[from my 2014 book, Footsteps that Echo Forever: My Holy Land Pilgrimage] ***** Day Nine: 26 October [2014] [Church of the Holy Sepulchre] After the first night in our hotel in Jerusalem (with some delightful fun walking the nearby streets after the Sabbath ended, for a pizza), we set out in the morning to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre: using a map that we had in a free pamphlet. It was a very interesting walk: passing through the New... Read more
[all passages RSV unless otherwise noted] 1. The Unity of God and Monotheism Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD; (cf. Mk 12:29; 1 Cor 8:6; Eph 4:5-6; 1 Tim 2:5; Jas 2:19) Deuteronomy 32:39 …there is no god beside me.… Isaiah 37:20 …thou alone art the LORD. (cf. 37:16) Isaiah 43:10 …Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me. Isaiah 44:8 …Is there a God besides me? There is... Read more
[all passages RSV unless indicated otherwise] [Italicized verses indicate words of Jesus Himself] 1. Direct Statements of Jesus’ Equality with God the Father Matthew 1:23 “Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel” (which means, God with us). Matthew 4:7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’” [the devil was tempting Jesus: 4:3, 5-6] Matthew 13:15 For this people’s heart has grown dull,... Read more
. . . And Continued Cynical, Highly Selective, “Pick and Choose” Acceptance of the Teaching of Pope Benedict XVI 2 Timothy 4:3-4 (RSV) For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own likings, [4] and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths. ***** Now there are memes circulating about the high altar at Notre Dame (for the Old / Tridentine... Read more
This occurred spontaneously on one of my Facebook threads. I argued that it was mostly “good”; my dialogue opponent, William C. Michael, thought the opposite (with some eventual minor qualifications). His words will be in blue. ***** The danger of all of the Christian energy wasted on political action is that, eventually, it leads to a let-down, as the Crusades led to the Renaissance. We’re not supposed to be exhausting our energy in politics and when we do, the result... Read more
Be of good cheer! All three rose windows survived. The two iconic towers with their wonderful bells are still standing. Notre Dame can and will be rebuilt. The entire stone frame is still more or less intact. Other cathedrals have been restored: some, with far worse damage (and some even from scratch). The most precious relics were saved, too, by heroic action. I have collected several articles below about cathedral rebuilding and restoration. Images appear to show that Notre Dame’s... Read more
. . . But There is a Particular Time and Place for Such Language My friend, Rebecca Bratten Weiss, co-founder of the New Pro-Life Movement, has written: Unfortunately, just as there is a genuine anti-life attitude on the part of some abortion proponents . . . the readiness to ignore questions of culpability and cry “murder” – serious pro-lifers need to realize just how wrong-headed these views are. But we need to realize, also, that most people who take these... Read more
Copernicus, Tycho, Galileo, and Kepler [see Part One] [Astronomers’ names in the section titles below are linked to Wikipedia articles]***Bruce Scofield, an astrologer, writes in his paper, Were They Astrologers? — Big League Scientists and Astrology: As recently as 300 years ago, many astronomers knew a good deal about astrology. Four hundred years ago many astronomers practiced astrology. Five hundred years ago every astronomer was, more or less, also an astrologer. Further research from more “conventional” scholars affirms that this is indeed a... Read more
John 8:3-11 (RSV) The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst [4] they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. [5] Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such. What do you say about her?” [6] This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his... Read more
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Atheist Eloquently & Admirably Denounces Anti-Theism
Martin Hughes wrote an article entitled, “I’m an atheist, but here’s why I define myself by what I love” (Patheos, Barrier Breaker blog, 4-6-19). There is much in it that I enthusiastically agree with, His words will be in blue. ***** It’s difficult to be part of a group whose entire existence is based on the disapproval of something. I’m not defined by the fact that I don’t believe in God. What I don’t believe in ultimately is a black hole —... Read more