Talk:Blog roll

Notes & Ideas for upcoming blog posts

Intercessionary prayer

It takes two wings to fly: why science cannot prove God (or the limits of reason)

The modern Eucharistict miracles that have been subjected to DNA test yield a fascinating abcense of sequences, which render the DNA "impossible to trace or reproduce" (from https://www.ewtnvatican.com/articles/miracle-hunter-a-cardiologists-journey-into-eucharistic-miracles-1802)

Cardiologist Serafini >> says that if the DNA were identifiable it would destroy faith. From the article

Serafini believes that mystery still remains in the study of Eucharistic miracles. He says, “Finding the same DNA in different Eucharistic miracles would be too strong of a confirmation of the authenticity of the Catholic Eucharist,” It is something that would “annihilate, destroy, and humiliate our faith.” That is, it would make our belief in the miracle of the Eucharist unnecessary. Serafini believes, “We have to believe in the Eucharist. We don’t have to know the Eucharist as a proven scientific fact.” 

In light of these intriguing findings and the enigmatic nature of the DNA in Eucharistic miracles, Serafini poses a fascinating perspective. He believes the absence of easily traceable DNA in these miracles might serve a higher purpose. This lack of concrete scientific evidence allows faith to flourish unencumbered by empirical certainty. To him, the potential for an indisputable biological connection might overshadow the essence of belief itself. The mysterious and unexplainable nature of this miraculous DNA, in his view, preserves the sanctity and spiritual significance of the Eucharist, reinforcing the idea that faith should transcend scientific proof.

Wings of Reason and Faith

Heaven, Hell, Nothing -- or Purgatory?

"It is finished" -- completed? consummated?

Salvation History

"Embrace the Cross or be dragged by it"

Avoiding Wolsam's Pit

re discussion w/ Christopher

Maslow distinguished "deficiency needs" versus "growth needs". Deficiency needs, which can be physical or emotional, are those that when unmet will through through anxiety or fear motivate the individual to satisfy the need. These include hunger, security, physical or emotional love, friendship, status, etc. Deficiency needs satisfy waht is missing or "deficient." Growth needs are those that satisfy an individual's "self-actualization," which occurs only after an individual's deficiency needs have been met.

Criticism of Maslow's framework are obvious: nobody can satisfy all deficiency needs all the time. Thus the theory has been updated to show overlapping relationships among types and levels of needs. Nevertheless, those who adhere to Maslow's "hierarchy of needs" agree upon its goal of "self-actualization."

Maslow later added the "transcendence" to accommodate the obvious problem of "self-actualization" as a continuous need. That is, the individual can never be fully satisfied, thus the need for "transcendence" beyond the individual, or "spirituality."

Here's the problem. Even in a state of transcendence, by Maslow's definition, it is going to collapse into self-absorption.

> Wolsam's Pit

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow%27s_hierarchy_of_needs#Transcendence_needs

Jesus, yeah, but the God of the Old Testament...

hypocrisy

John the Baptist: why did Jesus call him the greatest?

Matthew 16:14

“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist,* others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

* [16:14] John the Baptist: see Mt 14:2. Elijah: cf. Mal 3:23–24; Sir 48:10; and see note on Mt 3:4. Jeremiah: an addition of Matthew to the Marcan source.

[3:4] The clothing of John recalls the austere dress of the prophet Elijah (2 Kgs 1:8). The expectation of the return of Elijah from heaven to prepare Israel for the final manifestation of God’s kingdom was widespread, and according to Matthew this expectation was fulfilled in the Baptist’s ministry (Mt 11:14; 17:11–13).

Mt. 17:9-13:

The Coming of Elijah.
As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, “Do not tell the vision* to anyone until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
Then the disciples asked him, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” He said in reply,* “Elijah will indeed come and restore all things;
but I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him but did to him whatever they pleased. So also will the Son of Man suffer at their hands.”
Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.

Mt 21:24-27

Jesus said to them in reply, “I shall ask you one question,* and if you answer it for me, then I shall tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 Where was John’s baptism from? Was it of heavenly or of human origin?” They discussed this among themselves and said, “If we say ‘Of heavenly origin,’ he will say to us, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’ 26

p But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we fear the crowd, for they all regard John as a prophet.”

27

So they said to Jesus in reply, “We do not know.” He himself said to them, “Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things.*

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/11?2

He was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.”*

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/11:11