Comparative Theology, Truth, and Christianity

Last updated on: April 26, 2017 at 4:02 pm By Henry Karlson

Marsilio Ficino, like many before and after him, was interested in exploring the way philosophy unites people from different religious traditions, while acknowledging that in such unity, because people would come to it in a diversity of religious faiths, there would remain differences between them as well. In some ways, the differences were based upon the different interests each religious tradition brought with them — the religions of Abraham, for example, place a high regard on the body, and therefore... Read more

Quote of the day: Oliver Davies

Last updated on: April 26, 2017 at 4:43 pm By Mark DeFrancisis

“Christian faith occurs precisely where our own speaking and relating is overtaken by the divine dynamic of triadic speech. It thus entails two kinds of affirmation. The first is that we truly encounter God in Christ and–through the Spirit–hear in the Son the voice of the Father. The second affirmation is that this new kind of speech- relation can never become our own property but always remains gifted by divine disclosure. Our own new speaking, as an attitude of faith, is grounded... Read more

Somewhat Funny, Somewhat Confusing

Last updated on: April 26, 2017 at 4:02 pm By Henry Karlson

H/T to Mark Shea, The Western Confucian, and Michael Denton There seems to be a new blog on the blogosphere which is receiving critical attention called The Catholic Fascist. Some think it is a spin-off from Vox Nova, claiming this proves that Vox Nova is run by heterodox dissenters, because they see The Catholic Fascist as mocking Catholic doctrine. The blog does not really seem to be doing that, but rather how such doctrine is presented on the blogosphere (which... Read more

Religious Freedom is a Theocratic Dictatorship: A hesitant defense of Michael Voris

Last updated on: April 26, 2017 at 4:38 pm By Sam Rocha

The profitable whirlwind of sensationalistic news and overheated commentary that has given us another “controversy” to gasp and wring our hands at. (Until Tiger Woods releases a sex tape or something like that.) As usual, it is hard to make sense amidst it all. My intuition is that many of the defenders of religious freedom—including several recent posts by our own Kyle Cupp—are right to scold those who are trying to use this snafu to advance politics of fear and,... Read more

The Insane Prophet

Last updated on: April 26, 2017 at 4:02 pm By Henry Karlson

“It is sometimes an appropriate response to reality to go insane.” Philip K Dick To be deemed insane, and therefore to have one’s ideas entirely rejected because of one’s failure to “grasp reality,” has become one of the great phobias of modernity. Positivistic rationalism with its absolute faith in human reason and its ability to comprehend the mysteries of the universe abhors the insane because they remind us of the frailty of humanity. The insane have always served to counter... Read more

Resourcement Must Include The Renaissance

Last updated on: April 26, 2017 at 4:02 pm By Henry Karlson

The early renaissance contains many figures who, important in the history of ideas, have received scant attention save by specialists. Sadly, this means many of their insights have been lost, their wisdom ignored. While they were working upon a way to view the world in a more catholic, united fashion, the spirit of the Reformation is all about dividing and making conflicts in places where no such conflict is necessary. Difference of opinion and experience do not have to create... Read more

Question of the week: will demagoguery triumph in 2010?

Last updated on: April 26, 2017 at 4:44 pm By Mark DeFrancisis

In the light of the recent efforts to exploit fear and prejudice with respect to both birth-right citizenship and the New York mosque project, the question is: will demagoguery be the main tool that the Republicans utilize in the 2010 U.S. national elections? And, if so, will they ‘win’? Read more

Quote of the Week: Marsilio Ficino

Last updated on: April 26, 2017 at 4:44 pm By Henry Karlson

Since love is kindled in our hearts by the breath of some celestial spirit, when one loves, the other always return love; and often when one is thinking, the other is thinking the same thing in the same way. For since the heavenly father, as the common cause of all things, enfolds both, he creates the mutual love of the lovers; and the love of the lover proceeding from heaven through man, reflects back, now in the earthly face of... Read more

Will Anyone Thank Obama For This?

Last updated on: April 26, 2017 at 4:02 pm By Henry Karlson

This morning I read about another mistake done by President Obama: his approval of the newest border-security bill from Congress. While I can understand why he did so — he is trying to be bi-partisan, his critics will not acknowledge what he has done, while his supporters will feel betrayed. The bill helps support the growing xenophobia, and, instead of bringing in ideas which are needed for true immigration reform, it increases the difficulties to legally enter into the United... Read more

The Third Bush Term?

Last updated on: April 26, 2017 at 4:38 pm By Morning's Minion

On the domestic front, I’ve been pretty happy with the Obama administration. It’s impressive that they have accomplished so much good in the face of unwielding nihilistic opposition. They passed the stimulus bill – could have been bigger, could have been better targeted, but they passed it, and used public demand to stop a downward spiral in private demand (see the Blinder-Zandi study noting that without the combined monetary, fiscal, and financial sector interventions, there would be 8.5 million fewer... Read more