5 Myths about Christian Persecution

Last updated on: March 4, 2017 at 1:32 am By Elizabeth Scalia

Given the interest in this subject, let’s go to the invaluable John Allen as he debunks a few myths. (via the also-invaluable New Advent) French intellectual Régis Debray, a veteran leftist who fought alongside Che Guevara in Bolivia, has observed that anti-Christian persecution unfolds squarely in the political blind spot of the West — the victims are usually “too Christian” to excite the left, “too foreign” to interest the right. As a contribution towards erasing that blind spot, let’s debunk... Read more

My Elder Son Reads Everything

Last updated on: April 10, 2015 at 4:25 pm By Elizabeth Scalia

My elder son, the dreamy quiet planet, has the most curious mind I’ve ever encountered. He never rejects an idea outright–first he acquaints himself with who and what is behind the idea and then finds out who influenced their thinking and he checks them out too. He will swim in the seas of an idea for a while before deciding whether he accepts or rejects it, and then washes up on the next shore, then the next. His library is... Read more

“I love Jesus but Not Religion”

Last updated on: March 4, 2017 at 1:32 am By Elizabeth Scalia

In my youth I did some time embracing the “I love Jesus but not religion,” thing, but ultimately, it was unsatisfying; it felt like a glass half-full, and moreover it was way “too easy.” And it didn’t make sense to me, because Jesus clearly liked religion, himself — he was an observant Jew and when he healed people he told them to go to the priest, and do what Moses commanded. Then again, I’ve always loved the sacrament of confession,... Read more

The idea of a give-away?

Last updated on: March 4, 2017 at 1:32 am By Elizabeth Scalia

I’m seeing something of a trend on some blogs — the “giveaway” — a book, a veil (a pretty one!) a rosary — things like that. Is this something you guys would be interested in? Specifically, if a Patheos blogger had some kind of exclusive “giveaway” that you could enter into, is this something you would like? It’s a twofer of sorts — some free promotion for a writer or craftsperson and free stuff for recipients. It’s not something that’s... Read more

Why not a Religious Vocation “Mission”?

Last updated on: March 4, 2017 at 1:32 am By Elizabeth Scalia

Over at Word on Fire Ministries, Rozann Carter notes a Mormon celebrity putting his career on hold to make a two-year “mission” and wonders why Catholics don’t have a similar mechanism in place to encourage religious vocations: I don’t agree with the theology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Nor am I advocating that charity, service, and evangelism should be mandated, like some sort of religious draft. But, there is something here, something in the Mormon... Read more

75% of those killed for faith are Christian