The Hunger Games are a tragedy. (As a spoiler alert, if you haven’t read them, then don’t keep reading). They are a harsh look at what happens to people when they think they must make war on one another. Perhaps the best summary of the thesis of the Hunger Games comes from Hermann Goring’s famous quote from the Nuremberg interviews: “Naturally, the common people don’t want war; neither in Russia nor in England nor in America, nor for that matter... Read more
It is quite common for many of us to let anger get the best of us. When we do so, it turns our good intentions into evil. Strife turns us away from the charity which we should have for each other; anger and malice easily find their way into our hearts, possessing us, encouraging us to act contrary to the good under the guise of the good itself. It is easy for us to consider the defense of our pride,... Read more
I am happy to present the fourth and final part of my interview with Father James Alison. (Find Part I, Part II, and Part III at these links.) The interview is available in its entirety at Father James’s own website here. In this section Father James answers my questions about his views of Pope Benedict’s attitudes towards Church teaching on homosexuality. It was this issue that first caught my attention (and then caused me to catch Father James’s attention) long... Read more
It is often been said that it is better to train someone to fish than to give them a fish because then they would be able to eat for a lifetime. Such training is indeed important, but if someone needs fish today in order to survive, they might not be able to fish, and so, they will not be able to live. Sometimes the immediate needs are more important than long term development. While it is indeed good to help... Read more
“I am troubled now. Yet what should I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour?’ But it was for this purpose that I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it and will glorify it again.” The crowd there heard it and said it was thunder; but others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come for my sake but for yours.... Read more
All writings, both of secular and divine wisdom, yield instruction when effort is applied. – Olympiodorus, Commentary on Ecclesiastes.[1] There are many rabble rousers on the net seeking to attack bishops who have given support to priests that study and engage non-Christian religious traditions, seeking to find the good within them and using them to edify the Christian faithful. So many are quick to condemn bishops; they think of themselves as judges, rashly denouncing what they do not know. Recently,... Read more
One of the major debates in the history of philosophy is the debate over universals. It is a debate as to the role of language and its ability to actually describe reality. It’s a debate as to whether or not there are universal, real entities which we actually observe or if we construct conventions relating things together which have no inherent connection to each other. It’s a question as to the meaning of words, if they have some inherent meaning... Read more
After some delay (family and travel issues), I am happy to present the third of four parts of my interview with Father James Alison. Part I introduced Father Alison to readers while Part II was the first of the final three parts dealing with Father Alison’s views on matters of homosexuality and Catholicism. My questions are in italics. I have been mostly staying out of the conversation for now, but plan on presenting my own thoughts in a more systematic... Read more
Resolved: that the Church should drop the distinctions in the administration of the sacraments of confirmation and eucharist based on “the age of reason” and return to the practice of the early Church, still preserved by the Churches of the East, and administer both sacraments to infants and small children. Reading the Catechism on the sacraments, I was very much struck by the forced nature of the arguments adduced to support Western practice. An argument based on the “age of... Read more
Today is World Water Day, a UN-sponsored annual event intended to focus attention on the importance of fresh water and the sustainable management of fresh water resources. Up to 80 nations experience chronic fresh water shortages. Some are systemic, others intensely localized, but together they affect over 2 billion people, including an estimated 400 million children. In this age of peak everything, from lithium and phosphorous to oil, access to water for drinking, agriculture and sanitation may be the most... Read more
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