Is there a contradiction in the gospels? In John 6 Jesus is asked the question, "What must we do to accomplish the works of God?" Jesus answers, "Believe on the one whom he sent." But in Matthew's gospel in the parable of the sheep and goats, Jesus says we will be judged according to our works--"Inasmuch [...]
I've enjoyed welcoming a good number of new readers to the blog since coming over to Patheos. The comment box has been filled with lively discussion, and I always enjoy attracting some of the err, more eccentric readers who are out there. Here's a comment in response to a picture post I had of Pope Benedict. [...]
Does truth of the Catholic faith matter, and what is more important, what you do or what you believe? This debate has come up in the comboxes on this blog in two different ways: The first is with a reader who is a Catholic but asserts that what is most important are the good works people [...]
From the combox I’m a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, not because of archaeology, or history, or linguistics, or any other secular discipline. I’m a member of the Church of Jesus Christ for the exact same reason that you are a member (and leader) of the Roman Catholic Church: because it [...]
The Anchoress has some typically intelligent and fair comment on the upcoming renewal of women's religious life in the USA here along with a good list of links and updates on comment. Max Lindemann writes eloquently on the whole business here. Kathy Schiffer looks back and explains teh devastating effect humanistic psychology had on Catholic religious [...]
A friend of mine used to quip, "When you're talking about Christian music it's pretty safe to substitute 'bad' for 'Christian'. Who hasn't had to endure a Christian rock band or sit through a worship with some aging trendy strumming a guitar and inflicting folk music or light rock on everyone? Why is it that so [...]
Now that the geeks at Patheos have give us such a snazzy new re-fit, I am going through and moving a good number of my archived articles from my website to my blog. I hope readers will explore the 'Archived Articles' tab to see what's there. I'll be updating it regularly with old articles and with [...]
My godly Evangelical mother used to "witness" when we were out shopping. She'd ask the store keeper, "Have you been born again?" If the conversation got going she'd relate the story of the conversation between Nicodemus and Jesus in the third chapter of John's gospel. I don't know if she ever succeeded in making convert, but [...]
The Catholic faith has been around for a long time, and believe it or not, these questions have been asked before.
The Irish Independent reports that the majority of Catholics in Ireland want married priests and women priests. Why I don't understand is why they don't just nip along and become Anglicans. They will immediately have all their wishes fulfilled. There will be other benefits as well: They won't be expected to attend Mass every week. They [...]