Reason leads to God

I expend much breath attempting to get my students to cut through the post-enlightenment nonsense on which much their public school "education" is founded upon. One of the main points here is that belief in God and faith in general is not contrary to reason. Rather, reason has limits and something can be beyond reason while at the same time not opposing it. In fact, atheism--the de facto state religion of the USA--is considerably less reasonable than theism is. Atheism is in fact contrary to good reason.

Honest seekers are usually few and far between. Most atheist do not choose their religion for intellectual reasons, but for emotional or practical ones. However, there are individuals out there who are honestly seeking the truth. One, who used to be known as the "Raving Atheist" (a somebody in the blogging world--if that means anything..) recently found some truth. He now calls himself "The Raving Theist."

He has yet to go into detail about his conversion, but check out his blog. Not the almost 500 comments on his post.

Important break through

Science has discovered something important.




Lab coat and a periodic table. It must be true.

Taki's Magazine

I recently stumbled upon this website http://www.takimag.com/ ("Taki's Magazine"), an "online magazine for independent conservatives" a lot of interesting articles with a bit of humor.

CFRs in the NYT

Usually stories in the main stream media about Catholics read like the product of a bad smear campaign. Happily, a recent story in the New York Times about the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal is a stunning counter point. Franciscans have long held a special place in my heart and I have admired the CFRs since I first encountered them a few years ago. I have a few friends who are considering joining the order. Also, Brother Paolo Kim (mentioned in the article) is a fellow alumnus of my Alma Mater (although I can't say that I knew him).

Check out the article, and take the time to watch the video as well.

Human Rights? They aren't what they used to be.

Human Rights at 60
They aren't what they used to be.

As the UN declaration on Human Rights turns 60 years old, Joseph Loconte considers where what has become of the Rights. Increasingly, such social perversions as abortion are being promoted as "rights." Joseph cuts to the source of the problem:

How did we arrive at this dismal state of affairs? The problem is not simply that human rights have become grossly politicized. The problem is that rights have been profoundly secularized--and severed from their deepest moral foundation, the concept of man as the imago Dei, the image of God.

Read the whole article here.

where does that bread come from?

Here is an interesting video--How Its Made: communion wafers (called "Altar Bread"-- because it is not consecrated until the priest prays over it thus it is merely bread when it leaves the factory)

Death Be Not Proud

DEATH be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadfull, for, thou art not so,
For, those, whom thou think'st, thou dost overthrow,
Die not, poore death, nor yet canst thou kill me.
From rest and sleepe, which but thy pictures bee,
Much pleasure, then from thee, much more must flow,
And soonest our best men with thee doe goe,
Rest of their bones, and soules deliverie.
Thou art slave to Fate, Chance, kings, and desperate men,
And dost with poyson, warre, and sicknesse dwell,
And poppie, or charmes can make us sleepe as well,
And better then thy stroake; why swell'st thou then;
One short sleepe past, wee wake eternally,
And death shall be no more; death, thou shalt die.


John Donne
(1572-1631)


(cf Romans 6:9)

Vietnam

Please pray for our brothers in Hanoi.

Hanoi's Policy: Eliminate Catholics

I Am Legend and Humanae Vitae

Christopher West makes an interesting connection between this ominous sci-fi flick and the dire predictions-come-true of Paul VI:

The haunting picture of our future painted by I Am Legend is obviously science fiction. But, allegorically speaking, it offers much food for thought. The idea of “dark seekers” feeding on the flesh of other human beings is not that far off from the many horrid forms of sexual abuse that are sweeping through our pornified culture like a virus. Just a cursory knowledge of what’s happening today with internet porn leads a person to conclude, as Dr. Neville does in the movie, that “social de-evolution appears complete; typical human behavior is now entirely absent.”

Read the whole article. Its short but good.

The New Eugenics

Eugenics -- the "progressive" and "scientific" movement of the early 20th century which justified millions of murders, formed the basis for Hitler's "final solution" and is the founding ideology of Planned Parenthood -- is back. Recently, several news sources gave very carefully worded reports of a study of Down Syndrome babies in Denmark, noting that births have been halved due to more aggressive prenatal testing. Yup, the number of babies born with Down Syndrome is down by 50%, not the number of babies who have Down Syndrome. What the news stories don't tell you is that the "cure" for Down Syndrome in the womb is abortion. By this horrific logic, we should simply euthanize anyone with a disability.

Expect to see more of this as we continue to redefine murder as a legitimate form of medical care, and people are viewed less and less as persons and more as liabilities.

Eight years on, and we have already forgotten the bloodiest century ever and it's causes.

The Two Americas

By the dawn's early light on Nov. 5, two distinct Americas hove into view.

The two Americas are not defined by conventional economic, ethnic or religious categories; it's not rich America vs. poor America, black America vs. white America, or Catholic America vs. Protestant America.

No, what this year's election cycle clarified decisively is that the great public fissure in these United States is between the culture of life and the culture of death.

read the rest of the essay by GEORGE WEIGEL

interested in working in the media?

We need good people working to promote a culture of life. If you are interested in working in the media check this out:

http://www.positivemediainternship.com/

I have a friends who are semi-involved in this, so let me know if you are interested.

Bible Christian?

The Holy Mass is very biblical. Check out the footnotes on this pdf to see how much of the Holy Mass is quoting or referencing scripture. (note: this is the a study version of the re-translation of the mass from Latin into English, which will likely go into effect around 2012, as soon as the remaining parts are translated and approved. Note the changes from our current translation. The New translation is intended to be closer to the original Latin and better reflect the theology of the Mass).

For a more in depth discussion of the biblical foundation for the Mass, check out Dr. Scott Hahn's (a convert to Catholicism and renown biblical scholar) book The Lamb's Supper.

Mainstream Media fails us again

Arguably the most critical issue facing our country--the question of respect for life and human dignity--was almost completely ignored by the mainstream media during the election. A Pew study of election coverage finds that less than one percent of election coverage referenced abortion.

check out the full story

St. Thérèse in space

She always wanted to travel the world.... (Zenit)

Japanese Martyrs

The 188 Japanese martyrs beatified at a Mass attended by 30,000 in Nagasaki. They were killed for being Catholic between 1603 and 1639. Check out the story.

Is thanksgiving Catholic?

We talked a little about thanksgiving in youth group the other day. Here is a little more about Thanksgiving (which they wont teach you in public school...).

"
This history books will tell you that the first Thanksgiving was celebrated by the pilgrims in 1621. Not true.

An interesting bit of trivia is that the first American Thanksgiving was actually celebrated on September 8, 1565 in St. Augustine, Florida. The Native Americans and Spanish settlers held a feast and the Holy Mass was offered.
"
read the whole story.

Bible in Latin

I only know a little Latin, but this is interesting nonetheless:

http://www.latinvulgate.com/

(for a modern Catholic translation check out http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/)

In all circumstances, give thanks

Rejoice always.
Pray without ceasing.
In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18