Coffee & Crucifix - Page 2 of 8 - Thoughts unraveled about Christianity and Western culture

Coffee and Crucifix | Thoughts unraveled about Christianity and Western culture

My Perspective on Abortion

August 13, 2018 By René Albert

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons The topic of abortion has become one of the most heated issues of our time. As a male, I have felt hesitant to be openly vocal about an issue that seemingly affects women far more than men. In addition to that, I’m also not very well-read when it comes to issues of health or biology. But the more I’ve listened to both sides of the issue, the more I’ve been finding that it is virtually impossible… Read more

What Is The Meaning of Penance?

June 22, 2018 By René Albert

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Photo credit: pixabay.com When I was in Grade 8, a few friends and I were sitting in computer class at school while our instructor left the room to check something at the office for a while. As adolescent boredom got the better of us, we began to throw pens at the ceiling fan to watch them get launched across the room while the teacher was absent. As I grabbed one of the last pens in our possession and tossed it… Read more

My Review of SOLO: A Star Wars Story SPOILERS

June 17, 2018 By René Albert

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Image credit: Wikimedia Commons SPOILER WARNING!!! If you haven’t already seen the film, stop reading right now and go watch it! Otherwise, read at your own discretion… (more…) Read more

Christian Bookstores Sell Indulgences

June 3, 2018 By René Albert

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Photo credit: pixabay.com “For the love of money is the root of all evils; it is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced their hearts with many pangs.” – 1 Timothy 6:10 RSV I have very fond memories of wandering down the aisles of Christian bookstores. When I was in high school I used to head uptown and browse through the shelves of music and books during my lunch break. But as much as… Read more

10 Christian Metal Bands That Don’t Suck

May 11, 2018 By René Albert

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Image credit: Wikimedia Commons 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 previous articles about my critique of the Christian music industry and how… Read more

‘Sweet Jesus’ and the Marketing of Hate

April 17, 2018 By René Albert

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Photo credit: pixabay.com **CONTENT WARNING: COARSE LANGUAGE** In what seems to be an online era of political reform and social justice, the use of language and symbolism is as powerful of a tool to build bridges as it is a means to wreak havoc. For example, the word ‘tranny’ was originally a slang term for a vehicle’s transmission, but evolved to become a derogatory term for a transvestite or someone who suffers gender dysphoria. If one were to open a… Read more

What is Worship?

April 4, 2018 By René Albert

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Photo credit: freeimages.com “In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes.” – Judges 21:25 RSV As a teenager who had been raised Catholic, one of the things that first drew me to Evangelicalism was how laid back it seemed – especially with the contemporary worship music as well as how the youth pastors prayed to Jesus as though he was talking to a longtime BFF. These non-traditional approaches to… Read more

A Reflection on Ash Wednesday

February 15, 2018 By René Albert

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Photo credit: commons.wikimedia.org “By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” – Genesis 3:19 NRSV Last year, a dear friend of mine passed away after losing her battle with cancer, and her funeral happened to land on Ash Wednesday – the first day of the season of Lent. Prior to this I knew it was going to be a busy… Read more

One True Church?

January 24, 2018 By René Albert

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Photo credit: Wikipedia “I do not pray for these only, but also for those who believe in me through their world, that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” – John 17:20-21 RSV There’s an area in my city called Church Street where there are at least ten different church denominations within a span of… Read more

Political Correctness v Blasphemy Laws

January 18, 2018 By René Albert

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Photo credit: Flickr “To learn who rules over you, simply learn who you are not allowed to criticize.” – Voltaire 1 ***CONTENT WARNING: DISTURBING IMAGES*** I have always understood members of the LGBTQ community have endured hostile and unjust treatment throughout history. I grew up in an era when it was common for kids in school to name-call using homophobic slurs. To be called such things was some of the most humiliating and dehumanizing ways to make people feel inferior. Although… Read more