God doesn't want us to get a spiritual "Sweet Tooth"; miracles shouldn't be our primary focus. 01:35:34 🌟 The holiest saints may not experience visible consolations but have a deep connection with God. 01:37:03 🌟 Each person may play a crucial role in the world's existence and can be called to be a saint. 01:39:48 📚 Recommended books: "Heaven: The Heart's Deepest Longing" and "Jesus Shock." 01:41:41 🧡 Love your children unconditionally and guide them in faith to navigate challenges in the digital age. Made with HARPA AI

Excellent. Thank you all. Subscribed.

What a great intelligent conversation! I have been looking for something like this…..

I might say the answer to the worst idea is this: The church's role in the world shifting from its message to the world that all are welcome to repent into the call to the world that all are welcome. If Christ is who we say He is - then the problem with the current state of the world is on us and our fear to call the world to repent.

I loved this discussion. Philosophy is the love of wisdom. Good job gentlemen.

I am a Coptic Christian but I’m not Egyptian. I believe God has put me in the right place to be close to Him. One thing I would like to mention is the question of why does God allow suffering? I think that question can be answered another way, if we as why is humanity still fallen ? We will always be fallen until we are raised to Him. I also think psychologically the ego seeks perfection and all philosophy comes to this. Why do we repeat our history? It is because it is subconscious. If I learned a C court on the guitar, I repeat it over and over until I can do it without thinking. Evil is spread in the subconscious by the evil person’s subconscious. As a philosopher Seneca once said anger is contagious. So the subconscious is reactionary and it is this that evil people use when they speak, it is to😢get an angry reaction. Evil comes from those who are narcissistic meaning, like narcissist whom looked in the pool and saw perfection, this is the image that they spread. Where does it say in the communist manifesto that people like Stalin should have their picture everywhere. When it comes to narcissism, these people think they have the right to do what they do. Rights are the same as entitlement, the same as what they fight for politically. I hear people say about others that others have a different reality. There is only one reality and it isn’t coming from someone’s subconscious. Jesus loved the enemy , so the mind of God showed the Jews God knows more than Hebrew thinking but Greek as wel. Logic had to come even if the Jews did not think like that. The logos is indeed truth in understanding the world and that we repeat of our imperfections as God said be Holy for I am Holy. The human being is truely in a state of being so what are we to be? Like God HolyThere is much conflict in identification. Being an adopted person myself, born a stranger to the world, I can look at things in the third person. God scattered the Jewish people so became adopted to the different cultures and theywould of learn much from them, but kept the integrity of their religion. The church likewise, is also adopted in Christ. The Jews did not take on the different thinking but it seems strange they use psychology which derives from other Gods. The Christian and the Jew in Jung and Freud wanted to understand what goes on in the mind and had to use other God to do so. Reality is reality and to understand it we use an understanding that comes not necessarily from who we are. But can come from the enemy. The world is increasing been polarised with identity at the forefront. My prayers for the world. Thank you Dr Peter kreef.

love the quote at start of video, "it's God or nothing, and we've got nothing." in Genesis, there can be understanding that it is a mythological & symbological story, & that's not saying it's not true, its just that layers of meaning have opened up to me over time, the ego, or will power wants to believe that it could conquer the world if it could only untangle enough of it's mysteries, study enough science, develop an artificial intelligence capable of developing & perfecting it's own programs to a point where it can evolve it's own will & willpower, but a billion empty wells still contain no water. submission to God is the only victory over evil. when Jesus says, "you are either for Me or you are against Me." what He is saying to me is, you are either for God, & Good, or you are against God & Good. You are either for Good or you are for evil. and i know enough of what evil is & does & want no part of that. God Willing, Thy Will Be Done.

Interesting, informative discussion. Thank You.👍

First time here. Great conversation!

Quite insightful.

All i ever wanted all i ever needed is here in my arms... Words are very, unecessary, they can only do harm - Depeche Mode 😂

Wonderful interview! I know Peter kreeft but who are these other intelligent gentlemen? Also was this interview recent?

The notion that society might hit rock bottom and then convert is timely. I’m thinking of the hermit of Loreto.

I question the efficacy of any philosophy that borrows the Nietzschean 'struggle to power' as its primary explanation. Nietzschean philosophy really doesn't have much to do with the Roman Catholic Church, although some 'catholic radicals' would claim otherwise. Not all things can be defined as a Will to Power. 💕

Aquinas explains what the greater good is later on. It's to love God freely. It's the difference between you and a rock or an angel. Also he did not take away your sins, he died from them on the cross and keep suffering for each one of them. So it's actually the greatest crime of history, since it's all the bad stuff together and it never stops. Every time you inflict pain on someone or yourself basically is a new wound. So you can freely stop the behavior, that's the greater good, to give you a chance of redemption before your final judgement. But yeah, in a sense he showed mercy because he could just have wiped out everybody instead, so he chose freely to love as well. It's the point, image of God all the way through.

31:31 Note, while the "dunghill covered with snow" is certainly not a type of salvation, penal substitution may hold true on other levels. For instance, being trapped in death and dead souls even of the just being trapped in Sheol, were punishments for all of mankind due to Adam's sin. Christ shared that punishment for us, so we could share Resurrection and Heaven with Him.

38:14 Especially not Apollo ... check out the five cases of that name in Greek, gematrias _added up._ A Hebrew gematria is arguably always the status absolutus, because the construct is a truncated absolutus. But in Greek, a nominative is not a truncated genitive. Both are full forms. Same for dative, accusative and vocative. It is the name of a demon if you add an Upsilon, both in Homer and Apoc. 9:11, and it is _also_ the name _of a man,_ if you check out the Renaissance opinion that Apollo, Aesculap, Panacee and Salus were a family of physicians, wrongly deified, but rightly honoured instead as pre-Christian saints. That's why the Hippocratic oath could be sworn by Christians - they did not consider it swearing by false gods, but instead by true saints of the true god. Whether they were right or wrong about their sanctity, this still makes Apollo the name of a man. More banale, it is the name of a man named in Acts or Epistles.

I'd like to read 'The Great Divorce ' but I can't read C. S. Lewis now that I know what he said when Tolkien asked him why he chose not to become a Catholic.

1:22:03 You just gave a clue as to "thousand generations" (how I _recalled_ Exodus 20:6) can be reconcile with a world soon ending after being begun c. 7000 years ago - not generations of parents and children, but of prayers for and prayed for.

"God converts people who hit the bottom"

Justice springing up from earth this reminds me of the critical point of despair in the Lord of the Rings. The Ride of the Rhoharim. Read Tolkien's description.

It's always an apple. Apples anything like we have today didn't exist until couple hundred years ago. I'm thinking the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil looked more like an elaborate Faberge Egg.

19:18 Wait - St. Thomas spoke of the "heart of God"?! Before St. John Eudes and St. Margaret Mary Alacoque?! What did CSL say about scholasticism fuelling his devotion and his heart singing unbidden? Makes sense.

1:02:38 I think even the high priest could only say it with drumrolls, inaudibly to bystanders. Not sure exactly how it could then be communicated from one to the next, but still.

20:51 Most of the quote is actually St. Thomas quoting St. Augustine's Enchiridion, XI.

39:20 There are two opinions of the Socratic dialogues. My Greek professor considered all (except possibly Apologia and final words) are _fictions_ by Plato, not much unlike Cicero's dialogues or Consolation of Philosophy. I consider all or most (possible exception "He Polis" or "de Re Publica" / The State, and possibly also Laws) as documented dialogues - the disciples learning the words of the participants by heart, taking turns to note, and then reconstructing the whole once they were among themselves again - just as I believe the words of Our Lord were recorded by His disciples. With very short snippets of the words of the Pharisees, probably because they already knew Him and knew they would lose the argument if they went on. Either way, the Gospellers quoted Pharisees very arguably without them giving consent forms to use their words.

21:41 Oh yes. Job was certainly asking "when is Eliud going to _just_ shut up" and the first thing God says is to ask him "do you _know_ that guy?"'

'It's God or nothing' The cry of the reformers!

Dr. Kreeft couldn't be more on point; the idea of God is the most destructive; especially if that God is not your God.

1:25:12 What is the book called?

48:08 I think you have just made a _good_ point for homosexuality not being inborn and therefore being curable.

1:24 I am shocked. Kreeft is either 86 or 85 going on 86. You mentioned "father and grandfather" - _what_ about greatgrandfather?!

Erik

21:21 Let's recall that Catholics, Jew or Gentile, are spiritual Jews. The carnal Jews who are not yet Catholics need to one day convert, when God sends Enoch and Elijah. In the meantime, they need to have a living. Let's recall that Jews in Hollywood mostly do a better thing now, and there are at least two Jewish linguists on youtube I immensely enjoy, than Jewish usurers or shrinks.

Aristotle’s ethic has its limits.

Who said it was an apple? 🤔

Kreeft-“What is the most desperate mission field? Catholic universities.” Also Kreeft and the rest of the Novus Ordo- we don’t need to reverse the Land o Lakes decision.

45:10 _"each angel being a separate species"_ It is not condemned that this had to be so given what universe God was creating. And that is more or less all that St. Thomas was saying. However, it _is_ condemned that even God was obliged to do it like that. _16 (81). Quod, quia intelligentie non habent materiam, deus non posset plures eiusdem speciei facere._ Bishop Tempier. Condemnations of early 1277 (or late 1276). Condemned proposition 81 in the Paris original, and in the English adopting of them, condemned proposition chapter VII, errores de intelligentia sive angelo, proposition 16.

It’s God or nothing. We got nothing. ❤

Why is there unspeakable suffering in the world? God gave man free will for us to exercise our mortality. Since the garden of Eden we have misused our free will to make bad decisions along with good. Only humans DO evil. God is not human, he is in spirit what we only aspire to be. Thus the grave lessons of the Shoah and other attrosities are on our hands, not God's. Those who scapegoat God or anyone outside themselves for their own responsibilities as a human are not Catholic or speaking within the Christian faith. I would say it is the root of the heretical movement blaspheming God since after the second world war.

8:07 Does that Jesuit enumerate Evolution (Big Picture, from Big Bang to Abiogenesis, and from One Celled Creatures to Man) among the gods of atheism? _He should._

Lost me at the hollowcost

1:11:43 Ultimate dream of any snowflake - having a name which no one else knows.

The worst idea in history? Might be Christianity. Though Islam is a tough competitor.