Recently in Quote of the Week Category

It goes to Andrew Sullivan, who wrote of President Obama's Cairo speech,

At its heart, the speech sprang, it seemed to me, a spiritual conviction that human differences, if openly acknowledged, need not remain crippling. It was a deeply Christian - and not Christianist - address; seeking to lead by example and patience rather than seeking to impose from certainty.

I'm glad to see that my weekend quote of Dante stirred up some commentary.  Here's one, from Ben, followed by a response from me. (My apologies for Ben's masculine language.)

I'm not sure how to understand Dante's use of "free will" here but I'm sure I don't like Pinnock's use of the term. I think there is some confusion here and I think it would be helpful to define what we mean by "will." Clearly no man has the "free will" to fly, run faster than a speeding bullet, etc because these things are not in his ability to do. Mankind's [sic] nature constrains him, even though he may want to do these things. Furthermore, man [sic] only ever chooses that which he wants to do. (The person injuring himself chooses bodily pain over emotional pain; the person who eats collard greens probably values his health more than an a food preference for a Snickers.) It is not anyone "constraining" him to do these things, but HE IS BOUND by his own nature and desires. So too, humans make real choices that entail real consequences, but these are all constrained by nature, and thus are "free" in only a limited sense.

Now Paul says, humans are "by nature, children of wrath" which means that it is our nature to oppose God, leaving us incapable of doing good. But thanks be to God, that He does not leave us there! By His grace, God intervenes in the world and lets "children of wrath" do some good things. Furthermore, some He changes so radically that they become people who have a nature that loves righteousness and doing good. It's like these people are born a 2nd time (John 3).

"Friendship is the only cure for hatred, the only guarantee of peace." ~Buddha(HT: Tiny Buddha)...

"We live in a condition where we cannot help but be aware that there are a number of different construals, views which intelligent, reasonably undeluded people, of good will, can and do disagree on. We cannot help looking over our...

"Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could."-Ralph Waldo Emerson...

"The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it."-George Bernard Shaw...

Eskimo: "If I did not know about God and sin, would I go to hell?" Priest: "No, not if you did not know." Eskimo: "Then why did you tell me?"-Annie Dillard...

"Everything should be made as simple as possible, but no simpler."-Albert Einstein...

"God has no religion."-Mahatma Gandhi...

By St. John Chrysostom, December 25, 386, in Antioch I behold a new and wondrous mystery! My ears resound to the Shepherd's song, piping no soft melody, but chanting full forth a heavenly hymn. The Angels sing! The Archangels blend...

Love seeks one thing only: the good of the one loved. It leaves all the other secondary effects to take care of themselves. Love, therefore, is its own reward.-Thomas Merton...

We're starting a new weekly feature here at The New Christians.  It's the Quote of the Week.  Nominations are always welcome -- just post them in the comment section.Our inaugural quote:"God is both the shit and the fan."-Phyllis Tickle...