Dumb Idols - Spiritual Thoughts of Daniel J. Clausen

Saint Paulinas of Nola (354 – 431) was a distinguished lawyer who held several public offices in the Roman Empire. After the death of their son, Paulinas and his wife Therasia gave away all of their property and riches and dedicated their lives to the poor. Paulinus was chosen bishop of Nola by popular demand. Among his close friends was St Augustine of Hippo. Paulinus’ writings include a letter to Crispinianus, a soldier in the Roman military. Paulinus exhorts Crispianus, a Christian, to leave the military and devote his life to God. His letter is below. Letter 25, to Crispinianus 1. Though I am unknown to you personally, I already know you in spirit. Victor, my dearest son in the Lord, ensured that I knew you, though distance separates us, by telling me of your scrupulous life. So I have begun to love you as a future comrade in Christ, for Victor recounted to me how he was an associate and attendant of your mess in that worldly military service in which you are still occ...

Perhaps you've seen the sensational articles releases a few days ago due to the release of a new papyrus by the Harvard Divinity School, which on it, contains the name "Jesus" and the word, "wife." Let me treat this plainly, and straightforwardly, not out of religious dogmatism, where I say childishly, "He did not!!!", but where I can readily nip this in the bud. If Jesus did have a wife, it is not as earthshattering as some make it to be - but then again, we want the fact not a speculation. First, some facts. 1. The contents of the fragment read thus: "And Jesus said to them,"My wife..." (yes, that's it.) 2. The Papyrus is a 4th Century Gnostic text, written in Coptic, an Egyptian dialect. 3. Although released from Harvard Divinity School, said school does not endorse the "conclusion" that Jesus had a wife. Now some contentions. 1. Being that the fragment only contains the statement "My wife......

Most everyone has probably heard of the horrific massacre that occurred in Norway recently, the evil of which I can hardly comprehend. I cannot adequately express my sorrow for the individuals and their families who were victims of this holocaust. But perhaps you have noticed how the media has tried to characterize this man both politically and religiously. Every article I have read has classified him as a "fundamentalist Christian." Of this, I am almost equally astonished as the event itself simply because the media does not seem to know the definition of the word "fundamentalist." A fundamentalist is (quoting from the dictionary here) "A usually religious movement or point of view characterized by a return to fundamental principles, and by rigid adherence to those principles." That means, in this context, that this man should have a radical and rigid adherence to the fundamental principles of Christ. If you know ANYTHING AT ALL about the New Te...