Shortly after arriving at Penn State I heard about Professor Laurence Lattman’s Introduction to Geology course. It was supposedly a piece of cake, an easy “A”. Lattman, so the story went, was a great lecturer, practically a stand-up comedian, he made Geology fun. Not only that, but the highpoint of every class was his lecture … Continue reading Lattman
Religion
The Singing Herod II
According to the Gospel of Luke 23:1-12: 23 Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse him, saying, “We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Messiah, a king.” 3 So Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king … Continue reading The Singing Herod II
The Singing Herod I
According the Matthew 14:1-12: 14 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, 2 and he said to his attendants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.” 3 Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put … Continue reading The Singing Herod I
O Little Town of Bethlehem II
As promised, here is the second part of my O Little Town of Bethlehem two-parter. Part I can be found by clicking the link on this sentence. Robert F. Young (June 8, 1915 – June 22, 1986), note the middle initial, was a science fiction writer whose career spanned thirty years, although his day job … Continue reading O Little Town of Bethlehem II
Herod the Great
Herod the Great (c. 73 – c. 4 BCE) was installed as king of Judea by the Romans around 37 BCE. He is known for his great building projects and for his tyrannical rule. His tyranny extended even unto his own family as he had three of his sons executed as well as his wife Mariamne I. … Continue reading Herod the Great
O Little Town of Bethlehem I
The Philadelphia Church of the Holy Trinity is an Episcopal church on Rittenhouse Square that was built in 1857. It may surprise some of this blog’s readers to find out that I’ve attended services there a few times. Not church services. Oh, god no. I’ve been there for music concerts. The interior has fine acoustics, … Continue reading O Little Town of Bethlehem I
Genealogy
I haven’t written about religion for awhile, have I? That’s supposed to be the raison d’être of this blog, or one of the main ones anyway. Perhaps it’s time to rectify that. ’Tis the season, so let’s look at the nativity stories. There are two distinct and largely incompatible nativity stories, one in Matthew and … Continue reading Genealogy
The Colorado Survey
Quote of the day: Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedies.—Groucho Marx I’ve mentioned several times that in high school and for a few years thereafter I considered myself a Republican, though by the time I came of voting age, which was 21 … Continue reading The Colorado Survey
Dr. Kenneth Miller
Quote of the day: It's astonishing in this world how things don't turn out at all the way you expect them to.—Agatha Christie Dr. Kenneth Miller is that rarity, a scientist who is also a devout Catholic. I actually started to write “practicing Catholic” but I think he’s past the practice stage. Anyway, I … Continue reading Dr. Kenneth Miller
April Ajoy
Quote of the day: Outside of a dog, a book is a man’s best friend. Inside of a dog, it’s too dark to read. —Groucho Marx April Ajoy is a woman who gives Christians a good name. Seriously. I mean, if all Christians were like April Ajoy, I wouldn’t be railing against the Christian religion … Continue reading April Ajoy