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April 2026

April 01, 2026

Making the Truth Laugh: An April Fools Day Reflection

I know that today is Wednesday in Holy Week, but it is also April Fools...

March 2026

March 06, 2026

I’m turning the big 7-0! Here are some thoughts . . .

Today is my birthday, and it's a big one. The big 7-0! My age has...

September 2025

September 14, 2025

Remembering a Good and Faithful Servant

Father Kilian McDonnell OSB died last week at the age of 103. His funeral this...

August 2025

August 24, 2025

When We Say What We Don’t Believe

Today's appointed lectionary Psalm is one of my two or three favorites of all of...

August 15, 2025

Owls, Penguins, and Joy

Just about fifteen years ago, on a beautiful summer morning very similar to the ones...

August 10, 2025

That Sounds Like Prayer

We are all going to die! That's just so awful. I didn't agree to this....

July 2025

July 01, 2025

There are Two Kinds of People . . .

I ran an informal experiment on Facebook not long ago, the point of which was...

June 2025

June 17, 2025

Which Sport Does the World’s Most Interesting Man Prefer?

My brother and I stay in contact most regularly on Facebook, where he had the...

May 2025

May 20, 2025

Faculty Workshops and the Muppets

That's a wrap for another academic year, number 34 since I walked across a stage...

April 2025

April 25, 2025

Why “Christian Socialism” is not an oxymoron

We should read the New Testament as saying that how we treat each other on...

April 01, 2025

April Fools Day and Irreverence

IT’S APRIL FOOLS DAY–A PERFECT TIME FOR SOME IRREVERENCE! One of my continuing reading delights...

March 2025

March 21, 2025

Sports Fanaticism and the Life of Faith

Today is day two of the four best sports days of the year. The first...

February 2025

February 02, 2025

The Greek Philosopher You’ve Never Heard Of

I haven't had a chance to teach the ancient greats in philosophy in several semesters,...

July 2024

July 11, 2024

There are Two Kinds of People . . .

I ran an informal experiment on Facebook the other day, the point of which was...

May 2024

May 29, 2024

Some things to think about

The next time someone says something like “These are $130 headphones that I bought for...

March 2024

March 17, 2024

Saint Patrick? Let Me Introduce you to Saint Bridget!

Today is St. Patrick's Day, not my favorite holiday (as you'll see below). Portions of...

January 2024

January 30, 2024

What Sort of Bubble Do You Live In?

In my last post I wrote about being comfortable in my own skin as an...

October 2023

October 05, 2023

Philosophers on the Pitch

For most sports fans, this time of year is exciting. The baseball playoffs just started,...

October 01, 2023

What A Real Philosopher Looks Like

My two sons have never thought that I look like a philosopher. This has been...

September 2023

September 26, 2023

Consider the Salmon: Like Souls Approaching God

Jeanne and I spent a couple of lovely days last week with friends in Port...

June 2023

June 17, 2023

Of Jackalopes and Loons

I just finished a lovely week with my brother Vaughn and sister-in-law LaVona in Santa...

June 13, 2023

Walking Away from Jesusland

In our never-ending search for excellent police dramas, Jeanne and I watched the first season...

March 2023

March 16, 2023

Tomorrow is St. Patrick’s Day. Big Deal.

Tomorrow is a big day for Providence College sports fans. Our men's hockey team will...

January 2023

January 05, 2023

Mediocrates Returns with Some Additional Wisdom

The college basketball season is in full swing. Although I have not posted about it...

September 2022

September 04, 2022

Exploring the Studio Space with God

Guess what? I got a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell. Bruce Dickinson Regular...

August 2022

August 16, 2022

When Your Imaginary Friend Is Real

From as early as I can remember, I had an invisible butler. My mother enjoyed...

June 2022

June 11, 2022

The Spiritual Life of Crows

My childhood was filled with unusual characters, all products of my father’s fertile imagination. A...

April 2022

April 26, 2022

The Wisdom of Socrates’ Younger Brother–Mediocrates

A Facebook friend who knows that I am a philosophy professor sent me a thought-provoking...

April 12, 2022

Jewish Holy Man Kills Innocent Fig Tree In a Fit of Temper

A bit over a decade ago, I spent spent the early months of the year...

April 04, 2022

What Playing Wordle has Taught Me About Myself

It seems that just about everyone I know is playing “Wordle” every day. I asked...

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