The Sci Fi Catholic Yak Module
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Though, about the Christian interpolations in Josephus, how big are they? Do they merely make Josephus looks more pro-Christian than he actually was, or do they destroy Josephus' actual meaning?
Histor
P.S. This Christian interpolation thing makes me embarrased. I don't like being associated with bowdlerizers, literary saboteurs, and other people who tamper with books.
Well, Histor, after the whole Donation of Constantine thing, I'm easy about just putting a couple of words into a document 
I'd like to know more. I am vaguely aware that Josephus was used as evidence for the historicity because of (allegedly) referring to Christ and being one of (if not the only) document outside the Gospels to do so; then came the (alleged) Christian interpolaters, so I have no idea where the opinion comes down nowadays, or if the alleged interpolating by Christians has any more scholarly weight than the Jesus Seminar's rewriting of the Gospels by crossing out all the bits they felt sure Jesus couldn't have said, because those kinds of things were not the kind of things the scholars of the Jesus Seminar could believe in, so obviously Jesus couldn't have said them and they must have been later interpolations.
Tell us more?
Returning to pulp lit...AAAAAAHHHHH. Much better now.
Sorry to hear about all the typos. I'm a bit puzzled how an obscure press comes to have this anyway. Any idea? I'd have expected to find this one as a well-edited volume of the Penguin Classics.
Most of what I read in lieu of fiction was rather theoretical stuff on catechism & probably not of interest to the denizens of this blog. But I also read some of a truly fabulous book: Monsignior Romano Guardini's "The Lord" written in 1958, the profound meditations of a great biblical scholar who loved liturgy. Pope Benedict's preface to it says,"Guardini's book "The Lord" has not grown old, precisely because it still leads us to that which is essential, to that which is truly real, Jesus Christ himself. That is why today this book still has a great mission."
And since it's the night of the Vigil, happy 2 years in the Church, D.G.! And however many years you've been with us, Sara! We're lucky to have you! I won't be at the Vigil tonight, but thanking God for all the converts, singing the Exultet at home.
Good questions, and I can help with all of those because I have Maier on hand. Maier is a conservative Christian kind of guy, and he is of the opinion, which he says is in the majority, that Josephus did indeed mention Jesus but that Christians later added a bit to what he said. So in our present text, Josephus says Jesus was a wise man "if it be lawful to call him a man," and so forth.
The opinion that Josephus never really mentioned Jesus was popular in the late 19th century, says Maier, but that position is in the minority now because a manuscript found in the 1970s has the same passage and appears to contain no interpolations. In it, Josephus calls Jesus a wise man but does not imply that Jesus was God. He says also that Jesus was crucified and that his followers then claimed he appeared to them alive.
The later passage mentioning the execution of St. James says he was the brother of Jesus, called Christ. This passage is usually thought genuine and would make no sense if Josephus hadn't mentioned Jesus earlier. So, the evidence that Jesus was indeed mentioned by Josephus (according to Maier) is very strong.
Oh, and Xena--the quick answer to how a small press could have this, is, this text is assuredly public domain. I've no doubt there is a Penguin Classics edition, though I haven't looked. I know there are several other editions.
I don't know how small a press Kregel is. I haven't checked them out. They produce Maier's works on Josephus and Eusebius, and I should think those would be popular. I doubt if there's a better modern edition of Eusebius than Maier's.
Xena--
I was officially confirmed in 2001..but studied quite heavily for about 15 years prior. It was just finding the time and the place to go through an entire RCIA program that tripped me up. Unfortunately the RCIA isn't a program that you can complete by correspondence 
Xena--
P.S. In addition to Deej's reading selection I will also be studying Apostolicam Actuositatem--Pope Paul VI, and Ascent of Mount Carmel--St John of the Cross. We have just started Apostolicam last month and will start Ascent next month. Believe it of not--I'm actually GETTING St. John of the Cross!!
To anyone who wuld like to join me in a delightful examination of the intricacies of Trigonomety..I will be taking a condensed course this summer mostly to refresh my brain on the intricacies of this branch of mathematics....but mainly to keep me out of mischief Then starting in the Fall I will revisit the Calc series to discern if I have a temporary vocation toward a second degree in Mathematics. I will have to research to see if there is a saint of Mathematics
To everyone--have a blessed and joyous Easter.
Sara-great to hear about your reading. John of the Cross just rocks. If you can read the Ascent while reading other things, you're way ahead of me: I found it impossible to read other stuff while reading John of the Cross, except the early works of Thomas Merton. After a few months of reading John, I once reread "Dune" and was really upset by it.
Do you think John appeals because he's so thorough? He was a professor before becoming a monk & I think he really appeals to systematic thinkers, whether they're mathematics/science types or Thomist/literature types like me. He grabbed me (and kicked me into the Confessional) way more than St. Therese of Lisieux. Any thoughts about that?
Saints Barbara and Hubert of Liege are both patrons of mathematicians, I understand.
I wudda thunk John the Baptist was patron of mathematicians, because of that trick with counting his heads in Cologne... Oh, no, wait, that would make him patron of something else. Let's see, who thinks tricephaly is a good idea these days? Science fiction writers? Yeah, that's the ticket!
What???? The Donation of Constantine is an interpolation?? No!! It can't be true! (sobs uncontrollably)
Xena--
Immediate disclaimer--the views of this post are entirely that of Sara and that is that. Anyone is more than welcome to take up issue with me on any disagreements.
In all fairness to St Therese, her "Story of a Soul" was the first book I studied in my Carmelite formation. She definitely did not speak to me, and in many ways came across as a spoiled little brat who was used to being the princess and would get severely upset if she wasn't treated otherwise. Her "Little Way," while perhaps was great news to the Church at the time, was old hat to me--that was something I had learned at an early age in Sunday School and Girl Scouts. To compare her with other Great Doctors and writers of the church such as St. John of the Cross, St Theresa of Avila, and St Thomas Aquinas, even St Faustina, seems a far reach to me. She did acquire much more humility as she progressed in her illness, although in her last days as she was consumed with pain and fever you should wonder how that was affecting her. But everyone's spiritual journey is different, and her thoughts may very well speak loud and clear to those who may need to hear her words. So no offense to the devotes of the Little Flower. Perhaps someday another study will present her writings in another light.
I am very much a St Theresa of Avila type...her first writing I studied was Interior Castle..absolutely amazing!! Next on my formation coming up sometime this summer is Way of Perfection...I entered formation just after the group completed it.
Blessed Elisabeth of the Trinity is also good...a retreat I attended a couple of years back the retreat master based his talkes around her.
St Faustina's Diary was a reading I did last year Lent..that one really hits you upside the head...I just could not put it down!! and it was secreted for so long...I couldn't imagine my Catholic Faith without The Divine Mercy...some of my Protestant friends and even a couple of my Mormon friends see the spiritual value of reciting the chaplet.
Sara--I think it just shows why there's chocolate & vanilla, so to speak. My initial impression of Faustina was just boredom--everything in the diary seemed really redundant with what I already knew--sounds kinda like your experience of St. Therese. I read more Faustina later & decided that the Divine Mercy devotion was a good thing & she certainly wouldn't mind if I were interested in IT rather than her. Maybe someday you'll go back to Therese & it will be the right book at the right time. When I've met Discalced Carmelites, they all have the same sparkling, mischievous eyes she does in the photos.
Teresa of Avila has never much grabbed me (I did a big presentation on the Interior Castle in grad school) in her writings, but I think the story of her foundations is tremendous. Her prose just wears on me, and John of the Cross' never does.
I think saints grab us at certain times for a reason. The first time I read Augustine's "Confessions" I was completely indifferent, but I've read it about 5 times since then & it's always terrific in a different way each time. Now I even enjoy his exegesis of Scripture at the end of it.
And I'm agog that you have Mormon friends who like the chaplet.
Xena--
St Faustina I also need to be objective of her writings towards the end of her illness. The treatments for tb and other diseases were lots of times opiates and other types of pain-killers, which will tend to cause one to hallucinate. I had back surgery in high school and had extreme hallunications from everything from angels surrounding me to being covered with spiders and snakes. Maybe the angels were real, but I sure wouldn't lend any credibility to my mental state at the time. Just a few years ago when I had Lasik done I was tripping out on the Valium they gave me. All kinds of wierd stuff on that trip..however mostly of that was pornographic...strange how the mind will react when the normal everyday phychological barriers are tied back... Another time when I had a surgical procedure done the medication they gave me turned everything into "Groundhog Day." I had to write notes to myself, and that was wierd. At least I still have my job, my good friends, my family... and from now on I make sure I have a good "sitter" when I have to get medicated for anything.
In addition to our assigned readings, sometime I would like a really good study on one of the writing of JPII, and not just one of his encyclicals. I am not a student of philosophy, so it would really require a lot of hand-holding.
I have watched EWTN's ST Thomas Aquinas for the Modern Times (I think that was the title) which only reinforced the fact that I know very little about philosophy. I would love to eventually be able to read St Edith Stein's writings and to even slightly be able to comprehend her observances. Same with JPII. He is like St JOC--every word is meat.
JPII's encyclicals certainly aren't the best place to start for folks unfamiliar with the genre! A friend who's an ardent JPII fan describes his writing as "spiraling"; certainly B16 teaches in a much more straightforward style. There's a nice collection of JPII's speeches for non-theologian audiences:
"Pope John Paul II: Building Up the Body of Christ" Ignatius Press, 1987.
There's lots of good stuff in his speeches at World Youth Day, too. They're avail. on the Holy See website.
Also, there are two adult women's programs based on Edith Stein you can find online--ENDOWonline and Secretum Meum Mihi. I recently came across them & don't know much about them, 'though both appear to be intentionally orthodox.
Hope that helps, Sara!
Xena--
One of my Mormon friends who enjoys the Divine Mercy is a rather interesting individual. He is gay, and because he came out of the closet he has been disowned from his family and almost excommunited from the LDS Church. He is single and celibate, and refuses to go throught the LDS Church's "reprogramming" for lack of a better word "to make him straight." He considers himself a "Mormon monk," and is very fascinated by the Carmelite spirituality and contemplation. He uses the Divine Mercy, the Jesus prayer, and others for his meditation. I've showed him how to pray the Office and he does all of the readings. He is continually amazed on the fruits he is receiving from his prayerful ways. He does look toward the Catholic priests and monks as mentors as far as personal chastity goes. It is almost bizarre to see someone with a very firm Mormon faith lovingly embrace elements of Catholicism and incorporate them in his daily prayer life.
Wow. That's quite a story. Do you say the Divine Mercy chaplet for him, too? 'Cause that sounds like a man with a heavy burden.
I check Orthometer every day & your little corner of Utah certainly seems like an interesting place! I like my pastor now, but there have been times I would have had pastor envy, which is probably on the more serious end of venial sins....
Fr Erik is indeed a good priest. He was an excellent leader on our pilgrimage to Rome. We agree to disagree on several issues ( like my LOVE of modern architecture and preference for "clean lines", and my preference for cats as pets). He is good about answering questions and I have learned alot from him. He does appeal to my scientific mind and doesn't brush me off. You do get a good Confession from him.
He is indeed terrible busy and often does not have time for idle chatter, which some parishoners may dislike. He adores his pets. One day after daily Mass he had just had his new puppy Gunny for just a few days, and was holding him in his lap. Gunny lifted up his head and started nibbling on his chin...I wish I had a camera..it was such a sweet moment... one that makes you just go "Awww.."
He is also VERY handsome...which I'm sure is a source of much personal strife among the single ladies of the parish. Our rose vestments are what any good lady would call "pink", which is a source of many interesting comments
I've had several different pastors and all have had their good points, bad points, and quirks. The really "unique" ones I've meet have been the military chaplains. I probably wouldn't call it pastor envy, its just that perhaps a pastor with a different style would be a better fit.
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