FLASHBACK: Balancing Faith & Reason w/ Matt Fradd

The conversation between Matt Fradd and Ben Shapiro explores how to balance faith and reason in a world increasingly susceptible to radical skepticism and the normalization of harmful societal trends, emphasizing the importance of community and religious doctrine.

• Radical skepticism and indifference to God lead to a bleak, meaningless view of existence.

• Religious doctrine and community provide essential frameworks for meaning, morality, and social cohesion.

• Embracing traditional roles and prioritizing a mission-driven faith is crucial for insulating core values from societal decline.

Matt Fradd, a Catholic apologist, discusses with Ben Shapiro the challenges of engaging with atheism and agnosticism by highlighting the existential meaninglessness that can arise without belief in God. They examine how the erosion of foundational beliefs through radical skepticism has contributed to societal nihilism, contrasting this with the stability and purpose offered by religious frameworks. The conversation also delves into the practical application of religious principles in modern life, including the fight against pornography and the role of community in upholding traditional values.

Engaging Atheism and Agnosticism

• 00:02:59 When discussing atheism, it is crucial to first define terms like 'atheist,' 'theist,' and 'agnostic,' noting that only theists and atheists bear the burden of proof for their claims. Many self-proclaimed agnostics today are not actively seeking arguments against God's existence but rather express indifference, often saying they are 'spiritual but not religious.' However, without God, fundamental questions about origin, purpose, morality, and destiny are answered with bleak, dogmatic conclusions, such as human existence being accidental and ultimately meaningless.

Properly Basic Beliefs

• 00:08:01 Philosophers like Alvin Plantinga introduce the concept of 'properly basic beliefs,' which are foundational beliefs that are warranted without needing further argument or empirical evidence. Examples include the existence of other minds or that the universe wasn't created five minutes ago. Most people hold beliefs in God, free will, or their own existence as properly basic, seeing them as intuitively sensible rather than derived from complex metaphysical arguments. Radical skepticism, which doubts everything, can lead to nihilism, as it undermines the very foundations necessary for rational thought and societal function, causing people to discard institutions and processes of reasoning when their credibility is challenged.

Problem of Evil and Revelation

• 00:17:33 The problem of evil and suffering, particularly innocent suffering, is an emotionally troubling argument against God's existence. While a full answer may not always be available, theistic arguments often outweigh this problem, especially if one accepts the possibility that God has morally sufficient reasons for permitting evil, even if incomprehensible to humans. Revelation is crucial because, as Thomas Aquinas and Maimonides noted, not everyone possesses the intellectual capacity, time, or diligence to discern divine truths through reason alone, preventing widespread error regarding God's existence.

Catholicism vs. Other Faiths

• 00:25:02 Belief in Catholicism, as opposed to Protestantism or Judaism, stems from the conviction that its tenets are true, following a three-level apologetic framework: theistic arguments for God's existence, Christian apologetics for Christ and the reliability of the New Testament, and Catholic apologetics for specific distinctives. Catholic doctrine, while rich and extensive, maintains that nothing can contradict scripture and tradition, with core beliefs like the efficacy of baptism or the nature of the Eucharist being non-negotiable. This framework also allows for nuanced interpretation on culpability regarding moral issues, integrating modern understanding while upholding eternal principles.

The Battle Against Pornography

• 00:30:41 Pornography is a grave evil that harms individuals and society, and despite past chiding, the tide of public opinion may be slowly turning against its normalization. Religious thought emphasizes the embodied nature of human beings, asserting that people 'are' their bodies, not merely possessing them. Pornography corrupts this intrinsic worth by reducing human persons to two-dimensional objects for consumption, thereby denying the self-giving, masculine act exemplified by Christ and promoting self-gratification over sacrificial love. Numerous studies from neuroscience, psychology, and sociology consistently demonstrate its detrimental effects on consumers, relationships, and society, making anti-pornography a stance aligned with both love and science.

Freedom, Roles, and Community

• 00:48:19 Modern society often elevates individual freedom above all else, viewing rules as impositions, but true freedom is instrumental, existing for the sake of love and specific purposes, not an inherent value. Just as the Exodus narrative reveals, freedom is granted not for its own sake but 'so that they may serve me.' Religion, particularly through 'role theory,' establishes and enshrines roles—like husband, father, or gardener—within which liberty is meant to operate, preventing it from becoming destructive libertinism. Strong religious communities, like those in Judaism, foster economic interdependence, shared social standards, and a collective sense of mission, which are crucial for combating loneliness and preserving traditional values against modern societal decline, demonstrating that a muscular, mission-driven faith leads to growth rather than decline.