Only 40 percent of Americans can name more than four of the Ten Commandments, and a scant half can cite any of the four authors of the Gospels. Twelve percent believe Joan of Arc was Noah’s wife. This failure to recall the specifics of our Christian heritage may be further evidence of our nation’s educational decline, but it probably doesn’t matter all that much in spiritual or political terms. Here is a statistic that does matter: Three quarters of Americans... Read more

* Jesus and Lucifer are brothers * Man evolved into a god/God * Man’s “fall” in the Garden of Eden was a good thing (eg. a fall upward) * Mary had sexual relations with “God” (while in the form of a man) so that she could give birth to Jesus * “God” (Heavenly Father) only refers to the god/God of planet Earth * Mormons have the hope of becoming gods/Gods of their own planets and produce “spirit children”, who will... Read more

1) This is one of the most concise descriptions of jurisdictional soup — and the desire for reconciling recipes — that I’ve seen: A Parable of Orthodox Unity. 2) Have you been into Belial’s Books lately? 3) Did you know the Orthodox Church is, gulp … Evangelical? Read more

Christmas is a time for clothes. It is one of the few times that I notice clothes. Even before wearing a jibbee – a clerical robe – I’d never been much of a clotheshorse or trendsetter. Thanks to Christmas, I’ve never bought much clothing for myself. Ever. This time of year finds even the houses, trees, and pets clothed in festive array. During the season, you will see some of the oddest outfits that you will ever see, and many... Read more

Commentary by Dana Symeon Kees: Stealing things that don’t belong to one’s self is wrong. I hope the statue is recovered, but perhaps the thieves could just give the museum 5 million dollars and offer the big ominous piece of metal to a good sculptor who could make something nice out of it before returning it. The British once had such fine taste. They could melt the thing publicly and pass it off as performance art. Melt a piece of... Read more

Grace writes: Imagine if this entire nation, which was believed once to be the site of the Garden of Eden, begins right now to look out of that black veil that has been thrown over it for centuries? I’m not saying a little whiff of the democratic process has that power. I guess I’m just saying that anything, even something like an election, may be enough to break the terrible suffocating grip that they have been in and free up... Read more

Remember this story? Alas, as seen here (to the left), some months may pass slower than others. By the way, you know: Time flies whether you’re having fun or not. For instance (while I have your attention) … The other night, after teaching my final class on “Decanonizing the Da Vinci Code,” I went into the church hall and joined the remainder of Fr John’s catechism class, were they’d been baking Prosphora (holy bread). We all stood around chattering, adults... Read more

Did you know that ALL African Americans celebrate Kwanzaa? Check it out! Planned Parenthood Covers Its Tracks … Remember this discussion? Here’s an update — with more available at The Dawn Patrol: Planned Parenthood Golden Gate has removed from its Web site all traces of the testimonial from a girl who lauded the organization for treating her after she was raped at age 11 without telling her parents or, presumably, the authorities. The American Life League and the Family Research... Read more

Here’s a portion of The Grinch Factor: “Here’s just how I’ll do it: I’ll tell each Who Christian That the liberal Whos have devised a new mission To take away Christmas! To mock and destroy Till no little Who Christian is left with a toy! And when secular Whos — most likely Who Jews — Attempt to deny it? Why, I’ll just SPIN THE NEWS! “I’ll bluff and I’ll lie; I’ll sow seeds of mistrust. Soon they’ll form battle lines... Read more

+ B A R T H O L O M E WBY THE MERCY OF GOD ARCHBISHOP OF CONSTANTINOPLE, NEW ROME, AND ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH, TO THE PLENITUDE OF THE CHURCH, GRACE, PEACE, AND MERCY FROM CHRIST OUR SAVIOUR, BORN IN BETHLEHEM “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life” (John 3:16) Beloved Brothers and Sisters,Children in the Lord, The human soul... Read more