Trent Horn

Trent Horn is an American Catholic theologian, academic, and writer, best known for his work in apologetics and his role as a speaker and educator on various aspects of Catholic teaching. He is also known for his engagement in numerous debates regarding religious, philosophical, and political matters. Horn has published several books, including Why We're Catholic: Our Reasons For Faith, Hope, And Love, and Answering Atheism: How to Make the Case for God with Logic and Charity.
==Background==
===Early life and conversion===
Horn was born in San Diego, California, to an Ashkenazi Jewish father and an ex-Catholic mother who had converted to Protestantism.
A self-proclaimed former Deist, he has stated he was highly skeptical of religion in his youth, considering it to be "a crutch for the simple minded." He was eventually introduced to Catholicism during his sophomore year of high school, when he participated in an event organized by a Catholic youth group and was subsequently invited to attend the Holy Mass, deciding to embrace the religion at the age of 17 upon further study.
===Education===
In 2012, he obtained a graduate degree in theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville and attained a graduate degree in philosophy from Holy Apostles College and Seminary|Holy Apostles College in 2018. Horn also holds a bachelor's degree in history, which he attained from Arizona State University.
==Career==
===Apologetics===
Upon graduating from Franciscan University of Steubenville in 2012, Horn became actively involved in the Catholic apologetics scene, joining the staff of Catholic Answers as an apologist. Since then, he has participated in numerous debates on topics such as the existence of God, the validity of Christian scripture, and the nature of truth, often engaging with both religious and secular opponents; places he has been invited to debate include UC Berkeley, UC Santa Barbara, and Stanford University. In addition to his debates, Horn has given lectures across the United States and internationally, speaking on a wide range of theological and philosophical topics.
Matt Fradd, a fellow staff apologist at Catholic Answers, described Horn as "a talented Catholic apologist and engaging speaker. He articulates Catholicism with intelligence, care, and charm, offering a model for how a representative of the Church should present our faith in public."
===Academia===
Horn works as an adjunct professor of apologetics at Holy Apostles College.
===Political views===
In terms of economics, Horn is a well-known whom critic of socialism, arguing in his 2020 book Can a Catholic be a Socialist? that Catholicism and socialism are fundamentally incompatible.3pi He has voiced similar views regarding liberalism.3pi|reason=This is just quoting from a press release. Moreover, Horn has voiced support for capital punishment, arguing that it is "not inherently wrong" and "not morally wrong in and of itself like abortion or euthanasia," as the individuals affected are not innocent.pn His outlook on the death penalty contrasts with the contemporary stance of the Catholic Church, which outright opposes it.ot|reason=It's also a little SYNTHy, a source that actually connects the two would help.
===Digital media===
Horn regularly hosts podcasts and appears on Catholic radio shows, where he continues to educate and engage with both believers and skeptics on complex moral and spiritual issues; he has accordingly built a substantial social media presence, amassing more than 150,000 subscribers on his YouTube channel.
Category:American Roman Catholic theologians
Category:American people
Category:Writers
Category:People from San Diego