Religion

Re: No Scientific Theory

By Justin Katz | July 10, 2008 |

Andrew’s disagreement with John West, it seems to me, comes down to a single word: “directs.” In essence, West presents two opposing possibilities: “God… intentionally directs the development of life toward a specific end.” “God himself cannot know how evolution will turn out.” Andrew’s hypothetical of God’s experimenting with “multi-creation,” picking “the one He likes…

No Scientific Theory Can Place Limits on God

By Carroll Andrew Morse | July 10, 2008 |

I can get out of my depth on philosophical topics rather quickly [Insert your own “And this is different from the other topics that you write about, how?” joke here], but I found John G. West‘s defense of the idea of “intelligent design” in his National Review Online article on the recently-passed Louisiana Science Education…

Remember Those Old “Unclear on the Concept” Cartoons from The Far Side

By Carroll Andrew Morse | June 25, 2008 |

This is not from The Onion. According to a survey conducted by the very reputable Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life…15% of atheists are fairly or absolutely certain that God exists.29% of agnostics do not believe in God.

Pope Sees a Fragile but Inspirational America

By Marc Comtois | May 5, 2008 |

Father Roger J. Landry of the Diocese of Fall River has some thoughts on the meaning of Pope Benedict’s recent visit to the U.S. (h/t). In particular, he focuses on how the Pope called on our own founding traditions to reinvigorate us. He came to speak to all Americans: to remind us who we are,…

A Difference of Ballast

By Justin Katz | April 30, 2008 |

Yes, unless Ben Stein didn’t simply neglect to enunciate a qualifier (such as the one that I’ve inserted in the following quotation) in which he actually believes, then he may, as Glenn Reynolds puts it, have “completely lost it”: When we just saw that man, I think it was Mr. Myers, talking about how great…

“Whadya get when an ex-Nun and a liberal Brown Professor get an opportunity to grill a Catholic Priest about the Pope’s visit to America?”

By Marc Comtois | April 20, 2008 |

Channel 12’s (and Fox Providence) Newsmakers program opened with a discussion of Pope Benedict’s visit to America. Host Steve Aveson opened by asking Father Najim about the impact of Pope Benedict’s visit. Father Najim explained that a Papal visit will help with explaining and encouraging Catholics, especially males, to enter the Catholic vocations and that,…

What’s the Point of Sound from an Evil Tree?

By Justin Katz | April 12, 2008 |

This passage from the latest Rhode Island Catholic column from the consistently insightful Fr. John A. Kiley is worth sharing: Somewhere towards the end of the last century, Fear of God yielded to fear of alienation. Not a few prelates, priests and parents have been profoundly afraid to speak up lest they lose their audiences.…

The Meaning of Easter

By Donald B. Hawthorne | March 23, 2008 |

Selections from last night’s Easter Vigil mass: The Easter Vigil is the turning point of the Triduum, the Passover of the new covenant which marks Christ’s passage from death to life. Easter is about redemption. God has secured the victory: Exodus 14:13-15 – And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see…

Historians Repeating Themselves

By Justin Katz | March 15, 2008 |

Sometimes historians skip a step or two by juxtaposing their own opinions on historical facts and then applying the “lesson” to the current day with little explanation. Such is the case with Champlain College Distinguished Scholar in History Willard Sterne Randal’s musing on the history of religion in campaigns: No presidential election since 1800 has…

Attacking the Church in the Name of Freedom

By Justin Katz | March 1, 2008 |

Wielding their new cost-free weapon, radicals continue to attack Christians in Canada: Catholic Insight, a Canadian magazine known for its fidelity to Church teachings, has been targeted by the Canadian Human Rights Commission for publishing articles deemed offensive to homosexuals. The commission has been investigating the Toronto-based publication since homosexual activist Rob Wells, a member…