Podcasts for 2016

Looking for a way to expand your understanding of the faith?  Here are some of the podcasts I frequently have playing when I drive, work out, do home improvement, etc.

The Nativity in Revelation

The Gospels contain two accounts of the Nativity - the birth of Jesus.  The first is in Matthew and the second is in Luke.  Today I wanted to look at a third one, which is found in a most unlikely place...

... the book of Revelation.

CE vs AD - What is the Fulcrum of Human History?

Ever seen something and thought, “This is so dumb.  It will never catch on.”  Only to have the thing catch on?  That is how I felt when I first saw the CE/BCE dating system.

Regarding Violence in the Name of the Pro-Life Cause...

Perhaps you have heard the story.  A somewhat deranged, middle-aged white man becomes obsessed with a massive human rights violation being perpetrated in America.  After an exchange of gunfire with law enforcement – resulting in the death of several people – he is finally captured.  His actions, in the end, did far more to discredit the cause he purportedly fought for.

I am, of course, referring to John Brown’s raid on Harper’s Ferry in 1859.  John Brown was an abolitionist who sought to eliminate the scourge of slavery through violence.  His actions helped contribute to the tensions which gave rise to the Civil War.

Hanukkah, Christmas, and You

Right now we are in the midst of the Jewish season of Hanukkah.  When I was in school my understanding of Hanukkah could be summarized as, “That thing with the candles when the Jewish kids get presents for eight days.”

It was only much later that I’d learn the history of the thing.

In the second century before Christ, the Jewish people in Israel came under intense persecution by the kings of the Seleucid kingdom.  In the year 165 BC, the Hebrew forces – led by Judas Maccabeus – retook the Temple in Jerusalem for the sons of Jacob.

By this time the Temple was littered with garbage and had been desecrated in every way imaginable.  So Judas led his men in rebuilding the interior of the structure and re-consecrating it to God.  Then they all celebrated for eight days.

Today I wanted to look at three questions.  One, where is Hanukkah mention in the Bible?  Two, why don’t Christians celebrate it today?  Three, what does it have to do with you?

My Upcoming Pro-Life Presentations

I have a mountain of writing I would usually love to do, but recently it has been put on hold.  My local parish and the leaders of the Pro-Life clubs at local high schools have asked me to put together some presentations on Pro-Life apologetics.

The course will be divided into three presentations.  The first will be on the basic arguments.  The second will focus on common objections, specifically appeals to the "hard cases".  The third will be covering basic Pro-Life facts one should have off the top of his or her head.

Here is a link to the first presentation, which covers basic arguments:  [LINK]

And the second, which covers advanced arguments:  [LINK]

And the third, which covers basic facts:  [LINK]

And the CITATIONS for the third presentation: [LINK]

Enjoy!

If Catholics Are Not Christians...

A few years ago my mother got a piece of mail from Moody Radio.  It included a pamphlet with a Q&A for new Christian believers.  Among the questions was:

Can a person continue going to the Catholic Mass after becoming a Christian?

Their answer was... no. 

Mom showed me the pamphlet and asked what on earth they meant.  She had no idea there was a contingent of Christians - particularly in America - who did not regard Catholics among their Christian brethren.  For practicallity sake, let's call these folks CNCs (Catholics are Not Christians).

Today I want to address this phenomenon and present an argument to show its absurdity. 

Short Answer: Is it OK to Kill Baby Hitler?

Dear Apologist, Recently a major pro-life presidential candidate said he would have killed Hitler as a baby.  Would that be right?

Who Counts as a Christian?

The eleventh chapter of Acts records an important moment in Christian history:

"And in Antioch the disciples were first called 'Christians'." - Acts 11:26

To be a "Christian" means you are a member of Jesus' flock, a disciple of the Lord, and a member of the New Covenant in Christ.   Inversely, if someone tells you you’re NOT a Christian, you are being told that you’re none of those things.  So it's kind of a big deal.

I thought of that a few days ago I saw this video where some guy (with amazing hair) interviewed a Catholic nun.  He opened the talk by saying a survey of his audience revealed 84% of them considered Catholics to be Christians.  Of course, this means 16% either said “no” ... or weren't sure.

I could go on about the sad (and ironic) phenomenon of people thinking Catholics aren't Christians, but not today.  Today I wanted to ask a different question:

Who counts as a Christian anyway?  

And perhaps just as importantly:

Who decides?

Short Answer: Are our good works really "dirty rags" before God?

Dear Apologist, I was told all of our good works are "dirty rags" before God.  What does that mean?

Was Jesus Wrong About the End of the World?

Today I wanted to look over a passage in the Gospel of Mark which had me a little confused back when I was in college. 

In the thirteenth chapter of Mark’s Gospel, Jesus predicts a cataclysmic event which would be marked by signs in the sky and the “coming of the Son of Man”.  It reads:

"But be alert; I have already told you everything. But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in clouds’ with great power and glory. Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven." - Mark 13:23-27

Many interpret this as describing the end of the world – and it certainly sounds like that.  But then folks get really confused when Jesus says:

"Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place." - Mark 13:30

Wait… did Jesus say the end of the world would occur within the lifetime of His original hearers?  That’s odd….

Even the great Christian writer CS Lewis saw this verse as a scandal – a time when Jesus Christ was factually incorrect. 

What is going on in this passage? 

Do Christians and Muslims Worship the Same God?

Today I wanted to write about a perennially debated question: Do Christians and Muslims worship the same God?

I find that there are two common points of view regarding this issue.  Let’s examine them.


Seeking Commonalities: 

The first perspective recognizes the things we share in common with Muslims regarding the identity of God.

Imagine you saw a person praying.  You approach him and ask:

 “To whom are you directing your prayers?”

He responds:

“I’m praying to the one, self-existent all-powerful God who created the universe from nothing. Who revealed Himself to Abraham and continued to interact with mankind by sending prophets.  Who is completely holy, righteous, merciful, just, and sovereign and who will judge all of mankind on the last day.”

Given that description, most Christians would reasonably conclude this man is praying to the same God they do.  Perhaps this person doesn’t have the complete story regarding God, but he’s clearly sending his prayers to creator@universe.gov.

And since God is looking to draw all people to Himself, we can be confident they are being heard. He may be like Cornelius the Centurion from the book of Acts.  He wasn't a Jew, he didn’t know about Jesus, but he did fear God.  Thus the angel said to him:

“Your prayers and almsgiving have ascended as a memorial offering before God.” – Acts 10:4

Enforcing Distinctions:

The other side of this discussion also raises a good point.  Suppose I asked you:

 “Have you met my father?”

And you replied:

 “Oh yes, I’ve met your father.  He is 5’6” tall, has blond hair, works at Target, wears glasses, and is highly tattooed.” 

I would rightly reply:

 “No, I think you have someone else in mind.”

Going of this thought pattern, many Christians would point out the differences between the Islamic and Christian concept of God.  Things like:

• The God of Christianity is one being with three persons, the God of Islam is one being with one person.

• The God of Christianity took on a human nature and became present in space-time-reality as Jesus of Nazareth, the God of Islam takes offense at that notion.  (1)

• The God of Christianity wants to be regarded as a loving Father, the God of Islam regards such a notion as a species of blasphemy called "shirk". (2)

• The God of Christianity historically ordered His people into violent conquest (3.1), but the final standing orders were to “love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you” (3.2),  The God of Islam began with a message of reconciliation and nonviolence (3.3), but the final standing orders quite open to the use of force.  (3.4)

Given these rather notable distinctions, many Christians feel quite justified in saying that the Islamic concept of God is so different as to constitute a description of a different entity.

Putting the Two Together:

Both of these perspectives contain important truths, so they both must be taken into account.  

Here it is instructive to look at the case of Jewish belief.  Jews also deny such things as the Trinity and the Incarnation.  Still, very few Christians would deny that Jews worship the same God as themselves... even if they deny certain important facts about God.

So it seems reasonable to apply the same thought to Muslims.  To reprise the analogy from above, it would be like someone knows some basic facts about my father - and is clearly thinking of the right man -  but he also heard some erroneous ideas about him.

Thus, we can say to our Muslim friends that together with us they adore the one, merciful God - mankind's judge on the last day.  But then propose a serious reexamination of the identity of Jesus of Nazareth.


Sources:
1. Sura 5:72 , 10:68, 19:35
2.  Surah 5:18
3.1 Num 33:51
3.2 Matt 5:44, Matt 26:52
3.3 Sura 2:256
3.4 Sura 9:5, 9:29-30

Do Orcs Have Souls?

Back when I was in middle school I saw this Arnold Schwarzenegger movie called "The Sixth Day".  It was all about this evil corporation which runs this secret, behind-closed-doors human cloning market.

The film ends with a cloned Arnold Schwarzenegger talking to the original one about the meaning of his life as a clone.  He asks, "Do I have a soul?"

A similar question was asked at a recent Bible Study meeting.  One of the students asked if the Orcs from the Lord of the Rings fiction would have had souls.  Another asked about Ents.

And, as always, people are very curious about whether dog, cats, and llamas have souls.  (No one is ever curious whether dung beetles have souls.)

The Catholic faith, by way of Thomas Aquinas, has a lot to say on the topic.  So let's dive in.

Christianity and Sexism: Is God a Dude?

I recently ran across a book called, “Stellarella”.  It’s a book that tries to present positive female role models for young girls.  (Hoorah!)   But one distinctive feature of the book is that Stellarella refers to God with feminine pronouns:

“Did you know God makes rain too, Tank?  She’s very clever.”

If you are like me, you’ve grown up hearing God referred to exclusively in the masculine.  Reading a divine feminine pronoun can be a bit jarring.

Still… it raises a good question.  God doesn’t have an innate physical form.  The Creator isn’t properly male or female.  So why the insistence on referring to God in the masculine?  Why can’t God be a she?

Is this convention simply a leftover from a cruder age of sexism and patriarchy… or does it point to something deeper?

Answering the Five Objections to the Communion of Saints

It's the month of October.  And in the run-up to Halloween I wanted to cover some different aspects of what is called "the Communion of Saints".  Last time I talked about praying for the deceased.

Today I wanted to discuss a practice which is common to Catholics and Eastern Orthodox, but is rejected by certain other Christians.  I'm referring, of course, to asking for the prayerful intercession of our blessed friends in Heaven.

All Christians agree we are supposed to pray for one another and ask for one another's prayers.  This builds up the community in mutual affection and can bring about powerful results.

In Catholic and Orthodox circles, we believe this role of intercessory prayer continues even after a person goes to be with God in Heaven.  We believe these people, whom we call "the Saints", can receive our prayer requests  - and indeed do pray for us in the presence of God.

There are five boilerplate objections to this practice. Let’s go through them:

Praying for the Dead?

A long while ago I was reading an article about the death of Harold Camping - the infamous predictor of the end times.  I left a comment on the article saying: "He was a strange and confused man, but we should pray that he finds rest with the Lord."

The reaction I got from the rest of the Christian audience was  .... unexpected.

Praying for the dead is a completely normal thing within Catholic circles, but is considered by many others to be bizarre and possibly heretical.  So what unfolded in that combox was a long, somewhat exasperating exchange in which I tried to explain the concept.

Why would one pray for the dead?

Christianity and Sexism: The New Testament

In the first part of this series we looked at sexism in the Old Testament. You can find that >here<.
Today we move onto the New Testament.

Short Answer: What About Bad Popes?

Dear Apologist, How do I respond to questions about the bad Popes in our history?

One theme that runs through the whole Bible is that God does great works despite using very poor materials. This served as a sign that it was truly God at work.

Christianity and Sexism: The Old Testament

A good friend of mine is a Cru missionary in Michigan.  He said the biggest objection he gets from the folks is that the Christian faith is bigoted and sexist by its very nature.

Today I wanted to look at the first of those – sexism.  Specifically sexism in the Old Testament.  Does the legacy which Christianity inherits from the Old Testament bind it to sexism in the present day?

Let’s dive in.

Judging the Pharisee and "I'm a Christian, but..."

Today I wanted to reflect on a viral video I saw and my favorite parable.

Papal Infallibility and Paul's Rebuke

Pope Francis’ upcoming visit has me in the mood to write about Pope related stuff.  Today I wanted to talk about Papal Infallibility and the most common argument against it.

Let’s dive in!

Is the Pope the "Antichrist" of the Bible?

Pope Francis will be visiting the United States in September for a conference on family life.  Mentions of the Pope in current events tend to elicit strong reactions from certain segments of Christian culture in America.

One of those reactions is the claim that the Pope (or the Papacy in general) is the “Antichrist”.  This might strike the average person as being a bizarre, fringe opinion of a few screaming lunatics.  And it is true, thankfully, that this belief is becoming less common.

The Letter to Philemon and Slavery

A while ago I saw a video of writer Dan Savage addressing a gathering of young journalists.  His topic was the bullying of people with same-sex attraction.  However, his presentation included a chilling example of bullying in which he lambasted the Christians in the room, mocking them as they left in tears.

He made two claims.  The first was that the only commandment Christians believed carried over from the Old Testament was those against homosexual acts.  I wrote about that topic here.  The other claim was that the New Testament endorses slavery, particularly the book of Philemon.

Here is what Savage said:

“Paul doesn't say, 'Christians don't own people.'  Paul talks about how Christians own people.”

On that basis he says the Bible cannot be trusted as a moral guide.  So… does it?

The Catholic Church and Suicide

Depression and suicide come into the news periodically - particularly when a famous person ends his life.  A recent example was the late Robin Williams. 

These instances point us back to our own lives.  One fact I cannot get accustomed while in high school youth ministry is the staggering number of kids who have battled depression and suicide.  It seems to be everywhere.

I'm no expert on the psychology of suicide or depression, but perhaps there is one thing I can usefully shed some light on.  Today I wanted to examine what the Catholic Church teaches regarding suicide.

If Jesus Was a Myth...

CS Lewis famously asserted his "Trillemma" argument regarding the identity of Jesus of Nazareth.  It proposes that a man who claims to be God can be one of three things; God, a wicked liar, or a complete madman.  This is usually called the alliterative “Lord, Liar, Lunatic Trillemma”.

There is a fourth option which CS Lewis dismissed based on his knowledge of literature.  Namely, that New Testament is either partly or entirely mythological.  This option is often labeled, "Legend".  It proposes that the Apostles (or other early Christians) embellished Jesus' story with claims to divinity or completely fabricated the man wholesale.

The Catholic Church and Evolution

A while ago there was a high-profile debate between Kevin Ham and Bill Nye (the science guy).  This was seen by many as a clash between two diametrically opposed worldviews:  The world of science and the world of Christian faith.

Today I wanted to discuss why this dichotomy is thought to exist and where the Catholic Church stands on it.

How Was Jesus a Melchizedek Priest?

The major theme of the letter to the Hebrews is the interaction between the sacrifices of the Mosaic Law and the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.  One of the key assertions in that letter is that Jesus is not a Levitical priest - that is, a priest according to the Law of Moses - but a priest after the order of Melchizedek.

The letter says:

"We have this as a steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek." - Hebrews 6:19-20

What does that mean?  That's what we'll examine today.

How to NOT do Historical Exegesis

I recently ran across a fella whose background included sub-optimal experiences with his Catholic family.  It left him being very jaded toward the Catholic Church - particularly the idea of hierarchical leadership.  

I pointed out that church leadership was found (and commended) in the Bible.  One good example would be in the letter to the Hebrews:

"Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you." - Hebrews 13:17

He replied by telling me to keep in mind the sin of the Nicolaitans.  What is that, you ask?  Good question.  I didn't know either.  

The Best Christian Song I've Heard...

A few months ago I added the KLOVE Christian music station to my presets.  I soon realized every single song is a theologically neutral, upbeat pop song about Jesus Christ.  This is fine at first, but after a while I found myself asking, “Is this all we’ve got?”

But... Are They "Persons"?

I once heard this amusing observation about the abortion debate:

The Pro-Life side is usually characterized as being religious.  And religious people – as everyone knows – hate the natural sciences.  “Pro-Choice” people tend to be secular.  And secular people – as everyone knows – love the natural sciences.

Now, the central question to abortion is the status of the thing growing inside the mother’s womb.  If that thing is a little human being, then you cannot do violence against it.  If it is a blob of amorphous tissue, then do whatever you want to it.

In regard to this question, the Pro-Life side is happy to appeal to the findings of the natural sciences.

“Here is an ultrasound,” says the pro-lifer, “Here are some medical journals on gestational development.   Here are some biology textbooks defining terms like ‘human’ and ‘life’ and ‘organism’.  Let me know if you have any questions!”

In the face of this question it is the supporters of abortion legality who suddenly put on a philosopher’s hat, furrows their collective brow, and ask:

“What is a human person anyway?  What does it mean to be a person? Can a child in the womb write poetry?  Can it do mathematics?  Does it feel emotions?”  

This philosophical rumination forms the basis of what I call the Argument for the Legality of Abortion from Personhood (AFLAFP).

So... What Caused God?

"OK... what caused God?"

"Well, nothing.  God has just always been around."

"That seems rather convenient."

This exchange usually occurs when someone argues that God must exist because... well... where did the universe come from?

Even if one puts forward a solid case for why the universe needs some kind of creative cause, one quickly finds that there is more work to do. Because in the mind of a skeptic the idea of God existing infinitely into the past seems just as absurd as the universe doing the same.  So if the universe demands a cause, why not God?    

Answering this question will require us to take a look at two classic arguments for the existence of God.  Most people think of these arguments as trying to prove God's existence from reason - which they do - but they also help us clarify what God  is (and isn't).

So let's dive in.

The Culture and Marriage - Where were we? Where are we? What now?

Ever since the Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act, it was only a matter of time before Anthony Kennedy decided every state in the union had to change its definition of marriage.  It was clear by his reasoning that the question regarding the nature of marriage itself was settled in his mind, and the only reason a person could disagree with him was some manner of irrational hatred or bigotry.

When the inevitable occurred, it was a moment of reflection. How did things happen so fast... or did they?  Who was to blame?  How much effort was spent supporting the natural-conjugal definition of marriage... and was it for nothing?

Now that chapter is over with the wave of a judge’s pen.  But those thoughts gave way to the next question… now what?

You, your Soul, and God

A long while ago I did a series of classes on classical and modern arguments for the existence of God.  At the outset of the first class I went around the room and asked the students, “Why do you believe in God?”

One student replied, “Because I know I have a soul.”

It was a profound observation.  The student’s answer is one of the primary intuitions that send mankind in search of its Creator. 

Today I wanted to talk about the soul, some of the reasons we have the sense of having a soul, and why it points us to God.

How to Get Misinformed About the Catholic Faith

Maybe I should not be commenting upon this while it is so fresh in my mind, but ... I think enough time has gone by to at least blog about some facts involved.

Ten Lessons From Five Years of High School Youth Ministry

It was roughly five years ago that I took over the high school youth ministry Bible Study / Discussion Group at Our Lady of Mount Carmel.  Today I wanted to write out some general thoughts and lessons I've learned:

Transgenderism, Compassion, and Nature of the Human Person

There was this staggering scene in the new Robocop movie in which the protagonist sees the extent of his injuries.  His robotic parts are gradually stripped away until nothing is left but two lungs, a heart, and his head.  The protagonist demands to be killed, stating, "Holy Christ, there is nothing left."

The doctor who created the robotic exosuit comforts him by saying his real identity - the entirety of his personhood - rests in his mind.  So as long as his mind is intact, he is whole.  It was a massive philosophical statement which can easily go over a viewer's head.

This is what I think about as I see the attention given to Bruce/Caitlyn Jenner and his transition from man to woman.  It ought not have been such a big news story.   A man was changing his name, wardrobe, and having cosmetic surgery.  So what?  Well, underneath all of this discussion are deeper questions:

"What is a human person?  And what is the relationship between mind and body?"

If the Modern Media Covered the Arian Controversy

The whole empire is buzzing with controversy started by the courageous theologian Arius.  He is the leader of a new, energetic movement in Christianity offering a fresh look at ancient doctrines.  One which he believes will help people relate better to Jesus.

The Catholic Church and Justification

Today I can finally post a project I've been working on for a month.  Here is the first part of my detailed explanation of the Catholic Church's teaching on justification and salvation.

The first video of this two-part series will cover Original Sin, Free Will, and Baptism.



Part I

Part II

Poetry: "Necessary"

"Necessary"

Short Answers: Male Priesthood and Calling Priests "Father"

Dear Apologist, Why is it that only men can be priests?  Is that rule changeable?   

Long Answer: What is the Difference Between Catholics and "Protestants" ?

A few months ago during the high school Bible Study we had a guest come from another Christian congregation.  Late in the meeting she innocently asked one of the most complicated questions possible:  “What is the difference between Catholics and Protestants?”

Where does one begin?

Reflection: God the Father and the Three Needs of Sons

Here is something I’ve been wanting to write about for a while.  It started as a little mental exercise about being a good father.  Because... you know... there are a couple of boys to whom my ability to be a good father is particularly relevant.

In particular, I was thinking about the various universal and deep emotional needs a son has in relation to his dad.  More to the point, what sort of things does a son NEED to hear from his father regularly - most particularly during his early formative years.  What kinds of words do boys retain deep psychological wounds for want of hearing?

I came up with three:

Short Answers: Jesus Descended into Hell?

Dear Apologist, Why does the Apostles Creed say that Jesus “descended into hell”?

The Apostles Creed is an ancient Christian statement of belief which predates the Nicene Creed.   A Catholic is most likely to encounter it when praying the Rosary, as it is recited at the beginning.  Certain translations of the Apostles Creed say:

“[Jesus] suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried.  He descended into hell and on the third day he rose again from the dead.”  

This part of the creed is a reference to 1Peter 3:18-19, which describes Jesus dying and visiting imprisoned spirits.  The use of the word “hell” - and the prospect of Jesus going there - has confused many English-speaking people into thinking the Son became estranged from the Father and temporarily suffered the plight of the damned.

The reason for this confusion is a mixture of translation choices and the evolution of the English language.  The original Greek says that Jesus went to “Hades”.  Readers in ancient times would have been familiar with Hades being the abode of the dead, the underworld.  It was thought of as a place where the spirits of the deceased dwelt, but not a place of torment.  That word “hades” was translated into Middle English as “hel”.  This word originally had the exact same neutral connotation as “hades”.

However, over time our conception of the word “hell” changed to refer only to the place of eternal punishment and separation from God.  It would be impossible for Jesus, who was God, to experience such a thing.  Thus, some modern translations of the creed now say Jesus “descended to the dead”.  This rendition is friendlier to modern audiences and conveys the correct meaning.

Short Answers: It's the End of the World!

Dear Apologist, What is the rapture?  And what do Catholics believe about the end of the world? 

Conscience, Cooperation, and Moral Philosophy

The past few weeks have seen a spike in the attention given to Christians in the wedding-service industry who wish to refrain from providing their services to same-sex weddings.

The first response people often have is to conflate this specific refusal of service with the complete refusal of all services seen in the Jim Crow Era against African Americans.  I covered this in a previous blog post – showing why that comparison is inaccurate.

Today I wanted to look at two other questions people ask about the issue:

• Is this refusal of service unloving?
• What level of involvement is acceptable for conscientious Christians?

This will involve dipping our toes into moral philosophy.  This realm of philosophy is geared toward making explicit what we all feel in our consciences when confronting moral dilemmas.  It helps draw useful distinctions between what a person can and cannot ethically do.

So let’s dive in.

Short Answer: The Resurrection

Dear Apologist, How do I defend the historicity of Christ's resurrection?

The Crucifixion - What and Why

Today is Good Friday, the day Christians the world over remember the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.  Saint Paul described the cross as a “stumbling block”

“For Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles.” - 1 Corinthians 1:22

He may well have added that it is a stumbling block to 21st Century Americans, who want God to be a harmless and kindly grandfather.  The idea of our salvation culminating in a crazy level of violence directed toward an innocent man is a tough pill to swallow among some audiences.

Today I want to take a look at the crucifixion and ask a few questions:

• How exactly does this event bring about our salvation?
• Why did God choose to do it this way?

A Prophetic Sketch of the Messiah - Part 1: Intro

A while ago a good friend of mine asked if I could write about the prophecies concerning Jesus.  I still don’t know as much as I’d like, but I can offer a short summary.  With any luck, we can develop a sketch of the Jewish Messiah.

A Prophetic Sketch of the Messiah - Part 2: In the Fullness of Time

In the first part I laid out some guidelines for how I’m approaching the Messianic prophecies.  Now I’ll begin walking through some of the more compelling ones I found using that criteria.  Today's goal is to pin down the time period we’re looking for our Messiah to appear in.

A Prophetic Sketch of the Messiah - Part 3: From the Manger to the Grave

In the second part I focused on the Biblical prophecies concerning the Messianic age.  Today we’re going to examine the lineage, location, and death of the Messiah.

A Prophetic Sketch of the Messiah - Part 4: From the Rising of the Sun to its Setting

In the previous parts we have looked at the timing of the coming of the Messiah, some of the accomplishments of his life, and the manner of his death.  Now we will look at what is prophesied concerning the lasting effects of his ministry.  What sort of things would change as a result of the coming of the Messiah?

Discrimination, Conscience, and Religious Liberty

A long while ago I was watching an episode of Miami Ink.  One of the tattoo artists, Ami James, was the only guy on staff when a woman came in asking for a tattoo of some Christian devotional artwork.  Ami, who is Jewish, said he did not feel comfortable drawing Christian devotional artwork.  He refused the job.

Now, one felt for the lady’s frustration, but what ought to have been done?  Do I want this Jewish man to be sued for refusing to draw Christian devotional artwork?  Do I want him hauled before court and facing legal penalties?  Do I want his business demolished?

For many people this is not a mental exercise – this is reality.  All it would take to ruin their livelihood is a single person coming in the door making a request they cannot fulfill in good conscience… with a finger ready to hit the “call” button to a well-lawyered advocacy group.

Today I want to point out a distinction people overlook in these cases.  When someone refuses a job in this fashion, what exactly is being discriminated against?

And also… to what extent are we willing to punish people for obeying their conscience?

Short Answers: Married Priests and the Priesthood of All Christians

Two questions on the Catholic priesthood today:

Short Answers: Repetitive Prayers and the Intercession of Saints

Dear Apologist, I was told that Jesus doesn’t want us to pray repetitious prayers like the Rosary. Is that true?

Short Answers: The ethics of In-Vitro-Fertilization.

Dear Apologist, Why would the Church oppose invitro-fertilization if it helps married couples have a baby? 

In-vitro-Fertilization (IVF) refers to a procedure whereby human embryos are created in a lab and implanted directly into a woman’s womb.  This process is commonly used to assist couples who are struggling to conceive a child naturally.  The Catholic Church nonetheless condemns the use of IVF as gravely evil.  [CCC 2371-2379].  Many argue that since God cooperates with the IVF process by bringing a new human soul into existence, this shows divine approval.  This argument does not work.  Children can also come into existence through a variety of evil acts – (we need not list them) – but no one would argue that those acts are morally licit on that basis.   Therefore, we must look deeper into what IVF does.

There are three main issues.  First, the Church recognizes that God has created a natural order by which children come into existence in the marital act between two spouses.  Children have the right to come into existence in this way.  Second, while a couple’s desire – even desperation - to have a child is understandable, no one has the RIGHT to a child.  They are gifts from God, but the IVF industry perpetuates the attitude that children are a commodity which can be manufactured.

Lastly, and most importantly, a couple who successfully uses IVF typically does not have only one new child.  The process typically creates multiple embryos, most of which are never implanted.  Those embryos, which are living human souls, are typically kept frozen.   While the Church would certainly not cast doubt on the dignity of a child who was born as a result of IVF, recognizing the equal humanity of the children kept on ice demands that the procedure be condemned.

Discussing the HHS Mandate

The past few years have renewed discussion on the privileges and boundaries of religious liberty in the USA.  One of the major causes of this attention is the HHS contraceptive mandate.  This mandate requires that all medical insurance plans offer contraception (including some which act as abortifacients) free of any charge to the recipient.

Stupid Complaint #8: No Licit Use?

Stupid Complaint #8: “Some people need those drugs for legitimate medical issues!  Or do you suggest we just cut them off from the medicine they need.”  

Stupid Complaint #7: No Pay?

Stupid Complaint #7: “By that same logic you would have to stop paying the person because he/she might go out and buy contraception!”

Stupid Complaint #6: A Packaged Deal?

Stupid Complaint #6: “The employers are not being forced to give contraception to their employees.  They are being forced to give them insurance coverage which includes contraception at no additional cost.  No one’s conscience is being violated here.”  

Stupid Complaint #5: For Me or For All?

Stupid Complaint #5:  “If an employer is against contraception, that’s fine for him.  But he isn’t the one who will be using it.  There is nothing immoral about giving it to other people.”

Stupid Complaint #4: All or Nothing?

Stupid Complaint #4: “I suppose you think the State shouldn’t intervene when Christian Science parents refuse to obtain life-saving medical treatment for their children, right?  So if we allow Holy Family Bookstores to not provide contraceptive coverage based on their religious beliefs, we’ll have to let those kids to die too.”  

Stupid Complaint #3: Not Buying as Preventing

Stupid Complaint #3: “Employers should not be able to prevent a person’s access to contraception.”  

Stupid Complaint #2: Companies Can't Have Religious Character?

Stupid Complaint #2:  “The owner of the business isn’t being forced to do something, the business is.  Corporations aren’t really people.  They don’t have religions, beliefs, or consciences.  Corporations cannot go to heaven or hell.”

Stupid Complaint #1: Mandatory Public Secularism?

Stupid Complaint #1:  “Your beliefs are fine for your personal life, but you have to set those aside when you operate in the marketplace.”   

A Meditation on the Testing of Jesus in the Desert

Today I wanted to write out a meditation on a famous event in the life of Jesus – the testing of Jesus by Satan in the desert.  I want us to look at each of the three temptations and exploring their meaning.

But before we do that, we need to do a bit of background on the person of Lucifer / Satan.  So… let’s go ahead and do that.

How Can We Understand Old Testament Commands For Violence?

One of the most common canards in the popular understanding of the Bible is that there is a massive change in character between the “Old Testament God” and “New Testament God”.  New Testament God is all about peace, brotherhood, forgiveness, and mercy.   This is contrasted with Old Testament God, who is all about murder and punishment.

While most Christians would insist that the Old Testament and New Testament speak of the same God, many of us are pseudo-Marcionites in practice.  We do not like to think about some of the more disturbing things God did and commanded other to do in the Old Testament.

So today I wanted to take a look at the prime example – the extermination of the Canaanites.

A Tale of Early Canons

One of the topics which divide Catholics and non-Catholics is the canon of Scripture.  That is to say, which books belong in the table of contents of the Bible.  Catholics have a list which contains 73 books and non-Catholics typically have 66 books.  In this essay I will refer to these as the “Catholic Canon” and the “Protestant Canon”.

The primary difference is seven books which are found in the Old Testament.  Those are:  1 Maccabees, 2 Maccabees, Judith, Tobit, Wisdom, Sirach, and Baruch.  Catholics refer these at the “Deuterocanon” and non-Catholics call these the “Apocrypha”.

We could look at the various arguments presented by the two sides for the inclusion or exclusion of those books, but today I wanted to ask a purely historical question:

If you were a Christian in the early church, what books would you regard as Scripture?

The answer is not as straightforward as you may imagine.  So what do the earliest witnesses say?

Two Short Answers to Pro-file Questions: "Pro-Choice" vs "Pro-Abortion", and The Case of Dangerous Pregnancies

Today I thought I'd cover two questions on the Western world's most debated issue:

The Mass - A Sacrifice... but not a Re-Sacrifice? Huh?

Today I wanted to address one of the most incomprehensible aspects of Catholic worship when looking in from the outside.

The Catholic Church’s worship service is called “the Mass”.  As you may be aware, the Church regards the Mass as a sacrifice in which the offered victim is Jesus Christ.  In addition, most Catholic parishes celebrate the Mass multiple times per day.

With this in mind, many non-Catholics will be concerned that Catholics are attempting to sacrifice Jesus again and again.  In  fact, some will confront Catholics with the words from the letter to the Hebrews, which emphatically says that Christ was sacrificed ONCE for all.  However, when faced with those quotations, knowledgeable Catholics will look you in the eye and assert that the Mass does not “re-sacrifice” Jesus.

The mind reels.

What is going on there?  How can the Mass be a sacrifice, be something which is repeated, and yet not be a “re-sacrifice”?

That’s what we’ll explore today.

Why Do Some Catholics Say Mary is the "Coredemptrix"?

Catholics are often thought to have an unhealthy preoccupation with the Blessed Virgin Mary.  The number of titles and honors given to the mother of the Savior seem, from the outside, to be an unnecessary distraction from Christ – and many times a theologically problematic one.  For those who know about it, the crowning jewel of these unnecessary and problematic titles for Mary is “Coredemptrix.”

The title of “Coredemptrix” is not an official, dogmatically defined title in way certain others are.  Rather, it is common parlance among Catholics with a particularly high Marian piety.... and it is misunderstood by almost everyone else.

So today I wanted to explore the title, what it means, and how it reflects the teaching of Scripture.

A Response to Saint Hilary on the Agony in the Garden

A friend of mine approached me after the Monday Bible Study and said he had an ancient quandary.  It came from a commentary on the Agony in the Garden written by Saint Hilary of Potiers.

My Favorite Theistic Arguments - Part 0 - What Do We Mean?

For a long while I've been wanting to give a treatment to the most basic tenet of Christianity - the existence of God.  Namely, I wanted to do a sketch of the most common (and powerful, in my opinion) argument's for God's existence.

Before we begin with the messy work of providing those arguments, it may be instructive to do a little background work.  First, we'll touch upon what we mean by “God" and then what it means to have "faith in God".  Lastly, I'll provide links to all 6 arguments I wanted to examine.

My Favorite Theistic Arguments - Part VI - The Moral Argument

The previous parts dealt with things which are observed outside of us – the nature of the universe, miracles, and so on.  Today we’re going to look at an argument that requires a bit of introspection.  Today we will give a brief sketch of that most provocative argument:  The moral argument.

Over time I’ve become more convinced that comprehension of this argument is a supernatural gift of the Holy Spirit.  The most common response from non-Theists to this argument is the complete inability to understand what it is getting at.  So it is probably not a good argument to start with, but is more helpful to a person who is on the fence.

With that said, let’s begin:

My Favorite Theistic Arguments - Part V - The Argument from Miracles

Up until now we have been looking at arguments formed from purely natural premises.   Today I wanted to look at the supernatural - namely miracles.

 Miracles are typically understood as events which go beyond what is possible given the natural forces present.  The argument here is simple;  If there has ever been a single genuine miracle - that serves as verification that God exists.

So today I want to look at five examples.

My Favorite Theistic Arguments - Part IV - The Argument from Regularity, Intelligibility, and Mathematics

In the previous note we examined how physics is shot through with physical constants which govern its effects in reality.  So, for instance, we look at the equation for gravitational attraction.

Today we’re going to come at this from a slightly different angle.  The fourth argument I’d want to take a look at has various forms, but I think they all point to the same thing.

My Favorite Theistic Arguments - Part III - The Fine Tuning Argument

In the previous two parts we looked at the Kalam and Contingency arguments.  Those focused on the need for an external cause to create and sustain the universe (or anything at all) in being.

Today we’ll look at an argument of a different type – one which looks for fingerprints on the universe itself.  The most well-known of these is called the “Cosmological Fine Tuning Argument”.

But before we look into that, we first have to review some background.

My Favorite Theistic Arguments - Part II - The Contingency Argument

In the previous post we drew a sketch of the Kalam Cosmological Argument.  It looks at the beginning of the universe and asks, “Why did that happen?  What or who could do that?”

We closed with an objection that can undermine one of the hidden assumptions in the Kalam.  Namely, the reality of the passage of time.  That, I said, moves us into the next argument:  The Contingency Argument.

My Favorite Theistic Arguments - Part I - The Kalam

Today I wanted to start with an overview of the Kalam Cosmological Argument.  The Kalam is probably the most basic argument – so much so that people come realize it on their own.

The Kalam is basically the observation that if the universe has a beginning, then something had to make that happen.  And the only suitable candidate is something like God.

Now let's go through it in more detail.