Scott Johnson at “Powerline,” recommends a 1960’s era article by University of Dallas professor Frederick Wilhelmsen, entiled “Christmas in Christendom.” The spirit of the article provides a striking counterpoint to some of the more dour voices from Protestant ages past.

I encourage fellow Protestants to look beyond the polemical flavor of the essay. It’s really about celebrating the incarnation of our Savior.

Christmas in Christendom

Richard John Neuhaus, in ”First Things: A Journal of Religion, Politics and Culture,” (November 2005), comments on the notion ”that in matters of religion, but not only in matters of religion, one must make a choice between tolerance and truth.” He says it as false as a notion as it is a persistent one.

He cites a recent study by sociologists James D. Davidson and Dean R. Hoge ”that explores how the sexual scandals have influenced Catholic attitudes toward the faith and the Church.” Davidson and Hoge surveyed over a thousand, self-identified Catholics. In the study, 60% of participants were registered in a local parish and were assumed to be more religiously active than the 40% who were either not registered or who were unsure where or whether they were registered.

The researchers report an overall picture of stability in the pews. The results include several startling figures:

1) ”Generational differences on the effects of the scandal turn out to be small, as were differences between registered parishioners and others.”
2) ”81% of Catholics said that being Catholic is a very important part of who I am.”
3) ”82% said the Catholic Church is very important to me personally.”
4) ”71% said they would never leave the Catholic Church.”
5) ”83 percent of Catholics agree that in the Mass the bread and wine actually become the body and blood of Christ.”

Citation of statistics was not the main point of Neuhaus’s lengthy article but I thought that the numbers were a striking indicator of the strength of religious upbringing as a longer-term factor in Catholic, self-identity.

At the top of the hill . . .

This beautiful monastery is run by the Benedictine Monks in Hatzic, British Columbia. It’s actually perched atop a mountain that loomed to the immediate west of our family home. The tower bells rang several times a day and were clearly audible throughout the community of Hatzic. I remember lovely two hour hikes from my home to the top and we always received a warm welcome and tour. It’s still well worth the visit if you’re in the area.

Careforce Church

Here’s a busy church with a socially active ministry. Allan has spoken at Word of Grace in Mesa on a number of occasions and his ministry has been extraordinarily, well-received at the church. His ministry is rooted in a profoundly conservative and evangelical view of the bible.

Spring is sprung … and all that

Spring is sprung,
Duh grass is riz
I wonder where dem boidies is.
Duh little boids is on duh wing–
But dat’s absoid:
Duh little wing is on duh boid.

I recall my seventh grade teacher reading the venerable Ogden Nash poem, a British Columbian giving his best Bronx impression. It cracked us up.

There’s something wonderful about spring but there’s also something frightning. For some people spring seems to mean ”major meltdown.” It still seems that the onset of spring, which here in Phoenix began four weeks ago, is associated for susceptible individuals with full blown manic episodes. Lately at the hospital we’ve had a number of patients who have been up all day and all night for several days prior to admission. They’re hypertalkative and nonsensical; they’re impulsive and unpredicatable; they’re grandiose and over-the-top. Some are dangerous.

I began my new job as assistant director for behavioral health about four weeks ago, a transition that was accompanied by a sudden increase in seculsions, restraints and patients on 1:1 precautions–what kind of influence is that? At last it’s finally calming down.

Spring break is offically over. My son, having tired of Disney World is back at Cornel and once again doing his allnighters while promising me he is getting his sleep. The other three children who are still at home are once more fully engaged in 5th grade, 9th grade and 11th grade studies. As for me, the MBA program is back in sesssion. Current course: Supply Chain Management.

I did read ”Execution: The discipline of Getting Things Done” over the break. It was worth the read–very focused on the disconnect between ”the talk and the walk.”

Tonight we attended a Good Friday service. The pastor called it ”God’s Friday.” That was his preferred term and I think, in terms of etymology he is probably correct. He may not have been 100% in terms of Pathos, Logos and Ethos but it was an appreciated occasion for reflection on the mystery of the passion.

Happy Easter to all.

Currently reading: When Jesus Came to Harvard

Harvey Cox’s writing is always engaging. Should I be surprised that so many insightful writers are Harvard profs? I’m speaking of course, of his recent book, ”When Jesus Came to Harvard.” A wonderful read for a wonder filled time of year.

The ghost of Christmas – passed! Pleasant family times with my eldest son home from Cornell and my in-laws visiting from Edmonton. My sons and I spent a couple of hours at extreme gaming where I was shown how to play Halo 2, Half-life 2 and assorted other games of mass destruction. My lack of gaming skills lead to no less than a thousand deaths in that brief span of time.

I had a few days off work and many good intentions for time management but somehow it’s only a blurry memory now–what a busy time!

The stock market ended well, Christmas in Southeastern Asia did not. The bright spot in it all is that the world has turned out it’s collective pockets and shown true Christmas spirit. A UNICEF spokesperson remarked that in it’s sixty year history, the current level of giving is unprecedented! Other charitable organizations have issued similar statements.

As we embark on a further adventure through 2005, ”God bless us, every one.”