Symbols and gestures have carried significant importance among every culture, religion and group throughout history. These can often be displayed and communicated through the use of the hands. Sometimes a simple wave of the hand can be a greeting or a farewell, or it could be used as a means of acquiring someone’s attention. People who travel and enjoy taking pictures of themselves on their endeavors sometimes use a two-fingered peace sign. What very few people realize is when the… Read more
October 17, 2019
The Surprising Origins of Symbols and Gestures in the Music Scene
October 17, 2019 By René Albert
October 12, 2019
Paganism, Catholicism and the Amazonian Synod
October 12, 2019 By René Albert
As someone who has spent a significant amount of time in the Evangelical community, it isn’t uncommon to hear flippant comments about Catholicism. Often the main points of contention between Protestants and Catholics are the role of Mary, the meaning of the Eucharist, the means of justification through faith and/versus works and interpretation of Scripture to name a handful. Though an argument that is often brought up by Evangelicals is the notion that the Catholic Church is inherently pagan. The… Read more
October 8, 2019
Who Is ‘SUSAN FROM THE PARISH COUNCIL?’
October 8, 2019 By René Albert
Unless you’re familiar with Catholic internet culture, this article probably won’t make sense to you the reader. But if any of you ever remember watching a favorite television sitcom, there’s usually an iconic joke that defines the show. If you’ve heard phrases such as Sargent Schultz from Hogan’s Heroes with his back-stepping, “I see nothing! I know nothing!” or Steve Urkel’s nasal apology, “Did I do thaaaaaat?!” then you already understand how a running gag works. It starts out hysterical, but… Read more
October 4, 2019
In Defense of Mary’s Perpetual Virginity
October 4, 2019 By René Albert
5 Comments
In the current secular culture, the idea of prolonged virginity is often scoffed at. I can recall how some of my peers in high school often bragged about ‘getting some’ while poking fun at the less-popular classmates that they’d “probably remain virgins for the rest of their lives.” This bully-mentality has definitely lingered into adulthood for many individuals. Even popular Hollywood films contribute to the stigma by producing caricatures of those who never had a successful relationship let alone slept… Read more
September 29, 2019
What’s Wrong With Priestly Celibacy?
September 29, 2019 By René Albert
11 Comments
In the Evangelical congregation I was once a part of, there was a council of elders who led the church. Each individual elder had to meet specific biblical criteria in order to be fit for the position of leadership, such as display a virtuous Christlike demeanor, refrain from alcohol and recreational drug use or certain leisurely activities that might encourage ungodly behavior. When my former Evangelical church was in the process of looking for a new pastor, one of the… Read more
September 23, 2019
Clarifying The Meaning Of ‘Catholic Reactionary’
September 23, 2019 By René Albert
In my previous article Addressing Angry Reactionaries In The Catholic Church, I received mixed feedback from those who might have had the impression I was attacking traditional Catholics. In a group on social media, one reader left this comment leading to a short-lived exchange: “Barf. The author condemns “reactionaries” (read: Traditional Catholics). But all the modernist liturgical reforms since Vatican II (vernacular, versus populum, congregants in orans posture, communion by hand, communion while standing, piano, guitar, and drums, etc.) have resulted… Read more
September 20, 2019
Addressing Angry Reactionaries In The Catholic Church
September 20, 2019 By René Albert
“I fear those who have such great fear of the Devil, more than I do the Devil himself.” — Saint Teresa of Avila Since reverting to Catholicism after spending 12 years as an Evangelical, I have fallen in love with the Church in a way I never thought was possible. Similar to my initial conversion experience as a teenager, there was a level of zeal and excitement within me I could not contain. I decided to start blogging as a… Read more
September 16, 2019
Dialogue With An Anti-Catholic Commenter
September 16, 2019 By René Albert
0 Comments
As a Catholic blogger, I’ve immersed myself into joining several social media blogging groups in order to help my articles gain more traffic. Most of the groups I am involved with are the generally non-denominational Christian bloggers groups. While my articles are mostly well-received in Catholic circles, general Christian sites tend to be a mixed bag. Most Christian bloggers are quite pleasant to engage with, whereas others who hold fundamentalist views can be quite hostile towards anyone who expresses anything… Read more
September 10, 2019
The Problem With Prosperity Theology
September 10, 2019 By René Albert
8 Comments
“God Wants You To Be Happy And Successful!” After newly converting from nominal Catholicism to Evangelical Christianity in my late teens, my passionate goal was to eventually attend a one-year discipleship program at a non-denominational Bible school. After high school, I decided to work as an apprentice carpenter to earn enough money to support my eventual journey. I ended up working for a friend I had met in a KJV-only Bible study group who owned his own construction company, thinking… Read more
September 8, 2019
Love Yourself First?
September 8, 2019 By René Albert
4 Comments
There is a story in ancient Greek mythology about a man named Narcissus. He was known to be highly attractive and was also very prideful in a sense that he disdained those who fell in love with him. He wandered into the woods one day and the goddess Nemesis, who was angered by his arrogant behaviour, led him to a pool of water. Narcissus noticed his own reflection in the water and was so marveled by his own beauty that… Read more
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