Jesuit Father James Martin and the LGBT community
Today, on the feast Albert the Great, father of the natural sciences, I have written a letter to Father James Martin SJ, author of amongst others “Laughing with the Saints” and – recently, “Building a Bridge: How the Catholic Church and the LGBT Community Can Enter into a Relationship of Respect, Compassion, and Sensitivity”. From Belgium, Europe, where I learned about his work via the internet, about his great sense of humor, I wanted to share with him some of my thoughts on what I read about his book concerning sexuality or ‘LGBT’. As a 60 years old former biology teacher from the Netherlands, husband, father of six and since sex months grandfather, I have specialized in the relationship between biology and faith as well as bioethics, sexual morality included and studied at the Institute for Theological Studies in Brussels of the French speaking Jesuits in Belgium. This has lead to my apostolate ‘Biofides’, al things biology and faith (both philosophically and ethically). This is what I wrote. (more…)
The Catholic Roots of Science
One of the best kept secrets of modern history is the important role the Catholic Church had in the development of modern science. Unlike what many think, the scientific project, even the scientific method itself, was and is an invention of some Catholic pioneers. Pierre Duhem was one of the first scientists to regard the medieval scholastic tradition as the cradle of modern science.
Science of the Theology of the Body
In the 93rd episode of his podcast called ‘Catholic Laboratory’, the Scottish catholic scientist Ian Maxfield revisits the Science of the Theology of the Body and takes a glance at several news stories and research papers that support the teachings of the Catholic Church on sexuality and morals. He already did so in earlier podcast episodes that we will mention here beneath.
Galileo and Medieval Science – by James Hannam
Sience and faith in a historical perspective
23 Clips from an interview with Prof. Peter Harrison, former Andreas Idreos Professor of Science and Religion at the University of Oxford, and director of the Centre of the History of European Discourses at the University of Queensland. Harrison gives a nuanced answers to questions on the differences and the interplay between science and faith from a historical perspective. He answers questions about the presumed conflict between science and faith, about Copernicus, Galileo and Darwin.
God and Morality
Another part of a video series from Wordonfire.org. Father Barron will be commenting on subjects from modern day culture. For more visit http://www.wordonfire.org
Think and Believe
Biologist tend to have all sorts of ideas about religion in history, often times based on widespread misconceptions. In his book “Think and Believe”, Frederick Marks clarifies a lot of these misconceptions. He considers it to be a contribution to the ‘new evangelisation’ that is one of the main concerns of the Catholic Church, today.
Answering Atheism
Are we able to answer the arguments of an atheist? In this interview, Scott Hahn and Benjamin Wiker discuss why and how they dismantle the underpinnings of Richard Dawkins’ atheistic agenda in Emmaus Road Publishing’s 2008 release, Answering the New Atheism: Dismantling Dawkins’ Case Against God. (Three video’s)
Symposium ‘Theology of the Body’ in Fatima, Portugal
From June 13 – 16 2013 the the IV Theology of the Body International Symposium will be held in Fatima, Portugal. The first three Symposia were in Austria (2007), Ireland (2009) and London (2011). Biofides was there in London, a marvelous experience of deep insight in John Paul II’s in sight in the truth about the human body, male and female, it’s ‘language’ and meaning, the plan of God from the beginning, in history until the very end in eternity, in short: Gods plan with human sexuality and fertility.
Science and religion versus scientism
An acclaimed author, speaker and theologian, Robert Barron is a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago and the founder of the global ministry Word on Fire. He is the creator and host of the 10-part TV series Catholicism, and serves as the Francis Cardinal George Professor of Faith and Culture at Saint Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein. He the Joseph Cardinal Bernardin Lecture on ‘Evangelizing the Culture’ at Elmhurst College (Chicago – Illinois, USA), Wednesday, February 8. In this 12 minutes excerpt, Fr. Barron debunks the myth that Religion and Science are mortal enemies. Scientism, the belief that one can explain everything by means of the scientific method, appears to be itself logical incoherent. How would you scientifically test that presumption? Click on ‘more’ to watch this video (12 minutes)
For full talk: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlps1S…,


