Since the passing of the great pope Benedict XVI, I’ve spent a lot of time contemplating how to pay tribute to this man of God. He was one of the greatest theological minds of the past 100 years. Where does one start? It finally dawned on me that the best way to pay tribute is to share some of the words of Benedict XVI himself. What can we learn from the man known as “God’s Rottweiler?” Much. Below reflect a... Read more
Recently, I wrote an article explaining why I, as a Catholic, cannot vote Democrat given the official party platform on religious liberty, abortion, and human sexuality. I simply cannot vote for a party that claims to promote the “common good” while supporting taking the most common of goods (life) from the most vulnerable in the womb. Furthermore, Democrats hold that religious liberty ends at the door of religious institutions. We saw this clearly in the rejection of the Lee Amendment... Read more
Do you consider yourself someone who understands historical context? How about the word historiography? Many who claim to understand history do so without first identifying their own social and educational biases. They judge people of the past through the lens of the present. Some condemn the past, as if their actions and decisions would have somehow differed. Hindsight’s 20/20…but is it? In this article, I look at a controversial moment in Western history, the First Crusade (1095-1102). I show that... Read more
The concept of authority is an intriguing one. Whether it’s government authorities, religious authorities, medical authorities, or parental authorities, we all deal with this concept daily. But what is authority? Particularly, what constitutes authentic Christian authority within the Church? Recently, my good friend over at Rational Animal, Matthew Graham, wrote an article on Protestant religious authority. Please find the article by clicking here. Matt contends that Protestants do have religious authority, just not an infallible one. In this article, I... Read more
I have a confession to make…the Republican party lost my confidence, starting in 2020, and culminating in 2022. For various reasons, I do not see many leaders in the GOP, save a select few, that honestly reflect real conservative American values and policies. Furthermore, with the support of 39 Republicans in the House and 12 senators, the Respect for Marriage Act became law in December of 2022. This law stands as a threat to religious liberty and in opposition to... Read more
Welcome to part four of a look back at reader’s comments. I dedicate this article to all the atheist and non-religious readers of this blog. Most are excellent dialogue partners. As I stated before, atheist who honestly and sincerely pursue truth are closer to heaven than theists who care less about truth. This article takes the same form as the other three. Are Atheists Closer To Heaven Than Christians Who Could Not Care Less? Comment: I’m not sure if it’s... Read more
What constitutes the common good? Recently, a fellow Patheos blogger wrote about Christians and the common good. For the full article, please click here. In the article, the author stated the following: Christians are called to move out beyond their own private interests and concerns, to truly work for and promote the common good, both in their spiritual live, but also in their civic engagements. And, in doing so, they will find they are also protecting and promoting their own... Read more
Welcome to part three of a look back at reader’s comments. As I pick what comments to use, my readers continue to amaze me with their insight and knowledge on a variety of topics. This article takes the same form as the other two. Again, please enjoy more reader comments. Also included are my responses to those comments and further commentary, if needed. God bless! What Happens When the Existential Vacuum Stares Back at You? Comment: While I would agree... Read more
If you take time out of your busy day to read by blog—thank you! I dedicated this article to all my readers, whether you comment or not. If you have yet to comment, please feel free to do so at any time. I promise to do my best to reply in a timely manner. We all desire community, even the irreligious. If I provide a small slice of community here on the internet, what a blessing! Please enjoy more reader... Read more
I take great pleasure in writing for Patheos. Part of that pleasure come from engaging in spirited dialogue with my readers. I feel that if someone takes the time to read my articles and comment on what they read, I must return the compliment. In my opinion, the best learning comes through a dialectic or Socratic method. The Socratic method is a form of cooperative dialogue whereby participants make assertions about a particular topic, investigate those assertions with questions designed... Read more
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