Just in time for Advent - Another War on Christmas?
even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened."
"Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man-and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. (Romans 1:20-23, NKJV)
The campaign from American Atheists is calling us to celebrate reason as though it was an end in itself, but it is not. The capacity for logical, rational, and analytic thought, which we call reason, is a means to an end. It is joined to the work of the Holy Spirit to bring about the grace of faith.
"What moves us to believe is not the fact that revealed truths appear as true and intelligible in the light of our natural reason: we believe 'because of the authority of God himself who reveals them, who can neither deceive nor be deceived.' So 'that the submission of our faith might nevertheless be in accordance with reason, God willed that external proofs of his Revelation should be joined to the internal helps of the Holy Spirit.' Thus the miracles of Christ and the saints, prophecies, the Church's growth and holiness, and her fruitfulness and stability 'are the most certain signs of divine Revelation, adapted to the intelligence of all'; they are 'motives of credibility' (motiva credibilitatis), which show that the assent of faith is 'by no means a blind impulse of the mind.'" (CCC, 156)
When reason is not allowed exposure to immediate truths and first principles that extend beyond the grasp of man's immediate knowledge alone, we have, as St. Thomas Aquinas would call it, "a defect of the intellect." In today's world of technology, we would describe it as insufficient data. The end result, according to Aquinas, is sin.
Celebrate reason? No thank you. Celebrate with reason? Absolutely! For an authentic quest will lead us to the One who is the Reason for the Season.
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Randy Sly is the Associate Editor of Catholic Online and the CEO/Associate Publisher for the Northern Virginia Local Edition of Catholic Online (http://virginia.catholic.org). He is a former Archbishop of the Charismatic Episcopal Church who laid aside that ministry to enter into the full communion of the Catholic Church.
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Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.
Keywords: atheists, billboard, campaign, myth, christmas
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Vance,
The real problem is that the Catholic Church has been at war with humanity for the last 2000 years. You act like the rationalists and the enlightenment are bad things. Believing is easy, thinking is hard. That is why most people just believe. Lying to people and especially children is a crime. You should be ashamed.
Jesus is a myth. Sorry to rain on your parade.
Miguel, the problem is that the Atheists are at war against the Church. They have been at war against the church since the birth of the RATIONALIST and ENLIGHTENMENT movements. It is not a "Live and Let Live" situation.
I do believe and God but I don't think all atheist are evil but some might just not believe in anything. Also whats the point of arguing just celebrate it your way and well celebrate ours.
albert, I guess Julius Ceasar, Atila The Hun, Leif Erickson, were all figments of our imaginations?
There is no historical Jesus. Therefore his birthday is irrelevant. He was invented.
Thanks, "Anonymous," for your respectful response ,and for disassociating yourself from those who feel they have to verbally assault Christianity at the time of one of it's greatest solemnities: the historic birth of Jesus Christ. There is no doubt that Jesus Christ was truly born, lived and was crucified. (Jewish writers and other writers of the time concur with the Gospel writers on this.) The question would be for a respectful, avowed atheist (and really, any non-Christian): Since this "man" did exist in this world 2,000 years ago, is it possble that he could also be God? I would wager, just from "reason" (and what we do know of him) that it is possible....This is why the Church is not an enemy of "reason:" God gave us an intellect (reason) and free-will. He does not force himself on us, but "blessed are those who have not seen--but have believed." (Jesus to Thomas...) None of us, today, have "seen" Jesus with our physical eyes, but we "see" Him every day through faith-- and "reason" is able to follow behind--when we are truth-seekers. Simply pray to learn and know the Truth, the whole Truth..., and you will "see!" There is no greater joy in this world than to know Christ Jesus and know that we are known by Him! It also humbles us....
albert, If Christ was not born on Dec 25th, do you know what date he was born?? If you know the date, please let us know. We would all like to be informed.
I've never met an atheist. But if I ever meet one, and if he/she tells me that there is no God. I will tell him/her that he/she is the living proof of God. As my mother taught me when I was a young girl that God lent us His Spirit so that we can live. I think that is also a Catholic religion teaching that our God is the Living God.
Well of course converts to Christianity in different times and places have incorporated their cultural traditions into the celebration of Christmas and other religious holidays! Duh. The idea that this somehow equates to the Church "stealing" these traditions is idiotic. These are "traditions" with a lower-case "t" - not to be confused with "Tradition" with an upper case T, which along with Scripture is the true essence of Christian belief. The Christmas tree? You can have it - it beautifies our home and reflects the joy of the season, perhaps as an evergreen even holds some meaning as a symbol of the ever-present love of God - but I'm not going to fight with atheists and pagans over who "had it first". How silly. I have to believe that most atheists feel the same way.