Newman on Tap Presents

Ron Snyder
  • 5.0 (15)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Biweekly

Guest interviews exploring the life and thought of St. John Henry Newman

  1. Sep 28

    Tolerance of Religious Error - Keith Kuwata

    In this episode, Dr. Keith Kuwata joins host Ron Snyder to discuss Newman's sermon "Tolerance of Religious Error," preached on the Feast of St. Barnabas in 1834. Keith, who was raised in a non-sacramental evangelical tradition before becoming an Anglo-Catholic Episcopalian and eventually entering the Catholic Church in 2003, draws on his own journey to illuminate Newman's critique of the Christianity of his age. He describes how his evangelical upbringing reduced faith to a single conversion experience — accepting Christ's atoning death — after which good behavior was expected to follow spontaneously, with any effort toward obedience feeling almost sinful, as if works might replace Christ's merit. Newman identifies three schools of thought that distort Christianity by separating love from truth: the school of expedience, which reduces faith to social kindness and rejects eternal punishment; the school of excited feelings, which places all hope in a one-time conversion and eliminates the need for self-denial or working out salvation with fear and trembling; and the mystical school, which reduces religion to a vague spiritual sensibility disconnected from doctrine and daily moral life. The common thread across all three is that charity becomes detached from truth and drifts into merely "being a good person" rather than being rooted in Christ. Newman's answer is that genuine Christian love must be grounded in Scripture, dogma, and Christ Himself — combining the zeal of St. Paul with the kindness of St. Barnabas — so that charity always has Christ as its goal and focus. To approach Newman's majestic thought it is highly recommended to download the formatted sermon at www.newmanontap.com. Comments and suggestions are appreciated on the same site.

  2. Sep 14

    Doing God Glory in Pursuits of the World - Olivia Firsching

    Host Ron Snyder welcomes Olivia Firsching to discuss Newman's 1836 sermon "Doing Glory to God in Pursuits of the World," which challenges the idea that holiness requires withdrawing from ordinary life. Newman argues Christians are called to glorify God within daily work, relationships, and duty rather than escaping them — avoiding both worldliness and passive withdrawal. Olivia shares her own journey with Newman's writing and how the sermon's call to serve heartily resonated with her two years of homeless outreach ministry in Denver. She recounts a particularly moving encounter from that time: on a cold day downtown, needing a quiet moment of prayer, she was heading into a church for adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, hoping for a bit of rest and prayerful insight. Instead, she found Chris, a homeless man in a wheelchair, waiting outside. Rather than continuing on to kneel before the Eucharist, she knelt down in front of his wheelchair to be at eye level and speak with him. In that posture of humility, she realized she was kneeling before Christ all over again — this time in the person of Chris himself. Even as the Blessed Sacrament sat exposed just eighty feet away inside the church, she understood that Christ was also truly present in the man in front of her, and that encounter carried into the rest of her ministry. They go on to explore Newman's warning against spiritual lukewarmness and draw parallels to saints like Andre Bessette, Solanus Casey, and Thérèse of Lisieux — figures who sanctified humble, hidden tasks through quiet devotion rather than grand gestures. The conversation returns repeatedly to the sermon's core theme: that true holiness isn't found by fleeing the world, but by loving God fully within it, rooted in generosity of heart. They close by tying the sermon to broader themes of worship, sacrifice, and vocation as paths to union with Christ. To approach Newman's majestic thought it is highly recommended to download the formatted sermon at www.newmanontap.com. Comments and suggestions are appreciated on the same site.

  3. Aug 31

    The Danger of Accomplishments - Sheila Berube

    This episode of Newman on Tap Presents, hosted by Ron Snyder, features guest Sheila Berube, a retired Catholic Studies graduate student who discovered St. John Henry Newman through her coursework. Together they explore Newman's sermon The Danger of Accomplishments (1831), which warns that knowledge, talent, and accomplishment are only good insofar as they lead to virtuous action rather than empty feeling. They discuss how education and "refinement" can create a false sense of piety if it never translates into obedience and duty toward God. Sheila connects this to Newman's idea of the "gentleman" — someone who appears polished but may lack true virtue — and to her own studies on the Catholic novel and grace. The conversation touches on Augustine, Mother Theresa, and Flannery O'Connor as examples of faith requiring real sacrifice, not just intellectual or aesthetic appreciation. They close by reflecting on Newman's own spiritual journey from Anglicanism toward Catholicism, and Ron invites Sheila back as she continues her studies. To approach Newman's majestic thought it is highly recommended to download the formatted sermon at www.newmanontap.com. Comments and suggestions are appreciated on the same site.

  4. Aug 17

    The Invisible World - Rita A. Simmonds

    Host, Ron Snyder interviews poet Rita A. Simmonds reflecting on Newman's sermon "The Invisible World" through her own poetry. They explore Newman's idea that an unseen spiritual world exists alongside the visible one, pairing his sermon passages with Rita's poems on faith, loss, and grace. Rita shares deeply personal work inspired by her husband's death, alongside poems on Christ's presence, the good thief's redemption, and nature as a window into the eternal. The conversation moves through themes of hidden vs. revealed truth, the suddenness of grace, and seeing with "eyes of faith." Rita also connects Newman's influence to Monsignor Luigi Giussani, the key inspiration for her poetry. The episode closes with gratitude and information on where to find Rita's published work (ritaasimmonds.com). To approach Newman's majestic thought it is highly recommended to download the formatted sermon at www.newmanontap.com. Comments and suggestions are appreciated on the same site.

  5. Aug 3

    The Gainsaying of Korah - Dr. Robert Kennedy

    This episode features host Ron Snyder in conversation with Dr. Robert Kennedy, a Catholic Studies professor at the University of St. Thomas, about Newman's sermon "The Gainsaying of Korah." Kennedy shares his winding academic path and how his early work on Orestes Brownson (1803 -1876, American Catholic convert, intellectual, social reform advocate, preacher) first connected him to Newman. The two dig into Newman's sermon on the Book of Numbers, exploring how Korah's rebellion against Moses and Aaron mirrors 19th-century challenges to priestly authority within the Church of England. Their discussion turns to pride, self-reliance, and rationalism as forces that undermine faith and obedience to God's authority. Dr. Kennedy connects the biblical narrative to Newman's broader theology of vocation, arguing that true obedience means trusting a wisdom greater than our own — even without complete assurance of outcomes. The episode closes by applying these themes to modern struggles with authority, private judgment, and discerning one's calling. To approach Newman's majestic thought it is highly recommended to download the formatted sermon at www.newmanontap.com. Comments and suggestions are appreciated on the same site.

  6. Jul 20

    Religious Cowardice - Molly Schroeder

    In this episode of Newman on Tap, host Ron Snyder is joined by Molly Schroeder, a middle school teacher, to discuss St. John Henry Newman's 1831 sermon "Religious Cowardice." Their conversation explores St. Mark's journey from timidity to boldness, contrasted with Moses' shift from passion to meekness, and highlights Newman's warning that peaceful, comfortable societies often breed passive faith and spiritual cowardice—an idea he revisits in his later writings. Molly and Ron draw parallels to modern life, noting how comfort and technology similarly dull people to genuine spiritual challenges today. They close by reflecting on grace, the role of trials in reminding us of God's mercy, and how authentic community can help sustain an active, courageous faith. To approach Newman's majestic thought it is highly recommended to download the formatted sermon at www.newmanontap.com. Comments and suggestions are appreciated on the same site.

  7. Jul 6

    The Christian Church an Imperial Power - Dr. Mark Fulk

    This is a podcast conversation between host Ron Snyder and Dr. Mark Fulk, a 19th-century British literature scholar at Buffalo State University, discussing John Henry Newman's 1842 sermon The Christian Church an Imperial Power. Dr. Fulk shares how his Anglican faith journey and literary interests led him to Newman, and describes his current book project arguing Newman's Anglican sermons deserve recognition as literature. The conversation focuses on Newman's vision of Christ's kingdom as an imperial but spiritual force — one that spreads not through military conquest but through missionary work, teaching, and righteous living, drawing heavily on Isaiah and the Psalms. Newman's repeated rhetorical questions ("Has it not spread? Has it not taken the cause of the poor?") are highlighted as a powerful defense of the Church's enduring historical presence. The discussion also wrestles with the tension in Newman's imagery — the violent, conquering language of empire balanced by themes of clemency, humility, and parental care — and how Newman tempers that imagery by grounding it fully in Scripture. Both host and guest close with appreciation for Newman's refusal to sanitize Scripture and his insistence that the Church's ultimate victory unfolds in God's time, not ours. To approach Newman's majestic thought it is highly recommended to download the formatted sermon at www.newmanontap.com. Comments and suggestions are appreciated on the same site.

  8. Jun 22

    Contest between Truth and Falsehood in the Church - Fr. Byron Hagan

    In this episode of Newman on Tap, host Ron Snyder interviews Father Byron Hagan, a priest and former Nashville musician who came to Catholicism largely through the influence of John Henry Newman. Father Hagen explains how Newman served as an intellectual and spiritual bridge for evangelicals seeking deeper roots, ultimately drawing many — including himself — into full communion with the Catholic Church. The conversation centers on Newman's sermon "Contest between Truth and Falsehood in the Church," exploring how the struggle between truth and falsehood plays out not just in grand historical moments but in the everyday choices of individual Christians. Newman's concept of conscience is highlighted as central to his thought — conscience as the "aboriginal vicar of Christ" that connects personal moral reasoning to the teaching authority of the Church. The discussion touches on politics and public life, with Newman's view that Christianity cannot be compartmentalized — a Christian's public allegiances and political choices carry genuine spiritual weight. The episode closes with a beautiful passage on faith and reason from the sermon, connecting Newman's vision to Matthew Arnold's Dover Beach and the enduring relevance of Newman's thought for our own time. To approach Newman's majestic thought it is highly recommended to download the formatted sermon at www.newmanontap.com. Comments and suggestions are appreciated on the same site.

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About

Guest interviews exploring the life and thought of St. John Henry Newman

Information

  • Creator
    Ron Snyder
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    104
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Newman on Tap Presents
  • Show Website
    Newman on Tap Presents

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