Dwight Longenecker's Blog, page 188

On Hobbits and Hermits

There is a double yearning in me, and I suspect it is pretty much universal, and that is to be both a hobbit and a hermit. Give me the hobbit’s life of adventure. I want to shrug on my backpack, pick up my stick and set off on the open road. I want to sleep [Read More...]

The Power of Jesus’ Name

Father Roger was just over five foot tall. A very spiritual priest, he was much involved in the healing ministry, exorcism and visiting prisons and mental hospitals. He told me that one day he was walking down the corridor of a mental hospital when around the corner came a huge man–well over six foot tall

Matriarchy and Polygamy – a Regression to Primitivism

Why are modern men such layabouts? It’s simple. When the family declines. Men decline. Rod Dreher writes about it here. Quoting various articles he concludes that men who are disassociated from family life soon become de-motivated, shiftless and under achieving. I’ve known men with severe self esteem problems. They are stuck and can’t achieve their [Read More...]

Book Review Roundup

Bloggers review books so book publicity folks send me the latest. I get serious theological tomes, the latest Catholic fiction, spirituality self help, autobiographies. You name it. The problem is that many years ago now I made myself a little promise. I would read, or at least skim, or maybe just dip into, any book [Read More...]

Change Your Attitude

I shouldn’t bother trying to change your habits. Instead change your attitude. Change your perspective. See things in a different way. This latest article of mine for the Imaginative Conservative gives two quotes from English writers: Thomas Traherne and F.D.Maurice that will alter your way of seeing for the new year. There is an unfortunate [Read More...]

Resolution or Revolution?

  This amusing article by John Niven in the Daily Telegraph suggests not to bother with the usual New Years’ resolutions. Here’s the thing, if you’re the kind of lazy, self-indulgent maniac who needs something as momentous as THE START OF AN ACTUAL YEAR to remind yourself not to eat an entire box of doughnuts in [Read More...]

A Little Child Shall Lead Them

As we enter the new year remember the little way. Here’s my latest article for Aleteia–a reflection on the Christ child and the need to be little. We are so used to hearing Jesus’ teachings about children that we forget how radical they are. In the first century people did not have the sentimental view [Read More...]

Hobbit Lessons

I mentioned here a delightful new book by Inklings scholar Devin Brown. Devin is the author of The Christian World of The Hobbit. That longer study is a direct explication of the Christian themes and context for Tolkien’s work. Now he has produced a shorter, more accessible work for a wider audience. Hobbit Lessons: A [Read More...]

Hearing Benedict in Francis

Kathryn Lopez writes here about the Person of the Year behind the Person of the Year. Pope Benedict stands as a kind of foundation for the papacy of Francis. It is as if Francis is putting into action the plan and agenda of Benedict. Lopez writes, If you love Pope Francis, thank Pope Benedict XVI. [Read More...]

Illiberal Catholics

John Zmirak writes forcefully here about the question of religious liberty and the Catholic faith. Does the Catholic Church support religious freedom or is it true that “error has no rights”? Are we to be tolerant or shall we bring back the Inquisition? As religious freedoms are under increasing threat worldwide and persecution of Christians [Read More...]