Oscar Gilroy

This is one of those occasions where the ability to do the South Asian ‘what to do?’-face comes in handy.

An easy, intellectually dishonest way to dismiss an argument coming from a believer is that his argument is ‘merely’ based on faith. Sometimes, this flippant rebuttal is aimed at positions whose foundations are in no way theological, and in those instances, it is clear that one is dealing with a narrow mind armed with rhetorical ear plugs. At other times, this objection is raised against the entire religious mindset. Once this point in the conversation is reached, continuing on can be quite futile. But what it too easy for both believers and nonbelievers to forget is that both regularly engage a capacity of the will that is essential for faith: Trust. The trust required by faith is the same as the trust required by love. Most people know what that trust feels like, and know that having it is not an abandonment of reason.

In the videos that follow, the always masterful Fr. Barron explains the relationship of trust to a growing faith, using the analogy of falling in love with a person. They may not instantly change anyone’s mind on the respect that a faithful intellect deserves, but they do invite the honest skeptic to consider that the trust demanded of the believer is something that they have both experienced and given at some point.

Commentary from Fr. Barron on what Faith is and what Faith is not

Additional commentary:

“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and handed himself over for her…” Ephesians 5:25.

This kind of love and heroism is humbling and breathtaking. Please keep this young widow and her husband in your prayers.

‘He’s my hero’: Wife talks about moment husband gave his life to save her during tornado.

I’m starting to see a number of those billboards that proclaim the world’s apparent expiration date of May 21st… 2011! Nine days from now! In Matthew 24:36, the Bible suggests that this will be one of the more expensive ventures in embarrassing advertising. Nevertheless, I am grateful to the group that is putting these up for their (intentionally?) ironic sense of placement, at least on the one on my route home from Church. To come back home from my new parish here in Savannah, I get onto a busy road, immediately pass a Mormon church, a few residential blocks… and then run into a gentlemen’s/feckless womanizer’s club and a number of signs for adult/overgrown adolescent entertainment stores in the area, amongst other run down establishments. After driving a few hundred feet with strippers and porn stores at the front of my mind, I see something like this:

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Beautiful video from the talented folks at Igniter Media. The Gospel according to Twitter:

“It is unusual to celebrate a death, but today Americans and decent people the world over cheer the news that madman, murderer and terrorist Osama Bin Laden is dead … Welcome to hell, bin Laden.” – Former Arkansas Governor and ex-Baptist Minister Mike Huckabee.

This sort of comment speaks to a lot of the reaction at Sunday’s incredible news in the war on terror. We need to ask if open glee and reveling in the face of another man’s death, and wishing hell upon him is ever acceptable as a Christian. It is not, and for any Christian to do so, and worse, to excuse it or rationalize it somehow is an embarrassment at best and a scandal against the faith at worst. Continue Reading »