So forgiveness pre-requires understanding the mistakes of the past? here hear re this opposing this me-first, America-first, white-first, male-first approach>…
Weekly lessons in theology and public life • Since 2011
Tag: featured
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Lesson 6: Truth and Righteousness
Read MORE: Lesson 6: Truth and RighteousnessAny lengthy discussion of truth probably contains a reference to Diogenes walking around Athens with a lamp to search for one honest man. Chances are that is about as far as it goes. Few realize the Greek thinker was a…
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Lesson 5: Truth and Digital Humanity
Read MORE: Lesson 5: Truth and Digital HumanityWe are just beginning to appreciate how much the huge databases modern technology makes available are affecting our thoughts about truth. Most of us are aware that merchants use them to sell their products. If we look for a pair…
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Lesson 4: Truth in the Gospel according to St. John
Read MORE: Lesson 4: Truth in the Gospel according to St. JohnIt does not take long to see that John’s Gospel speaks directly to our situation. In one of its critical scenes (John 18), Jesus and Pontius Pilate face off over the definition of truth. The confrontation could have taken place…
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Lesson 3: Truth and Political Correctness
Read MORE: Lesson 3: Truth and Political CorrectnessA few weeks ago, Father Jude reminded us that the given in a democracy is a reasonable, educated audience. “Absent that as the valid context, free speech in a democracy is just so much noise, at best, and, at worst,…
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Lesson 2: Truth and Facts
Read MORE: Lesson 2: Truth and FactsAt first, I was taken aback when people read last week’s lesson as a political statement. My intention was simply to point out that a healthy society depends on being able to trust that people are telling the truth. The…
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Lesson 1: Trust
Read MORE: Lesson 1: TrustThe present concern with fake news and a post-truth culture goes deeper than we usually acknowledge. I pulled out some quotes from Sissela Bok’s 1978 book, Lying, that I used when writing about trust decades ago. She wrote that “trust…
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Lesson 18: God, Truth, and Reality
Read MORE: Lesson 18: God, Truth, and RealitySister Joan ended her book with a reprise of the monastic vision found in the Benedictine Rule. She emphasized it offers a practical way to live the Gospel now by discerning God’s presence in all creation. I understand that as…
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Lesson 17: Peace- Sign of the Disarmed Heart
Read MORE: Lesson 17: Peace- Sign of the Disarmed HeartAbout half way through the chapter, Chittister wrote that being at peace gives “the courage to evaluate what is patently wrong but never open for discussion.” As soon as I read her words, a brash comment made by an executive…
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Lesson 16: The Way of Conversion
Read MORE: Lesson 16: The Way of ConversionI was recently at a conference where a female Roman Catholic scholar who had worked in ecumenical relationships for decades revealed she was finally beginning to appreciate that the most important first step in healing our broken Church was coming…
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What Does the Future Hold?
Read MORE: What Does the Future Hold?This is a paper I offered to the Adams County Torch Club on December 15. It prompted a lot of discussion. I found myself reminding people several times, “Now remember I am a Christian.” I have a feeling we shall…
Recent Comments
An extremely timely topic. Thanks, Fritz!
yes we need to forgive our leaders yet make sure they do the right thing – which they aren’t.