Dwight Longenecker's Blog, page 7

How Good Friday Changes Everything

I am sure some philosopher much brainier than me has worked this all out, but it occurs to me that before Good Friday the world was different. Yes, we use religious language and say, “Mankind was locked in sin” and “Jesus died to save us from our sins” but for many people these religious phrases […]

Austin Bombing: What Happens When Society Descends Into Chaos?

One of the benefits of studying the work of Rene Girard is that he not only explains one aspect of the ancient sacrificial systems, but because he was an anthropologist he also sheds light on what happens within society and the dynamics of the nation or group. What happens when a society descends into crisis […]

Why the Irrational Rage and School Killings?

After the latest insane slaughter of school kids in Florida I’ve been pondering, like most everyone else, why and how such murderous, senseless violence can occur. On the one hand we have to simply face the grim fact that there is no reason. It’s irrational rage and senseless violence. That’s why it is so terrifying. […]

12 Things to Remember If You Keep Sinning the Same Sin

One of the things that gets people down the most when they are really trying to make spiritual progress is when they keep falling into the same sin over and over again. Here are twelve things to remember if you if you keep falling into the same sin.

Why Joseph Campbell Left the Catholic Church

Joseph Campbell is the author of the seminal work The Hero With a Thousand Faces. His work on myth and the universal appeal of myth has been instrumental not only in the understanding of the importance and function of myth, but it has also influenced a whole generation of filmic storytellers, writers and directors. Christopher Vogler […]

America’s Great Divide

There is an increasing amount of talk about the tribalism and division in American society. They topic of the talk is true. There is a great divide in America, but the contours of the divide that are pinpointed are rarely correct. The reasons for the divide are rarely accurate. The identity of the different tribes […]

A Catholic Priest Pays Respects to Billy Graham

I’m a Catholic priest, but Billy Graham is one of my heroes. Why is that? Because I was brought up in a strict Evangelical home where we were used to Billy Graham’s kind of old time religion. We memorized Bible verses and believed that you had to “get saved.” Our heroes were the missionaries and […]

Explaining the Latest Vatican Scandal

News broke yesterday about Vatican financial problems on a grand scale. LifeSite News publishes the story here. Their story is based on leaked documents, but like all news stories, corroboration may be needed and further details will shed more light on what has happened. A word of explanation might be necessary for those who are […]

Correcting Fr James Martin SJ

Fr James Martin SJ is a very popular Catholic priest who is an activist for gay liberation. He has written a book called Building a Bridge–which advocates a better relationship between Catholics and gay people. I commented on the book for CRUX here some time ago. Fr Martin may, of course, say and write what […]

More Gun Control? Sure, But That’s Not the Fix

What about this week’s Florida shooting? Should America have more gun control? I don’t see why conservatives are so touchy about this. I’m in favor of more gun control. Let’s face it, why does anybody need a semi automatic rifle? Have a shotgun or a rifle if you need one for home defense and carry […]