Comments for Don’t Know Much About Theology at http://www.thecatholicthing.org , comment 1 to 17 out of 17 comments http://www.thecatholicthing.org Thu, 23 May 2013 14:58:04 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2010/dont-know-much-about-theology.html#comment-5050 WHile FoxNews is open to religion, it would be wrong to assume that all of their hosts are Christianity-friendly. For example, there was a rather famous (infamous) confrontation between Sean Hannity and Fr. Tom Euteneuer. While Hannity calls himself a Catholic, he opposes many of the Church's teachings including the prohibition on birth control. Note also in this debate that as soon as Fr. E. makes his point, Hannity reverts to bringing up the clerical abuse issue even though it had nothing to do with the discussion. - Gary J Sibio Tue, 19 Oct 2010 16:14:35 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2010/dont-know-much-about-theology.html#comment-5036 I always cringe when I hear O'Reilly or Hannity say that because they're Catholic they can have certain opinions! Makes them experts in all things theological! But as I told my child before she went to Notre Dame, beware of wolves in priest's clothing. Glad she is out of there now. As for my other child, she is growing stronger in her Catholic faith. Where does she go you ask? The same place that Prof. Beckwith is located!! Go figure. - Roger Farmer Sat, 16 Oct 2010 16:03:07 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2010/dont-know-much-about-theology.html#comment-5034 Actually, I did see a qualified Catholic person interviewed by the bombastic Chris Matthews. Matthews was successfully making the point of why Catholics should not participate in public policy by saying, "Render to Caesar what is Caesar's..." The guest, a bishop, no less, mumbled something and suddenly the interview was over, of course. I assume the bishop was qualified to answer, "...and to God what is God's." But he did not. - Scoop Sat, 16 Oct 2010 05:30:26 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2010/dont-know-much-about-theology.html#comment-5032 Right. Ex. Fr. J.M.Bochenski, The Logic of Religion,1965+ the newest biblical hermeneutics+ the use of 20th cent.discoveries in logic (Cantor,Skolem-Lovneheim, B.Russell (on types), K.Godel (on proof)especially A.Tarski (on truth)-the perfect Source to combat ignorance of atheists and primitivism of Christian clergy@simple folks. Do not ignore it as an abstract : it seems I AM confirmed Directly (not by ...servants) on Jan 27,20001, Holy Mass with ...riots when R.C.priest ordered not to give me ...Communion ...he did not finish the Mass..... - Krzysztof Fri, 15 Oct 2010 20:13:24 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2010/dont-know-much-about-theology.html#comment-5031 Seems to me that Maher sits down at the end of the day and laughs. He vehemently condemns millenia of Christian thought and discovery and replaces it with his own declaration that he is a man of supreme truth. How do you do that? Criticize brilliant minds recognized as such as purveyors of falsehood while he takes over the podium of truth as belonging to himself! I think it humerous to give him the time of day as if he deserves it! - Mike Donnelly Sr Fri, 15 Oct 2010 19:52:44 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2010/dont-know-much-about-theology.html#comment-5030 Prof. Beckwith and Mr. Miner, On my use of quotation marks around the words "preaching to the choir," kindly forgive. Mr. Miner is right. These are not Prof. Beckwith's words, and I erred in attributing them to him. - James Danielson Fri, 15 Oct 2010 16:10:35 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2010/dont-know-much-about-theology.html#comment-5029 A wonderful comment on a misguided man. What did Chesterton say about his type "arrested development with a superiority complex"/ ? I think. Thank you very much Mr. Beckwith, excellent essay. - Achilles Fri, 15 Oct 2010 14:37:25 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2010/dont-know-much-about-theology.html#comment-5027 Mr. Coalson, Your experience shows that God can turn to advantage whatever lies at hand. This does not vindicate the practice chasing after silly commentators as if their ideas merit the attention. - James Danielson Fri, 15 Oct 2010 10:16:50 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2010/dont-know-much-about-theology.html#comment-5026 Small comment - there are those of us in the choir who appreciate periodic reinforcement because the reach of the popular culture is nearly omnipresent. It is easy to feel alienated and even despairing at times - and I don't need to be reminded of the 7 virtues. For at least the last 50 years, unfounded assertions have been granted the same (or greater) level of respect as truth well-grounded in reason, as long as the assertions lined up nicely with progressive wishful thinking. It is almost a definition of relativism. As a tireless anti-Darwinism warrior noted to me recently (after a discussion of DNA and the mystery of information arising from material process) "That's a chump's game. If they can't see the obvious, they will not be dissuaded by argument based on the obvious.” - Other Joe Fri, 15 Oct 2010 09:00:04 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2010/dont-know-much-about-theology.html#comment-5025 It is pretty frightening to know that all we have are the likes of Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity, and that Catholic priest who turns up every now and then and who seems more overwhelmed by the rarified air he thinks he is breathing than someone ready to proclaim the Truth in season and out. Fox News is a very large forum to let it be put to waste by such lightweights who think they know so much but who, combine, know practically nothing. Fr. Barron or Fr. McCloskey are good choices. How about you, Prof. Beckwith? Or, for that matter, almost any of The Catholic Thing's fine writers and witnesses? - Louise Fri, 15 Oct 2010 07:21:51 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2010/dont-know-much-about-theology.html#comment-5024 Thank you, Professor Beckwith! I saw the interview and was surprised at the illiteracy of of both Bills when it came to the bible. Yes, they had some "familiarity" with stories from the bible, but as for being capable of analyses or interpretation, they lacked both the tools and background. I found the conversation very irresponsible on both parties. I think this may be more endemic of our culture in general. We see issues from a very shallow, modern viewpoint and do no consider that the current conversation we are having about faith, morals or man's nature, have been discussed before and with more profudnity. To me, it seemed that Mr. Maher was positing a classic Cartesian viewpoint that he himself was not even aware of. - paul Fri, 15 Oct 2010 06:46:47 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2010/dont-know-much-about-theology.html#comment-5023 James Danielson...you talk about "our faith", but you don't seem to be a member of "the choir" in this instance. I wager you'd feel more at home in Bill Maher's choir! After all religious belief is nice but it's more important to come off intelligent and above it all, right? I'd say we need the exact opposite, direct challenges to the manifold absurdities that pass for intellectual discourse on the tube. BRAVO PROF. BECKWITH! (If only they would let you on Fox News!) - Jacob Fri, 15 Oct 2010 06:00:49 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2010/dont-know-much-about-theology.html#comment-5022 Mr. Danielson, I became a Christian in 2004. Articles such as this one proved very educational and inspirational when I first became a Christian. They provided me with some insight into not only the Mahers of the world, but more importantly my own thinking prior to conversion. My own thinking, which was similar to that of Maher, could not just be ignored. I needed help straightening it out, exorcising the old demons, so to speak. More importantly, I wouldn't have gone searching the dust bins of the internet looking for past articles to help exorcise demons I didn't even know I carried. I would've seen Maher's name, thought 'Oh, I know that guy. What's up here?', read the article and learned something. You raised some good questions, but based on my personal experience I think short, enlightening essays on current topics in pop culture and the relevance of those topics to our faith are always in need. Thanks Prof. Beckwith! Keep it coming Catholic Thing. - John Coalson Fri, 15 Oct 2010 05:46:05 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2010/dont-know-much-about-theology.html#comment-5021 The "O'Reilly's" are the Problem - not the "Mahers" O'Reilly has repeatedly had the progressive dissenter Fr. McBrien on his show, and cleasrly feels quite at home with him. Perhaps McBrien represents Bill O's brand of Catholicism - which I conclude is at best - the emulsified, populist "Notre-Damed Catholic" a-la McBrien and Fr. Hesburg, or some other devolved form. My hunch is that Bill O and McBrien are in league, but maybe Bill O is just being duped by McB. In any case - it would be better if an orthodox Catholic priest, someone like Father Barron, or Fr John McCloskey, would angle to get on Bill O's show and reduce Fr McB's footprint. Because when Bill O puts McB on his show, good Catholics will unwittingly conclude that McB is a faithful priest. - Chris in Sykesville, MD Fri, 15 Oct 2010 05:38:56 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2010/dont-know-much-about-theology.html#comment-5020 One point of clarification for Mr. Danielson: It was I who added the photo of Mr. Maher and the caption (re: preaching to the choir) to Prof. Beckwith's column. -Brad Miner - Brad Miner Fri, 15 Oct 2010 04:08:26 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2010/dont-know-much-about-theology.html#comment-5019 Articles like this one, competently detailing the obvious, appear in sufficient quantity and have done for some time. Certainly the people who should read articles like this--"the Bill Mahers of our culture"--do not, so like Mr. Maher, our writer addresses the choir. I wonder to what extent Christians and Bill Maher share a common culture, and if they do, what might this tell us about American Christians? A better question, however, is this: Why should Christians care what Bill Maher or anyone like him says or thinks? Why bother responding? It seems to me that by taking up the "challenge" laid down by our faith's mindless detractors, we tarnish the dignity of the faith. Heathens rage. So what? - James Danielson Fri, 15 Oct 2010 03:00:07 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2010/dont-know-much-about-theology.html#comment-5018 Good article. The so-called New Atheism isn't new at all. It's almost always the same old uninformed ranting and venom that's long been fashionable among "free" thinkers, who seem inevitably to be burdened by the heaviest mental shackles. Bill Maher and his ilk don't argue against religion. They sneer, and as William Paley observed, "Who can refute a sneer?" - Mark Fri, 15 Oct 2010 02:27:18 +0100