Religion
Portsmouth Institute, Day 1, Session 3: Dr. John Haught, “Evolution and Faith: What Is the Problem?”
Georgetown University theology professor John Haught firmly established the theme of the Portsmouth Institute conference on “Modern Science, Ancient Faith” with his talk on the reconciliation of religion and science — even if he arguably did so without explicitly stating it. Dr. Haught did so by taking up several of the philosophical objections to Christian…
Among the truly fascinating aspects of the entire 2012 Portsmouth Institute conference, “Modern Science, Ancient Faith,” was the pervasive appearance of an underlying theme. That, in itself, is not surprising; the fact that nobody took its appearance as opportunity actually to state it is. In retrospect, in the second lecture of the series, Brother Wiseman…
It was fitting that the the 2012 Portsmouth Institute conference, “Modern Science, Ancient Faith,” held at the Portsmouth Abbey school, opened on the topic of Galileo. Brother Scotti addressed the ways in which other factors brought about the Catholic Church’s blunder with respect to Galileo. There were internal politics. Factional rifts between the Jesuits, who…
According to the Chinese calendar, 2012 is another year of the dragon. By the cyclical calendar of the United States, it’s another year of the campaign, and early indications are that it will be a fierce one. No doubt, when the post-election chill deadens the flames this winter, we’ll all be very relieved to see…
Nothing symbolizes the supposed arbitrariness of religion to those predisposed towards skepticism towards religious belief more than does the Catholic practice of eating fish on Fridays during the season of Lent. I’ll admit to having asked myself, especially on Good Friday, what connection there is between fish and the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. And then…
With the ongoing controversy between the Obama Administration and religious institutions–particularly the Catholic Church–as to whether the health care plans offered by the institutions should cover items they deem inconsistent with their religious tenets (ie; contraception, etc.), Paul Rahe writes that the support given to various progressive causes by the institution of the Catholic Church,…
The Washington Post has collected a spectrum of religious reactions to the Obama administration’s “compromise” — apparently announced as such without first consulting with the parties implicitly involved in the negotiations (a sure sign that Obama is more concerned about appearing to compromise than actually doing so). Religious leaders and others concerned about religious liberty…
Folks who invoke ideas like the “the enduring legacy of Roger Williams” as a means for deciding contemporary policy issues such as Steve Ahlquist of the Humanists of Rhode Island, continue to be confused about what that legacy actually entails. A Saturday Projo op-ed by Mr. Ahlquist from which the above quoted phrase was taken,…
If the Cranston West banner has to be destroyed or removed, or if certain words have to be redacted from it, to comply with Judge Ronald Lagueux’s Federal Court decision, there is no reason why a Soviet-style disappearance from history without explanation must occur, or that the public should not be informed that they are…
The annual battle over Christmas terminology isn’t a sport for which I have much enthusiasm, the lines having been drawn and a general consensus reached. As a matter of governance, I think that local governments ought to be able to reflect the makeup of their communities, if that’s what the folks who live there want,…
