Religion

No True Christian gets involved in the culture wars

Five Public Opinions - May 16, 2008 - 3:16pm

The Guardian reports on the recent publication of The Evangelical Manifesto, a document which seeks to redefine Evangelical Protestantism against both fundamentalism and mainline liberalism. In the words of the document itself:

Evangelicalism must be defined theologically and not politically; confessionally and not culturally. Above all else, it is a commitment and devotion to the person and work of Jesus Christ, his teaching and way of life, and an enduring dedication to his lordship above all other earthly powers, allegiances and loyalties. As such, it should not be limited to tribal or national boundaries, or be confused with, or reduced to political categories such as “conservative” and “liberal,” or to psychological categories such as “reactionary” or “progressive.”

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Quote of the week #25 - AV on the “reason = evil” meme

The Thinker's Podium - May 11, 2008 - 12:41pm

In response to Ben Stein and Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor claiming that Soviet Russia and NAZI Germany were the result of reason.

You can do all kinds of reductios with Stein’s claim. Scientists were involved in the Holocaust, therefore science is evil. Trains were used to transport Jews to the death camps, therefore trains are evil. The railway tracks were made of metal, therefore metal is evil. And so on. Read more »

Hymns

HarrangueMan - May 11, 2008 - 1:03am

I was in a church choir as a kid. I liked it. Mostly did it for the free sausage rolls at recess but still. Singing was kewl. Oh, I can't sing now. My voice is ... not good. But back then I could sort of hold a tune.

Unfortunately outside of choirs the music they back most Christian church services with sucks anal hair. It's boring dirge stuff. Some of it is okay but it all seems to have been written by characters called Reverend Potts back in 1836. Read more »

Undercover

Father Bob Maguire - May 15, 2008 - 1:15pm

Last Saturday morning, I drove to the next parish where there’s a recently, beautifully renovated church/Shrine in honour of Mary, known “in house” as Our Lady.

The twin parishes of Middle Park and Port Melbourne have been there for 100 years plus. The Carmelite Order of Priests has faithfully staffed both places for over a century. My parish, South Melbourne, was mother to both parishes.

So what? Well, last Saturday the Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel played host to a couple of sacred artefacts known as the Cross and Icon. Read more »

Are you obsessed with sects?

Larvatus Prodeo - May 13, 2008 - 12:46pm

If so, you’ll be interested to hear that the Democratic Socialist Party has expelled a minority faction calling itself the “Leninist Party Faction”. Read more »

Canadian Author to Face Hate Speech Tribunal

Catallaxy - May 11, 2008 - 8:20am

As reported by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, so-called “hate speech” laws are taking effect in Canada, and their censorial effects are showing.

Patently ridiculous. And of course, it’s over criticism of Islam.

I should add that I have not read the mentioned book, though it interests me. The Amazon.com summary of the book notes that Australia is listed as another “last bastion” along with the States.

Putting ourselves "out there"

Father Bob Maguire - May 10, 2008 - 5:38pm

Should I go into a monastery now I’m 74 and never have anything to say on TV or radio?

I got a call late one night last week from “concerned of Werribee”. He’d just seen me on TV pontificating on Gordon Ramsey’s coarse language – you know the Brit chef who swears a lot during his cooking show. Read more »