Philosophy
When we think about the time the Romans would unleash hungry and fierce lions on devout Christians, we tend to squirm, become morally outraged, and express our righteous indignation against the cruelty that one group of human beings would arbitrarily inflict on another group. Forgetting for a second the pain those poor people had to endure, though, you gotta admit that must have been a great show to watch! :)
Well, without any of the blood, today we have the intellectual version of that massacre in all its delicious unfairness, as Christopher Hitchens and Stephen Fry pounce with great wit and eloquence on the unsuspecting, oblivious and ill-prepared Archbishop John Onaiyekan of Abuja, and Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe, as the latter two desperately try to argue (against the backdrop of its long and sustained history of moral corruption, bigotry, antisemitism, homophobia and misogyny) that the Catholic Church is a force for good. I can't remember the last time I watched a debate this awesome :)
Man, was the Archbishop trying to help the opposition? At least half his answers undermined his own position...
And Stephen Fry is gay??? I had no clue... I guess no gaydar for me :)
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- From The "irony Can Be So Ironic" File
Brothers, Sisters, and Transgendered Comedists Everywhere, Last weekend we wished happy holidays to all those non-Comedists celebrating the traditional holy days of their various faiths, and members of the Greek and Armenian Orthodox Churches responded...
- Christopher Hitchens & Tony Blair Debate On Religion
In a civilized and thought-provoking debate that took place just this past week in Toronto, former British Prime Minister and recent Catholic convert Tony Blair defended the motion that religion is a force for good in the world. Opposing the motion with...
- Stephen Fry - The Importance Of Philosophy And Unbelief
While I'm somewhat suspicious of actors--always pretending to be someone else :), I do tend to admire the good ones for their ability to convey and explore the spectrum of human possibilities. Still, they're not usually the first group to whom...
- A History Of Catholic Church Sex Scandals
The Catholic Church has recently found itself smack in the middle of the same controversy that we've all unfortunately become accustomed to hearing about over the past few years: perverted priests have been molesting children, and as usual, instead...
- Better Late Than Never...copernicus Reburied
"Copernicus reburied with full Catholic honours" 'Science and faith can be reconciled' by Lester Haines May 24th, 2010 The Register The remains of Nicolaus Copernicus were reburied on Saturday, with the Polish Catholic church out in force to...
Philosophy
Is the Catholic Church a Force for Good?
When we think about the time the Romans would unleash hungry and fierce lions on devout Christians, we tend to squirm, become morally outraged, and express our righteous indignation against the cruelty that one group of human beings would arbitrarily inflict on another group. Forgetting for a second the pain those poor people had to endure, though, you gotta admit that must have been a great show to watch! :)Well, without any of the blood, today we have the intellectual version of that massacre in all its delicious unfairness, as Christopher Hitchens and Stephen Fry pounce with great wit and eloquence on the unsuspecting, oblivious and ill-prepared Archbishop John Onaiyekan of Abuja, and Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe, as the latter two desperately try to argue (against the backdrop of its long and sustained history of moral corruption, bigotry, antisemitism, homophobia and misogyny) that the Catholic Church is a force for good. I can't remember the last time I watched a debate this awesome :)
Man, was the Archbishop trying to help the opposition? At least half his answers undermined his own position...
And Stephen Fry is gay??? I had no clue... I guess no gaydar for me :)
.
- From The "irony Can Be So Ironic" File
Brothers, Sisters, and Transgendered Comedists Everywhere, Last weekend we wished happy holidays to all those non-Comedists celebrating the traditional holy days of their various faiths, and members of the Greek and Armenian Orthodox Churches responded...
- Christopher Hitchens & Tony Blair Debate On Religion
In a civilized and thought-provoking debate that took place just this past week in Toronto, former British Prime Minister and recent Catholic convert Tony Blair defended the motion that religion is a force for good in the world. Opposing the motion with...
- Stephen Fry - The Importance Of Philosophy And Unbelief
While I'm somewhat suspicious of actors--always pretending to be someone else :), I do tend to admire the good ones for their ability to convey and explore the spectrum of human possibilities. Still, they're not usually the first group to whom...
- A History Of Catholic Church Sex Scandals
The Catholic Church has recently found itself smack in the middle of the same controversy that we've all unfortunately become accustomed to hearing about over the past few years: perverted priests have been molesting children, and as usual, instead...
- Better Late Than Never...copernicus Reburied
"Copernicus reburied with full Catholic honours" 'Science and faith can be reconciled' by Lester Haines May 24th, 2010 The Register The remains of Nicolaus Copernicus were reburied on Saturday, with the Polish Catholic church out in force to...