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The English term science predates what we today call science by many centuries. Originally derived from the Latin scientia, it referred to a body of knowledge — any knowledge. But later, especially starting in the early 17th century, the meaning began to change. It became narrowed down to mean knowledge acquired from empirical evidence. I hear you ask — if some knowledge is not supported by empirical evidence, then shouldn’t it be discarded? To which I answer: yes, absolutely. ...

Source: Court Document (PDF) Master docket: In Re: Social Media Adolescent Addiction/Personal Injury Products Liability Litigation The case is in the California District Court and is IN RE: SOCIAL MEDIA ADOLESCENT ADDICTION/PERSONAL INJURY PRODUCTS LIABILITY LITIGATION. What is interesting is how “well meaning” people can cause grave harm and not understand the gravity of their actions. The only way this can be understood is to recognise the reality of sin. Without that, repentence (which is what leads to real reform) will always remain distant. ...

The devil is tempting us to disobey God all the time. Loving God is a matter of tirelessly making the right choices. As much as we want to keep up the good streak, there is also a part of us that rebels against it. That rebellion is often voiced as “freedom” – in reality, it is freedom simply for freedom’s sake. It is a purposeless mutiny. When I rebel against God’s ways, I know I am veering off the path of true happiness. Yet, I can’t bring myself to obey God. ...

We live in a time of great progress; many of the so-called poor countries are lifting themselves out of poverty. This is happening in various parts of the world, India and Africa, to name a few. Such success has also prompted many people who have tasted success to think of what is it that is holding the rest of the population back ? Today in the news, I read about an interesting remark by Paul Kagame, an African leader. He (jokingly) said that he he will round up pilgrims to a Virgin Mary’s apparation site and put them in prison. That he will only release them after the “poverty mentality has left them”. Paul Kagame was drawing a parallel between poverty and religious beliefs. ...

വലിയ പുരോഗതിയുടെ കാലത്താണ് നാം ജീവിക്കുന്നത്; ദരിദ്ര രാജ്യങ്ങൾ എന്ന് വിളിക്കപ്പെടുന്ന പല രാജ്യങ്ങളും ദാരിദ്ര്യത്തിൽ നിന്ന് സ്വയം കരകയറുകയാണ്. ലോകത്തിന്റെ വിവിധ ഭാഗങ്ങളിലും ഇന്ത്യയിലും ആഫ്രിക്കയിലും ഇത് സംഭവിക്കുന്നു. ബാക്കിയുള്ളവരെ പിന്നോട്ടടിക്കുന്നത് എന്താണെന്ന് ചിന്തിക്കാൻ അത്തരം വിജയം, പലരെയും പ്രേരിപ്പിക്കുന്നു. ഇന്ന് വാർത്തകളിൽ, ആഫ്രിക്കൻ നേതാവായ പോൾ കഗമേയുടെ രസകരമായ ഒരു പരാമർശം ഞാൻ വായിച്ചു. താൻ, മാതാവ് പ്രത്യക്ഷപ്പെട്ട ഒരു സ്ഥലത്തു തീർത്ഥാടനം പോയ ആളുകളെ ജയിലിൽ അടക്കുമെന്നും, “ദാരിദ്ര്യ മനോഭാവം അവരെ വിട്ടുപോയതിന് ശേഷം” മാത്രമേ അവരെ വിട്ടയക്കൂ എന്നും ആണ് അദ്ദേഹം പറഞ്ഞത്. പോൾ കഗാമെ ദാരിദ്ര്യവും മതവിശ്വാസങ്ങളും തമ്മിൽ ഒരു സമാന്തരം വരച്ചുകാട്ടുകയായിരുന്നു. ...

Today, I found another YouTube gem ! The Importance of Luke Skywalker by “So Uncivilized”. It appears to be a channel devoted to telling the story of Star Wars, in all its uniqueness. I was so impressed. The video explains how the Star Wars story is quite different from many of the other hero movies. ...

The importance of children’s faith formation cannot be overstated. Even the most God-trusting among us, does find ourselves wondering if we are doing enough ? And surely the answer is no. While, there is no need to be anxious; i think it is important that we get our act together nevertheless. Over the month of August, i hope to publish a series of posts relating to this subject. Sincerely, looking forward to your thoughts. ...

Heaven looks like love, love all the way through, love without restriction. Hell looks like the narrow, boring space of my own ego. – Bishop Barron, In Reddit [Celibacy and Priesthood] … For me the best argument is that it is a living eschatological witness, that is to say, a sign of the way we will love in heaven, where “we neither marry nor are given in marriage” – Bishop Barron, In Reddit ...

This YouTube video by Matt (a great catholic communicator) prompted me to write this post Matt recently talked about his experience of being banned by Google’s office from giving a talk on the ill effects of pornography on it’s campus. He was invited to speak in the first place by a group among the employees themselves, but was later stopped from doing so by the company citing concerns raised by it’s employees regarding what he had said earlier. The exact reference is in the video linked above; but suffice to say that he said nothing wrong. ...