Replies

Credo...

Thread by wagglebee on the opposite of the culture of death.

There is much talk today about the “culture of death” and certainly there are powerful forces emanating from competing worldviews that predictably foster such conditions. These worldviews have driven us as a culture to legitimize abortion, consider euthanasia, and proceed to cross a whole host of bio-ethical issues as technology advances. However, these worldviews, in which the value of life and human dignity are diminished, inevitably encounter a most formidable obstacle: natural revelation.

The doctrine of natural revelation was probably best articulated by the 13th century theologian and philosopher, Thomas Aquinas in his monumental work, Summa Theologica. Aquinas argued that truth is known through both reason (natural revelation) and faith (supernatural revelation). This followed the Augustinian concept of “I believe (i.e. have faith) in order to understand.” However, the 17th century Enlightenment project turned this on its head by now saying “I must understand in order to believe” and unfortunately that has been the dominant epistemology in the Western world ever since.................

The Unrelenting Culture of Life

8mm

As this season envelops the many of us in thoughts of faith, I ponder what Our Lord sometimes hands us. Sometimes we receive grievous afflictions, often cosmetic and horrible for all to see, often less visable. It is up to us how to handle this as a gift or a curse. Some hold the affliction as a cross to bear and continue bravely, knowing the rewards may be found beyond the boundary of life. Others show their sores in pity on the living hell they face here on earth irrespective of the one they may face for a whole long time.

Hence another ping to the thread and the solution found by the woman with the disfigured face in France. Perhaps we may reflect on those who bore their crosses here on earth and pray for those unable to grasp the simplicity of faith. May we pray for those of sparse faith that they gain more through their afflictions.

I would wish they could see the many with horrible burdens who showed up three years ago to stand for Terri. They did so not to call attention and pity to their own burdens, but to show the understanding through their gifts of why Terri's burden justified our battle.

The thread was started by kiriath_jearim. Thanks for the ping again, Lil Angel.

A severely disfigured French woman was found dead at her home Wednesday, a local prosecutor said, only two days after a court rejected her request for the right to die, in a case that has stirred much emotion in France.

The high court in Dijon, eastern France, decided Monday to side with the prosecution which argued that current legislation does not allow the doctor of 52-year-old former schoolteacher Chantal Sebire to prescribe lethal drugs.....

Disfigured woman found dead after French court rejects euthanasia

8mm