What I Learned What I learned . . . well, we can never tell when, or from where, we will find a valuable new discovery. I wrote an earlier version of the post below over a decade ago. It started when I was picking absent-mindedly through some neglected-looking books on the shelves of a retreat house. … Continue reading What I Learned: Evangelizing the Lukewarm
Random Selection Favors Religion, or, What Would Darwin Do?
I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live. (Deuteronomy 30:19) An Angry God Random selection appears to have doomed its most enthusiastic promoters to extinction. I want to be clear that I am not taking issue in this post with the theory … Continue reading Random Selection Favors Religion, or, What Would Darwin Do?
Our Eternal Destiny: Armed Robbery, or A Warm Place By The Fire?
From the film Little Caesar, 1931 "It's like comparing cats and dogs." Ever heard that expression before? Ever used it? I did, several years ago. I was teaching a 9th grade theology class in a (more or less) Catholic school, and same sex marriage (a hot topic at the time) came up for discussion. I wanted to emphasize that … Continue reading Our Eternal Destiny: Armed Robbery, or A Warm Place By The Fire?
Looking for God in All the Wrong Places
There’s an old joke about a police officer who was walking his beat one night when he came upon a man, apparently drunk, crawling around on his hands and knees on the pavement under a streetlamp. “What are you doing?” asked the officer. “Looking for my keys,” came the reply. “Where’d you lose them?” … Continue reading Looking for God in All the Wrong Places
What Do you say to a God who permits bone cancer in children? Ask Chiara Badano
This is the transformative power of faithful suffering. If we let him, Christ can transform our suffering into a powerful force for the good of our fellow men and women.
A Tribute Vice Pays to Itself, or, The Joy of Getting Gelded
The celebrated 17th century wit François de La Rochefoucauld once opined, “hypocrisy is a tribute vice pays to virtue”. In other words, we lie about what we are doing because we’re wise enough, at least, to be ashamed of it. What can we say, however, about an age that knows no shame?
Has Pascal’s Wager Really Been “Debunked”?
I have yet to see an argument that overcomes this stark, simple choice: what’s the worst that can happen if you gamble on God? What’s the worst if you take the other path? Is it really that complicated?
God’s Existence isn’t a Dark Matter
Like Dark Energy, God cannot be measured with scientific instruments . . . but his effects are very clear.