June 09, 2008
Aesthetic Escalator
(Tim Jones)
Hey, Tim Jones, here. The following is a post I just put up at my blog, but I thought Jimmy's readers might find of interest;
I'm going to hurriedly try to respond to some recent art posts over at
The Aesthetic Elevator, even though I can't give them the time and
thought they deserve, right now.
First, on the art of Guy Kemper (pictured); Here's the long and short, for me; this represents precisely the problem with a lot of contemporary Catholic liturgical art, and more broadly with non-representational art... the question is this; where couldn't this art function just as well as it does here (the Catholic Memorial at Ground Zero)? It would be as much at home in the entryway to a shopping mall, or a high school, or in one of our new, featureless contemporary church buildings. It is art devoid of communication. It's called "Rise". It could be called anything.
It does do one thing admirably well; it breaks up the enervating monotony of rectangles that make up the space. It beats looking out on the parking lot. Let's be honest, modern architecture doesn't make use of repeated rectangles because the rectangle is a shape the meaning of which we just never get tired of exploring. Rectangles are cheap and plentiful, and curves cost money. Look at the granite slab tub at the left. A baptismal font, or a water feature with coi fish? Generic acoustic ceiling tiles (how daring!) and floor tiles just like I have in my bathroom. Look, I know the architect is dealing with a limited budget, as well as building codes, so a lot of this is simply fore-ordained and out of his/her control. Our culture just makes dull buildings, that's all. In this context, the artwork is a welcome relief from the assembly-line blankness of the space. It is aesthetically pleasing (competently composed and harmonious) and gives the eye something to do for a few seconds. In that sense, it performs a function. That's setting the bar awfully low, but there you go. Kemper doesn't need me to like his art... he is successful and there are plenty of people who love this sort of thing. It functions as a placeholder for the idea of a piece of art, and it offends (could offend) no one.
This is the kind of art that I hope the Vatican's Council for Catholic Culture studiously avoids in it's search for new talent, which TAE notes here.
Moving on...
TAE has some thoughts on the Catholic League's Bill Donahue having some thoughts about the art of some college student, who further has some novel thoughts regarding the proper use of rosaries and other devotional items...
"Whoa, lad! That crucifix doesn't go there!" (think Robert Mapplethorpe).
TAE makes one good point; nine times out of ten, pounding the table about stuff like this only draws attention to it. In that sense, I would rather that "Shoutin' Bill" would just let things be. His heart is in the right place, but I look forward to seeing him on the news probably about as much as thoughtful evangelicals look forward to seeing Jerry Falwell.
That said, how anyone could mistake the art for anything but plain, bigoted hate speech is beyond me. The paintings are calculated to disgust and offend, and yet TAE manages only;
"I can’t help but think he could have approached his canvases in a more deft manner."
Deft manner? Does anyone really hold out the possibility that the artist has some genuine, thoughtful critique of the Catholic Church, but (poor boy) chose an unfortunate way to express it? Is anyone naive enough to suppose that the artist seethes with loathing for Catholics, but generally thinks highly of other Christians? Do you figure that he quite approves of Pentecostals, for instance? Yeah, and rosaries might fly out my butt.
Let's imagine a college art exhibit critical of gay marriage that made it's point by pornographically lampooning Matthew Shepard and Harvey Milk. How many hours would it be be open before someone was fired? Yet, this art is no different. Some adolescent wanted attention, and his fawning professors (with the help of the Catholic League) have obliged.
Finally, in his post on Donahue, TAE says;
Referring back to Donahue’s criticisms, perhaps he believes his own denomination to be Divine and infallible as an institution. I’ve known of Catholics with this attitude, although I don’t sense it’s a prevailing conviction. If I may be so bold, this would in fact be a naive belief, and I don’t understand how anyone could presently think so highly of the Catholic Church in light of the recent scandals that — unfortunately — plagued this enduring institution. No part of the Body of Christ can say with a straight face that they or their particular congregation has not made certain gross missteps along the way..."
This will require another post to address, but in brief, it (unsurprisingly) reflects what seems to be an incomplete and overly simplistic view of what the Catholic Church believes on the subject(s)... very similar to what I thought Catholics believed... before I became one!
Posted by Tim Jones in Art, Current Affairs, Other Christians | Permalink | Comments (11)
May 04, 2007
Dr. Francis Beckwith Returns To Full Communion With The Church
(Jimmy Akin)
Dr. Francis Beckwith, the president of the Evangelical Theological Society, as become Catholic. Dr. Beckwith was raised Catholic but became an Evangelical Protestant in youth. After a review of Catholic theology and its basis, however, he has been reconciled with the Church.
I recently learned of Dr. Beckwith's intention to pursue reconciliation. Apparently my own humble writings were of use to him in his journey, and he was kind enough to say so. In view of the sensitivity of the situation, however, I of course agreed to refrain from making the matter publicly known. He also was kind enough to let me know just before he went to the sacrament of reconciliation.
Last night I received a note from Dr. Beckwith indicating that the matter had become public, and so I would like to offer warm felicitations regarding his return to full communion with the Church.
The source through which the matter was made public happened to be James White's blog, and as you can imagine, Mr. White is not happy.
In particular Mr. White raises the question of what Dr. Beckwith will do given his present status as head of the Evangelical Theological Society.
Prior to his reconciliation, Dr. Beckwith shared his thoughts on that matter with me, and though I will let him speak for himself on the subject, I will say that he intends to handle the matter in a gracious and frank manner and has already taken steps in that direction.
On his blog, Mr. White questions whether Dr. Beckwith could remain a member of the Evangelical Theological Society, writing as follows:
Let's ponder the hypothetical situation of a President of the Evangelical Theological Society converting to Roman Catholicism in the midst of his tenure. In 1998 I attended the national meeting of the ETS in Orlando, Florida. At one of the sessions some of the founding members were being asked questions about why they did certain things, why they wrote the statement of faith as they did, etc. A woman asked a question of the panel. "Why did you write 'the Bible alone' in the statement of faith?" The ETS statement of faith is very, very short. It reads:
"The Bible alone, and the Bible in its entirety, is the Word of God written and is therefore inerrant in the autographs. God is a Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each an uncreated person, one in essence, equal in power and glory."
Roger Nicole rose, slowly, and made his way to the podium. He looked out at the lady and said, "Because we didn't want any Roman Catholics in the group." He then turned around and went back to his seat. While most sat in stunned silence, I and a friend with me broke into wild applause. The brevity of the response, and Nicole's dead-pan look, was classic. Most looked at us like we were nuts, but we appreciated what he said. Here, one of the founding members made it clear that the ETS was founded as a Protestant organization and that primary to their own self-understanding was a belief in sola scriptura.
Mr. White is correct about the text of the ETS statement of faith or "doctrinal foundation." It's found online here.
While the ultimate interpretation of this statement is up to the ETS itself, I would point out two things:
1) The statement of a single founder, such as Dr. Nicole, regarding the interpretation of such a statement is analogous to that of a single founding father regarding the interpretation of the U.S. Constitution. In other words, it is not of itself conclusive, however enthusiastically Mr. White and his friend might receive it.
2) If the founders of the ETS intended to exclude Catholics from the organization, they did not frame their doctrinal foundation in a way that would, in fact, block Catholics from being able to agree to it.
The Bible and the Bible alone is the word of God written (as opposed to the Word of God Incarnate, the word of God in nature, or the word of God handed on through the Church in parallel to Scripture). Only Scripture is divinely inspired such that every assertion of the sacred authors is asserted by the Holy Spirit. Consequently, the Bible is inerrant in the autographs. And, of course, God is a Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each an uncreated person, one in essence, equal in power and glory.
There is thus nothing in the ETS doctrinal foundation that a Catholic could not agree to in good conscience and it is not an effective instrument for excluding Catholics from membership.
This situation will, of course, be very sensitive for members of the Evangelical Theological Society and its leadership, as well as for Dr. Beckwith and his family, and I ask readers to keep the matter in prayer.
At the hour I write, Dr. Beckwith has not posted on Right Reason, a blog in which he participates, regarding his return to full communion, and I do not know if he will do so, but I invite my readers to watch that blog for possible updates and to offer their felicitations to Dr. Beckwith in the combox below.
VISIT RIGHT REASON.
Posted by Jimmy Akin in Other Christians | Permalink | Comments (809)
April 09, 2007
The Origin Of Lent
(Jimmy Akin)
Dwayna Litz of Lighting the Way Worldwide quotes John MacArthur as follows on the origin of Lent:
The celebration of Lent has no basis in Scripture, but rather developed from the pagan celebration of Semiramis’s mourning for forty days over the death of Tammuz.
Uh-huh. Yeah. Right. I wonder if he thinks Jesus' 40 days of fasting in the desert had its origin in that, too.
Francis Beckwith has a very nice post in rejoinder.
GET THE STORY.
Posted by Jimmy Akin in Other Christians | Permalink | Comments (35)
March 13, 2007
What An Evangelical Appreciates About Catholics
(Jimmy Akin)
I was delighted yesterday to receive the following e-mail from blogger extraordinare Joe Carter of Evangelical Outpost:
Hey Jimmy,
Since I don't have any Catholic readers of my own I thought I'd share this with you. ; )
What's found at the link is a post Joe wrote in which, though he doesn't feel able to cross the Tiber, expresses sincere and thoughtful appreciation for Catholics. Specifically, he appreciates their emphasis on the sanctity of life, ecumenism, and Mary.
And be sure to leave him comments in the same spirit of thoughtful respect and appreciation.
Posted by Jimmy Akin in Other Christians | Permalink | Comments (39)
February 20, 2007
She's Baaaaa-aaaack!!!
(Jimmy Akin)
Bunches of readers (CHTs all round) e-mailed me
THIS ARTICLE ON ALLEGED ANGLICAN PLANS TO REUNITE WITH ROME IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
It's by our favorite Times reporter, Ruth "I'm Too Dangerously Unqualified To Keep My Job" Gledhill.
EXCERPT:
Radical proposals to reunite Anglicans with the Roman Catholic Church under the leadership of the Pope are to be published this year, The Times has learnt.
The proposals have been agreed by senior bishops of both churches.
In a 42-page statement prepared by an international commission of both churches, Anglicans and Roman Catholics are urged to explore how they might reunite under the Pope.
The statement, leaked to The Times, is being considered by the Vatican, where Catholic bishops are preparing a formal response.
It comes as the archbishops who lead the 38 provinces of the Anglican Communion meet in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in an attempt to avoid schism over gay ordination and other liberal doctrines that have taken hold in parts of the Western Church.
Now, to anyone with a smidge of familiarity with the Catholic-Anglican dialogue, this just screams "Total nonsense! Gledhill, once again, hasn't the faintest idea what she's talking about!"
The idea that there is going to be an imminent reunion of the Anglican communion with Rome--or even a sizeable schism within it that then reunites with Rome in the near future--is preposterous. Instead, what we have here is Gledhill incompetently and sensationalistically getting the story wrong.
A specific dialogue body involving Anglicans and Catholics has prepared--not a practical plan for reunion--but a preliminary meditation on the state of dialogue and cooperation between the two Churches. Nothing more.
BTW, HERE'S THE DOCUMENT IN QUESTION.
If Gledhill had an ounce28 grams of knowledge about how these kinds of things work, she would know that.
Or maybe she does know it and is wilfully distorting the story in order to get a sensationalized "scoop."
Either way, it's journalistic incompetence, so take your pick.
Needless to say, the body actually publishing the document was quick to fire back.
WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY IS WITHERING.
Posted by Jimmy Akin in Other Christians | Permalink | Comments (32)
July 31, 2006
And Then There Were Three
(Jimmy Akin)
In 1999 the Catholic Church and the Lutheran World Federation signed a document known as the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification. This document said that, while there were still differences between the Catholic and Lutheran articulation of the doctrine of justification, the two groups were in substantial agreement regarding the core of the doctrine itself and were thus able to issue a joint declaration expressing their common conviction regarding it.
This document had been in preparation for a number of years prior, and had a somewhat tumultuous history. There was a moment of profound embarrassment when--after the Lutheran World Federation went through the spectacle of solemnly approving the document in the clear expectation that the Catholic Church would immediately do likewise, the Catholic Church suddenly balked and issued a document with the ponderous and icy title "Response of the Catholic Church to the Joint Declaration of the Catholic Church and the Lutheran World Fedreation on the Doctrine of Justification."
The backstage story on what happened here is that the Pontifical Commission for Promoting Christian Unity had not kept the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith fully in the loop as the text of the joint declaration was being worked out, so when it came to approval time the CDF--and Pre-16 in particularly--objected to a number of statements in the joint declaration and insisted on clarifications before it could be approved.
From what I can tell, Cardinal Ratzinger himself wrote the clarifications at the core of the Response and then Cardinal Cassity (head of the Christian unity commission) had to sign them.
This was an enormous embarrassment, both for the Catholic Church and for the Lutherans, who felt like they had publicly gone out on a limb and then left hanging there.
Nevertheless, everyone summoned up the wherewithal to move forward and a clarifying "Annex" to the joint declaration got worked out and passed by both bodies and the whole thing was eventually approved and the joint declaration became a reality.
Following its publication, Cardinal Ratzinger praised it--in its emended form--as an important ecumenical landmark.
Now there's another one.
The World Methodist Conference has just signed the joint declaration as well.
It strikes me that this action by the Methodists may spark further, similar actions. I would anticipate that within a few years the Anglican communion may do likewise.
Don't hold your breath for many Baptists and Pentecostals to follow suit, though.
READ THE JOINT DECLARATION
AND IT'S ANNEX
Posted by Jimmy Akin in Other Christians | Permalink | Comments (41)
March 01, 2006
Catholic-Lutheran Issues
(Jimmy Akin)
A reader writes:
Hello
JamesJimmy, I have a Roman Catholic friend who was in the process of becoming Lutheran. After speaking with him regarding our Faith he has halted the process and is interested in understanding the differences between the Lutherans and us Catholics.Is there a book or some literature out there that in a no-nonsense sort of way can explain the differences ?
One of the first things that springs to mind is the book The Spirit and Forms of Protestantism by Louis Bouyer. It's a sympathetic look at Lutheranism and Calvinism by Bouyer, who is a convert to Catholicism from Lutheranism.
Bouyer is a real theologian, though, so the book may be a little heady for what your friend is wanting. If that's the case,
HERE'S A GOOD ARTICLE BY MARK BRUMLEY SUMMARIZING BOUYER'S KEY POINTS.
There's also a lot of good material over at CATHOLIC.COM.
And if justification is a special issue for him, he might want to check out a copy of my book, The Salvation Controversy, which goes into the subject in detail, along with an analysis of the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification that the Holy See signed with the Lutheran World Federation a few years ago.
Hope this helps!
Posted by Jimmy Akin in Other Christians | Permalink | Comments (12) | TrackBack
February 17, 2006
Speaking Of Reconciliations . . .
(Jimmy Akin)
Catholic News Service has a story about the meeting that Pope Benedict had this Wednesday with curial officials about the possibility of reconciling the Society of St. Pius X.
EXCERPTS:
More than 20 heads of congregations and pontifical councils attended the Feb. 13 meeting, which was to be followed up by a similar session in late March. No details of the February meeting were made available by the Vatican press office.
Several Vatican sources said that while Cardinal Castrillon strongly supported a solution based on these points opinions were sharply divided among curial members on any concessions to the Lefebvrites.
One Vatican source who participated in the February meeting of curial heads said he thought the pope wanted to make one big push for reconciliation at the beginning of his pontificate.
"I think it's now or never for the Lefebvrites. As time passes, an agreement will become much more difficult," he said.
Posted by Jimmy Akin in Other Christians | Permalink | Comments (23) | TrackBack
An Anglican Rite?
(Jimmy Akin)
A reader writes:
What do you think of the rumors of an autonomous rite for Anglicans who wish to be in communion with the Holy See? As a former Episcopal priest who came into the church, I have mixed feelings about such an arrangement. I miss some of the accidents of Anglicanism, e.g., the hymnody and the quasi-Tridentine precision of a solemn high Mass the way we did it, but I do not miss the culture of dissent that is so much more prevalent in Anglicanism or the devaluation of theology in practical terms. I am very interested in what you think.
I don't know that I personally have a lot to say. I'm in support, in principle, of the restoration of other bodies of Christians to full communion with the Catholic Church, and historically this has often been accomplished through the creation of a new "rite" in the Church--or what would more properly be called a new church sui iuris (Latin, "with it's own law").
If that's the best way to faciliate the reunion of (some) Anglicans, then I'm for it.
Such matters have to be handled very carefully, though, to ensure that it is a true restoration of full communion and not a papering over of differences.
There are also other risks as well. I was aware of it when a similar effort in the 1990s was underway (claims vary about whether was to be a new church sui iuris or some other kind of canonical structure), and it all fell apart when the former Anglican bishop who would have been the head of the new rite defected from the Church.
"Once burned, twice shy," as they say. The Vatican will need to make very sure of the leadership of the body coming into union. You don't want to have the spectacle of a grand reunion followed by a new schism of the same people hot on its heels.
It is my understanding that the Anglicans involved in this process may not have the dissident ethos that you mention, though I don't know if that applies to these bodies as a whole. My familiarity with the precise theological tenor of these circles is quite limited.
So I don't know whether the time is right for this, though I hope so. I'd like to see a new church sui iuris added to the Church in my lifetime, but it needs to be done the right way, and there are a number of significant issues to be solved.
For more on all this,
SEE THIS POST OVER AT PONTIFICATIONS, which links to a number of things, including
THIS VERY INFORMATIVE POST AT THE CONTINUUM.
Posted by Jimmy Akin in Other Christians | Permalink | Comments (18) | TrackBack
February 13, 2006
Evangelizing A Non-Catholic Minister
(Jimmy Akin)
A reader writes:
I have some advice to ask. I have a niece who my wife and I nearly raised after her sister went through some hard times. During college she met a wonderful young man who was going to study for the ministry and after graduating from College went on to Baptist Seminary where he graduated. He took a church and for a year he struggled as a young pastor to keep the congregation from splitting over a number of old seated issues.
After about a year of attempting to heal a broken church they decided that it was time to return home where they could be closer to family. After moving home, they are having trouble finding a congregation; our nephew has taken a counseling job where he can use his theological and pasturing skills while also providing for the family.
My question is that I have been feeling an intense sense that I should share the stories of many of the protestant ministers who have returned home to Rome but I am concerned that this might not be received in the right spirit. My wife and I are both converts, I converted in High School along with my entire family, she converted prior to our marriage.
Do you have any advice as to how I could start the conversation with my nephew? My sprit feels that there might be an openness on his part.
I don't know the young man as well as you, or what your relationship with him is, so my ability to offer advice is limited, but I'll give you what thoughts I can.
It seems to me that I'd be as simple and direct and non-threatening as possible. I'd say something like:
You know, John, my wife and I weren't always Catholic. We became Catholic, and it has really meant a lot to us. I know that you have a great desire to follow God, and I think God would want you to investigate whether he wants you to follow him as a Catholic.
It may not be something that you have ever seriously considered before--in fact, you may have been taught a number of things about Catholicism that would have kept you from considering it before. But many people have looked into Catholicism and become Catholic in recent years, including many Protestant ministers.
Maybe the fact that you are now searching for a church shows you that this is a good time to look into it yourself.
If you're open to it, I'd like to give you this book/tape to read/listen to. If you have questions or want to investigate further, I'd be happy to help point you to resources. You may find that many of the things you have been taught about Catholicism aren't true or at least that Catholics have a better basis for them than you thought. That's what many of these ministers found.
I wanted to share this with you because of how much I and my wife care for you and our neice. We've found that being Catholic has really meant a lot to us, and I know it would really mean a lot to you and our neice, too.
Then I'd give him Surprised By Truth volume 1 (the purple one) since it is a book of short, theologically-oriented conversion stories, many of them by Protestant ministers who became Catholic. Or, if he wouldn't be up for a book, I'd give him the tape Protestant Minister Becomes Catholic by Scott Hahn.
If he's receptive, you may also talk to him about what being Catholic has meant to you and how much you value it.
If he's an admirer of John Paul II or Benedict XVI (as many Protestants are), you might cite them also as men of great wisdom who have found value in the Catholic faith. You might also consider giving him a copy of Pope Benedict's new encyclical, Deus Caritas Est, as something that he might find valuable to read.
(Incidentally, if you google "God is love" then Deus Caritas Est is the first thing that pops up. If only B16 were Internet-savvy enough to fully appreciate how cool that is. CHT to SDG for pointing this out to me.)
A copy of the Catechism or the Compendium that will be out at the end of March also could be good.
Don't load him up with too much stuff all at once, though.
Other readers may have other suggestions, but I hope these help!
Posted by Jimmy Akin in Other Christians | Permalink | Comments (21) | TrackBack
