You Don’t Want Your Brain Surgeon to Have a Hobby

My life as a young Catholic was pretty tribal. Our family had a Catholic doctor, went to a Catholic-owned cafeteria (on the few occasions when we didn’t eat at home), ...

What It Means To “Search for God”

Despite what you may think about a guy who used to be a priest, I’ve had my ups and downs with faith. Doubt has come in various forms, but mostly ...

Buying into the Prosperity Gospel

Last week’s blog, “Does Everything Happen for a Reason?” was prompted by an article in America magazine by Eloise Blondiau called “The Gospel According to Goop.” Goop, in case you’re ...

Does Everything Really Happen for a Reason?

Writing in America Magazine, Eloise Blondiau describes author Kate Bowler’s view of life before being diagnosed with cancer. “It was certainty, plain and simple, that God had a worthy plan ...

The Pope and the Baobab

Recent news reports confirm that the iconic baobab, the famous African tree that can live thousands of years, reach nearly 100 feet high and grow trunks that are 32 feet ...

What Religion Gives Us (That Science Can’t)

The New York Times recently published an opinion piece by philosopher Stephen Asma with the above title. It was among the newspaper’s most trending stories and elicited thousands of comments. ...