104 - Bible Questions Pt. 3

104 - Bible Questions Pt. 3

Author: Dr Caitlin West November 28, 2025 Duration: 33:16

caitlinwest.com


FINAL EPISODE OF THE DEEP DIVE LET'S GOOOO

In this episode, we consider common moral problems that people encounter when they read the Bible. Why does the God of the Old Testament seem so angry and cruel, while Jesus seems merciful and loving? Why does God give such harsh punishments to people in the Old Testament? Does the Bible condone things like slavery and genocide? What about all those people who do terrible things in the Bible?


Basically just a few really easy simple questions that aren't at all controversial, you're welcome.

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References and further reading/listening/viewing:

Matthew 22:37-40

Isaiah 13:9

2 Kings 13

Joshua 11:8-9

The Catechism of the Catholic Church, pts. 42, 53

Trent Horn, Hard Sayings

Jimmy Akin, Genocide in the Bible

Joe Heschmeyer, Did God Command Genocide in the Old Testament?

The Bible in a Year, Day 32: Cattle, Boils, and Hail

Catholic Answers:

The Reason for Divine Wrath

Does God Have Emotions?

Does the Bible Support Slavery?

Pope Benedict XVI: God and the World: Believing and Living in Our Time

The Catholic Encyclopedie, Slavery and Christianity

Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae, II.i, Q.79

Fr Mike Schmitz:

Did God Change?

Old Testament God vs. New Testament God

Pints With Aquinas, The Problem of Violence in The Old Testament? /W Trent Horn

Bishop Robert Barron, Understanding Violence in the Old Testament

Breaking In The Habit, Why is God so Angry in the Old Testament?


For anyone curious about the foundations, traditions, and everyday implications of the Catholic faith, Crash Course Catholicism offers a thoughtful and accessible entry point. Hosted by theologian Dr Caitlin West, this podcast breaks down complex theological concepts, historical context, and Church teachings into clear, manageable conversations. Each fortnightly episode focuses on a specific topic-from the sacraments and scripture to moral philosophy and liturgical practice-providing listeners with a structured yet engaging overview. Dr West’s approach is both scholarly and welcoming, making centuries of tradition feel relevant and comprehensible. Whether you're a lifelong parishioner seeking a refresher, someone exploring spirituality, or simply a person with questions about the world's largest Christian denomination, this series is designed to inform without overwhelming. Tune in for a calm, considered journey through the pillars of Catholic thought, all delivered in short, easy-to-digest segments perfect for a daily commute or quiet moment of reflection. You can find more from Dr Caitlin West and the podcast at her website.
Author: Language: en-gb Episodes: 100

Crash Course Catholicism
Podcast Episodes
99 - The New Testament Pt. 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:50
www.caitlinwest.com - In this episode, we continue our overview of the Bible by looking at the first five books of the New Testament: The Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. We consider who wrote each book, when it was…
98 - The Old Testament Pt. 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:40
www.caitlinwest.comIn this episode, we continue our overview of the books of the Old Testament. We discuss the Wisdom books and the Prophetic books, and consider what each book is about, who wrote it, when it was written…
97 - The Old Testament Pt. 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:41
www.caitlinwest.comWelcome to the books of the Bible!In these next few episodes, we'll go through all 73 (!!) books of the Bible - both the Old Testament and the New Testament. We'll briefly summarise each book, and disc…
96 - The Bible: Introduction [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:12
www.caitlinwest.comWhat is the Bible, really, and how do we read it? How can we say that the Bible is both the Word of God and the work of human authors? What should we do when we come across a tricky passage that we don…
95 - St. Augustine: Convert, Sinner, Saint. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:29
www.caitlinwest.comTo wrap up our deep dive into the existence of God, in this episode we take a look at the life of St Augustine. St. Augustine is a doctor of the church, and one of the greatest saints in the history of…
94 - Common Atheist Objections Pt. 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:14
www.caitlinwest.com"The fact that people's religion tends to align with the culture and country that they grew up in shows that religion is just a cultural construct""There are so many hypocritical people who have used r…
93 - Common Atheist Objections Pt. 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:24
"Atheists don't need to substantiate their position; the burden of proof lies with the theist because they're the one making a positive claim to belief.""God is just something people turn to for comfort." "Atheists just…
92 - Kalam, Fine Tuning, Beauty, and Consciousness [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:00
In this episode, we continue our deep dive into the question: How do we know God exists? Today we will give an overview of various popular arguments for the existence of God, including the Kalam Cosmological Argument, th…
How Papal Conclaves Work [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:36
In this short, bonus episode, we discuss what a papal conclave looks like. How does voting work? How many votes are needed for someone to be elected pope? Why is the process so secretive?The information in this episode c…