Good will to all men? Not from the grumpy atheists! (Thank God not all atheists are grumpy but there sure seems to be a lot of them)
Why is it that so many in the atheist community cannot bring themselves to get past their anger whenever they engage in discussions? The language of many of their contributions in public debate is laced with invective and dripping with sarcasm and bile. There are exceptions of course, but they tend to fall more into the category of being the 'exception that proves the rule' when compared to the hostility of many of today's atheist posters. Comment offered by the theists in the public square is often depicted as being 'malicious' or 'venomous' and intended to enslave the 'feeble minded and weak' by those who post. Nothing could be further from the truth. Venom is something that is oriented to death. Christians are oriented in a 180 degree different direction. We speak not to the culture of death that grips our world but rather for the culture of life and light which ends with the gift of eternal life. For example, the Catholic Church in its hum...
I'm taking my 14 year old to it this weekend. Trying to wean him away from the "dark side" to appreciate Star Trek.
ReplyDeleteRationalist: I wrote to the editor in chief at the National Post this morning to ask what was happening with the HP. Here's his answer:
ReplyDeleteDear Fr. Moyle,
The editor of Holy Post, Charles Lewis, has been on a leave of absence. We're not sure at this point when he will return. In the meantime we have tried to keep Holy Post going as best we can, but there's no doubt it has suffered as a result of not having a dedicated editor.
Holy Post was Charles' idea and I would agree that it has become an excellent forum for important discussions of faith and religion. We have no plan to discontinue it, and will do our best to keep it going. But until Charles comes back to work, it will probably continue to be somewhat less active than it was when he was overseeing it.
Thanks for your note.
Best regards,
Stephen
--
Stephen Meurice
Editor-in-Chief
National Post
Thanks for posting that. Interesting enough, it was moved from Life to News. I'm not sure why. Hope Mr. Lewis will be feeling better and back to work soon.
DeleteFather Moyle, are you serious about going to Space Movies?
ReplyDeleteFrom Witches, to having Atheists, and self-admitted homosexuals as friends, I find this very weird. Maybe you are just Spaced-_out!
Harris: You seen to have unique perspective when it comes to faith and life. Too bad it's not Christian. With your penchant for judging others and incivility is far too Pharisetical to be Christian, let alone Catholic.
DeleteTo be an evangelical RC priest means to be willing to engage those of different convictions and speak the gospel to them with charity and respect they deserve as fellow children of God. Refusing to speak with 'witches, atheists and self-admitted homosexuals" as you maliciously describe them is to fail on every level of what it means to be an evangelical Catholic.
As you evidently have no idea what either evangelical or Catholic means, I recommend you read George Weigel's latest book, 'Evangelical Catholicism'. His Catholic credentials are impecable. JPII called him the greatest Catholic lay theologian of the times and he is read throughout the Church, from the very top on down. I am fortunate enough to count him and his family among my closest friends for the past 20 years. The Church, her positions and teachings has provided fodder for many a days debate and discussion when we get together at our neighboring summer cottages on the Ottawa River. Through the years Joan W. and I have prepared many a meal for guests ranging from Cardinals to Rabbis; politicians to philosophers and theologian. Given my willingness to engage others and present my convictions as part of discussions on various teachings, I can assure you that my approach has been vetted by people far better than either you or me and found to be sound and orthodox. I'll put my faith in that as opposed to your Pharisetical offerings.
Fr. Tim
One more point: Yes. I like science fiction movies too. So what? Chacun à son göut, eh?
DeleteYou sure can twist it around! Each to his own? How about Being a Priest first, and a gad-about (if at all), much later
DeleteYou think you have influential friends? Did you check that out with GOD ? Did He say you are on the right track? I can not imagine He did!
Harris: The fault for that is proof enough of your lack of imagination. You should perhaps go to the movies more yourself. It could do your imagination a world of good!
DeleteBut to answer your question, I have daily conversations with God, during personal and sacramental prayer. Given the blessings and graces I've received by following the path I hear God calling me along, (including GREAT friends) I would say that He has no problem with my life, friends, or the manner I live out my responsibilities as a Catholic and a priest to date.
Have you asked Him what he thinks of the way you're conducting yourself as you journey through life? I've benefitted from heeding His counsel. His advice might even lead you to crack open and pry off the rock prison where you've locked away your happy self. All you need do is ask then wait attentively for your answer, open to whichever direction it comes from or what ever instrument God uses to deliver his response. After all, if he could communicate with the prophet Balaam through an ass, you shouldn't be surprised to hear his voice through people like me... or even peaking through some scene in the latest Star Trek movie!
Fr. Tim
Harris - So what. I'm an atheist and disdain anything supernatural but I liked the Harry Potter movies (at least the first few). It's a movie for goodness sake. Who cares? And good for Fr. Tim for having atheists and homosexuals as friends. We all should. And besides, Jesus would have.
DeleteI read the following in the New Testament many times, where it is said ---If they do not accept what you are preaching, shake the dust from your sandals before you part from them !
DeleteSure sounds like God dismisses non-believers, who do not want to UNDERSTAND !
Of course, in these dad days, how many people expect a Priest to do what is said in the New Testament?
You really are a sick Priest ! I was told that by a few Priests, bt, did not want to believe them. Now, it seems they were right, and I was late seeing they were right. You do need a lot of Prayers. Yours seem to be to the wrong god !
ReplyDeleteFr. Tim.
ReplyDeleteWhat are you doing sending that earthquake down to Toronto from the Ottawa valley? I almost spilled my Starbucks Venti, sugar-free, non-fat, vanilla soy, double shot, decaf, no foam, extra hot, Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha with light whip and extra syrup drink.
Or was that everyone in the Ottawa Valley reading about the latest antics of our mayor they laughed so hard they fell off their chairs?