This is a combination of two Facebook threads, with starting dates of 10-24-19 and 11-4-19. There was also a third discussion thread (10-28-19), where I barely participated at all: and so it is excluded here. I have not included everything in the two long threads in this exchange, which is meant to get at the highlights, and especially my own take (this being my blog); so if readers want the full exchanges, the Facebook threads are for that. Words of Kevin... Read more
This exchange and further statement (via past comments of mine) occurred in a Facebook discussion of my article, Taylor Marshall Groupie Makes a Typical Personal Attack (11-2-19). Rob Cui’s words will be in blue. ***** I have made it clear several times that my critiques of his [Taylor Marshall’s] stuff are not personal. For example, in a paper shortly after I began my critiques: I’m responding publicly to public materials. . . . I have no personal issues at all, as... Read more
Karin S. Tate is a Catholic and a PhD Candidate in History and Classics. She stopped by my blog to offer a critique of my paper, Is Male-Only Priesthood Sexist? (2007). Her words will be in blue. I will add further rounds of dialogue if / as they occur. ***** This idea of “roles” in the Church is not without merit, I think, but not in the way you represent it. Rather, look at scripture – which admonishes that we each... Read more
I just ran across this today in a search. It’s very illustrative insofar as it is ultra-typical of 1) the reactionary mindset, and 2) the clone-groupthink / conspiratorial fan club for Taylor Marshall mentality. This guy calls himself “Tradical” and runs the reactionary Tradicat blog. He was “responding” [cough] to my article, Reactionary Infiltration of Taylor Marshall’s Book, Infiltration (5-30-19). He calls his hit piece, “Reactionary Reaction to a Book by Dr. Taylor Marshall” (6-10-19). His words will be in blue below. *****... Read more
From: The Collected Letters of C. S. Lewis, Vol. II: Books, Broadcasts, and the War, 1931-1949, edited by Walter Hooper, HarperSanFrancisco, 2004: I couldn’t agree with you more about the commercial rush of ‘Xmas’ as distinct both from the Christian festival of Christmas and the old Germanic feast of Yule. The idiotic exchange of cards which have nothing to do with the Nativity by people who care nothing about Our Lord — this maddening interchange of presents which no one wants to... Read more
From: The Collected Letters of C. S. Lewis, Vol. II: Books, Broadcasts, and the War, 1931-1949, edited by Walter Hooper, HarperSanFrancisco, 2004: The three ‘reasons’ for marrying, in modern English are (a) To have children. (b) Because you are very unlikely to succeed in leading a life of total sexual abstinence, and marriage is the only innocent outlet, (c) To be in a partnership. What is there to object to in the order in which they are put? . . .... Read more
Guest Post by Rod Bennett and Mark Shea Mark Shea made a great statement on this: I have to say that my feelings toward Halloween have mellowed with the years. As an Evangelical, I used to dislike it intensely as a night given over to the devil. But as time has gone on, I find I enjoy the rare opportunity for the whole neighborhood to turn out and all visit each other. I love the brisk night air. I love... Read more
Friendly agnostic / deist and regular on my blog, VicqRuiz, (words in blue below) commented on my article, Masturbation: C. S. Lewis Explains Why it is Wrong, and I responded. If we go through another round of discussion, I will add it later. ***** I think you and Lewis are quite right that a man (or woman) can become obsessed with this practice to the extent that it becomes mentally very harmful. Similarly, one can become obsessed with gambling to the... Read more
St. John Henry Cardinal Newman (1801-1890) Newman, while still an Anglican, thirteen years before his conversion, preached a sermon at Oxford University, entitled, “The Reverence Due to the Virgin Mary” (March 25, 1832), which included these words: Who can estimate the holiness and perfection of her, who was chosen to be the Mother of Christ? If to him that hath, more is given, and holiness and Divine favour go together (and this we are expressly told), what must have been... Read more
[book and purchase information] Mary and Joseph: Vision of This beauty, which I saw in our Lady, was exceedingly grand, though I did not trace it in any particular feature, but rather in the whole form of her face. She was clothed in white and her garments shone with excessive lustre that was not dazzling, but soft. I did not see St. Joseph so distinctly, though I saw clearly that he was there, as in the visions of which I... Read more
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