I sincerely hope that the “electronic mousetrap” that Klavan referred to was in fact a mousetrap, and not the toaster, knowing his lack of knowledge of kitchen appliances. Either way, the mouse has gone to mousy heaven. If, however, this was the thing his wife prepared bagels in, I would recommend a quick trip to Amazon or WalMart to pick up a new “electronic mousetrap” and keep Klavan in his den, so he can keep producing his content rather than act as a sort of Robocop rodent remover.
I was thrilled to read a piece the other day that it appears the universe is expanding at different rates in different places. It seems like God is forever throwing wrenches into our cocksure certainty. These experts, do they really think they (or any of us) can wrap our heads around that? Or all the quarkiness of physics? Or even infinity? If we can even deeply feel and understand the world around us, how could we ever comprehend God? I love it when Job asked Job about Behemoth and Leviathan. When He asks Where wast thou when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
Thank you for sharing that episode. I'll be sure to listen to it today.
Your knowledge of Spencer's shows inspires me as a father. I hope (forget about one day; why not today?) to emulate your example with my own son and daughter and pay them the attention they deserve for their accomplishments.
Even St. Thomas Aquinas, a Doctor of the Church, had the epiphany that he could never truly know God. The corporeal human brain is simply incapable of fathoming all that He does.
As for the “experts,” I have scoffed at those who were certain dark matter was there, and that they just had to find it. Recently, however, the James Webb Telescope discovered a galaxy so far away, it has potentially DOUBLED the ages (and possibly volume) of the universe, which would eliminate the “need” for the mythical dark matter.
The problem with science today is too many unprovable theories are assumed true, when science is actually the continual test of theories until you can arrive at a fact.
The first thought that came to my mind when I read this was scientists think they are getting smarter as time goes on, which would disprove God, but what they are really doing is only creating tools that are sophisticated enough to unveil what God has created.
Takes me back to Alistair Sims as Scrooge. We don’t know anything but it takes some wisdom to know that we don’t know anything.
We seek but we only discove bits. Some epiphanies are bigger than others still it seems that we are peeling away layers of an infinite onion and continuing to pursue that brings us closer to the way, the truth, and the life.
Not exactly. Jesus called himself the Truth. He called the enemy the Father of Lies. The Bride is the Church, Jesus names himself the Bridegroom.
How does the Bridegroom protect the Bride from the enemy? By establishing his Church on Peter the Rock.
Without this Church and the deposit of faith, we go astray.
Not to say we can’t love Jesus without the Catholic Church, but to say that we can’t know him fully and receive all his gifts unless we are part of his Church.
While I agree that the RCC is the repository of Christ’s fullest expression, I am not certain that others can’t know him fully outside the Church. Recall the end of Matthew, and those who will be acknowledged as knowing Jesus and those who will not, and it is in treating the least of our brothers is how we get to know Him. He has also said that many sinners will get into heaven before “great” religious. I can think of several high church officials who may be in for a VERY interesting conversation one day. I believe it was Lewis, but could be wrong, who said Jesus is easy to please, but hard to satisfy. I’m working on me. I hope others see the full beauty of the Roman faith, but it has had 2000 years of humanity to try to screw it up. Chesterton did indeed say that the Church is “reeling but erect”. Reeling more each day for now.
Without baptism, and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass we cannot have the fullness of what Christ died to give us. The Mass is worship “in spirit and in truth”.
Now that it’s Holy Thursday, it might be good to reflect on Jesus’ prayer “that they all be one”.
They all were pretty much one for the first thousand years, then the Orthodox broke away. Then, 500 years after that, the Protestant fissiparous revolution.
I acknowledge that many who do not know Christ in his full, historical reality, still love him, in so far as they are able. That is why we are taught that only God can judge hearts.
But that there is a real apostolic deposit of faith, is also undeniable.
The duty of the Church is to teach the whole truth in faith and morals. And despite the lousy shepherds we have now, at the highest levels, the truth of faith and morals remains, the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
Not to get too technical about a big ole contested thing but you guys changed the creed so technically you’re the ones who broke away not us.
That said I have no dog in this fight. I actually agree with Klavan. Salvation exists outside the church. While the rituals are great and the knowledge from the Holy Fathers invaluable for us wretched limitted souls, giving is the tools we need to navigate so much of the faith - the most important thing is purity of intention in aligning yourself towards the Good. Which is God. Once you truly seek that with all your heart Jesus is the one who’s way, truth and life will guide you whether you know it or not. It is baked into the cake - the cake being the universe, existence, being.
Um, no. The Church gave you the New Testament, without which you wouldn’t know about Jesus. And the Church gives you baptism, without which you cannot be born again. And the Church gives you the Eucharist, without which one cannot “abide” in Christ. And the Church gives you the priesthood, without which there is no Eucharist.
And the Church actually tells you what salvation is. It’s not nirvana, it’s not reincarnation. It’s eternal life with the Trinity in the New Heavens and the New Earth.
One thing is for sure, God so loved the world. And he’ll save us even if all we can muster is fear of Hell. But there’s so much more. How big is our thirst?
I get it. You disagree. But I think if your heart is pure enough the Lord pours into you. The purity of intention and heart and true renounciation of your own will and the faith put in God is more important than the ritual alone. I agree that both make for the strongest experience of God. But between them purity of heart without ritual will get you furtger than ritual without purity of heart.
I have no doubt that the fullness of the faith is in the Scripture and Tradition of our church, but salvation is our ultimate goal, and although easiest for those who adhere to RCC sacraments and teaching Tradition, it is possible for even the unbaptized to know Jesus and achieve salvation. I don’t care whether I am at the head of the line, or just sneak in before the Pearly Gates close, that is a Win as far as I’m concerned (actually, I’m trying to be closer than the last in line, but it is similar to the old joke, “what do you call the person who graduates last in the country from Medical School? Doctor.”) In time, Jesus will make all one, but it may not be before the second coming.
Have a Blessed Triduum and happy Easter to all Christians (and even those without faith, for He came, died and was resurrected for all).
Humility is a rare trait, or so it seems to me. I sometimes wonder, if granted one wish by God, how many of the more than 10B humans who have walked the earth, would have had, or have the humility to ask for wisdom, as did Solomon. Precious few, I’m sure.
I think damning the experts might be a little harsh. Could be that they know not what they do. Is that an oxymoron, an expert who knows not what he’s doing? Hmmm.
I sincerely hope that the “electronic mousetrap” that Klavan referred to was in fact a mousetrap, and not the toaster, knowing his lack of knowledge of kitchen appliances. Either way, the mouse has gone to mousy heaven. If, however, this was the thing his wife prepared bagels in, I would recommend a quick trip to Amazon or WalMart to pick up a new “electronic mousetrap” and keep Klavan in his den, so he can keep producing his content rather than act as a sort of Robocop rodent remover.
I was thrilled to read a piece the other day that it appears the universe is expanding at different rates in different places. It seems like God is forever throwing wrenches into our cocksure certainty. These experts, do they really think they (or any of us) can wrap our heads around that? Or all the quarkiness of physics? Or even infinity? If we can even deeply feel and understand the world around us, how could we ever comprehend God? I love it when Job asked Job about Behemoth and Leviathan. When He asks Where wast thou when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
Spencer did one of his best Young Heretics podcasts about this. It's wonderful. Find it here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i-aint-got-no-crystal-ball/id1513602173?i=1000650538492
Thank you for sharing that episode. I'll be sure to listen to it today.
Your knowledge of Spencer's shows inspires me as a father. I hope (forget about one day; why not today?) to emulate your example with my own son and daughter and pay them the attention they deserve for their accomplishments.
Even St. Thomas Aquinas, a Doctor of the Church, had the epiphany that he could never truly know God. The corporeal human brain is simply incapable of fathoming all that He does.
As for the “experts,” I have scoffed at those who were certain dark matter was there, and that they just had to find it. Recently, however, the James Webb Telescope discovered a galaxy so far away, it has potentially DOUBLED the ages (and possibly volume) of the universe, which would eliminate the “need” for the mythical dark matter.
The problem with science today is too many unprovable theories are assumed true, when science is actually the continual test of theories until you can arrive at a fact.
The first thought that came to my mind when I read this was scientists think they are getting smarter as time goes on, which would disprove God, but what they are really doing is only creating tools that are sophisticated enough to unveil what God has created.
Takes me back to Alistair Sims as Scrooge. We don’t know anything but it takes some wisdom to know that we don’t know anything.
We seek but we only discove bits. Some epiphanies are bigger than others still it seems that we are peeling away layers of an infinite onion and continuing to pursue that brings us closer to the way, the truth, and the life.
Not exactly. Jesus called himself the Truth. He called the enemy the Father of Lies. The Bride is the Church, Jesus names himself the Bridegroom.
How does the Bridegroom protect the Bride from the enemy? By establishing his Church on Peter the Rock.
Without this Church and the deposit of faith, we go astray.
Not to say we can’t love Jesus without the Catholic Church, but to say that we can’t know him fully and receive all his gifts unless we are part of his Church.
While I agree that the RCC is the repository of Christ’s fullest expression, I am not certain that others can’t know him fully outside the Church. Recall the end of Matthew, and those who will be acknowledged as knowing Jesus and those who will not, and it is in treating the least of our brothers is how we get to know Him. He has also said that many sinners will get into heaven before “great” religious. I can think of several high church officials who may be in for a VERY interesting conversation one day. I believe it was Lewis, but could be wrong, who said Jesus is easy to please, but hard to satisfy. I’m working on me. I hope others see the full beauty of the Roman faith, but it has had 2000 years of humanity to try to screw it up. Chesterton did indeed say that the Church is “reeling but erect”. Reeling more each day for now.
Without baptism, and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass we cannot have the fullness of what Christ died to give us. The Mass is worship “in spirit and in truth”.
Now that it’s Holy Thursday, it might be good to reflect on Jesus’ prayer “that they all be one”.
They all were pretty much one for the first thousand years, then the Orthodox broke away. Then, 500 years after that, the Protestant fissiparous revolution.
I acknowledge that many who do not know Christ in his full, historical reality, still love him, in so far as they are able. That is why we are taught that only God can judge hearts.
But that there is a real apostolic deposit of faith, is also undeniable.
The duty of the Church is to teach the whole truth in faith and morals. And despite the lousy shepherds we have now, at the highest levels, the truth of faith and morals remains, the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
Not to get too technical about a big ole contested thing but you guys changed the creed so technically you’re the ones who broke away not us.
That said I have no dog in this fight. I actually agree with Klavan. Salvation exists outside the church. While the rituals are great and the knowledge from the Holy Fathers invaluable for us wretched limitted souls, giving is the tools we need to navigate so much of the faith - the most important thing is purity of intention in aligning yourself towards the Good. Which is God. Once you truly seek that with all your heart Jesus is the one who’s way, truth and life will guide you whether you know it or not. It is baked into the cake - the cake being the universe, existence, being.
Um, no. The Church gave you the New Testament, without which you wouldn’t know about Jesus. And the Church gives you baptism, without which you cannot be born again. And the Church gives you the Eucharist, without which one cannot “abide” in Christ. And the Church gives you the priesthood, without which there is no Eucharist.
And the Church actually tells you what salvation is. It’s not nirvana, it’s not reincarnation. It’s eternal life with the Trinity in the New Heavens and the New Earth.
One thing is for sure, God so loved the world. And he’ll save us even if all we can muster is fear of Hell. But there’s so much more. How big is our thirst?
I get it. You disagree. But I think if your heart is pure enough the Lord pours into you. The purity of intention and heart and true renounciation of your own will and the faith put in God is more important than the ritual alone. I agree that both make for the strongest experience of God. But between them purity of heart without ritual will get you furtger than ritual without purity of heart.
I have no doubt that the fullness of the faith is in the Scripture and Tradition of our church, but salvation is our ultimate goal, and although easiest for those who adhere to RCC sacraments and teaching Tradition, it is possible for even the unbaptized to know Jesus and achieve salvation. I don’t care whether I am at the head of the line, or just sneak in before the Pearly Gates close, that is a Win as far as I’m concerned (actually, I’m trying to be closer than the last in line, but it is similar to the old joke, “what do you call the person who graduates last in the country from Medical School? Doctor.”) In time, Jesus will make all one, but it may not be before the second coming.
Have a Blessed Triduum and happy Easter to all Christians (and even those without faith, for He came, died and was resurrected for all).
Agreed. I just want the whole, unadulterated, unwatered down faith. Straight up, no chaser.
Humility is a rare trait, or so it seems to me. I sometimes wonder, if granted one wish by God, how many of the more than 10B humans who have walked the earth, would have had, or have the humility to ask for wisdom, as did Solomon. Precious few, I’m sure.
This pairs beautifully with your recent interview with Abigail Shrier. (As far as the experts go)
Today, I will practice (as you say) deeper humility.
And what does the LORD require of you? ... I love how you weave scripture into your essays.
I think damning the experts might be a little harsh. Could be that they know not what they do. Is that an oxymoron, an expert who knows not what he’s doing? Hmmm.
Faith is stronger than knowledge. This may be why Jesus came before there were movies and recordings. We have to believe.