In this episode, I continue a multipart series in which I adapt some of the lesson plans I used as I taught the Catholic faith for 30 years. I’m not here to convert anyone. I’m just sharing my stories. Having already talked about God last episode, this time we discuss human beings, a brief introduction to the use of mythology in Scripture, and the metaphorical use of angels and demons.

Links of Interest

List of episodes of this podcast dealing with religion: https://contemplating-life.com/blog/category/religion/

RCIA/OCIA on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_Christian_Initiation_of_Adults

New American Standard Bible (NASB) at the US Conference of Catholic Bishops: https://bible.usccb.org/bible

Bible Gateway (multiple translations available): https://www.biblegateway.com/

Catechism of the Catholic Church on Vatican website: https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM

Soul on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soul

“The World, The Flesh, and The Devil” on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_world,_the_flesh,_and_the_devil

Ephesians 2:1-3 NASB: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/ephesians/2

1 Peter 4:1-4 NASB: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1peter/4

1 Peter 5:8-9 NASB: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1peter/5?8

James 4:1-7 NASB: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/james/4

1 John 2:12-17 NASB: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1john/2?12

Apologetics on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apologetics

Genesis 1 NASB: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/genesis/1

Genesis 2 NASB: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/genesis/2

“Myth” on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myth

Dan McClellan on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@maklelan

Dan McClellan on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danmcclellann

“Data over Dogma” podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dataoverdogma

Catholic Catechism on angels: https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P1A.HTM

Angels on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angel

Demons on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demon

For more episodes: https://contemplating-life.com/

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/contemplatinglife

Where to listen to this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/contemplatinglife

YouTube playlist of this and all other episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFFRYfZfNjHL8bFCmGDOBvEiRbzUiiHpq

In this episode, I begin a lengthy multipart series in which I adapt some of the lesson plans I used as I taught the Catholic faith for 30 years. I’m not here to convert anyone. I’m just sharing my stories.

Links of Interest

RCIA/OCIA on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_Christian_Initiation_of_Adults

Change from RCIA to OCIA: https://www.ncregister.com/cna/forget-rcia-meet-ocia-us-bishops-approve-big-name-change

List of episodes of this podcast dealing with religion: https://contemplating-life.com/blog/category/religion/

Father Paul Landwerlen bio: https://www.archindy.org/staff/priests/landwerlen-paul.html

Father Larry Crawford obituary: https://www.archindy.org/criterion/local/2014/03-07/crawford.html

“Alfie” (1966) film on IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060086/

Theme song from “Alfie” by Dionne Warwick on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NPAz8-O29U

Baltimore Cataclysm on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltimore_Catechism

Matthew 22:21 NSAB: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/22?21

For more episodes: https://contemplating-life.com/

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/contemplatinglife

Where to listen to this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/contemplatinglife

YouTube playlist of this and all other episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFFRYfZfNjHL8bFCmGDOBvEiRbzUiiHpq

Sometimes the people we admire turn out to be completely opposite of what we expect. Can we still respect them for the good that they’ve done when they revealed themselves to be something completely different? That’s the question I try to answer about my fandom of Elon Musk in this episode.

Links of Interest

Bill Cosby on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Cosby

“Why Is There Air?” Cosby comedy album on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Why_Is_There_Air%3F

Kevin Spacey on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Spacey

Harvey Weinstein on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvey_Weinstein

Isaac Asimov on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvey_Weinstein

Mel Gibson on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mel_Gibson

J.K. Rowling on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._K._Rowling

Elon Musk on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elon_Musk

Project 2025 on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_2025

Tim Dodd “The Everyday Astronaut” on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EverydayAstronaut

Tim Dodd 2021 interview with Elon Musk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t705r8ICkRw

Blog post “Elon Musk’s Guide to Being a Great Writer”: https://mylife.cyborg5.com/?p=1159

For more episodes: https://contemplating-life.com/

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/contemplatinglife

Where to listen to this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/contemplatinglife

YouTube playlist of this and all other episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFFRYfZfNjHL8bFCmGDOBvEiRbzUiiHpq

This rather lengthy episode wraps up the reviews of most of the Oscar-nominated films for this year. I’m sorry I didn’t have time to do a better job but I was out of commission with the flu for about 10 days and just didn’t have time to do the kind of job I usually do. The Oscars will be presented Sunday, March 2 on ABC-TV and I wanted to get this episode out before the awards were presented.

Links of Interest

The 97th Academy awards on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/97th_Academy_Awards

YouTube video about special-effects in “Conclave”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHX537eqj-M

YouTube video about writing certain types of characters: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3VJsftZfcY&t=619s

For more episodes: https://contemplating-life.com/

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/contemplatinglife

Where to listen to this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/contemplatinglife

YouTube playlist of this and all other episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFFRYfZfNjHL8bFCmGDOBvEiRbzUiiHpq

This is the first of my abbreviated reviews of Oscar-nominated films for 2025. After several weeks of talking about Broadway musicals, fantasy, and fairy tales, we finally get around to discussing “Wicked.”

Links of Interest

“Wicked Part 1“ (2024) film on IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1262426/

"Wicked: For Good" (2025) film on IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt19847976/

Rogers and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella” on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinderella_(Rodgers_and_Hammerstein_musical)

“The Wizard of Oz” (1939 film) on IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032138/

“The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” (1900 novel by L. Frank Baum) on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wonderful_Wizard_of_Oz

“Wicked” 2003 Broadway musical on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicked_(musical)

“Wicked” (1995 novel by Gregory Maguire) on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicked_(Maguire_novel)

Documentary “Defying Gravity: The Curtain Rises on Wicked” on IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32339450/

Easter eggs of Wicked explained by New Rockstars Channel on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJCXyXpvmz4

A detailed synopsis of Wicked novel on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDrxrJ8NVnk

Even more detailed comparison of the book, musical, and film on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuGMf5ex_8U

Deleted Scenes from Wicked on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mB4XOd3L80E

Explanation of hidden musical themes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhND6ZDi5HI&t=315s

For more episodes: https://contemplating-life.com/

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/contemplatinglife

Where to listen to this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/contemplatinglife

YouTube playlist of this and all other episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFFRYfZfNjHL8bFCmGDOBvEiRbzUiiHpq

This is the third of a multi-part series inspired by the hit movie musical “Wicked–Part 1.” This series will be about musical theater, fairy tales, and fantasy in general.

Links of Interest

“Wicked Part 1“ (2024) film on IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1262426/

Rogers and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella” on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinderella_(Rodgers_and_Hammerstein_musical)

Richard Rogers on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Rodgers

Oscar Hammerstein II on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscar_Hammerstein_II

"Cinderella" (1965 TV special) on IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057950/

"Cinderella" folktale on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinderella

"Cinderella" (1957 TV special) on IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0129672/

NASA Project Mercury on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Mercury

NASA Project Gemini on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Gemini

NASA Apollo Program on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_program

Digital Equipment Corporation PDP-8 minicomputer on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PDP-8

ARPANET precursor to the internet on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ARPANET

Arthur C. Clarke on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_C._Clarke

Clarke’s Three Laws on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarke%27s_three_laws

For more episodes: https://contemplating-life.com/

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/contemplatinglife

Where to listen to this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/contemplatinglife

YouTube playlist of this and all other episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFFRYfZfNjHL8bFCmGDOBvEiRbzUiiHpq