Joseph Stoutzenberger, Ph.D., is a Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies at Holy Family University in Philadelphia.
by Joseph Stoutzenber
I recently ran across a quote that spoke to me about my own ventures into writing about religious topics. In his book The Enthusiast, Jon M. Sweeney quotes religion scholar Wendy Doniger as saying: “It’s hard to imagine how you could write about any subject as sensitive as religion or history without outraging someone.”
I realized that I could not write about “Catholicism” without recognizing the reality of sexual abuse that has taken place in the church in the recent past and today. I looked at other books that described themselves as offering an introduction to or an overview of Catholicism. None that I found addressed this dark side of Catholicism.
All of a sudden, that person in front of us is not just an isolated individual separate from us but is someone who wishes us peace, as we wish them peace as well. In some more progressive settings, people actually move out of their pew and wander around, offering peace to as many people as they can reach. The symbolism is clear: We are family.
by Joseph Stoutzenberger Whenever I brought up Adam and Eve and the Garden of Eden in my college teaching, a student from a Catholic high school invariably would say: “My religion teacher told us that it’s only a story.” I knew what they meant: the bible isn’t giving us a factual account of the creationContinue reading ““It’s Only a Story” “
Vatican II ended in 1965 and ushered in not only external changes but also changes in attitude and ambiance as well. I noticed the transformation that took place over the next decade and presumed that this was unanticipated and unprecedented for Catholicism, not just a renovation but a revolution.
Noted scholar of religions Alan Watts suggests that some bible stories are better understood if they began with the words “Once upon a time.” When we read those four words, we immediately know that the story to follow is not factual but offers a window into truth or a slice of life couched in metaphorContinue reading “Can Christmas Survive the Hype?”
I saw a value to general principles providing guidance for moral decision making, but I also feared that this top-down approach could miss the rich variety that exists among individual persons and the complexity of situations in which they find themselves.
It struck me that what my friend was doing was reminding people that holiness wasn’t just present with the birth of Jesus two thousand years ago but that the holy exists in our world today, and in very ordinary circumstances.
Joseph Stoutzenberger 