Biblical Languages Useful?

July 2, 2021 By Fellow Dying Inmate

Biblical languages aren’t much help in understanding Scripture without understanding the cultural background. How useful is knowing the Biblical languages? Not much if you don’t grasp the cultural world of the Bible. Maybe you can read Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic fluently. But if you are reading these with the wrong cultural context, those languages won’t help. In fact, instead of understanding the Sacred Page, all you’ll get is non-understanding and distortion. Here’s a video about what gives languages meaning: Biblical... Read more

Don’t Be Stupid, American Catholics

June 17, 2021 By Fellow Dying Inmate

If you truly love your country, don’t be stupid, American Catholics. “Are you proud to be an American, where at least you know you’re free?” Then don’t be stupid. Are you proud of Uncle Joe Biden and Kamala Harris and that we got rid of the monster Donald Trump? Don’t be stupid. Trump is an ever-present threat. He’s kingmaker and king for far too many Americans. And Biden/Harris being “way better” than the Trumpster isn’t saying much. I put something... Read more

Loki: Omniscient Timekeeper & Free Will

June 16, 2021 By Fellow Dying Inmate

Marvel’s new show LOKI opens a theological box into mysteries of God’s omniscience and human freedom. The first two episodes of Marvel’s smash hit Disney+ series LOKI delve into some interesting philosophical areas. Without spoiling anything, when the surviving Avengers (see AVENGERS: ENDGAME) traveled back in time to thwart Thanos by collecting the Infinity Stones, they accidentally created a variant Loki (Tom Hiddleston) in his own timeline. Loki Set Up The series LOKI begins by showing us what happened next for this... Read more

Last Supper Wasn’t Passover

June 7, 2021 By Fellow Dying Inmate

It turns out that the Last Supper wasn’t Passover, unlike what some Gospels interpret. Yesterday was Corpus Christi, and the Gospel reading turned to Jesus instituting the Lord’s Supper (Mark 14:12-16, 22-26). According to “Mark,” Jesus’ final meal with his followers took place on the night of Passover. But what if the Last Supper wasn’t Passover? Here is a video about how the Last Supper wasn’t Passover: Last Supper Wasn’t Passover!!?? None of the Gospels are fact-precise transcripts of what Jesus said... Read more

Horrible Homilies for Two Sundays

May 29, 2021 By Fellow Dying Inmate

Horrible homilies proliferate, but never so much as on Trinity Sunday and Corpus Christi. Yes, horrible homilies suck. And throughout U.S. Latin-rite parishes, horrible homilies proliferate as Catholic rabbits hooked on TOB. Sadly, spineless jellyfish in the pews mistake cowardice for respect—speak up! Tell the little prince called “Father” (why?? Did he even earn being called that?) that he needs to be better prepared. A homily is not a talk. It is also not stand up. If I wanted comedy... Read more

Sky-Vault Man & Facebook Inquisition

May 27, 2021 By Fellow Dying Inmate

Sky-Vault is just one of many strange expressions that will get you tried for heresy on Facebook. “Fellow Dying Inmate, what is the Sky-Vault man?” An administrator of a Facebook group asked me that question some time ago. Apparently, I pissed her off using an unfamiliar term—an unpardonable offense to the Gatekeepers of Verbal Orthodoxy. Such charity in Catholic “Defenders” these days. If you say something unfamiliar, people will conclude that it must be heresy—and you are dangerous. So, I... Read more

Words Are Limited Or Ant-Theology

May 22, 2021 By Fellow Dying Inmate

Theological words are limited by many things, including culture. Words are great and needed for human life and theology. But words are limited. Consider: what If ants were like humans? What if they could think and speak in words, like humans in ant-disguise? How would they do theology? How would their God-talk be? In what ways would ants conceive of God? Here is a story about that— Revelation & Words Are Limited Vatican II was correct, but we have failed... Read more

Gospel: An Evolving Concept

May 21, 2021 By Fellow Dying Inmate

How did the gospel evolve from Jesus to us? The gospel is the “good news” (Old English, gōdspel) proclaimed by Jesus. But what was that exactly? After his death and illuminated by the resurrection, his followers preached the gospel. Then later, second-wave follower Paul was commissioned by God to disseminate “the gospel of God” (Romans 1:1). Eventually, third- and fourth-wave Messianist Israelites interpreted and recorded the gospel as they understood it. Ultimately, this is the origin of our four canonical Gospels eventually named “Mark,” “Matthew,” “Luke,” and “John.” But what was... Read more

Arrogance Signifies

May 15, 2021 By Fellow Dying Inmate

Our arrogance signifies handsomely just how ardently we reject the Holy Spirit. In “Acts,” the wonder at Pentecost signified indeed “c” catholic unity. Well, our present-day “C” Catholic disunity and arrogance likewise signifies much to the world, fellow Catholics. We are broken up like a vivisected corpse from “The Walking Dead” show. Therefore we present an unbelievable, unconvincing Christ to the world. A stinking, rotting, maggot-infested pile of body parts cannot be the Risen Lord. The world isn’t stupid. But... Read more

Genocide Is Okay For Palestine?

May 12, 2021 By Fellow Dying Inmate

Genocide and Christian stupidity mix well. It’s been three more nights of hell for Palestinians. As Ramadan ends, Israeli security forces expel Palestinians. It is another dreadful chapter in a decades-long horror story brutalizing the Palestinian people in an apartheid state, murdering people, and stealing their land and water. The death toll climbs, and full-scale war between Israel and Hamas looms. The Al-Aqsa Mosque burns in “the city of peace.” I am horrified by this. But I am also deeply disturbed... Read more