In part five of the "On the Road" series, Steve the Builder stopped in front of whore house in the middle of the Nevada desert. Sex and death are inextricably intertwined in the human being. That is why the Playmate Ranch is the perfect icon of our fallen humanity. Listen here: … [Read more...]
Wesley J. Smith: Orthodox Advocate for Human “Exceptionalism”
April 6, 2009 7:08 AM
Our culture is at a crossroad about the value of human life, argues author and human rights activist Wesley J. Smith in an interview with Kevin Allen on the "Illumined Heart" podcast (Ancient Faith Radio). Do we value human life simply because it is human, or do we value it based on notions and definitions of "personhood" including such characteristics as sentience, awareness, stages of biological development and others factors? The former allows for a universal definition of human rights. The latter reduces human beings to "subjects" that are bound to shifting and often capricious standards that determine who lives and who dies. Listen here: widget here (43:38) It's a heated battle (one that even spills over into the comments of this blog on occasion). Often, the the level of vituperation in the attacks against religious defenders of human life arise because the utilitarians understand their view allows for no coherent defense of any human rights, Smith says. "They … [Read more...]
Fr. Peter Guilquist interviews Met. Philip Saliba
February 24, 2009 7:58 PM
In this historic interview on Ancient Faith Radio, Metropolitan Philip talks candidly about such things as Orthodox unity, music, our witness to the world, his most memorable accomplishments as well as his biggest disappointments. This two part interview was conducted by Fr. Peter Gillquist, Chairman of the Department of Missions and Evangelism in the Antiochian Archdiocese. Source: Ancient Faith Radio. Listen now: Part 1 widget here (36:33) In part one, Fr. Peter asks His Eminence about health, family, his most significant accomplishments and his biggest disappointments. Part 2 widget here (30:33) In part 2, we hear the thoughts of Metropolitan Philip on the recent OCA crisis, his meeting with Metropolitan Jonah, Orthodox Administrative unity, evangelizing in today's culture, SCOBA and much more. Editor's note. I met Met. Philip for the first time this Sunday. He is a man of prayer. … [Read more...]