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Reflections on “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”
First, I will admit that I have been teaching American history for almost 35 years and have never, until recently, read Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Why? For several reasons, I suppose. First, it was never assigned in any … Continue reading
Posted in American History, books, Christianity, God's Providence
Tagged Harriet Beecher Stowe, Slavery, Uncle Tom's Cabin
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Blessed are the Poor?
In the Sermon on the Mount, the Beatitudes, as recorded in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, Jesus taught his disciples as well as others what he considered to be the most important lessons by which to live. Matthew and Luke … Continue reading
Posted in Christianity, God's Providence, Reflections on the Psalms
Tagged Blessed are the Poor, god, Jesus, Love, Poor, Sermon on the Mount
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The Sanctity of Life
In my last post, I discussed Just War. To continue… The key to solving the issue, the plague, of war, just or unjust, is for humans to adapt a culture of life. We are raised from infancy in a culture … Continue reading
Posted in books, Christianity, Reflections on the Psalms
Tagged Christianity, god, Jesus, Life, psalms
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Is War ever Just?
In his novel, The Things They Carried, novelist Tim O’brien, writing about the Vietnam War, says: “A true war story is never moral. It does not instruct, nor encourage virtue, nor suggest models of proper human behavior, nor restrain men … Continue reading
Posted in Christianity, God's Providence, Reflections on the Psalms
Tagged bible, Jesus, Moses, Qur'an, Ten Commandments, War
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The Seduction of Time
In Mark 8:33 of the New Testament, Jesus tells his disciple Peter, “Go behind me, Satan,” because Peter has suggested that Jesus was not going to suffer as the Son of Man. What does this verse tell us about Satan, about Jesus, … Continue reading
Posted in Christianity, Reflections on the Psalms
Tagged Jesus, Love, Peter, psalms, Satan, Seduction, Temptation, Time
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Montaigne and Repentance
Michel de Montaigne, the French writer of Essays, was a thinker. Alone in a library, his library, pondering. Alone, as he was in conception, as he will be in death. Alone, facing his maker, facing the universe, facing himself. No … Continue reading
Posted in Biography, books, Christianity, Michel de Montaigne
Tagged Essays, Montaigne, Repentance
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Montaigne and Human Folly
In the opening note to the reader in Montaigne’s Essays, the author suggests, since the Essays are only about the experiences and ruminations of Michel de Montaigne himself, that it is folly to read further. Montaigne was quite right, of … Continue reading
Posted in books, Christianity, Michel de Montaigne
Tagged Essays, Human Folly, Montaigne, Skepticism
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Richard Hooker’s Message from the Past
In light of the Supreme Court decision on marriage this past week, and the controversy from opposing sides that has ensued, it is worthwhile, in my opinion, to seek the wisdom of the past. Oftentimes the human perspective living in … Continue reading
The American Plutarch 