On a favorite blog of mine, Internetmonk, there was a list of characteristics which marked popular articles during 2014. My favorite one was, “4. Bible subjects such as the beginning of the world and the end of the world, of which no one has any personal knowledge, are topics people love to talk about.” Reflecting […]
Archives for December 2014
Fantasy vs. reality
Yesterday, I mentioned that one of the problems with fantasy is that it does not take into account the reality of what life was really like in the times the author is writing about. Unrealistic solutions to the problems of pre-modern-medicine are woven into the story so as to make the story less jarring and […]
One reason why fantasy is called fantasy
I enjoy reading science fiction and fantasy. Nay, I am a geek. But, every so often I realize how much fantasy is involved in fantasy. Many fantasy writers wish to paint the times they write about as times that were better. They do not really want to paint the reality of primitive times in the […]
Shameful and dishonoring act
Hundreds of police officers outside the Queens, N.Y. church Saturday where the funeral of Officer Rafael Ramos was being held turned their backs on Mayor Bill de Blasio as he eulogized the fallen officer who was ambushed last week along with his partner. – Fox News In a shameful act, hundreds of police officers turned […]
Sadness for New York police
It is never right to take vengeance. Even when a nation takes military action, that action should not be for vengeance, but to protect oneself, or to execute justice, or to protect the innocence. A private individual does not have the right to take vengeance, no matter how aggrieved they may feel. The slaying of […]
Yesterday and high honors
Like every other Sunday, I went to church yesterday. I am not the proistameos (priest-in-charge) of a parish. I work in a hospital and am attached to a parish. I am blessed to work under a wonderful archpriest named Paul Costopoulos. He has been an example to me, and apparently to the entire archdiocese. Why […]
Some colors run
In this country, we are very strongly divided politically. But, we do agree on some ideas, even though we often forget that in the heat of battle with each others. One of the ideas that is most strongly supported by both sides is that “these colors don’t run.” It refers to the idea that when […]
Funny, but sad, take on the Christmas cultural war
The comic above does not need comment.
On using other languages in worship
One of the ongoing discussions in Orthodox worship in the USA, is the use of other languages in worship. I understand the argument. However, I consider this to be an argument that is ultimately correct, but missiologically mistaken. I absolutely agree that English should be the standard language of worship in English-speaking areas. I also […]
Astuteness of marketers
Every Christmas (or Thanksgiving, or Veteran’s Day, or …) we encounter the same tactic from marketers. We are presented with specials that give us the expected message of that particular holiday. Mind you, there are some specials I have seen that have been reworked to give a particular politically approved message (sometimes conservative and sometimes […]
