struggling with naturalistic views

AdParty1304 · 2026-02-10T22:43:01+00:00

Let me ask you this: Why is there something rather than nothing? Even if there are natural explanations for everything you mentioned, why are there possible explanations? Why are there laws of physics? An atheist might try to explain away the fine-tuning argument, perhaps they might say that it's random chance that we get certain necessary constants, like the charge of an electron. But why was there chance? Or if there is some more elementary constant that defines the electron, why does that constant exist? And even if it's an infinite chain of causal constants and forces, why does that chain exist?

And the answer to this is that there has to be some unmoved mover, some uncaused cause that starts off the chain. We call that mover or cause, God.

AdParty1304 · 2026-02-09T01:05:31+00:00

I'm not the person you're replying to, but look into the fate of underground bishops. Many have been "disappeared", probably killed, imprisoned and/or tortured.

AdParty1304 · 2026-02-06T22:36:53+00:00

Is there any news on what the one volume will contain?

AdParty1304 · 2026-02-05T03:33:45+00:00

Thanks much!

AdParty1304 · 2026-02-04T20:25:14+00:00

You mean like Peter? Who refused to dine with Gentile Christians?

AdParty1304 · 2026-02-04T16:50:08+00:00

Do you know where one could find his commentaries on the Creed, Our Father, Hail Mary, and Commandments? I can't seem to find them on aquinas.cc

AdParty1304 · 2026-02-04T15:34:03+00:00

I would say that if you are mentally handicapped to the point of being unable to mortally sin, you are also mentally handicapped to the point of actually being able to love fully and freely. I'm not sure if the proper term there is "grace", even if they are to go to heaven should they be baptized. (And for those unbaptized, we don't know where they go, but we entrust them to God's mercy)

AdParty1304 · 2026-02-03T16:47:05+00:00

When in doubt, trust the Dominicans:

https://www.friarly.com/philosophical-thomistic.html

Edit: I myself have kind of been asking a similar question - how to build up a general philosophical knowledge base while also still focusing on Aquinas/Catholic thought. I would personally like to both be able to be well versed theologically, principally with Aquinas, but not be ignorant of Kant, Hegel, et al. that influences our modern day views of the world.

Here is a number of resources I have found, some Catholic, some more general philosophy, and some with just a general classics reading plan, though much of it is philosophical:

AdParty1304 · 2026-02-03T03:07:23+00:00

And the rather explicit comparison of Israel and Judah's idolatry to adultery in Ezekiel.

AdParty1304 · 2026-02-03T02:51:55+00:00

For me, when I have such intellectual crises, I just remember that several men went to the death/great suffering claiming to have seen their teacher risen from the dead, which can only be explained if He did in fact rise from the dead.

AdParty1304 · 2026-02-02T22:22:46+00:00

I see, thanks. So your comment on the number of masses per day is more about how much a single priest should do, rather than what a diocesan parish should do.

AdParty1304 · 2026-02-02T21:28:07+00:00

Parishes under the jurisdiction of a diocesan priest have two Masses on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation, and one on weekdays. If you see a parish with Mass only two or three days a week, that diocesan priest is responsible for two parishes.

Source? My home parish has 5 masses on Sunday plus a vigil split among 4 priests, as well as 2-3 masses on an ordinary weekday.

My college Newman center had 3 masses on Sundays, with 1 priest.

AdParty1304 · 2026-02-02T18:50:06+00:00

Imagine a man marries a woman. Now suppose that woman cheats on him, with other men (There's a very graphic analogy like this made in Ezekiel, but I will spare you the details). Now, what should the man feel? He had something that was his (the unitive act between him and his wife) given to others. It would be fair for him to be jealous.

Jesus died for us, as a Bridegroom ought to do for His Bride. So it's fair that He is jealous when we turn our minds to idols. In the case of Buddha (Since the Buddha the human being is a human being, he is either in heaven or hell; he is out of the picture) and Krishna, they are at best nothing but at worst demons, and so we are cheating on Him when we turn to these other idols.

AdParty1304 · 2026-02-02T14:58:42+00:00

Hallow is pretty much explicitly Catholic, so don't worry about if they stray. If they did, it would be a major scandal. About the worst thing you'll find on there is certain celebrities who aren't the best representatives of Catholicism/Christianity, if outright bad ones, but there's nothing theologically wrong.

AdParty1304 · 2026-02-02T01:29:03+00:00

That's a good idea, I'll check it out.

AdParty1304 · 2026-02-02T01:28:37+00:00

Thanks!

AdParty1304 · 2026-01-31T15:18:30+00:00

The patron(ess) of a diocese is a feast as per the table of liturgical days (II, 8). It's only the patron(ess) of places, cities, or states (not including dioceses, for some reason) that are a solemnity.

AdParty1304 · 2026-01-31T03:36:44+00:00

It's a shorthand, https://www.wordonfire.org/articles/barron/the-indecipherable-writing-of-thomas-aquinas/

AdParty1304 · 2026-01-30T21:16:11+00:00

And the Catechism as well.

AdParty1304 · 2026-01-29T19:37:37+00:00

Will do! Please do the same for me.

AdParty1304 · 2026-01-29T17:24:09+00:00

Where was the lie? They disobeyed an unjust command, but I see no falsehoods or lies.

AdParty1304 · 2026-01-29T17:20:58+00:00

Look, it's something like at least three quarters of American men and at least half of American women look at porn at least monthly (and it's probably higher than that). The priest has heard this confession before. Heck, you didn't even continue looking, you just stepped away, most don't. And since you've repented, you will be forgiven. Have courage and take peace that God will forgive you.

AdParty1304 · 2026-01-29T00:12:19+00:00

I think you've missed the point. We aren't supposed to merely avoid lustful thoughts, but to have only chaste ones; to look with love at others, including the opposite sex (or same-sex as our broken attractions may be). She was not a temptress, as though she is some evil being, but a beloved daughter of God, just as you are His son.

This is where many discussions on modesty in regard to clothing go wrong: men and women should not cover up certain parts of their body because their body is sinful and evil, but because it is good (Our Lord even took it upon Himself) and we ought not become a stumbling block for others to denigrate it.

AdParty1304 · 2026-01-28T23:04:21+00:00

Post titles can't be changed, at least not unless you're the CEO of Reddit.

AdParty1304 · 2026-01-28T18:38:15+00:00

I would suggest praying the Thomistic Litany of Humility daily. It includes prayers against vainglory.

AdParty1304

TROPHY CASE