Constantinius, good catch. That’s an important point. An Orthodox or Catholic doesn’t decide to refrain from receiving in a Protestant church because he perceives important doctrinal differences. Rather, he submits to the discipline of his church and the judgment of his bishop, who is not in communion with any Protestant church. It seems to me that the doctrinal differences are a secondary rather than the immediate reason why I would not eat crackers and grape juice in the church I grew up in.

Today’s Chicago Sun Times has a couple of articles that really jumped out at me. The first one is an article (I can’t seem to find it on-line) about more and more younger men opting to get vasectomies. It includes charming quotes from guys who are just plain worried that they might have to face the natural result of sexual intercourse, i.e., pregnancy. This was very troubling at first, then a new thought came to me: although I’m not a fan of contraception, given the assumptions in our culture that childbearing is solely our choice, and if the method fails, then resorting to abortion, perhaps this could help reduce the number of abortions people are having. The article points out that vasectomies are 100 times more effective than condoms in preventing pregnancy (.15% to 15%). Leaving aside the other problems this raises, perhaps, minus a huge shift in our society’s values (to viewing children as blessings rather than nuisances or commodities), this could be a good thing. I should also point out that the article does include a pro-adoption statement from one of the men, which is good to see.

Speaking of children as commodities, this article was also in the Sun Times today. It’s about the Discovery Health Channel airing 10 hours of footage on women in labor and giving birth. The columnist wants to do away with any romantic notions people might have about childbirth. Never having seen a child actually being born (nor having given birth myself, obviously), I can’t comment on that, but I do want to comment on the author’s statement that “anyone actually wanting to have a baby may want to know what they’re in for.” First, she makes it sound as if only crazy people actually want to have babies. Second, I think her overall negative view of the (for lack of a better term) “nitty gritty” of childbirth is related to this attitude. If children are a commodity, then what a messy way to acquire a new model. I would think that if she considered childbearing to be about the children and not the parents, she might view this a little differently. Any of you parents out there want to comment? As I said, I’m speaking from some measure of ignorance here.

Constantius wrote: “I’m not sure about anybody else, but most of the time I think I know my faith more than I feel it.”  I must vigorously, though unpleasantly, agree with my brother.  Indeed, I posted something like this thought on my own blog last evening.

In my case, however, it is less that I know my faith but that it doesn’t always strike me deeply and meaningfully, and rather more the case that, for all my knowing, for all those moments of deep feeling, I do not do what I know to be true and necessary.  Mine is, perhaps, too, too close a cousin to that sort of faith St. James refers to, a demonic sort of mere belief.

I have been trained to have a certain facility with concepts and ideas, to be able to discern and make valid connections.  This is a good thing, and the Lord’s gift and providential ordering of my life.  It does not make me smart, let alone wise, but it does enable me to at least avoid some pitfalls (though hardly all).  It concomitantly increases my responsibilities and obligations.
Read the rest of this entry »