Catholic in America
Identity politics and tribal thinking has become America's dominant paradigm. Why has the respect for genuine civic friendship and the common good waned? What are the set of moral and spiritual principles needed to reclaim or reimagine what has been lost? How do we use them to make right judgments about our world and to move forward with clarity and joy? The answer is at the heart of the Catholic faith and its social doctrine: rediscovering our common identity as children of the Father, the One who created us for love. Join Jason Adkins, host of Catholic in America, to engage our own time, culture, and political milieu with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to explore how to live more fully Catholic.
Catholic in America
Everyone Worships Something: Dr. William Cavanaugh on the Idolatry of Our Age
Is modern life really secular—or are we just worshipping new gods?
In this powerful episode of Catholic in America, theologian Dr. William Cavanaugh joins host Jason Adkins to discuss his latest book, The Uses of Idolatry. They explore how the things we worship today—nation, market, technology, and even sports—mirror the dynamics of religion. Drawing on Scripture, St. Augustine, and Catholic sacramental theology, Cavanaugh argues that our age isn't post-religious, but deeply idolatrous.
Key topics include:
- Why secularism is a myth
- Nationalism and consumerism as modern idolatries
- How idolatry hides in plain sight
- The Eucharist as the true antidote
- Recovering a sacramental imagination
- What it means to live a life of faithful resistance
Dr. Cavanaugh challenges us to begin with self-critique: we all worship—and we all worship badly. But through the Eucharist and a deeper prayer life, we can reorient ourselves toward the true God and find joy and freedom in His presence.
Resources Mentioned
- Book by Dr. William Cavanaugh – The Uses of Idolatry
https://academic.oup.com/book/48596 - America Magazine Review – "Tearing Down Idols: William Cavanaugh’s Theology"
https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2024/05/13/william-cavanaugh-uses-idolatry-246196 - Catholic World Report – "The Idolatry and Religion of Our Present Age"
https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2024/06/01/the-idolatry-and-religion-of-our-present-age - Faculty Bio – Dr. William Cavanaugh, DePaul University
https://las.depaul.edu/academics/catholic-studies/faculty/Pages/william-cavanaugh.aspx
Jason Adkins, host of Catholic in America, engages our own time, culture, and political milieu with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to explore how to live more fully Catholic. With so much to explore, we have guests from a variety of perspectives and faith backgrounds, and conversations do not necessarily constitute endorsements.
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