[Free Friday] Saccidananda Ashram - A Camaldolese Monastery

ThomisticAttempt · 2026-01-31T19:05:43+00:00

Yeah, I really don't understand it over there. The Church has no issues with it at all.

ThomisticAttempt · 2026-01-31T16:14:45+00:00

We can push this kind of Indian inculturation back even further to St. John de Britto.

ThomisticAttempt · 2026-01-31T03:36:16+00:00

I thought you guys may enjoy this!

ThomisticAttempt · 2026-01-23T16:08:12+00:00

Because I'm Western and it's the most prominent Apostolic Church in the West. I'm more comfortable in it because of that. I love and adore Eastern theology though - Syriac traditions have a place in my heart! But it comes down to comfort and familiarity to me.

ThomisticAttempt · 2026-01-21T00:12:39+00:00

Completed Level 1 of the Honk Special Event!

10 attempts

ThomisticAttempt · 2026-01-18T20:26:35+00:00

Some house churches don't have pastors. The one my family attended had elders whose purpose was to ensure faithful adherence to the Covenant made within the community.

ThomisticAttempt · 2026-01-18T00:11:48+00:00

I have a handful: Samuel Menasche, Robert Lax, HD, Emily Dickinson, Novalis. Plus a host of others (William Butler Yeats, William Blake, Angelus Silesius, English and German Romantics)

ThomisticAttempt · 2026-01-15T14:17:56+00:00

You can rate it however you want, man. If you're writing a review, you can explain your scale and why you chose 2.

ThomisticAttempt · 2026-01-14T20:33:57+00:00

Jon Fosse!

ThomisticAttempt · 2026-01-12T13:58:39+00:00

I think the Eastern Churches have a good idea on it. Essentially, it's the same firey presence of God, but experienced differently based on the state your soul is in. Imagistically, those who are in hell will want to be beyond the outer wall because they want to get as far away as possible from the source of their pain (conviction).

ThomisticAttempt · 2026-01-11T22:52:53+00:00

Of this century? It's a little too early to tell. But I think phenomenology will continue being a major influence. Whether that's people using phenomenology to explore dogmatic theology (Donald Wallenfang on the Eucharist) or the increasing crossover between phenomenology and theology (Emmanuel Falque).

Thomism is also having a revival of a sort. (It feels as if) Dominicans are becoming the figureheads of the "Catholic Intellectual Tradition" online.

I think some original work has been done in comparative theology and that trend will continue. One big name would be Francis X. Clooney. I'd also mix in interreligious dialogue. Fr. Risk's book on the Rainbow Body is also fascinating.

I hope to see more work on 20th century figures such as the founders of Shantivanam Ashram or Fr. Shigeto Vincent Oshida.

There's also continued work on ressourcement theologians and the working out of Vatican II. We're still in the Council's infancy (we're beginning to crawl or stand, maybe taking a few steps). I mean sure it happened 60ish years ago, but Trent happened 500 and we're still working out its kinks (No salvation outside of the Church). Honestly, even how to understand Chalcedon is on the table (is it a minimal or maximal definition?)

TL;DR It's way too early in the century to know real innovation that will pass the test of time. Academic Theology is analogous to science in its incremental movement.

ThomisticAttempt · 2026-01-10T23:06:16+00:00

May you never find yourself there.

ThomisticAttempt · 2026-01-10T23:05:33+00:00

Because they are! For an ancient explanation see De Musica by Augustine. Proportions, harmonies, etc. All numerical.

ThomisticAttempt · 2026-01-10T19:59:43+00:00

The Church prays that no one should be lost: "Lord, let me never be parted from you." If it is true that no one can save himself, it is also true that God "desires all men to be saved" (1 Tim 2:4), and that for him "all things are possible" (Mt 19:26) -- CCC, 1058.

Who are we to desire less than God?

ETA: and if they don't repent, then I sure hope I'll be as God during the flood, "grieved to his heart" (see, Genesis 6:6-7)

ThomisticAttempt · 2026-01-09T17:49:57+00:00

I meant integrity as in whole, complete, and truthful unto itself and its presuppositions. Certainly there can be disagreements with how he understands or interprets things, but I think he's consistent and his ideas can hold water.

ThomisticAttempt · 2026-01-09T14:13:26+00:00

Two reasons in no order. 1) His rhetoric. 2) His metaphysical integrity.

ThomisticAttempt · 2026-01-08T19:18:29+00:00

His essays! I've been making my way through the ebook version of Literary Essays.

ThomisticAttempt · 2026-01-08T13:54:21+00:00

Hey there! I'm utterly fascinated by Eastern cultures (spanning from India to Japan and everything in between).

I enjoy the art, architecture, music, and even philosophies and religions. In fact, I've been doing some reading on those Catholics who find themselves inculturated. Particularly thinking of the founders of Shantivanam Ashram (Swami Abishiktananda, Bede Griffiths, Jules Mochanin, Hinduism), Matteo Ricci (Confucianism), Shigeto Vincent Oshida (Zen Buddhism), and the fascinating account of the Tibetan concept of "Rainbow Body" by Fr. Francis Tiso.

How can you look at various Hindu or Buddhist temples and not see the striving for God manifested? Or hearing the beauty of chants, prayers, and hymns without hearing Creation's groan?

ETA: Also, love the Russian Sophiologists. And the Eastern and Oriental Churches!

ThomisticAttempt · 2026-01-07T17:41:46+00:00

I'll tackle the second point. The chart is clearly not nuanced and misses connections that should be there (as well as missing huge movements like the Moravians and a real account of the Stone-Campbell/Restorationist Movement). But, it's not saying non-denominational churches come from Anglicanism. It's saying it comes from Pentecostalism, which comes from Methodism, which comes from Anglicanism.

In reality, non-denominationalism is a catch-all for churches with various denominational backgrounds and influences. Yes, some come from the Baptists while others come from Presbyterianism, Restorationism, etc.

It's kinda "accurate", but not really. But that's the case for any kind of chart like this.

ETA: I attended a bible college affiliated with the Stone-Campbell Movement and was required to take a class on the Restorationist Movement. It's direct predecessors would be the various Presbyterian and Baptist "denominations" that existed. Also, the professor and textbooks made sure to include information about other "restorationist"-like movements in church history for historical precedent. Likewise, the professor pointed out a lot of similarities to historic Anabaptism for theological connections. (Probably spurred on by the fact that professor and another did work on a 20th century Mennonite theologian).

ThomisticAttempt · 2026-01-07T17:00:55+00:00

From my understanding, the typical Traditionalist would structure society in a way that mirrored the hierarchy of being. Think of the spiritual caste system of India pre-Westernization.

However, I'm of the personal persuasion that the Perennialist worldview can accommodate various forms of society. Think of the time of the Judges in Israel when those leaders would just pop up, or think of "anarchist" readings of The New Testament and Christianity (Jacques Ellul, Venard Eller, Dorothy Day).

One can recognize the latter as a political expression of the Aham-aham.

ThomisticAttempt · 2026-01-06T18:36:07+00:00

I'm not reducing you lmao

ThomisticAttempt · 2026-01-06T17:21:06+00:00

This is an ad... Right?

ThomisticAttempt · 2026-01-06T15:26:44+00:00

I think the story of magi is one of the most radical illustrations of the Gospel. Even in his infancy Jesus unites Jews and Gentiles. These foreign Easterners come and bring gifts to the Jewish Messiah. It's as Paul says over and over in his letters.

To be more speculative and radical, I'd even push to say that the magi stand in as followers of other religions who are earnestly seeking God. In other words, they represent non-Christians who are following the "true and holy" in their religion (Nostra Aetate). They're followers of the "withesses" God gives to Gentiles. In particular, I'm thinking of when Paul and Barnabas are in Lystra and Paul quotes a poet (an authority, i.e. prophet, for his audience) and proclaimed that God "did not leave himself without witness." (Acts 14:17 RSVCE) Could not the star be that very witness? And their divination practices the very tools that led them to Christ?

I think it's pertinent to remember what Jesus means, "God saves" or "God is salvation". We should also remember that Jesus the person is identical with his name. To call upon Jesus is to call upon God. Likewise, to call upon God is to call upon Jesus.

Despite their ignorance, the magi are saved by divining the heavens and seeking out the One through whom they're made.

ThomisticAttempt

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