Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

To Give a Defense

Home
Catholic

2017-03-09T02:12:02-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

On the Rippers of Isabel Allende; Or, How the Culture of Offense Ruins Literary Discussion

Last updated on: March 9, 2017 at 2:12 am By Scott Eric Alt

When Isabel Allende said in a brief NPR interview that her latest novel is a parody of crime fiction, and that she is not a fan of the genre, you would have thought she had just admitted to being a serial killer. She did not say literary fiction was better; she did not say those who like crime fiction are readers of low quality; she did not say Stieg Larsson fans should put down The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and pick up The House of the Spirits. But too many people seem to be sitting around waiting to be offended. Political correctness is giving us fragile nervous systems, ready to shatter at the least gentle breeze. Say nothing more momentous than that you don’t like a particular literary genre, and those who do like it will break down in a fit of hysteria. [Read more] Read more

Books & Writing &c.

2017-03-09T02:13:04-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Seven Reasons to Read Simcha Fisher’s Book on Natural Family Planning: 7QT XIV Seriatim

Last updated on: March 9, 2017 at 2:13 am By Scott Eric Alt

If you talk to Simcha Fisher, she will tell you that she did not write The Sinner’s Guide to Natural Family Planning to do what other discussions of the subject already do well. So you will not find moral or theological argument; nor will you find a how-to manual for using this method of postponing pregnancy. “Priests are so thrilled,” she says, “to discover that here finally is a couple who wants to use NFP instead of contraception, and there is seldom any discussion of: Now what?” Read more

Book Reviews

NFP

Seven Quick Takes

2017-03-09T15:58:19-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Z-ophobia, FEMEN, & Other Quick Takes: 7QT XIII Seriatim

Last updated on: March 9, 2017 at 3:58 pm By Scott Eric Alt

I saw the acronym LGBTA today, on a job board for freelancers; an “LGBTA” magazine is hiring writers. Thought I: What’s the A for? I had seen Q; but what was this new A in the alphabet soup of queer? I did the sensible thing and looked it up. It stands for asexual. I can not keep up. Insanity outpaces all sense and defies all reason. Where is the reason in thinking of oneself as a species of starfish or sponge? And why leave out the Q’s? Do they have no place in this magazine? Shouldn’t it now be “LGBTQA?” Read more

Gender Politics

Seven Quick Takes

2017-03-09T15:59:25-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

United Nations to Pope Francis: Change Your Doctrine

Last updated on: March 9, 2017 at 3:59 pm By Scott Eric Alt

The agenda of the UN is to spread the idea that the Catholic Church is an evil to be fought. Unless the Church permits the murder of the unborn, it is not doing enough to stop the harm done to children. Unless the Church permits contraception, it is not doing enough to ensure that children can live. And unless the Church says that men can stick their organs in places they were not designed to go, it is not doing enough to promote the dignity of the human body. Read more

Anti-Catholicism

In the News

Pope Francis

2018-03-04T18:54:20-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Rolling Stoned on Pope Francis, Part III

Last updated on: March 4, 2018 at 6:54 pm By Scott Eric Alt

Of Mark Binelli’s claim in Rolling Stoned — that the pope’s critique of capitalism is the “most astonishing” aspect of his papacy thus far — not much need be said. Those familiar with Catholic social teaching will know that the Church advocates neither Marxism nor capitalism, but the “third way” of distributism. Leo XIII and his successors set forth the principles of it at great length and detail. Distributism is a scandal to both right and left. Read more

Answers to Media Fictions

Church Social Doctrine

Pope Francis

2017-03-09T16:02:20-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

A Modest Proposal for Increasing the Relevance of Holy Mass

Last updated on: March 9, 2017 at 4:02 pm By Scott Eric Alt

It is indeed a melancholy object, dear reader, to contemplate the masses (we speak with no disregard for the Mass) whose breasts are thrilled by the annual event known as Super Bowl Sunday. Imagine someone willing to pay $30,000 in order to have a front-row seat at Mass. We believe that we have discovered the way by which that may happen, and not only increase attendance at Mass, and excitement about the Mass, but the relevance of the Mass too. Read more

2017-03-09T16:03:42-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Rolling Stoned on Pope Francis, Part II

Last updated on: March 9, 2017 at 4:03 pm By Scott Eric Alt

Of Pope Francis, Mr. Binelli has this to say: “His recognizable humanity comes off as positively revolutionary.” Yes. Now, I know this is going to be a disputable point, but here it is: That is quite possibly the dumbest sentence writ by man. No pope before Francis was human? What about that dour old crab Benedict? It is not human to be dour? Or what about the gregarious John Paul II? What does he mean, Francis is revolutionary because he is human? Does that make sense? Read more

Abortion

Answers to Media Fictions

Contraception

Pope Francis

Same-Sex "Marriage"

2017-03-09T16:04:46-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Seven Anathemas on Super Bowl Sunday: 7QT XII Seriatim

Last updated on: March 9, 2017 at 4:04 pm By Scott Eric Alt

In this post I am going to try a little blasphemy. I wonder greatly how that will work out for me, in light of the religious hysteria that takes place every year on “Super Bowl Sunday.” It is our nation’s holiest day, when we gather round the altar; consecrate the elements; and watch our priests beat each other up for an hour. And this we cheer and use as an excuse to get loud and smashed. I do not know why football has so seized this nation's need for religion. Read more

Seven Quick Takes

2017-03-09T16:06:28-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Rolling Stoned on Pope Francis, Part I

Last updated on: March 9, 2017 at 4:06 pm By Scott Eric Alt

By now, dear reader, you have probably heard that Pope Francis made the cover of still another pop culture magazine. The article, which is long and boorish and blind, is bent to advance a standard theme: that the new pope is a fuzzy and progressive-leaning maverick and will stand Church teaching on its head; whereas, the old pope, the evil Benedict, was a sour old man who beat us all over the pate with the hammer of dogma. That is a caricature and belies the facts. Read more

Answers to Media Fictions

Pope Francis

2017-03-09T16:08:02-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Fox News “Editor” Adam Shaw Has Temper Tantrum Against the Pope: Pope Francis Derangement Syndrome Vol. V

Last updated on: March 9, 2017 at 4:08 pm By Scott Eric Alt

Adam Pshaw is lecturing the pope on economics again. I am surprised Fox News would publish such arrogant snipe and present it as the work of someone who “writes about Catholic issues.” No, sir. Fr. Z writes about Catholic issues. Mark Shea writes about Catholic issues. Pat Archbold writes about Catholic issues. Fr. Robert Sirico writes about Catholic issues. Did Fox News think to consult any of these esteemed men? Is Fox News unable to find informed and thoughtful sources? Read more

Answers to Media Fictions

Church Social Doctrine

Pope Francis Derangement Syndrome

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

True or False: Hebrews states that without holiness no one will see the Lord.

Select your answer to see how you score.

FALSE TRUE

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Abortion About Me Answers for Calvinists Answers to Media Fictions Answers to Objections Anti-Catholicism Apologetics Apostolic Succession Atonement Authority of the Church Baptism Benedictines Biblical Exegesis Blogging Book Reviews Books & Writing &c. Calvin's Institutes Capital Punishment Catholic Church Chastity Christology Church Fathers Church Social Doctrine Confession Contraception Conversion Stories Crusades Debates Depression & Suicide Deuterocanon Development of Doctrine Ecumenism English Language Eucharistic Adoration Exorcism Extra Ecclesiam Fisks & Rebuttals Freedom of Religion Freedom of Speech Fundamentalism Gender Politics Gender Theory Good Works Homosexuality Humor Idolatry Immaculate Conception In the News Inquisition ISIS Islam Just for Fun Just War Justification LCWR Limbo Liturgical Abuse Liturgical Year Magisterium Marriage and Family Mary Mortal Sin New Evangelization NFP Papacy Papal Documents Papal Infallibility Personal Narrative Politics Pope Francis Pope Francis Derangement Syndrome Population Control Praying to the "Dead" Priesthood Primacy of Peter Protestant Denominations Purgatory Radical Islam Radical Traditionalists Real Presence Right to Conscience RIght to Life Saints Same-Sex "Marriage" Seven Quick Takes Social Justice Social Media Sola Scriptura Spirit of Vatican II SSPX The Eucharist The Mass The Resurrection Traditionalism Vatican II Year of Mercy

Select a Month August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 November 2018 October 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 April 2018 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 May 2013 April 2013 February 2013 January 2013

TRENDING AT PATHEOS Catholic