Thursday, February 15, 2007

Who is reading me from where?

Sitemeter lets me know where people are reading me from. I know who some of them are, like the one from Notre Dame and the one from Georgia. I get all kinds of foreign countries, many of which I think are trolls or spiders or someone of insidious intent. On the other hand, there is a regular reader from Paris. I'm wondering, who reads me from Paris?

Thomas International

I was talking last night to Christopher Wolfe of the poli sci department at Marquette. He mentioned that he is working to promote the Ralph McInterny Center for Thomistic Studies. If I haven't promoted this before, I am now. It looks like a great project that I hope to cooperate with in some way. Also, they are working on a new international university, which I hope will be located in the upper midwest!

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

I was at a workshop this morning on psychological testing for potential seminarians. One of the things the presenter said was that God doesn't take something away from you without giving you something else. I presume he meant something better. The problem is, of course, we don't always see right away or even for a long time what the other thing is that compensates for our perceived loss. This is the crux of trust and hope. If it is not absolutely true of God at all times that he is absolutely trustworthy, then Satan was right in the garden and God is not a loving and providential father. The limits and he sets on us and apparent refusals he gives us become a sign of his hatred toward us and not his love.

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Top 100 Catholic books of all time

Does anyone know of one? If you were going to make one, what would you for sure put on it?

Influential people and religion

Well, this is quite interesting. Although they warn against making sociological judgment based on this list, one can't help but notice how disproportionate the Catholics are among the list. And specifically how influential practicing Catholics have been in the world of science! Also I noticed that so many of the influential Anglicans were lapsed in some way or another. Also, the first runner up was none other that St. Thomas Aquinas.

What might have been

This post on Maclin Horton's blog makes me sad. I added a comment explaining my own experience. The hope of transformation of culture is certainly subject to the sign of contradiction that is the Cross. Apparent failure is not defeat.

One things I've noticed is that among the younger orthodox Catholics the whole crunchy con thing or C & T thing or whatever seems to have no hold at all, even though Chesterton is very popular. There is a new, trendy urban orthodox Catholicism that my 1970s John Denver listening, organic gardening self just can't make peace with. Of course, even John Denver started wearing synthentic shirts in the 1980s and using synthesizers.

Monday, February 12, 2007

Karate Kid

My wife and 15 year old son are half way through watching The Karate Kid. I like it because it shows the best way for a fallable older person to hand on the truths of a wisdom tradition to a younger person. On the other hand, I recall being dissatisfied with the ending because Daniel (with an “l”) chooses to go back into the ring with Johnny against the opinion of his mentor that he had already accomplished what he was supposed to in the fight. I sensed a rearing of an ugly, American reliance on violence and revenge that I presumed to be contrary to the Karate tradition that Mr. Myagi was trying to hand one. On the other hand, Daniel’s motivation is honorable—the protection of the dignity of a woman. Now that I’m watching it again 23 years later I wonder if I will make the same judgment. Stay tuned.