Tag: apologetics

The Effects of Original Sin: What About Unbaptized Babies?

In two previous posts (here and here), we looked at the possibility of inheriting sin. Based on deeply-rooted cultural assumptions we have here in the West, we think that everyone starts (or should start) tabula rasa. It’s an assumption that ignores lots of complicating factors, like genetics and upbringing, but it’s got some merit: everyone… Continue reading The Effects of Original Sin: What About Unbaptized Babies?

The Biblical View of Inherited Sin

This is part 2 of a three-part series on original sin. This continues yesterday’s theme of exploring the counter-intuitive notion of inherited sin. Tomorrow, we’ll look at the implications of original sin. III. The Problems With the Two Extremes The American view imagines that each of us are autonomous individuals, who spring forth fully formed,… Continue reading The Biblical View of Inherited Sin

Can You Inherit Sin?

I want to do a three-part series on original sin, but before I do, I’d like to thank both of the guys who pointed out the problems with the blog comment feature, and Jess Rezac (who, incidentally, helped design the header) for fixing it so quickly. So… thanks! Feel free to check out her blog… Continue reading Can You Inherit Sin?

Laypeople in the (Online) New Evangelization

Pope John Paul II called for a “New Evangelization” to build a civilization of love. You can read about it here, if you’re not familiar. One of the problems cited in the context of the Americas is “the scarce presence—in certain cases, the complete absence—of the Church in the field of the means of social… Continue reading Laypeople in the (Online) New Evangelization

Fr. William Most on Total Depravity

Fr. Most wrote a section in Grace, Predestination, and the Salvific Will of God which I think unintentionally adds to this discussion (I say unintentionally, because his focus wasn’t answering Calvinism or total depravity; it was answering arguments raised by the early Thomists which resemble Calvinism substantially in many features). The section in question is… Continue reading Fr. William Most on Total Depravity

The Road to Recovery

This week, we’ve looked at how certain diseased elements within the Catholic Church: looking specifically at parts of the American Catholic Church and at the Jesuits. What’s most striking about this latter example is that the Jesuits, the religious order most openly in dissent from Rome, is also the religious order which takes a special… Continue reading The Road to Recovery

How Can Vegetarians Not Be Pro-Life?

A while back, PETA continued their descent into self-parody by releasing a statement opposing Obama’s swatting of a fly. No, seriously. Ok, actually, the story’s a little more complex: PETA was asked by numerous reporters, and said some pretty mild stuff about Obama not being Buddha, but the media coverage would have you believe that… Continue reading How Can Vegetarians Not Be Pro-Life?

It’s A Poor Builder Who Blames His Instruments…

…while the Master Builder can build masterpieces with any set of tools. Or fools. In an ongoing discussion with one of my Calvinist friends a few weeks ago, he said, “I fear that the heirarchies of the Catholic church detract from the kingship of Christ, who I believe needs no prime minister and serves actively… Continue reading It’s A Poor Builder Who Blames His Instruments…

Contraception and Homosexuality

Archbishop Rowan Williams, the spiritual head of the Anglican Communion, had this to say on the topic of homosexuality and contraception: In a church that accepts the legitimacy of contraception, the absolute condemnation of same-sex relations of intimacy must rely either on an abstract fundamentalist deployment of a number of very ambiguous biblical texts, or… Continue reading Contraception and Homosexuality