A Bacik Conversation: Recent Episodes
WGTE Public Media
For years, Fr James J. Bacik has delivered some of the most thought-provoking lectures covering Relationships, Democracy, Religion and more. Now, Fr Bacik and co-host Brad Rieger bring you “A Bacik Conversation,” a thoughtful podcast that dives into topics that Fr Bacik covers in his lectures, articles and books.
Fr Bacik and Brad Reiger discuss Dorothy Day: Dorothy Day (1897-1980) journalist, social activist, founder of the Catholic Worker Movement who encourages us to engage in concrete actions to serve the poor and promote peace.
Thomas Merton (1915-1968) Catholic priest, Trappist monk, author of best-selling autobiography, The Seven Storey Mountain, who reminds us that personal prayer should inspire us to work for justice and peace.
Father Bacik and Brad Reiger discuss Richard Gaillardetz (1958-2023), Outstanding American ecclesiologist who wrote profound reflections on his 18-month battle with pancreatic cancer now published as While I Breathe I Hope, a great addition to the spirituality of death and dying.
Father Bacik and Brad Reiger discuss Elizabeth Johnson, CSJ (1941- ), Premier American Catholic feminist theologian who proposed reimaging God in feminine language (Lady Wisdom and Mother) as a way of overcoming the sexism and patriarchy supported by traditional male images of God (Father and Son).
Karl Rahner (1904-1984) German Jesuit theologian, considered one of the five most influential theologians in the history of the church who encourages us to find the gracious God in our ordinary experiences of life including our work and leisure, and our joys and sorrows.
Bernard Lonergan (1904-1984) Canadian Jesuit philosopher and theologian, professor at Gregorian University in Rome and Harvard who developed a theological method that guides a process of conversion in various dimensions of our lives: intellectual, moral, affective and religious.
Brad and Fr Bacik discuss John Courtney Murray on today's episode. John Courtney Murray (1904-1967) American Jesuit theologian, who played a crucial role at the Second Vatican Council in passing the Declaration on Religious Liberty that affirmed the right of citizens to follow their conscious in religious matters.
Brad and Fr Bacik discuss Reinhold Niebuhr on today's episode. Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971) American, reformed, very influential theologian who developed an approach known as “Christian Realism” that emphasizes the ill-effects of original sin and calls Christians to work for “proximate justice” while avoiding the illusion that we can establish the kingdom of God on earth.
Fr Bacik and Brad Reiger discuss Martin Luther King Jr. Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968) Baptist minister, social activist and apostle of non-violence, who led the movement to desegregate southern states and pass federal legislation to secure voting rights for African-Americans.
Fr Bacik and Brad Rieger discuss Mohandas Gandhi. Mohandas Gandhi (1869-1948) the “Mahatma,” the “great souled” Indian holy man who challenges us to seek self-realization and become more aware of our true self.
Brad and Fr Bacik discuss Paul Tillich. Paul Tillich (1886-1965) German Lutheran theologian and Harvard professor who created a grand synthesis presenting the Christian message as the answer to cultural concerns.
Brad and Fr Bacik discuss Edward Schillebeeckx. Edward Schillebeeckx (1914-2009) Belgium theologian and Dominican priest who summarized biblical research concluding that we have enough reliable knowledge about the historical Jesus to bet our lives on him as Christ the Savior of the World as proclaimed by the New Testament.
This Season, Brad Rieger and Father Jim Bacik focus on 12 Theologians that had an impact on Fr Bacik. Today's episode: Pierre Teilhard de Chardin. Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (1881-1955) French Jesuit paleontologist who produced a powerful synthesis of his faith in evolutionary science and his belief in the cosmic Christ which grounded a spirituality of work that enables us to see all our good purposeful activities as an intrinsically valuable participation in God’s ongoing creation.
This Season, Brad Rieger and Father Jim Bacik focus on 12 Theologians that had an impact on Fr Bacik. Today's episode: Johann Metz. Johann Metz (1928-2019) German Catholic priest and theologian deeply disturbed by the failure of the German Catholic Church to speak out against Hitler and the Holocaust, who proposed a political theology that calls us to appropriate the “dangerous memory of Jesus “ who calls us to sacrifice our personal interests and comfort in order to promote justice, to serve the common good and to empower the poor to take charge of their own lives.
This Season, Brad Rieger and Father Jim Bacik focus on 12 Theologians that had an impact on Fr Bacik. Today's episode: Hans Urs von Balthasar.
This Season, Brad Rieger and Father Jim Bacik focus on 12 Theologians that had an impact on Fr Bacik. Today's episode: Alfred North Whitehead.
This Season, Brad Rieger and Father Jim Bacik focus on 12 Theologians that had an impact on Fr Bacik. Today's episode: Jacques Miratan. Jacques Maritain (1882-1979) a French Catholic philosopher who championed human rights and promoted Christian humanism that can inspire us to actualize our God-given potential.
This Season, Brad Rieger and Father Jim Bacik focus on 12 Theologians that had an impact on Fr Bacik. Today's episode: Gustavo Gutierrez. Gustavo Gutierrez (b 1928) Peruvian priest who helped develop liberation theology that alerts us to the systemic injustice that hurts marginalized persons all over the world.
This Season, Brad Rieger and Father Jim Bacik focus on 12 Theologians that had an impact on Fr Bacik. Today's episode: John Macquarrie. John Macquarrie (1919-2007) Anglican theologian and professor of divinity at Oxford University who wrote about the polarities that constitute human existence which today can help us develop dialectical virtues such as committed openness and hopeful realism.
This Season, Brad Rieger and Father Jim Bacik focus on 12 Theologians that had an impact on Fr Bacik. Today's episode: Karl Barth. Karl Barth (1886-1968) Swiss Protestant theologian who led the Confessing Church in opposing Hitler which can encourage us today to fight to save our democracy.
This Season, Brad Rieger and Father Jim Bacik focus on 12 Theologians that had an impact on Fr Bacik. Today's episode: Yves Congar. Yves Congar (1904-1995) a French Dominican priest who fostered ecumenical dialogue including with Orthodox Christians which can encourage us today to learn from the spirituality of eastern Christianity.
This Season, Brad Rieger and Father Jim Bacik focus on 12 Theologians that had an impact on Fr Bacik. Today's episode: Martin Buber. Martin Buber (1878-1965) a Jewish religious philosopher who is well known for his 1923 work I and Thou which can help us today to improve our personal relationships.
This Season, Brad Rieger and Father Jim Bacik focus on 12 Theologians that had an impact on Fr Bacik. Today's episode: Rosemary Reuther.
This Season, Brad Rieger and Father Jim Bacik focus on 12 Theologians that had an impact on Fr Bacik. Today's episode: Hans Kung.
Fr Bacik and Brad Rieger discuss one's health -- Physically, Mentally, Socially and Spiritually, especially during COVID.
Fr Bacik and Brad Reiger discuss how younger adults and older adults interact with each other.
Father Bacik touches on "Maintaining our Democracy: Threats and Responses." In addition to this podcast episode, you can watch a full lecture on this topic from Fr. Bacik here.