In Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables, the hero, Jean Valjean, is an ex-convict, living illegally under an assumed name and wanted for breaking parole many years ago. Although he will be returned to the galleys for life if he is caught, he is a good man who does not deserve to be punished. He has established himself… Continue reading Moral Monday: Les Miserables
Philosopher vs. Priest: God As Shepherd
Today I’m happy to introduce a new weekly feature for the blog: Philosopher vs. Priest. This is an idea that Fr. Jimmy and I have worked on in the past, but we’ve brought it back in a new form here for Philosophy Matters. Each week, I will present Jimmy questions about the readings for that… Continue reading Philosopher vs. Priest: God As Shepherd
Weekend Meditation: Change Is Inevitable
“Nothing endures but change.” – Heraclitus I recently visited Red Bluff, the “little grand canyon” of Mississippi, where the road continues to erode away. Seeing this man made road overcome by nature always serves as a reminder to me that things will always change, whether we want them to or not. Part of finding joy… Continue reading Weekend Meditation: Change Is Inevitable
Film Friday: Man on the Moon – Madness, Illness, and Genius
“There is no great genius without a mixture of madness” – Aristotle JJ: This week, we watched , which featured Jim Carey’s portrayal of Andy Kaufman. I’m an Andy Kaufman fanatic, and I was so happy to get to share this with someone who wasn’t familiar with Kaufman. From the outside, Andy Kaufman can seem… Continue reading Film Friday: Man on the Moon – Madness, Illness, and Genius
Is struggle necessary for happiness?
A passing comment on Twitter recently started an interesting conversation about how a person can achieve true happiness and peace of mind in life. In religious discussions, the presence of evil in the world despite the existence of an all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-present God is often reconciled by arguing that evil is necessary. In other… Continue reading Is struggle necessary for happiness?
Introducing Our Newest Co-Author: Fr. Jim Morrison
I’m excited to welcome our second new co-author to Philosophy Matters, my long-time friend Jimmy Morrison. Jimmy will be bringing his own personal religious insight into the discussions that we have here in order to help us continue to broaden our perspectives. Please join me in giving a warm welcome to Jimmy! Rev. James N.… Continue reading Introducing Our Newest Co-Author: Fr. Jim Morrison
How To Quit Soda – An Update
I have previously written on my battle with quitting soda and the surprisingly tough experience that this was. I recently had a reader, Jamie, write in and ask me for some more details about my experience, so I thought I would share them here as an update on the progress that I’ve made. My goal was never to… Continue reading How To Quit Soda – An Update
Moral Monday: The New Patient
This week we have a followup up to our scenario from last week! Read carefully, as only one detail has changed: You are a very skilled doctor with five dying patients, each of whom needs a different organ in order to live. Unfortunately, there are no organs available to perform any of the transplants. It… Continue reading Moral Monday: The New Patient
Weekend Meditation: Quiet Reflection
It’s so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of every day life, rushing from one activity to the next. More than ever, it’s important to make sure we set aside some time, preferably every day, where we can sit back, relax, and just quietly reflect on the world. For me, having… Continue reading Weekend Meditation: Quiet Reflection
Film Friday: When Harry Met Sally – Why Women Fake Orgasms
Today I’m happy to announce a new regular posting on Philosophy Matters: Film Friday (yes, I like alliteration!). Each week at Philosophy Matters, we will be watching a movie and thinking about it philosophically. This week, LKAwesome selected “When Harry Met Sally,” which I had surprisingly never seen before! The following entry is a collaboration… Continue reading Film Friday: When Harry Met Sally – Why Women Fake Orgasms