The Debt to the Wise and the Foolish

As a note to anyone reading this, I may delete or significantly change this post later, as while I think I got through all the novel points I wanted to make, (at least, novel to me, I'm not familiar with anyone who has explored things in the way I intend to bellow) it could serve for me to add in things which have already been touched upon by other writers, to make the point more complete; and clarify my line of thought. None the less, I wanted to get these thoughts out there, because I think they're worth writing down for now. With that said, here's my thoughts here: Alex O'Connor, an atheist YouTuber, often puts forth the problem of animal suffering as his key argument against Christianity.  The general idea is that in Christianity, there may be at least some somewhat persuasive theodicies to explain human suffering, but none which truly account for animal suffering. Given that we expect God to be good and loving, then all else equal, animal suffering reduces the prob...

Cliff and Stewart Knechtle recently got into some controversy regarding their views of the Eucharist, and Cliff's response was ultimately that he doesn't care what one believes on this point, but rather what matter is whether or not you follow Jesus. He commented in turn that he strongly disagrees with anyone who think our purpose is to correct people on this matter one way or the other, arguing that there are more important thing, such as those starving and such like.  It's worth noting that this is not strictly a new position for him, he has made a similar statement on the Jack Neil YouTube channel. When asked why he is not Catholic, he noted that the issue for Christians should not be what denomination you are, but the issue is how you respond to the person of Jesus Christ, and argued that this is the orthodox Christian faith. So the above position is a natural explication of this earlier one.  In light of these comments I've been reflecting a bit more eon the nature...

 Today is Palm Sunday, where we celebrate the passion and death of our Lord, Jesus Christ.  The Palms are a reminder of our Lord's entry into Jerusalem, where Palms were raised before him to glorify him in his entrance.  We read the passion, and contemplate in silence the death of our Lord.  The silence too is a reflection of the silence at his death, after his last words "Into your hands Lord, I commend my spirit" and again "It is finished", and then, silence.  Then, the corpses of those upon these crosses, and so the Body of Christ as well, were taken down. "Surely this man was innocent" and again "Surely this man was the Son of God" The words of the centurion who pierced his side, and so made the fifth of the Five Holy Wounds.  Mary Cradles her dead son in her arms, and by the aid of Joseph of Arimathea, as though by a certain remembrance of St. Joseph her husband, is led to place Jesus in a tomb, with a stone now closing over it, as thoug...