Dwight Longenecker's Blog, page 175

Read, Mark and Learn – 5

Welcome to Day Five of the Lent Blobble Study. Today we begin chapter two of St Mark’s Gospel. In the first chapter Jesus begins his ministry and the theme is his battle against Satan. After his baptism he is tempted in the wilderness and then he begins his ministry with great energy and vigor. The [Read More...]

Son of God – The Movie

Over at The Catholic Thing Brad Miner reviews the movie The Son of God. No spoiler alerts are necessary – we all know the story – but I must spoil the gleeful mood of anyone who, without screening the film, considers it a must-see, which I assume is principally the consequence of the aforementioned dearth of recent [Read More...]

Allen from Rome: Catholicism Growing in Arabia

John Allen has his usual mix of fascinating Catholic news, sharp analysis and fair comment here. Among other things he reports on the surprising growth of Catholicism in the Middle East, what to expect in this week’s news coverage of the first anniversary of Pope Francis’ pontificate and the opinions of African Cardinal Peter Turkson [Read More...]

Read, Mark and Learn – 4

Welcome to the fourth day of our Lenten Bible study through Mark’s gospel. You may find the study is posted late today as I am in San Bernadino CA leading a parish mission. If you are just getting started and joining us late, you can use the “Categories” tool on the blog to follow the [Read More...]

Cardinal Dolan Does Not Judge?

In a television interview Cardinal Dolan of New York was questioned about a professional football player coming out as a homosexual. His words are: “Good for him, I would have no sense of judgment on him. God bless ya. I don’t think, look, the same Bible that tells us, that teaches us, well about the [Read More...]

The Clash in Contemporary Christianity

As I travel, and experience Christianity around the world what strikes me most is that most of it isn’t Christianity. There is a modern, false version of Christianity out there which Rod Dreher has described as “Moralistic Therapeutic Deism”. To unpack that phrase start at the end. Deism is the idea that God is out [Read More...]

Blogging Through Purgatory in Lent

I used to read Dante’s Commedia  every Lent, but have not managed the last few years. Rod Dreher has got me going again, but instead of the whole trilogy we’re reading just Purgatory. He’s had the great idea of blogging his way through Purgatory during Lent–similar to my Lenten Blobble study through Mark’s Gospel. If [Read More...]

Send My Roots Rain

Lent is a time to deepen our spiritual lives and open our hearts to the refreshment of the Spirit. Here is my latest article for Integrated Catholic Life. When teaching my personal development course called ‘Ordinary Hero’ I show the students a picture of an ancient tree and explain how our lives have three levels: [Read More...]

In Rome for Lent

Treated myself to George Weigel’s Roman Pilgrimage: The Station Churches by George Weigel, Elizabeth Lev (2013) Hardcover This is simply a splendid book. A full review later, but it is full of accessible and inspiring theology, a tour of ancient Roman churches and a visual feast of the art, architecture and history of Christian Rome. [Read More...]

Read, Mark and Learn Some Background

I won’t be publishing posts on our Lent Blobble Study on the weekends, but I will try to post some other articles for you to read which will enhance your understanding of the Bible. Here’s a post on how we determine that the gospels are historically reliable documents. It is easy to exchange convinced assertions: [Read More...]