Tuesday, January 27, 2004
First, Dan, thank you for the kind words. I look forward to digging into what you wrote. Tonight, however, we have a primary to tend to...if I can keep my eyes open another minute!
My first impulse is to zone out in utter boredom...running against John Kerry seems so utterly boring to me I can't imagine it. Even though Al Gore was boring, at least he had his quirks that were fun to tease. Kerry, it seems, does not even have fun quirks. A candidate without quirks! Oh John, why the long face? Don't you have any sparkle?
I need to ask myself: am I calling boredom what is actually fear? Do I fear John Kerry? As I give a quick scan of my soul, I really don't think so. I do believe George W. Bush will win this race with some ease either way. Oh, but what a joy it would be to run against Dean...a certified mad man. There is so much to riddicule, so much to tease, so much fun! With Kerry...nothing. Dull, dull, dull. Election season has suddenly lost some of its luster.
What does everyone else think? Does Pres. Bush have reason to fear? Do you think there is any reason to hope the primaries will be worth watching once again, or has Kerry truly ushered in the Season of Snooze!
My first impulse is to zone out in utter boredom...running against John Kerry seems so utterly boring to me I can't imagine it. Even though Al Gore was boring, at least he had his quirks that were fun to tease. Kerry, it seems, does not even have fun quirks. A candidate without quirks! Oh John, why the long face? Don't you have any sparkle?
I need to ask myself: am I calling boredom what is actually fear? Do I fear John Kerry? As I give a quick scan of my soul, I really don't think so. I do believe George W. Bush will win this race with some ease either way. Oh, but what a joy it would be to run against Dean...a certified mad man. There is so much to riddicule, so much to tease, so much fun! With Kerry...nothing. Dull, dull, dull. Election season has suddenly lost some of its luster.
What does everyone else think? Does Pres. Bush have reason to fear? Do you think there is any reason to hope the primaries will be worth watching once again, or has Kerry truly ushered in the Season of Snooze!
re: Excommunication [Rick Barry]
Ah yes, Rachel! I am, indeed, something of a cheerleader for more excommunication! Some questions though...first being, Orthodox Catholics petitioning the Pope? I am surprised the orthodox laity thinks its thier place to petition the Holy Father!
In researching excommunication, I read in the Catholic Encyclopedia: "Catholics...cannot be excommunicated unless for some personal, grievously offensive act. Here, therefore, it is necessary to state with precision the conditions under which this penalty is incurred. Just as exile presupposes a crime, excommunication presupposes a grievous external fault." So, the question becomes, does advocating abortion meet this criteria? Is it only punishable when you vote for it, or simply when you state, "I am for a women's right to choose." Why pick on politicians? Can celebrities (if there are any Catholic celebrities) also be excommunicated?
Wouldn't one excommunication morally require thousands of other excommunications? I don't know, maybe the Vatican has shied away from the act because...where does it stop? Will councils be set up to inquire into who is pro-life and who is pro-abortion? Is it really fair to only excommunicate politicians?
As I think more on the question, I wonder if excommunication is really feasible for abortion advocates, even if it fits the above mentioned criteria. Then again, if not for abortion, then what is excommunication good for? Just dirty protestants?
On another note, look what my "boss" Michael Novak says about the election over at The Corner. I swear, we are of one mind!
In researching excommunication, I read in the Catholic Encyclopedia: "Catholics...cannot be excommunicated unless for some personal, grievously offensive act. Here, therefore, it is necessary to state with precision the conditions under which this penalty is incurred. Just as exile presupposes a crime, excommunication presupposes a grievous external fault." So, the question becomes, does advocating abortion meet this criteria? Is it only punishable when you vote for it, or simply when you state, "I am for a women's right to choose." Why pick on politicians? Can celebrities (if there are any Catholic celebrities) also be excommunicated?
Wouldn't one excommunication morally require thousands of other excommunications? I don't know, maybe the Vatican has shied away from the act because...where does it stop? Will councils be set up to inquire into who is pro-life and who is pro-abortion? Is it really fair to only excommunicate politicians?
As I think more on the question, I wonder if excommunication is really feasible for abortion advocates, even if it fits the above mentioned criteria. Then again, if not for abortion, then what is excommunication good for? Just dirty protestants?
On another note, look what my "boss" Michael Novak says about the election over at The Corner. I swear, we are of one mind!
Monday, January 26, 2004
NH Primary Predictions! [Rick Barry]
Okay everyone, tomorrow is the big day: lets hear your predictions! First, what order will they finish in? Second, what will be the fallout? Will anyone drop out?
Here are my gusses: Maybe it is just dumb optimism, but I predict a Howard Dean upset...but still it will be a squeaker!
Why? First of all, according to the news, he has some momentum. Second of all, I believe there must be enough smart Republicans in NH who will see how wonderful a Dean win would be for George W. Bush, and they will get out and vote. (Anyone can vote in the NH primaries)
Kerry will come in a close second, followed by Edwards in Third. Despite the Joementum, Lieberman will be forth, Clark a sorry fifth, with Kucinich then Sharpton rounding out the pack.
I don't believe anyone will drop out as a result of the NH primary, they will all go for another round...though many will wonder why Clark remains. The justification will be that he is a Southerner, so he could do better later on.
What do you ya'll think?
Here are my gusses: Maybe it is just dumb optimism, but I predict a Howard Dean upset...but still it will be a squeaker!
Why? First of all, according to the news, he has some momentum. Second of all, I believe there must be enough smart Republicans in NH who will see how wonderful a Dean win would be for George W. Bush, and they will get out and vote. (Anyone can vote in the NH primaries)
Kerry will come in a close second, followed by Edwards in Third. Despite the Joementum, Lieberman will be forth, Clark a sorry fifth, with Kucinich then Sharpton rounding out the pack.
I don't believe anyone will drop out as a result of the NH primary, they will all go for another round...though many will wonder why Clark remains. The justification will be that he is a Southerner, so he could do better later on.
What do you ya'll think?
I wanted to post a question about salvation earlier, and think, in light of Greg's comments, it might be interesting to discuss. What does everyone think of a "postmortem encounter with Christ" by which all will have an opportunity to know the gospel and respond?
You know, there is something in the idea of universal salvation that appeals to me as I think about the people I love who are not Christians. But ultimately, universal salvation does not really satisfy...I do believe it is possible for some to reject Christ's love, and in such an instance I do believe in hell where that person can follow their free will away from God. I don't believe God can force anyone to accept His love and sacrifice, he created us with a free will on purpose.
Anyway, it seems most of us agree with the Roman Catholic Church that salvation can occur, through Christ, even for those who have never heard of Christ. What I am wondering about is for those who have heard of Christ. What about a person who had an abusive father, for example. That person would probably have a hard time believing in a heavenly Father of love because of deep wounds caused by sin on earth. Deep inside of that person will be certain barriers, certain defense mechanisms, that are not really their fault, but still keep them from God.
So, my question: do you think it is possible that each individual will have a postmortem encounter with Christ where they will hear the gospel in a way that they can understand? I don't know, ultimately I believe that however it will work, it will be incredibly fair. No one will say, "Oh, God was really unfair to him or her!" That is ridiculous. That is why I like "The Great Divorce" so much, because after reading it I thought, "that was really fair". However it will really work will be no less fair, of course. But I do like the possibility of a postmortem encounter, and was wondering what you all thought?
Or, maybe we shouldn't really be questioning this because it is not absolutely clear in scripture...maybe it is just supposed to be a mystery? What do you think?
You know, there is something in the idea of universal salvation that appeals to me as I think about the people I love who are not Christians. But ultimately, universal salvation does not really satisfy...I do believe it is possible for some to reject Christ's love, and in such an instance I do believe in hell where that person can follow their free will away from God. I don't believe God can force anyone to accept His love and sacrifice, he created us with a free will on purpose.
Anyway, it seems most of us agree with the Roman Catholic Church that salvation can occur, through Christ, even for those who have never heard of Christ. What I am wondering about is for those who have heard of Christ. What about a person who had an abusive father, for example. That person would probably have a hard time believing in a heavenly Father of love because of deep wounds caused by sin on earth. Deep inside of that person will be certain barriers, certain defense mechanisms, that are not really their fault, but still keep them from God.
So, my question: do you think it is possible that each individual will have a postmortem encounter with Christ where they will hear the gospel in a way that they can understand? I don't know, ultimately I believe that however it will work, it will be incredibly fair. No one will say, "Oh, God was really unfair to him or her!" That is ridiculous. That is why I like "The Great Divorce" so much, because after reading it I thought, "that was really fair". However it will really work will be no less fair, of course. But I do like the possibility of a postmortem encounter, and was wondering what you all thought?
Or, maybe we shouldn't really be questioning this because it is not absolutely clear in scripture...maybe it is just supposed to be a mystery? What do you think?
