Friday, 30 September 2016

Poetry Friday: “After” by Marjorie Stelmach

Grief is a state of being that almost defies articulation. When you’re in it, it consumes and seems present in everything. Marjorie Stelmach focuses the lens of this poem on small scenes from the natural world—frames at once ordinary and suffused with loss, as befits the claustrophobia of mourning. The speaker here admits to wanting [Read More...]

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http://www.patheos.com/blogs/goodletters/2016/09/poetry-friday-after-by-marjorie-stelmach/

Thursday, 29 September 2016

A Conversation with Claire Holley

This post originally appeared as a web-exclusive interview accompanying Image journal issue 58. Mary Kenagy Mitchell for Image: You’ve written in our new issue about balancing songwriting with being a mother. What does your son think of your music? Does he come hear you play?  Claire Holley: Well, his preferences seem to change a lot. When [Read More...]

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http://www.patheos.com/blogs/goodletters/2016/09/a-conversation-with-claire-holley/

Wednesday, 28 September 2016

Debate on Body Piercings

Photograph by Sara Marx, from Leipzig, Germany (4-7-07) [Wikimedia Commons /  Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license] ***** This took place on my public Facebook page, with a meme that I put up. It stated: “Lip rings do not make you more attractive. They make you look like a fish that got away.” Someone (just one [Read More...]

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http://www.patheos.com/blogs/davearmstrong/2016/09/debate-on-body-piercings.html

The Crazy Sex Lady at the Solitary Banquet

“The crazy sex ladies are coming to school today,” said my oldest. “We’re missing it.” “Good,” I said. I was driving the kids to the middle school an hour into their first period class. A glitch in the family routine over the past twenty-four hours prevented any of the three alarm clocks in the house [Read More...]

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http://www.patheos.com/blogs/goodletters/2016/09/the-crazy-sex-lady-at-the-solitary-banquet/

Tuesday, 27 September 2016

Wicca & Witchcraft: Christian Resources (Links)

Druids celebrationg rituals at Stonehenge (England). Photo by Sandy Raidy (6-22-07) [Wikimedia Commons / Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license] *** (2-4-09; additional links added on 9-27-16) *** Here are some recommended articles and one book about Wicca and witchcraft (similar but not totally synonymous): ***** CATHOLIC * Witchcraft 101: Five Things Apologists Should Know, [Read More...]

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http://www.patheos.com/blogs/davearmstrong/2016/09/wicca-witchcraft-christian-resources-links.html

Are Relics & Sacraments Mere Magical Charms?

  13th-century reliquary (container for relics) from Cologne, Germany, with figures of eight apostles [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] ***** Critics of Catholicism sometimes bring up the objection that sacraments, sacramentalism, and particularly belief in relics, amount to the notion of magic charms or talismans. We’re told that matter cannot convey grace, and that grace and salvation [Read More...]

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http://www.patheos.com/blogs/davearmstrong/2016/09/are-relics-sacraments-mere-magical-charms.html

Getting Close to You, God: A Meditation During the Month of Elul

“You are my light and my help / Whom should I fear?” Thus begins Norman Fischer’s Zen-inspired translation of Psalm 27. Right now, at this very moment, Shabbat morning, the 14th of Elul, 5776; Sept. 17, 2016, these verses don’t resonate with me. Fear: yes, I am afraid, afraid, at the moment, that I won’t [Read More...]

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http://www.patheos.com/blogs/goodletters/2016/09/getting-close-to-you-god-a-meditation-during-the-month-of-elul/

Monday, 26 September 2016

Catholic Refutations of Freemasonry (Links)

Freemasonry Barnstar [Wikimedia Commons / Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication] *** (6-28-10; additions on 9-26-16) ***** The Catholic Church & Freemasonry (Rev. Robert I. Bradley, S.J.) Can Catholics Become Freemasons? (Cathy Caridi, J.C.L.; Catholic Exchange website) Is Freemasonry Incompatible with the Catholic Faith? (Wlodzimierz Redzioch; Inside the Vatican / Catholic Culture) Irreconcilability between [Read More...]

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http://www.patheos.com/blogs/davearmstrong/2016/09/catholic-refutations-of-freemasonry-links.html

Are Gay Parents Magic? New Doubts About “No Difference” Hypothesis Between Gay and Straight Households

In academic psychology it is simply accepted that gay parents are “just as good” as heterosexual parents and that children raised in gay households turn out “just as well” as children raised in married, heterosexual households.  Although I do not dispute that there are plenty of bad heterosexual parents and that homosexual parents can be [Read More...]

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http://www.patheos.com/blogs/faithonthecouch/2016/09/are-gay-parents-magic-new-doubts-about-no-difference-hypothesis-between-gay-and-straight-households/

Is St. Paul Superior to St. Peter? (Dialogue)

St. Peter as Pope (1610-1612), by Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons]*****[1998; expanded on 5-13-02] *****  A Baptist wrote on a public bulletin board (his words in blue):* * * * *  And, of course, some things happened after Paul’s conversion . . . 1) He magnifies HIS office as the Apostle [Read More...]

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http://www.patheos.com/blogs/davearmstrong/2016/09/is-st-paul-superior-to-st-peter-dialogue.html

Are Modern Papal Encyclicals Too Long?

Photograph by “PublicDomainPictures” (4-5-14) [Pixabay / CC0 public domain] *** (7-9-15) ***** [this was made a point of contention both by a legitimate traditionalist: “Boniface” at Unam Sanctam Catholicam, and radical Catholic reactionary Chris Ferrara at The Remnant. I responded at the former site as follows]: I thought it [Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato si] was [Read More...]

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http://www.patheos.com/blogs/davearmstrong/2016/09/are-modern-papal-encyclicals-too-long.html

Looking for a Good Laugh

In his collection of delightfully reflective and paradoxical mini-stories, Espejos (Mirrors), Uruguayan writer Eduardo Galeano includes a sequence on jokes and laughter in various ancient cultures. In one of these reflections he refers to Jesus, “of whom the evangelists record not a single laugh.” Then soon Galeano takes the entire Bible to task, as “a [Read More...]

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http://www.patheos.com/blogs/goodletters/2016/09/looking-for-a-good-laugh/

Friday, 23 September 2016

Poetry Friday: “Visitation Rights” by Jeffrey Harrison

I sometimes talk to friends who have died. Especially to friends who acted as spiritual guides for me during their lives here. I continue to ask their advice when I’m in distress or need guidance.  I believe there’s a very thin and permeable line between mortal life and eternal life. This is why Jeffery Harrison’s [Read More...]

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http://www.patheos.com/blogs/goodletters/2016/09/poetry-friday-visitation-rights-by-jeffrey-harrison/

Thursday, 22 September 2016

“Time to Stop Celebrating ‘Bad Moms'” Says Self-Proclaimed, “Bad Mom Pioneer.”

Kira Davis in The Federalist writes…  I am O.G.bad mom, and have been for nearly 15 years now. I was bad mom before bad mom became acceptable. Letting the TV babysit my toddler for hours? Check. Takeout instead of a healthy, home-cooked meal? Check. Doing everything at the last minute? Check. Half-assing just about every part of motherhood? Check. [Read More...]

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http://www.patheos.com/blogs/faithonthecouch/2016/09/time-to-stop-celebrating-bad-moms-says-self-proclaimed-bad-mom-pioneer/

Bible vs. Denominationalism

. . . and Against “Primary / Secondary” Doctrines   How much more does Protestantism have to “branch out” into yet more sectarianism; more sects and denominations, before its system and rule of faith is to be questioned, having produced such chaos? Photograph by “aitoff” (6-5-16) [Pixabay / CC0 public domain] ***** (8-18-06) ***** [Bible passages: [Read More...]

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http://www.patheos.com/blogs/davearmstrong/2016/09/bible-vs-denominationalism.html

Church Authority vs. Rampant Sectarianism

When will Protestant internal divisions and proliferation of sects ever end? Image by PeteLinforth (Oct. 2015) [Pixabay / CC0 public domain] *** This is a discussion that occurred underneath my post, Catholic Approach to Protestants: Reflections. Anglican Iain’s words will be in blue. *** Speaking as a Protestant (well sort of I’m an Anglican) I’m glad [Read More...]

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http://www.patheos.com/blogs/davearmstrong/2016/09/church-authority-vs-rampant-sectarianism.html

The Smell of Black Mold

By John Bryant I write in order that the ornery old bastard and toothless schizophrenic might be more welcome in my life. The man who calls three times a day to give voice to his shattered mind. I met him at Advanced Autoparts. I’d bought a brake light, put the new one in, was about [Read More...]

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http://www.patheos.com/blogs/goodletters/2016/09/the-smell-of-black-mold/

Wednesday, 21 September 2016

Catholic Approach to Protestants: Reflections

First Congregational Church of Ceredo, West Virginia (1886). Photo by “Youngamerican” (3-23-09) [Wikimedia Commons / Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license] *** (8-9-13) *** Random thoughts from a Facebook discussion thread: *** If we try to dialogue and persuade at all (and we’re not obligated to do it with everyone: I don’t, myself), it has [Read More...]

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http://www.patheos.com/blogs/davearmstrong/2016/09/catholic-approach-to-protestants-reflections.html

New Study: Patient’s Environment May Determine Effectiveness of Antidepressants

It is an open secret in the mental health profession that although antidepressant do have an impact on depression, a large number of depressed patients get little to no relief from antidepressants.  New research suggests a reason for that.   It turns out that the effectiveness of antidepressants may depend strongly on the patient’s environment. The [Read More...]

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http://www.patheos.com/blogs/faithonthecouch/2016/09/new-study-patients-environment-may-determine-effectiveness-of-antidepressants/

Lifescapes and the Lonely City

I have a friend who occasionally asks me when I’ll move to a real apartment, meaning a modern one that I can’t afford. Mine is in a 130-year-old former bakery I like to think is haunted by donut ghosts. The building was built on top of an aquifer, and the sump pump thrusts out massive [Read More...]

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http://www.patheos.com/blogs/goodletters/2016/09/lifescapes-and-the-lonely-city/

Tuesday, 20 September 2016

Eucharist: Orthodox & Catholic Views

Some things are ultimately mysterious. The Holy Eucharist is one of them. Image by “uroburos” (1-29-15) [Pixabay / CC0 public domain] * * * * (5-3-13 and 9-15-16) ***** The Orthodox don’t like to explain things with reason too much. They regard that as “hyper-rationalism” (hence, Aquinas and Augustine are often their whipping-boys, which is [Read More...]

from
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/davearmstrong/2016/09/eucharist-orthodox-catholic-views.html

Over 500 Scholars Hold Press Conference to Promote Positive Value of Humane Vitae

Today, Catholic University of America held a press conference announcing the release of a document drafted by dozens of Catholic scholars and co-signed by over 500 theologians, social scientists, lawyers, physicians and other academics who endorsed the positive impact, value, and continued importance of Humanae Vitae, Pope Paul VI’s letter promoting a consistent, comprehensive, vision [Read More...]

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http://www.patheos.com/blogs/faithonthecouch/2016/09/over-500-scholars-hold-press-conference-to-promote-positive-value-of-humane-vitae/

Biblical Arguments for Apostolic Succession

  St. Augustine and St. Ambrose: detail (c. 1437), by  Filippo Lippi (1406-1469) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** (9-9-09) ***** The Bible contains sufficient enough indication of apostolic succession (though probably not “explicit” enough by unbiblical sola Scriptura standards to convince most Protestants: what else is new?). St. Paul appears to be passing his [Read More...]

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http://www.patheos.com/blogs/davearmstrong/2016/09/biblical-arguments-for-apostolic-succession.html

Apostles Became Bishops (Apostolic Succession)

The Synaxis of the holy and the most praiseworthy Twelve Apostles (Russian, early 14th century) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons]***(1997)***I had the following exchange with an Orthodox member of my e-mail discussion list. * * * The office of apostle was unique. Apostles did not become bishops. Wrong. I need only bring Eusebius to the [Read More...]

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http://www.patheos.com/blogs/davearmstrong/2016/09/apostles-became-bishops-apostolic-succession.html

Middle Earth and Sister Moon

The biggest moon I’ve ever seen was over the North Sea in Scotland. Many nights, I watched it from a bench overlooking the beach. The moon was absurdly large and luminous as it rose or perhaps sunk into the sea, so that I felt I was actually on its surface looking out into space at [Read More...]

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http://www.patheos.com/blogs/goodletters/2016/09/middle-earth-and-sister-moon/

Monday, 19 September 2016

Heartfelt Sacramentalism (Not Mere Charms)

A Choir of Angels Dispels the Sorrows of St. Francis, by Josep Benlliure y Gil (1855-1937) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] ***** (1996) *** Blessed Pope Paul VI, in his Apostolic Constitution on the Revision of Indulgences, of January 1, 1967, made some statements which have relevance to all devotional and pious practices of Catholics, such as [Read More...]

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http://www.patheos.com/blogs/davearmstrong/2016/09/heartfelt-sacramentalism-not-mere-charms.html

Can Christians Have “Healthy Shame” about the Body? (The Answer Isn’t What You Think).

Lisa Madrid Duffy posted a blog about the new sex ed curriculum published by the Pontifical Council for the Family.  (And to be honest, before you ask,  I haven’t had a chance to thoroughly review it yet. That said, although I understand there are some who have expressed concerns, my cursory view is that it [Read More...]

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http://www.patheos.com/blogs/faithonthecouch/2016/09/can-christians-healthy-shame-about-the-body-the-answer-isnt-what-you-think/

The Power of Names

A few weeks back, the news related a story that a confederate veteran killed at Shiloh and buried under the wrong name for one hundred fifty-four years will now have that mistake rectified. Augustus Beckmann was buried under the name “A. Bergman” at Camp Chase Confederate Cemetery in Columbus, Ohio. The descendants of the German [Read More...]

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http://www.patheos.com/blogs/goodletters/2016/09/the-power-of-names/

Sunday, 18 September 2016

Bishops in the Apostolic Church

The Fathers of the Church: St. Basil of Caesarea, St. John Chrysostom, St. Gregorius of Nazianzus: 17th century icon from Lipie, Historic Museum in Sanok, Poland [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] * * * (1-16-01; rev. 5-7-03) *** The fact remains that, according to historic Christianity, from the second century onwards (even according to historians [Read More...]

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http://www.patheos.com/blogs/davearmstrong/2016/09/bishops-in-the-apostolic-church.html

Saturday, 17 September 2016

Out of Darkness into Light

Originally Published Here: Out of Darkness into Light And Check Out More Here: http://ourlordscripture.com/

Over the years, I have read countless testimonials from Born again Christians from around the globe. All of those stories never fail to amaze me and some had even literally brought me to tears. Many people who were born Christians, at one point in their lives, question their faith and search for answers. Have you questioned […]

from Our Lord Scripture – Feed http://ourlordscripture.com/out-of-darkness-into-light/




from
https://ourlordstyle.wordpress.com/2016/09/18/out-of-darkness-into-light/

Women’s Head Veils in Church

Head Veil, or Mantilla, for sale from The Catholic Company *** (7-31-08) ***** The January 2005 issue of This Rock (“Quick Questions”) dealt with the issue of veils (mantillas): Q: Did the Vatican ever publish a document stating that women are not supposed to wear head veils to church anymore? A: No. Women are free [Read More...]

from
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/davearmstrong/2016/09/womens-head-veils-in-church.html

Friday, 16 September 2016

Poetry Friday: “Homily”

Last Sunday I was trying to decide whether to go church or take a walk along the river on a beautiful summer day in my corner of northwestern Washington. Some days I have time to do both and some days, for some justifiable reason, I do neither. The poem “Homily” by Todd Davis is both [Read More...]

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Thursday, 15 September 2016

Major New Research Finds 40% of US Kids Are Poorly Attached–Middle Class Families Included.

  In a study of 14,000 U.S. children, 40 percent lack strong emotional bonds — what psychologists call “secure attachment”   Written by researchers from  Columbia University and the London School of Economics and Political Science, the report uses data collected by the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, a nationally representative U.S. study of 14,000 children [Read More...]

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Luther on Crucifixes, Images, & Sign of the Cross

  Lutheran church in Greve, Denmark. Photograph by Bill Smith (8-6-14) [Flickr / CC BY 2.0 license] ***** (4-15-08) **** All words below are from Martin Luther, the founder of Protestantism, from primary sources. This material is drawn from Chapter Ten of my book, Martin Luther: Catholic Critical Analysis and Praise. *** CRUCIFIXES The custom [Read More...]

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On Traditionalist Use of “Conservative Catholic”

A fictional social network diagram: created by “DarwinPeacock” (12-22-14) [Wikimedia Commons /  Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license] (5-8-15) *** “Conservative Catholic” becomes common nomenclature in practice because Catholic traditionalists insist on splitting the category of “orthodox Catholics”: which includes them and also non-traditionalists. So they have to have a name for the Other Guys. They call [Read More...]

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Unfriending, Impractical Jokes, and Other Foibles

If I were to graph my mental health over the past five years, the line might resemble a stegosaurus spine with several points and plunges, that, thanks be to God, climb overall to a place of greater acceptance and peace. But damn, do those jagged edges hurt. Over the past couple of months, hormones, summer [Read More...]

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Wednesday, 14 September 2016

Out of Darkness and into Light

See More Here: Out of Darkness and into Light And Learn More Here: OLS

I had read countless testimonials from different christ-like people around the globe. All of those stories never fail to amaze me and some had even literally brought me to tears. Normally walking with Jesus is a heart issue. Even for people who were born christians, at one point in their lives, they would question their […]

from Our Lord Scripture – Feed http://ourlordscripture.com/out-of-darkness-and-into-light/




from
https://ourlordstyle.wordpress.com/2016/09/15/out-of-darkness-and-into-light/

Biblical Evidence for Prohibiting Divorce

(2004) *** [from pages 205-214 (the complete chapter 14) of my book, The Catholic Verses; Bible verses: RSV] *** See related papers: Matthew 19:9 “Divorce Exception” Translation Bias [11-6-08] Biblical Evidence for Annulments [2002] Annulment is Not “Catholic Divorce” [11-17-15] Divorce: Early Church Teaching [Oct. 1998]   OUR LORD JESUS’ “STRICT” STANCE ON DIVORCE Matthew [Read More...]

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Divorce: Early Church Teaching

Detail of The Seven Sacraments (matrimony), a 1445 painting by Rogier van der Weyden (c. 1400-1464) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons]***(October 1998)***From: “Mixed Marriages: A Theological Analysis,” excerpt from Église et Théologie, I (1970), pp. 229-260.by Fr. John A. Hardon, S. J. (one of America’s leading orthodox Catholic catechists)  The critical difference between Catholicism and Orthodoxy [Read More...]

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You Don’t Need a “Trigger Warning.” You need Treatment.

H/T NYTimes. According to Harvard Psychologist, Dr. Richard McNally… Proponents of trigger warnings are deeply concerned about the emotional well-being of students, especially those with trauma histories. Yet lost in the debate are two key points: Trauma is common, but P.T.S.D. is rare.  Epidemiological studies show that many people are exposed to trauma in their [Read More...]

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What My Kid Knew about Kubo

[Spoiler alert: This post is about the end of the movie, Kubo and the Two Strings. However, since, I believe, the ending nearly spoils the film itself, you can read this and still enjoy the other, real pleasures of the movie.] In the dramatic climax of Kubo and the Two Strings, our young hero defies [Read More...]

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Tuesday, 13 September 2016

Moses’ Anger: Righteous or Sinful?

Smashing the Tablets and the Rock at Meribah    Moses Strikes Water (1633-1635), by Nicolas Poussin (1594-1665) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] * * * * * (5-22-08) *** This is a follow-up, in a way, to my paper, Did Moses (& God) Sin by Judging the Midianites? * * * * * I dealt in the above [Read More...]

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Did Moses (& God) Sin by Judging the Midianites?

Moses Smashing the Tablets of the Law (1659), by Rembrandt (1606-1669) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] * * * * * I encountered a question on the Coming Home Network board from a person who was trying to answer a friend, regarding the text of Numbers 31:14-18 (RSV): And Moses was angry with the officers [Read More...]

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Libros de Dave Armstrong: “¡Revelación!: 1001 respuestas de la Biblia a las preguntas teológicas”

[Traducción al español por Kevin Bingaman completó el 9 de septiembre el año 2016 publicado por Lulu en el mismo día. 248 páginas] [Spanish translation by Kevin Bingaman completed on 9 September 2016 published by Lulu on the same day. 248 pages] [see information for the original 2013 English version] [diseño de la cubierta por [Read More...]

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The Two Shall Become One: Married People Become BIOLOGICALLY Similar, New Study Says.

In a study presented at the annual meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, University of Michigan researcher Shannon Mejia and her team looked at health indicators from 1,568 married couples across the United States. The couples were separated into two groups: those who had been married for about 20 years, and those who had been married [Read More...]

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My September 11 Story, and Ours, Part II

For Scott Simon, and for Bill Craven Continued from yesterday. In the back of my closet, inside a cellophane folder where I keep the rarest papers I own, there is a plain piece of unremarkable 8 ½ by 11 printer paper. At the top of the paper is the inscrutable coding “TC2001091307CD22AM.” Just to look [Read More...]

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Monday, 12 September 2016

Surprising (Negative) Effects of The Pill on Behavior, Dating, and Marriage

I am working on a project about some of the lesser-known effects of the birth control pill on a woman’s psychological, relational, and behavioral well being. I came across some fascinating, high-quality research I thought I’d share a bit of what I found so far. Although the psychological and behavioral impact of hormonal contraceptives has been [Read More...]

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Dialogue on Catholicism & Science

Galileo Before the Holy Office, by Joseph Nicolas Robert-Fleury (1797-1890) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] ***** Clinton Hooper is an agnostic. He showed up in a Facebook thread of mine that had a meme with 16 Catholic scientists. It sarcastically stated: “Catholics are Anti-Science. We’d Probably be in the Space Age by Now if it Weren’t [Read More...]

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My September 11, and Ours: Part I

For Scott Simon, and for Bill Craven Yesterday was the fifteenth anniversary of September 11, and for those of us who lived through it, it can be dizzying to realize that there are now high school students who weren’t born when it happened. It has been one of the two signal public events of my [Read More...]

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Saturday, 10 September 2016

John Calvin: Supralapsarian

  [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** [originally compiled in 1996 / revised and expanded: 21 October 2001 / slightly revised again on 6-27-06] *** The following observations are intended as an exploration of what are — in my humble opinion — difficulties within the system of Calvinism (i.e., classical Protestantism). I am open to [Read More...]

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Friday, 9 September 2016

Calvin: Only God Knows Who is Elect

Portrait of Jean Calvin, by Titian (1490-1576) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** (1-5-06) *** Response to Reformed Baptist Ken Temple: ***** We can’t know (any of us: Protestant or Catholic or green-eyed, one-legged, red-haired Rastafarian moth catcher) if we will be eschatologically saved because none of us know the future. You may claim to know [Read More...]

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“Certainty” of Eternal Life? (1 Jn 5:13 & Jn 5:24)

St. John, from the Coronation Gospels: late 8th century [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] (5-8-02) *** [my opponent’s words will be in green; Bible citations in blue] *** Why don’t you explain to me what John 5:24 means? * Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent [Read More...]

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Poetry Friday: “The News”

What do I do with the daily news of disasters? Do I mumble a quick prayer for the victims, then turn to my day’s to-do list? Do I ever pause and ponder: this disaster might have struck those I love, or even me? These are the questions that Shara McCallum turns over in “The News.” [Read More...]

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Thursday, 8 September 2016

Every Child Left Behind: “Smart” Atheism or “Stupid” Faith?

              Catholic children as young as 10 years old are renouncing God and quitting Church, claims a new study by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) at Georgetown.  According to lead researcher, Dr. Mark Gray, children are finding that faith is “incompatible” with what they are learning in school, and the [Read More...]

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Visible, Hierarchical, Apostolic Church

[see full book and purchase information] *** [from my book, A Biblical Defense of Catholicism, completed in 1996] ***** In the Nicene Creed, which is accepted by most Christians, the Christian Church is described as being “one, holy, catholic, and apostolic.” These are known as the four marks of the Church. The notions of holiness [Read More...]

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The New Critics and the Barbarians

The poet and writer Dana Gioia penned an essay for the December 2013 issue of First Things titled “The Catholic Writer Today: Catholic Writers Must Renovate and Reoccupy Their Own Tradition.” The essay does not inspire much confidence in the state of “Catholic” writing at the beginning of the twenty-first century. Our own Gregory Wolfe [Read More...]

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Wednesday, 7 September 2016

I Have No Idea Where I’m Going

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing [Read More...]

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Tuesday, 6 September 2016

Baptismal Regeneration vs. Calvin’s “Sign & Seal”

  From my book, The Catholic Verses (2004), pp. 102-111.   * * * * *   John 3:5 (RSV): “Jesus answered, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.’” Acts 2:38: “And Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and be baptized [Read More...]

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Relationship Problems? Be Careful Who You Talk To!

New research in the Journal of Personal and Social Relationship shows that talking to your best friend about your relationship problems may very well lead to even bigger relationship problems!  According to the authors of the study, There appears to be link between discussing problems with your partner and greater romantic love. This could mean that [Read More...]

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Malcolm Muggeridge & Mother Teresa

A Blessed, Fruitful Meeting Malcolm Muggeridge [Wikimedia Commons / Second Source /  Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license] ***** Many are unaware that the first major exposure of Mother Teresa — now St. Teresa of Calcutta — to the world, was due to the prominent English journalist Malcolm Muggeridge (1903-1990), who was not yet Catholic, and had [Read More...]

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Of Cookbooks and Lynchings

“Men and women in automobiles stood up to watch him die.” That’s the sentence one student recalled when I asked the class what was memorable in Eula Biss’s essay “Time and Distance Overcome.” The man who died was a black man “accused of attacking a white woman.” For his alleged behavior, he was “tied to [Read More...]

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Monday, 5 September 2016

Mother Teresa on Love & Theology

Mother Teresa / St. Teresa of Calcutta: photograph by Manfredo Ferrari (12-10-85, in Rome) [Wikimedia Commons /  Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license] ***** Abortion: It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish. But I feel that the greatest destroyer of peace today is [Read More...]

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Friday, 2 September 2016

Spanking: Bible & Pope Francis

Jesus administered corporal punishment with a whip: Christ expulses the money changers out of the temple (1610), by Cecco del Caravaggio (follower of the famous Caravaggio; fl. 1610-1620s) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] ***** Today it is quite fashionable and chic to commit the “throw the baby out with the bathwater” fallacy and to believe [Read More...]

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My Own Commencement, Part 2: The Uses of Confusion

This post is excerpted from Gregory Wolfe’s final commencement address as director of the Seattle Pacific University Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing last month. Wolfe, who founded the program, stepped down as director yesterday. Read part 1 here. I’d like to close my commencement address by taking a lesson or two from the [Read More...]

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Thursday, 1 September 2016

My Own Commencement, Part 1: The Birth of an MFA

This post is excerpted from Gregory Wolfe’s final commencement address as director of the Seattle Pacific University Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing last month. Wolfe, who founded the program, steps down as director today. Once upon a time—well, seventeen years ago, to be exact—I was contacted by Mark Walhout, the chair of the [Read More...]

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