My kids have always loved listening to stories. Over the past year they have gotten old enough to appreciate more complex stories. Last year we read Tolkien’s The Hobbit. I watched as their imaginations took off skyward. Their playtime included hiking up the Lonely Mountain, lurking through spider-infested forests and slaying fire-breathing dragons. After finishing The Hobbit, the boys couldn’t wait to see where the next adventure would take them. They wanted to continue on to read The Lord of… Read more
April 16, 2019
The Fire of Notre Dame and the Theology of Architecture
April 16, 2019 By René Albert
In recent news, the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France had caught fire and sustained significant damage. Although tensions are high in France due to an increase in terrorist attacks and anti-Catholic church vandalism, initial reports believed the source of the fire came from the construction site of the building. The 860-year-old church had been undergoing long-overdue restoration as it began to show its age. This horrible event reminds me of an incident that hit close to home more than a decade… Read more
April 13, 2019
A Reflection on Palm Sunday and Election Season
April 13, 2019 By René Albert
As we near Easter weekend, my neck of the woods is in the midst of a provincial election. I’ve noticed many fellow Christians have grumbled about how the government cares little for religious days of obligation. But in reflection of Palm Sunday, it suddenly dawned on me the timing of the election couldn’t be more appropriate. For those unfamiliar with Catholic feast days, Palm Sunday celebrates the moment Jesus was welcomed by the people of Jerusalem. The passage in Scripture… Read more
April 12, 2019
Stop Treating Evangelism Like A Sales Pitch
April 12, 2019 By René Albert
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As a cradle Catholic, I made a number of friends in high school who were Evangelical Christians. This was a pivotal influence when I had abandoned Catholicism to become an Evangelical Protestant. What led me to make such a dramatic decision were the persuasive arguments from certain friends who believed the Catholic Church was an evil institution as well as following Jesus in a whole new, exciting way. Although some of these friendships lasted to this very day, a significant amount were… Read more
April 4, 2019
10 Christian Metal Bands Who Don’t Suck
April 4, 2019 By René Albert
I understand that some of my readers are probably not into the same music I enjoy. Rock and heavy metal aren’t everybody’s cup of coffee, and that’s totally fine with me. But given that my articles usually revolve around issues of morality, theology and politics, I think it’s time for me to break it up a little bit and talk about something different. I’ve written other articles about my critique of the Christian music industry and how Christian culture views rock and… Read more
April 1, 2019
Are The Apparitions Of The Virgin Mary Real?
April 1, 2019 By René Albert
“And a great portent appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars” – Revelation 12:1 RSV Biblical Evidence For Spiritual Appearances? In an age so far removed from ancient times, it’s difficult to wrap our minds around events considered supernatural or miraculous. For those of us who identify as Christians, it’s easy to accept everything in the Bible at face value. But it’s another thing… Read more
March 29, 2019
Where Does Progressive Christianity Lead To?
March 29, 2019 By René Albert
Since I was young, I took great satisfaction in not conforming to the expectations of others. I’ve always had an ongoing desire to go against the grain and fight the status quo. Although being a ‘trailblazer’ was more an act of defiance, it was what I considered a way of being ‘progressive.’ In high school, I was one of the first students to turn 18 and legally buy alcohol. Yet I prided myself in being among a handful of students… Read more
March 27, 2019
The Problem With Purity Culture
March 27, 2019 By René Albert
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As a young Catholic, I experienced much of what Evangelicals refer to as legalism. I believed that I could attain salvation simply by following the rules. When I converted from Catholicism to Protestantism, I regularly attended a church with historical Plymouth Brethren roots. Depending on which of the sister-congregations I attended, the environment had varying degrees of conservatism. While I have every reason to be grateful for my friends who led me to faith in Jesus, I’ve noticed an underlying… Read more
March 24, 2019
‘Faith Alone’ Is Not Enough
March 24, 2019 By René Albert
I dated a pastor’s daughter when I was 21, with whom I had long-drawn conversations about faith and religion. As someone who had only became a follower of Jesus a couple years prior, I asked her out of curiosity, “When did you first give your life to Christ?” “I guess I’ve always known Him,” she replied. “I’ve always been saved.” Interesting statement, I thought. How does being born of a religious family automatically make someone ‘saved’ by default? I’ve had friends… Read more
March 20, 2019
Put The Tabernacle Back Where It Belongs!
March 20, 2019 By René Albert
In the parish I grew up attending, the priest would sit directly behind the altar during the Scripture readings. His chair was elevated by a couple steps and was centered below the large crucifix mounted on the wall. It almost seemed like he was sitting on a throne to overlook the congregation. In my adolescent view, it kind of felt like people came to Mass to worship the priest. This was one of the many bothersome observations that motivated me… Read more
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