The Second Jewish Temple. Model in the Israel Museum. Photo by “Ariely” (1-8-08) [Wikimedia Commons / Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license] * * * * * The “holy place” is a thoroughly biblical notion. Jerusalem was and is a holy city: Matthew 4:5 (RSV) Then the devil took him to the holy city, and set him on the pinnacle of the temple, (cf. Neh 11:1, 18; Is 48:2) Matthew 27:53 and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they... Read more
Satan before the Lord (c. 1750), by Corrado Giaquinto (1703-1765) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] * * * * * Satan was silly enough to actually think that he could entice Jesus to sin and diversion from His ministry. He was too ignorant in his evil irrationality to know that his scheme was doomed to failure from the beginning. We give the devil too much credit. He is an idiot and simpleton as well as a “bad guy.” I say he’s... Read more
Our daughter at her first Holy Communion (7-24-11), at our home parish for 25 years this month: St. Joseph’s in Detroit (German Gothic Revival style: 1870s). It has some of the most beautiful stained glass in America and one of the largest bells. * * * (2-19-08) * * * This is from a thread on the CHN board. * * * Can. 846 ß1 The liturgical books, approved by the competent authority, are to be faithfully followed in... Read more
Reductio ad Absurdum Life-size model of fetus at 8 weeks after conception. Brain waves begin at six weeks, and heartbeat at 18 days. Photograph by Bill Davenport: 4 March 2007 [Wikimedia Commons / Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license] * * * * * I have a question for Catholic Democrats or “anti-Republicans”: if a candidate made it clear that he hated black people, or Jews, or Arabs, or Catholics, or Muslims, or had neo-Nazi affiliations, would that be... Read more
Front cover of the 1583 edition of the Book of Martyrs by John Foxe [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] (2-10-11) * * * * * Here is the first paragraph of the Wikipedia entry on this famous and notorious book (fourth and final edition: 1583): The Book of Martyrs, by John Foxe, is an account of Christian martyrs throughout Western history from the 1st century through the early 16th centuries, emphasising the sufferings of English Protestants and proto-Protestants from the 14th... Read more
A Brief Summary for Those Who Deny the Eucharistic Connection Altogether Christ Taking Leave of the Apostles (bet. 1308-1311), by Duccio (1260-1318) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] * * * * * I think there are various ways to make the parallel of John 6 to the Last Supper accounts of the three Synoptic Gospels. It was Passover time (Jn 6:4): as the Last Supper was (Mt 26:17, 19; Mk 14:12, 14-16; Lk 22:7-9, 15). Jesus distributed bread in a... Read more
Newsflash!: God Continues to Supernaturally Guide His Church, Despite Manifest Sins & Shortcomings of Men Socrates Teaching Pericles (1780), by Nicolas Guibal (1725-1784) [Wikimedia Commons / Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 France license] * * * * * Socrates is the single largest non-Christian influence on my thinking and apologetics methodology. My love of back-and-forth dialogue and massive use of it as a teaching tool ultimately stems from him (with honorable mention to Peter Kreeft as well). Socrates taught by example, the technique of... Read more
Immaculate Conception (c. 1652), by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo (1617-1682) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] (10-16-09) * * * From a discussion on the CHNI forum, where I am the moderator: * * * My wife and I have been listening to the Catholic Answers Live podcasts in the car (I got an iPhone for Father’s Day) together of late, and what their guest apologists (Tim Staples, Jimmy Akin, Steve Ray, etc.) are really good at, is defending our devotion... Read more
Crowned Madonna, Rokitno, Poland, 1671 [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] * * (11-25-08) * * * This came about as a result of some questions asked on the CHNI forum, from a few people who are seriously considering conversion to Catholicism. * * * * * I struggle with this and don’t know what to make of it. I hear or read Catholics make comments or prayers to Mary that seem over the top. I can understand the idea of... Read more
Christ with Thorns, by Carl Heinrich Bloch (1834-1890) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] * * * * * From my book, A Biblical Defense of Catholicism, pp. 158-161. * * * Matthew 10:38 / 16:24 [RSV] And he who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (see also Mark 8:34-35) The... Read more
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