It ain’t necessarily so
I wonder sometimes if it was easier in the first century to convince people of the truth of Christian theism…one God, creator of all things, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit…than it is today.… Continue reading
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The curse(s)
The excitement in Northeast Ohio has diminished some since the Cleveland Cavaliers won the NBA championship a few weeks ago. But one still needn’t drive far before seeing Cavs colors and logos in… Continue reading
Purgatory as a perennial time-out
David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” And Nathan said to David, “The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die. Nevertheless, because by this deed you… Continue reading
Dirty birds and a divine bath. Or, the presumptuousness of Purgatory
Anyone who knows me well knows I am not a bird lover. I am not even a bird liker. Birds are rude and crude…making nests in my house, using my lawn and outdoor… Continue reading
Diving for sins
I’m talking about Purgatory again…just to give you a heads-up right at the top in case the torturous flames aren’t of concern or interest to you. Some may wonder why I am spending… Continue reading
Puzzles and Purgatory
When I was younger I had a recurring dream, or more specifically a recurring element in my dreams, which was so ethereally thrilling that upon waking I would almost despair that it was… Continue reading
It’s Greek to me
If there’s one good thing I can say about the Catholic doctrine of Purgatory, it’s that at least it reflects an understanding of the holiness of God and his hatred of sin. But… Continue reading
(Almost) nobody’s perfect
My husband and I own an outdoor party center, and every three or four days during the season you can find me mowing our considerable acreage for about 2 and a half hours… Continue reading
Rebel within a cause
My father used to tell me that when I was young I was the kind that needed a special invitation. As I mentioned here, I’ve forgotten most of my childhood so I have… Continue reading
Today, you will be with me
A Catholic family member has frequently cited John 17:21 in his defense of the Catholic Church. that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you,… Continue reading
Sola Scriptura or a three-legged stool?
Common sense suggests that some sort of oral tradition was always needed to accompany the Written Law. The Catholic Church’s assumption of supreme authority in Christendom relies heavily on her contention that Christendom… Continue reading
“Jesus was a Catholic.”
This was said to me recently by a family friend…an older gentleman who was baptized Catholic but raised Protestant. You might wonder how I responded, and I’ll tell you, but what I want… Continue reading
Extraordinary events require extraordinary evidence
This was a claim made by the 18th century Scottish skeptic David Hume regarding the possibility of determining that a miracle had occurred. He maintained that the evidence we have establishing the laws… Continue reading
One church, two church, old church, new church
“Here’s the church, here’s the steeple. Open the doors and here’s the people.” Slightly ungrammatical, but I believe that’s how I learned the children’s finger game. “Here ARE the people” just doesn’t flow… Continue reading
Conferred authority or commandeered?
In examining the Roman Catholic Church’s claim to be the visible authority of Christ on earth I asked, did Jesus even intend to establish an institutional church with global authority and a governing… Continue reading