The Church's Messy Past: How a Thought Experiment Helped Me Convert (#359)

from Considering Catholicism · host Greg Smith

[DONATE WITH PAYPAL] Greg responds to listener Shandra's heartfelt question about the Catholic Church's historical involvement in injustices like the transatlantic slave trade and the subjugation of Ireland. Drawing from his own conversion journey as a former Protestant, he shares a thought experiment: What if the Church hadn't existed as a societal force? Exploring real historical "control groups" from Eastern Christianity and analogies like C.S. Lewis's grumpy Christian, Greg argues the Church acted as a moderating influence amid human sin, rather than its cause. He avoids detailed apologetics, focusing instead on empathy, facts about historical biases, and theological hope for imperfect vessels. [DONATE WITH PAYPAL] so more people can consider Catholicism! Website: https://www.consideringcatholicism.com/ Email: [email protected]

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Jul 25, 2025

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The Church's Messy Past: How a Thought Experiment Helped Me Convert (#359)

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