In a New York Times column today , Mark Oppenheimer reviews the controversy surrounding former Bush speechwriter Marc Thiessen’s efforts to square waterboarding with Catholic moral doctrine. Mr. Thiessen has some ill-informed views, and Mr. Oppenheimer seems to have failed to do his homework. . . . . Continue Reading »
It has been an issue for centuries – theologians acting as philosophers and using philosophy as the starting point for theology. Some do it on the broader scope, constructing theological frameworks out of philosophical tenets. This is true not only of the modern errors we know as . . . . Continue Reading »
Meghan McArdle reports on the Seaworld press conference this afternoon about the killer whale that killed a trainer earlier this week: When asked by a reporter about the fact that this same whale has apparently killed three other people, he repeatedly makes the irrelevant point that it only killed . . . . Continue Reading »
Does anybody else remember the old 1970s Garanimal commercials for children’s clothing? Mix! Match! Save! I think we need to revive the term—because I don’t know anything else to describe the press release that just showed up in my inbox, somehow dodging the spam filters that are . . . . Continue Reading »
To follow-up on my blog post “Sunday of Orthodoxy: Or, When Schisms Are Functionally Irrelevant,” the excerpt below has helped me to understand John Calvin’s treatment of idolatry. Understanding must precede criticism.From Charles Partee, The Theology of John Calvin (Louisville: . . . . Continue Reading »
In the current issue of National Review, Rich Lowry and Ramesh Ponnuru try to develop a respectable argument that President Obama is un-American . They dismiss the literal version that defines Birtherism. And they stipulate that the president and his allies want sincerely to improve the lives of . . . . Continue Reading »
While reading Jody Bottum’s reflections on Catholicism and modern France , I found myself disagreeing. I’m inclined to think that we have a great deal to learn from France. There is, of course, a lesson about the dangers to faith when the Church becomes intertwined with political . . . . Continue Reading »
Lauren Weiner has some criticisms and recommendations for the American Academy of Arts and Sciences: The most recent crop of inductees is interesting. Among the choices for 2009 were Robert Gates, Colin Powell, appellate judge Harvie Wilkinson, historians James McPherson and Robert Caro, Emmylou . . . . Continue Reading »
Perhaps a better title would be something like Don’t Allow the Crusades to be Thoughtlessly Added to a Parade of Christian Horribles without Knowing More about It, but I wanted to get your attention.Rodney Stark’s God’s Batallions is an outstanding book designed to help the . . . . Continue Reading »
Christ Himself is both the Way by which you go, and the Haven toward which you make your way. — St. Augustine, Homily . . . . Continue Reading »
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