"Facts Matter, Science Matters, Earth Matters" One sometimes finds slogans like this on car bumpers. The statement's intended meaning must be beyond the surface. Perhaps leaving off the list "Black Lives Matter" is telling? No; that's an especially uncharitable and gratuitous interpretation. What then? Maybe the sloganeer imagines a foolish and deplorable group of people … Continue reading Scientism
Prepare–While You Still Can
Use this brief window of freedom we're now enjoying for prepping. I don't necessarily mean setting a shipping-container as a cabin, on a remote plot of land, or equipping a tall Dodge RAM as your new mobile home (as exciting as these options might be). How about your communications abilities? Look into it yourself. Make … Continue reading Prepare–While You Still Can
Safe Online Practices for the Vulnerable
Do you fear an abusive X? Are you a whistle-blower communicating with a newspaper? Are you an activist organizing against Communist China in the Hong Kong protests? Are you gay in Iran or Saudi Arabia? Do you simply wish not to have your personal information sold to the highest bidder, or dislike being spied on … Continue reading Safe Online Practices for the Vulnerable
Pray Through the Psalms, Weekly or Monthly
Devout Jews and Christians, through the Centuries, have prayed the Psalms. In our troubling times, you'll likely find them helpful; William James, great American Philosopher and Psychologist, credited them with saving his sanity--literally. I simply copied the Psalm chapter numbers to be read for each of the daily Divine Office readings of the Benedictine Monastic … Continue reading Pray Through the Psalms, Weekly or Monthly
A Brief Examination of Conscience, Especially For Millennials
This admonition does not apply to a good portion of honorable Millenials, while it does apply to a good portion of dishonorable Baby-boomers. We all need correction periodically; I'm not always OK and you're not always OK. Perhaps a few of these words might usefully prick your conscience, leading to change, forgiveness, and restoration. Characteristics … Continue reading A Brief Examination of Conscience, Especially For Millennials
Fr. Scott Nolan of St. Stephen’s Parish
As a teenager, my parents set my curfew at midnight. Sometimes I went over, got punished, apologized, reformed (repeat). I didn't always like it, but I understood I needed to abide by the rules of their home. They were looking after me. As an employee, I'm told regularly to check my email, to lock my … Continue reading Fr. Scott Nolan of St. Stephen’s Parish
St. Birgitta of Sweden, Pray for Sweden!
What am I to make of my recent vacation to Sweden, of my heritage, and of St. Birgitta's role in my Catholic conversion? The trip was invigorating; knowing one's heritage is a healthy aspect of self-understanding; reading St. Birgitta understandably piqued my interest in Catholicism; all reasonable explanations--or perhaps too superficial. - How did I … Continue reading St. Birgitta of Sweden, Pray for Sweden!
Euthanizing the Chronically Homeless
Believing we're in God's image, that we're accountable to God for loving others, that death is God's call and not ours (self-defense and just-war aside), theists easily resist a solution to chronic homelessness that, it seems, those supporting abortion, infanticide, euthanasia, and suicide must logically accept: euthanize the chronically homeless (painlessly and with dignity, of … Continue reading Euthanizing the Chronically Homeless
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