Long considered one of the most influential, provocative, and beautiful works of literature in Western civilization, Dante’s “Divine Comedy” deserves even more attention for its profound spiritual and theological depth. This might seem obvious as the primary setting for this epic poem are the three destinations of the Christian afterlife: Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven. However,
READ MOREA friend of mine recently told me how much her family loves their new neighborhood, particularly its kid-friendly nature. The park is close, she explained, and no one thinks anything of their children walking down the block alone to play with neighborhood children. This scenario is much appreciated, particularly after what they experienced in their
READ MOREIn mid-April, a long box weighing about 80 pounds showed up on the front porch of the house I rent. An exterior tag announced that the box contained a four-door media center. There was no address and no name other than “Richard” for delivery. Thinking the console belonged to me, my 81-year-old neighbor – who
READ MOREI have introduced some feral sheep to the countryside around my property. Not on purpose, mind you. One bright morning a few weeks ago, I was buckling my toddler into her car seat so we could go to church, when she observed that the sheep were on the wrong side of the fence. Twenty minutes
READ MOREComedian Rodney Dangerfield operated in the world of “The Godfather,” the film about criminals who stress family, loyalty, manhood, and respect. The movie’s repeated emphasis on respect – “I said that I would see you because I had heard that you were a serious man, to be treated with respect,” Don Corleone says to another criminal, Sollozzo – inspired
READ MORE“June is bustin’ out all over,” the old Rodgers and Hammerstein song tells us, and escorting its arrival are dozens of weddings, for, as another old show tune explains, “Oh, they say when you marry in June / You’re a bride all your life. And the bridegroom who marries in June / Gets a sweetheart
READ MOREWhat in the world is going on with “Euphoria”? In an earlier article, I expressed my surprise that the rather indecent HBO show “Euphoria” portrayed Christian faith in a positive light numerous times in its Season 3 premiere. Now, in episode six, which is titled “Stand Still and See,” a quote from Exodus 14:13, we find protagonist
READ MOREThese days, it’s not uncommon to hear of adult children cutting off their parents or of employees doing “quiet quitting” to spite their bosses. Such moves are often coupled with the quote “respect is earned, not given.” The prevailing notion is that no one is inherently entitled to respect; instead, it should be withheld until
READ MOREScience and God are often set in opposition to one another. But this is a false dilemma. Not only did many prominent early scientists (such as Albert the Great, Sir Isaac Newton, and Robert Boyle) believe in God, but scientific discoveries themselves increasingly point to the existence of a Creator who transcends the physical universe.
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