“I will put my spirit within you so that you walk in my statutes, observe my ordinances, and keep them.” – Ezekiel 36:27. In a sense, to be a Catholic is to experience the indwelling of God. But what exactly does the indwelling of God mean? How can one know if one is in such a state? In this paper, I will endeavor to explore this somewhat mysterious act of God. I will begin by furnishing an explanation of the... Read more
Is the biblical message influenced or even changed based on the milieu in which it is disseminated? Said differently, does the message of the Bible change based on when and where it is read? In this article, I will discuss whether the message of the Bible – specifically, the Gospels – is influenced by history and culture. I should specify what I mean by the biblical message. The Bible is a set of seventy-three books. Some books are historical or... Read more
One of the most unique and prevalent beliefs among the world’s religions is the belief in reincarnation. While the belief in reincarnation exists predominantly in eastern religions and philosophies, belief in it has also branched into the modern secular world. In this paper, I will endeavor to provide an overview of reincarnation and conclude by articulating what Catholicism has to say about this ancient belief. On Reincarnation The earliest recorded teachings on reincarnation appear in the Hindu scriptures circa 800... Read more
Pope Benedict XVI once remarked that Catholicism is a religion of philosophy. While the Pope’s comments were meant to place Catholicism in opposition to the various pagan practices of the ancient world, it is undeniable that the great western philosophical tradition has influenced Catholicism. One such philosophy that has had its influence on Catholicism is stoicism. In this paper, I will seek to explain what stoicism is and why and how it has affected Catholic thought. An Introduction To Stoicism ... Read more
In seeking to understand the Holy Trinity, Thomas Aquinas identified five properties or notions that are proper to a Divine Person. I will endeavor to explain each of these notions in this paper. In so doing, I hope to add some illumination to the great mystery of the Holy Trinity. Before commencing, a word about definitions. In philosophy, a property is a characteristic that is always present in a subject. For example, rationality is a property of a human being.... Read more
It is a question that we all ask at some point. What happens when we die? Catholic teaching has identified three “destinations” of the soul upon death. They are Heaven, Hell, and Limbo. In this paper, I will discuss the third of these “destinations,” Limbo. It is noteworthy that even within Catholicism, the belief in Limbo is not nearly as widely accepted as the belief in Heaven and Hell. At its core, the issue of Limbo revolves around the question... Read more
By no lesser authority than Thomas Aquinas, theology has been called the queen of the sciences. Why did the angelic doctor think this to be the case, and what exactly is theology? In this paper, I will seek to explore what theology is and the four types of theology common in the Catholic Church. Before commencing, it should be admitted that, in some sense, theology has had to sink to the level of the modern era. For most of human... Read more
Much has been written about the Gospels, and rightfully so. It is the Gospels that provide the most significant insight into the life and teachings of Christ. However, there is much more to the New Testament. In this paper, I shall like to explore what is known as the Catholic epistles (an epistle is a letter). The epistles are James, Peter, John, and Jude. For each of the epistles, I will examine who the author was, the intended audience, and... Read more
One need not spend time studying Catholicism before coming across the word mystery. Within theology, a mystery is a truth revealed by God that cannot be rationally conceived. Said differently, it is knowledge that human beings could not obtain without it being revealed by God. One such mystery is the Holy Trinity. In this paper, I will endeavor to shed light on the life of the Trinity by discussing procession and spiration. I will conclude by examining what is known... Read more
If God is love, why does He not save everyone? In other words, if God loves human beings, why does He not allow everyone entry into Heaven? In this paper, I will discuss the belief that God does just that. This belief, known as universalism, has a long and checkered history in Christian theology. I will begin by providing an overview of universalism. I will then suggest that universalism and the biblical teaching on salvation are irreconcilable. Finally, I will... Read more
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