First Sunday of Advent Reflection
Image from the Deacon’s Bench: Click on image to read his homily for today
A friend asked me the other day why the Church no longer regards Advent as a penitential season, like Lent. “It still is a penitential season,” I told him, “but the focus of Advent is different than the focus of Lent.” More…
By Fr Jason Smith
Well, more specifically, happy liturgical new year. Break open the champagne, wake the children, and call the neighbors, Advent starts tomorrow! More…
I have nothing against supporting companies that support Christmas and I have nothing against boycotts. But I have to ask, in doing so, what are we supporting / boycotting?
Could it not just be the commercialization of Christmas?
More…
Great post! Reduces the atheis’s futile arguments to the absurd and places the burden of proof back on them, where it belongs.
Christian families raise Christian children. Muslim families have Muslim children (or at least they better be or it is serious trouble). If you are born in India then you are a Hindu. If you are born in America you are a Christian, in Arabia a Muslim, on a university campus an atheist. That is how it works, right? That is what Richard Dawkins suggests. He states in the God Delusion, “If you are religious at all it is overwhelmingly probable that your religion is that of your parents. If you were born in Arkansas and you think Christianity is true and Islam false, knowing full well that you would think the opposite if you had been born in Afghanistan, you are the victim of childhood indoctrination.”
Are beliefs overwhelmingly determined by ones’ family of origin, geographic location, and social influences? Or should we take it even further and add a…
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21 seconds left in the game, the score was tied 21-21. Brick Township brings in the closer, Anthony Starego to finish the game. The ball is snapped, Starego sends the ball up in to the uprights, and the kick is good! The underdog Brick Township upsets its powerhouse rival Tom’s River (NJ) 24-21.
As you may well know, I tend to get sucked into discussions with atheists from time to time. Some of these discussions are more logical and friendly than others are.
On this particular occasion, I was asked what were the minimal criteria for being a Christian. I made a list of simple requirements, which were approved by several believers and atheists. One objection came from one of the atheists, who said, “I’m surprised to see that you think belief in creation is a requirement.”
I instantly thoughout that this requirement should be an obvious one… So let’s see where he’s going with this. More…
Have you read the book, The Shack, by William P. Young?
Not Shaquille O’Neal
The Shack is a compelling story about the grieving and healing process of a shattered man after the tragic loss of his 6 year old daughter. The book makes some strong points about having a personal relationship with God, by taking a rather unconventional approach. You have to let your imagination run a little wild in order to appreciate this book.
For example, More…
By Fr Jason Smith
At the end of the liturgical year, after celebrating Christmas, Easter, and all of its feasts and solemnities, the Church has one last thing to say: Jesus Christ is King.
This is just a short post to thank everyone I’ve gotten to know through this year of blogging at WordPress — Yes, today is Biltrix”s Birthday!
Biltrix 