A post I wrote last week on Catholicism and atheism received over 200,000 views and (as of this writing) over 900 comments. Most of these were negative, but they were helpful in showing the areas that many atheists go awry in their opposition to religion. I’m hardly the first to notice that the same errors get… Continue reading Misunderstanding God: Where Atheists Go Wrong in Opposing Christianity
Author: Joe Heschmeyer
A Catholic Reply to “How to Suck At Your Religion”
An anti-religious (and specifically, anti-Catholic) webcomic is making the rounds on the Internet right now. It’s part of a webcomic called The Oatmeal, and is called “How to suck at your religion.” I have to warn anyone clicking that link that it’s really offensive: profane, lewd, and blasphemous, all at once. Honestly, if you don’t… Continue reading A Catholic Reply to “How to Suck At Your Religion”
Five Ways to Defend the Faith Against Unexpected Attacks
There are times where we seek out opportunities to evangelize for the faith, but sometimes, the opportunity comes to us. When this happens, it’s not always pleasant. A couple months ago, for example, I was on a flight next to a guy who spent nearly the entire time telling me how rotten the Catholic Church… Continue reading Five Ways to Defend the Faith Against Unexpected Attacks
Three Arguments Against Atheism from Pope Benedict
According to Dr. Mark Gray at the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA), an astonishing 70% of those raised as atheists won’t be atheists as adults. Some will leave for organized religion, others for agnosticism, and still others for a vague theism detached from any church. Of those who continue to identify as atheists,… Continue reading Three Arguments Against Atheism from Pope Benedict
St. Augustine on Our Separated Christian Brethren
In Tuesday’s Office of Readings, St. Augustine offered one of the most beautiful Scriptural meditations on how we should approach those Christians who refuse to be in Communion with us, including those who regard us as less than Christian. I immediately thought of both the sedevacantist Catholics who claim we’re Modernist heretics, the fundamentalist Protestants… Continue reading St. Augustine on Our Separated Christian Brethren
Is Scripture Self-Attesting?
One of the most glaring problems within Protestantism is on the authority of the Bible: how do we know which Books are sacred Scripture? How can a Christian possibly know which Books belong in the Christian Holy Book without learning this from the Christian Church? Titian, John Calvin (16th c.) As Catholics, we’d argue that… Continue reading Is Scripture Self-Attesting?
“Where Are You Going, America?” Abp. Naumann’s Challenge to the Nation
We celebrate Independence Day this year in the shadow of the Supreme Court’s recent decision affirming the constitutional authority of the individual mandate (and indeed, the ability of Congress to tax inactivity), and as the last day of the USCCB’s Fortnight for Freedom. As part of the Fortnight, I went with two buses full of… Continue reading “Where Are You Going, America?” Abp. Naumann’s Challenge to the Nation
How Should We Evangelize?
Several of you had asked whether we would be recording the live Shameless Popery series. We did (well, some parishioners did: Frank Moley did the video, while the Marian Mantle group prepared an audio version of the talks). Here’s “Act One” of the first talk, on how to evangelize. Put differently, what should, and shouldn’t, apologetics look… Continue reading How Should We Evangelize?
Hearts of Flesh: Leah Libresco on Her Conversion from Atheism to Catholicism
Not every atheist’s conversion to Catholicism gets covered by CNN or MSNBC or The Blaze. But Leah Libresco did. Why? Well, for starters, she’s responsible for what was, until quite recently, a rather popular atheist blog who is the antithesis of the caricature of Catholics, that we’re irrational, misogynistic drones. Her conversion was a surprise to many, Christians and atheists alike, to say… Continue reading Hearts of Flesh: Leah Libresco on Her Conversion from Atheism to Catholicism
Defending the Deuterocanon, Book by Book (Part II)
On Tuesday, we explored why we Catholics have Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, and a longer version of Esther in our Bibles. Today, we’ll discuss why we have the other Deuterocanonical books: Sirach, Baruch, 1st and 2nd Maccabees, and the longer version of Daniel. V. Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) The Book was Probably Referenced by Jesus Christ: Sirach 27:6… Continue reading Defending the Deuterocanon, Book by Book (Part II)