God’s Secretaries: The Making of the King James Bible
I have been meaning to read this book for close on twenty years. Covid made it possible. It is a beautifully written book both nuanced and sonorous.
The Man Who Was Thursday
I have just renewed my enjoyment of G.K. Chesterton by reading yet again “The Man who was Thursday”. The subtitle is important – a nightmare. It plays on our worst fears in particular the fear that the government may be usurped by a tyrant or tyrants.
Ethical Principals in Catholic Healthcare
Most modern bioethicists don’t bother to talk about the ends or purposes of the ethical systems they support. The assumption is that everyone will accept tolerance, choice, equity as the givens of the modern society but the whole society is suffering because these principles are not noble enough to satisfy ones soul.
Suggested Books: Personal Favourites
The following are books in alphabetical order that we have read and enjoyed as opposed to books one is supposed to have read and enjoyed. Some of these books would be better introduced with warning labels than endorsements. It is important to know your opponent.
Euthanasia: Principles and Observations from a Christian Perspective
Although euthanasia is commonly understood to be the epitome of mercy and the logical extension of “death with dignity”, the legalization of euthanasia should be expected to lead to forms of killing which have no necessary connection with either mercy or dignity.
Hippocrates and Medicine in the Third Millenium
For most people Hippocrates is a shadowy figure somehow connected to the ethical practice of medicine; they feel vaguely comforted by the supposed fact that doctors take a Hippocratic Oath of practice upon graduation.
The Myth of Moral Neutrality
You must not impose your views on your patients. Of course not, we all agree. So you must practice medicine from a non-judgmental, morally neutral stance.
Recommended Articles
Looking for a good short read? Browse this list of some of my favourite articles.
The Erosion of Tolerance
Human societies need the general acceptance of the rule of law if they are to function, and that acceptance has to be deeply rooted if they are to flourish. The law easily defines what we will not tolerate.
Remember to Remember: The Modern Implications of Abortion
God wants us to remember the past in order to celebrate the good and learn to avoid evil. Equally recurrently, the children of Israel forgot to remember and the consequences were usually severe, including exile and slavery.