I just converted to Catholicism. Here's my story.

Summary

Philosophy PhD student Joe Schmidt shares his personal journey from a devout Catholic upbringing to agnosticism and his eventual conversion back to the Catholic faith, highlighting the intellectual and spiritual factors that led to his return.

Highlights

Background and Loss of Faith00:00:00

Joe recounts his devout upbringing, the 'wobble' caused by learning evolution, and his subsequent descent into atheism during high school after struggling with the problem of evolutionary suffering.

Intellectual Path Back to Theism00:03:27

Joe explains how discovering the work of philosopher Dr. Josh Rasmussen and exploring new contingency arguments led him back to agnosticism and eventually to a stronger case for theism based on the elegance and explanatory power of the hypothesis.

The Impact of Miraculous Evidence00:09:50

The transition to faith was cemented by reviewing overwhelming documentation for miraculous phenomena, including Eucharistic miracles, Marian apparitions, and the mystical charisms of Saint Padre Pio.

Conversion of Heart and Future Plans00:20:17

Beyond intellectual arguments, Joe discusses the spiritual influence of saints like Maria Goretti and his ultimate conversion. He outlines his future goal to create an extensive, comprehensive body of work defending Catholicism.