#95 - Fr Conor McDonough - From Decline to Revival: The Untold Story of Catholicism in Ireland

Fr Conor McDonough (@thewhitestone) is a Dominican Friar and Phd Student in the national university of Galway on “The Letters of St Paul in Early Irish Christianity”. He is an educator and communicator of the Catholic faith and frequently features in videos from the Irish Dominicans youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@irishdominicans

In this podcast we explore the current state of Irish Catholicism, highlighting its decline in practice and the alienation of many from the church. We discuss the lack of basic knowledge among self-identified Catholics, the impact of scandals on trust in the church, and the absence of beauty in liturgical practices. However, there is hope in the revival of the faith online and particularly among younger generations. We discuss the impact of modern thinkers like Jordan Peterson on the perception of religion, the spiritual awakening of Gen Z, and the search for truth, beauty, and goodness in a secular world.

Check it out 👇

Chapters:

00:00 The Current State of Irish Catholicism

02:53 Decline and Alienation from the Church

05:53 Cultural Conformity and Choreography Catholicism

08:52 The Intellectual Tradition and Lack of Curiosity

11:57 The Shift in Attitudes Towards Catholicism

14:49 Historical Context of Irish Catholicism

18:10 The Impact of Secularization on Faith

20:57 Personal Experiences and Conversations about Faith

24:05 The Search for Meaning in a Secular Age

27:54 The Crisis of Faith in Modern Society

29:51 Truth, Goodness, and Beauty in Catholicism

32:59 The Impact of Scandals on Faith

36:00 Personal Faith Amidst Institutional Failures

39:03 Spirituality Beyond Traditional Religion

41:50 The Role of Online Communities in Faith

44:54 Generational Shifts in Spirituality

48:02 Rediscovering Faith in a Digital Age

50:59 The Search for Truth, Beauty, and Goodness

53:54 The Importance of Community in Faith Practice

58:37 The Role of Religious Practices in Modern Society

01:00:41 Bridging Divides: The Importance of Community

01:02:07 Engaging the Youth: The Church's Response to New Interest

01:05:53 Navigating Challenges: The Journey Back to Faith

01:08:27 Cultural Reflections: Literature and the Search for Meaning

01:12:41 The Quest for Truth: Artistic Expressions of Faith

01:16:43 Overcoming Prejudices: The Journey Towards Acceptance

01:20:42 Building Community: Resources and Recommendations for Young Adults

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Best,

Mahon.