Koan #40: Papal Inspiration

It is a simple fact. If God could inspire the writing of words from certain individuals to be true and perfect in their teachings, then He could inspire the speaking of words from certain individuals to be true and perfect in their teachings. Thus the idea of papal inspiration and infallibility should be no great stretch of faith for any Believer. And even more so, it would be arguably desired by God to ensure the doctrinal unity of the Faith and the explication of God-given morals to changing and developing social conditions. Thus the idea of papal infallibility cannot be denied from the fact that it could not be done nor can it be denied from the fact that it would not be done, as its written parallel already has been done. Let no non-Catholic Believer, therefore, deny it for such reasons, and if they do, let them re-evaluate such a position immediately and honestly if they wish to stay true to Christian truth.

Koan #38: Deceit and the Church

It is a most remarkable phenomenon to listen and read those that are deeply virulent and hateful in their attacks against the Catholic faith and the Church that protects it. Indeed, it is remarkable precisely because the attacks used are so often full of conscious distortions, exaggerations, misunderstandings, distractions, misinformation, half-information, dishonest omissions and at times, out-right and blatant lies; all of which are proven to be verifiably false with just a slight amount of investigative acumen. Yet what this fact raises is an even more fascinating point. For why, if the Catholic faith and its Church are such an easy target to defeat—as its opponents claim—must these distortions, exaggerations and falsehoods be employed? Why, if the Church and its claims and its teachings require no strong effort to crush, cannot the simple, plain and honest truth be employed in the task of doing so? Why is the extra tool of dishonesty used by all, from Unbelievers to Believing Dissenters, if the bare, pure and unadorned truth should suffice to discredit the Church? Perhaps—and an unwilling and unwanted explanation it will be for many—it is because this naked truth does not suffice to defeat the Church and what it teaches. Perhaps it is because if the full truth was actually spoken, it would bring people to the Church rather than push them away from it. And perhaps it is because the truth clings more tightly to the Church, than to any of its opponents. Thus in sum, these facts, if nothing else, show much concerning the “truth” that the opponents of the Church use, but even more, these facts show much concerning the actual Truth surrounding the Church herself.

Koan #33: Different Saints Different

Even though those prone to moral equivocation will certainly and erroneously disagree—although they have only to read the very primary source materials that they claim they have read to see their error—the most interesting, clear, profound and plain difference between Christian fanaticism and Islamic fanaticism is that the Christian fanatic is called a saint while the Islamic fanatic is called a suicide bomber. Undeniably, in man’s most recent times, the Christian fanatic is a Mother Theresa while the Islamic equivalent is an Osama Bin Laden. With this in mind, the Faithful must never allow such equivocators any quarter, lest the equivocators spread their fallacies to further unwary minds.

Koan #25: The Church is Not a Force for Good in this World

It is an issue often raised by both Unbeliever and Believer alike, though it is primarily the former that uses it as a form of attack against the latter. And the issue itself is whether the Catholic Church has, is and will be a force for good in the world. Upon first glance, such a question may indeed seem interesting and intellectual, if not down-right critical to answer. Yet it only takes a further moment of actual reflection to see just what an inappropriate and twisted—even foolish—question that this is. Why? For the Catholic both knows and has been warned (John 15:18-25) that those that do not believe in the Church or follow her, will view what She teaches as “good for the world” as bad and what She teaches as “bad for the world”, they will see as good. Indeed, the world shall hate the Church, as the Church has been told, for what She holds morally dear. Therefore the Catholic can never convince the Unbeliever of the Church’s goodness in this world until he convinces the same Unbeliever to actually see and agree to the true good that the Church teaches. Till this is achieved, all that the Catholic states as good for the world will be seen as its reverse, or at the very least, it will be seen in a misaligned manner, rendering the Unbeliever’s view of it naturally skewed. And furthermore, as this world is fallen and as the men in it are wounded in conscience, it is no surprise that Catholicism and its teachings and its actions will be viewed as bad rather than good, for it presents a light that pierces through a darkness that does not wish to be penetrated, and even detests the light for its illuminating work. Let the Catholic thus be comforted in the knowledge that when any Unbeliever intones that the Church is not but a force for evil and pain in this world, it is simply confirming what the Catholic should expect, and consequently, it should serve to actually strengthen the Believer’s faith, not deteriorate it.

Koan #13: Mere Christianity Meagre

It is often commendable and indeed necessary to approach an argumentation for the Christian faith using a tactic and method that employs the idea of “mere” Christianity, as it is often called, and which means the use of common doctrines and theologies that are generally accepted and acceptable by all Christian denominations, rather than denomination specific ones. Yet though as necessary as this may be at times, the Catholic Believer must be wary of employing this strategy too often, for being in possession of the fullness of Christian truth, the Catholic can avoid many of the pitfalls that arise for the theologies, doctrines and beliefs that plaque other Christian denominations but leave Catholicism untouched. Let the Catholic be guarded against this therefore, for mere Christianity is but a shadow compared to the full light of truth, which is what is truly needed to illuminate the dark corners of men’s souls.

Koan #7: Cross or Crescent or Sickle

Let the choice be clear to all, as history has arguably shown and continues to show, the future will either be one of the Cross or the Crescent or the Sickle. For only the Cross can convert the Crescent or the Sickle; only the Crescent can overwhelm the Sickle and the Cross; and only the Sickle can overtly squash the others. And while the Cross—it cannot be denied—has unjustly crucified some, the Crescent has decapitated many more and the Sickle has exterminated even more than this. Yet it also cannot be denied that the Cross has helped to birth the liberty, freedoms, dignity and strength of the most prosperous nations on earth, which are inseparable from the cultural, philosophical and social influences of that very Cross. Let all, therefore, pick their side carefully and make their choice wisely, for much depends on it and indeed, much will come from it for all men and their children.