Preaching Through Silence

Last updated on: September 20, 2017 at 11:52 am By Henry Karlson

Patriarch Theophilus of Alexandria, uncle and predecessor to St. Cyril of Alexandria, had a rather mixed relationship with the monks in the Egyptian desert. He knew and appreciated the value of their spirituality, but he also was mixed up in a great theological fight that took place in the desert, leading to monks fighting with monks, and great spiritual leaders often defending naïve theological formulations. This caused great ambivalence from the monks in regards to him; he was the Patriarch... Read more

Reflection On The Feast Of The Exaltation Of The Holy Cross

Last updated on: September 13, 2017 at 4:48 pm By Henry Karlson

While we have become accustomed to the cross, seeing it as a representation of the Christian faith, if we stop and consider its historical implications, it is understandable why so many critics of Christianity have been confused as to why it has become so elevated in Christian thought. The cross represents a reprehensible act, crucifixion, which tortured and killed many people throughout the centuries. Not only was it a tool that many used for the sake of public executions, it... Read more

Care of the Earth Is a Moral Imperative

Last updated on: September 15, 2017 at 10:02 am By Henry Karlson

On September 1, 2017, Pope Francis and Patriarch Bartholomew released a joint message for the World Day of Prayer for Creation. For the Orthodox and Eastern Catholics, September 1st is the beginning of the new year. There was a tradition which suggested that the world was created on the first of September, and so the new year came not on the first of January, but the anniversary of the creation. While such a relationship between the creation of the world... Read more

To Tame The Wild Beast Within

Last updated on: September 11, 2017 at 3:44 am By Henry Karlson

He also said, “Obedience with abstinence gives men power over wild beasts.”[1] There are many hagiographical stories of saints which show saints having harmonious relationships with animals. The holiness of the saints has turned them into friends with even the most savage of beasts, taming them and turning what would otherwise be seen as a hostile force into a friend. Indeed, such saints are shown to be loved by such animals even as they love the animals back, with Sts.... Read more

Reflection on the Nativity of the Mother of God

Last updated on: September 11, 2017 at 11:57 am By Henry Karlson

The birth of the Mother of God, Mary, was a special event in human history. Read more

Atheists Can Help Theists Refine Their Understanding Of God

Last updated on: November 22, 2017 at 1:46 pm By Henry Karlson

When we were growing up, our parents often told us all kinds of stories about God. In them, we were given all kinds of images and descriptions for God which helped us imagine what was taking place. They were very simple, very anthropomorphic, because it was easier for us to think about God in such a fashion. For those raised in Christian homes, these images often came from and were adapted from Scripture. Holy men and women acted with God... Read more

Truth Transcends Expression Of The Truth: On The Silence Converts Should Have Before Teaching The Faith

Last updated on: September 4, 2017 at 3:53 am By Henry Karlson

It was a standing rule of an earlier age: those who converted to the Christian faith were not to be immediately given special status as a lay teacher or quickly raised up ecclesial ranks into the clergy. While there were exceptions to the rule, as Christians understood the possibility for pastoral dispensations to various disciplines, most of those exceptions can be with either exceptional converts who proved themselves beyond repute or from those who were raised in a Christian household... Read more

True Justice Is Distributive Not Retributive

Last updated on: September 1, 2017 at 3:25 am By Henry Karlson

The call of the Christian, the call of the one who has received forgiveness in their own lives, is to spread that forgiveness to others. As we are forgiven, so we should forgive others, indeed, if we want forgiveness ourselves, we are told we must be willing to forgive others as well. We obtain mercy by being merciful. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy” (Matt. 5:7 RSV). Thus, as we recover the image and likeness of God... Read more

Forge the Virtue You Need, Not the One Others Say You Must Seek

Last updated on: August 30, 2017 at 10:18 am By Henry Karlson

Abba Anthony said, “Whoever hammers a lump of iron, first decides what he is going to make of it, a scythe, a sword, or an axe. Even so we ought to make up our minds what kind of virtue we want to forge or we labor in vain.”[1] We are all called to a life of virtue. In a sense, all virtues are related, so that developing one will help someone find themselves getting better in all other virtues. As... Read more

Follow the Way to Greatness, Depart From It and Find Disaster

Last updated on: August 30, 2017 at 10:29 am By Henry Karlson

In the Tao te Ching, Lao Tzu (or whoever wrote and edited the text), often engaged the Tao, that is, the way which all should strive to follow, through its practical applications. While a great mystical current lay behind the text and would be picked up by later Taoists, much of what is found in the Tao te Ching related to government and how officials should guide and direct not only their people, but themselves, in order to establish a... Read more

Where was Jesus Born?