Midnight Philosopher

I'm gonna delete Twitter from my phone for Lent. Before then, I'd appreciate it if people commented below with spiritual reading recommendations. I'm a terribly slow and easily distracted reader, but I hope this Lent, I can improve that. 😁

@LeperLord14 @CraigOnan @Aquinas_Quotes I'm just teasing, brother. While there is genuine disagreement or discomfort many of us feel, we also try to keep it light.

@MidnightPhilosX @CraigOnan @Aquinas_Quotes My view on sexuality is (unfortunately) probably not even close to being as extreme as the Fathers’ and you’re calling me a “homo” LOL

The opposite of lust is not found in many, since men are more inclined to pleasure.

@LeperLord14 @CraigOnan @Aquinas_Quotes He picked the name to be able to identify the homos who react to it.

@CraigOnan @Aquinas_Quotes Niggas name is literally “Onan”

@BenBird53920553 Invoking threats from Revelation won't truly win the hearts of potential converts or revert. Culture Catholics are more like a warm glow, rather than a blazing, possibly destructive fire.

@MidnightPhilosX Culture Catholics? Do you mean lukewarm Catholics? Remember what God said about being lukewarm???

Culture Catholics are the happiest and healthiest. They know enough to appreciate the faith, but not too much to the point that it hardens their hearts and erodes their sanity. They also aren't so ignorant so as to reject what they don't truly understand. It's the golden mean!

It is such a perfect send off to Luke Skywalker. He halts an entire army with the mere image of his ideal Jedi form and wins the day completely nonviolently. An absolutely brilliant Luke moment.

@briankeepsworth Just for you, Brian! 🍻

Christians: You don't have to pick a side between Muslims and Jews. Be on the side of Christ.

@OrdinariateUSA And all humans attempt to gesture towards it.

@MidnightPhilosX There is 1 truth

@OrdinariateUSA Religion can be different things to different people, and we'll know the good paths by their fruit.

@MidnightPhilosX Cultural Catholicism is just a way for blue city atheists to feel special because their Italian grandma made them get baptized as a baby.

@Xavier__Toto @Moderatemuch Tell that to countless folks who struggle with anxiety, PTSD, abuse trauma, etc. Fear is poisonous, suffocating, destructive, and should never be the basis of faith.

@MidnightPhilosX @Moderatemuch There is no "science" or "data" which suggests that fear is destructive to the soul. You made that up.

I realize that fancy legalistic terms are in vogue when discussing this stuff, but how about we put it in simple terms: the death penalty is impractical and often unjust because of systemic issues in developed countries. Also, why cut someone's time short, when... /1

@nlawson946 @onlleh100 If that was the case, let us pray for his soul and for the healing of his victims. 🙏🏻

@onlleh100 @MidnightPhilosX Two of the jurors said they believe he abused children but they didn't think the prosecution proved their case.

I was too young to understand the "PDF" allegations against MJ when they emerged. I hope the story in this video is the truth. He seemed like a genuinely kind but troubled soul who made amazing music. I pray he was not actually guilty of atrocities...

@Moderatemuch Hmm, exactly what is unclear about my beliefs? I oppose the death penalty, though I acknowledge that it can legitimately be used in some cases. I also side with Pope Leo that the death penalty is not admissible in the present day.

@MidnightPhilosX This doesn’t answer my question… You’re unable to make an actual commitment to what you believe is happening, if since that is the case, you don’t actually know.

@Moderatemuch A. It was a teaching that served a particular time. B. Inadmissible and intrinsically evil are not exactly the same, but this type of hyperintellectualized legalism is not useful. C. I'm pretty sure the Pope is referring particularly to the developed Western countries.

Do you think A. This church taught in error the DEATH penalty is moral B. The death penalty used to not be intrinsically evil, but now our Pope made it intrinsically evil? C. That the Pope is saying the DP is still morally acceptable, but the criteria that make it morally acceptable are not currently applicable anywhere, or at anytime?

@Moderatemuch I engage with thinkers and reality, rather than staying in an ivory tower.

@MidnightPhilosX Have you really not engaged with these thinkers at all?

Is there any meaningful distinction between the Church being "infallible" and a meticulously calculated effort by the Popes and Bishops to avoid saying anything that overtly contradicts past statements?

@Moderatemuch It might be technically "moral" according to the legalists, but the Pope has declared it is inadmissible.

@MidnightPhilosX The church is infallible and has infallibly taught that the DP is moral.

@Moderatemuch To Augustine: we can judge, but we don't need to kill. To Aquinas: the power is legitimate, but do we need to use it?

@Moderatemuch These were great figures of the Church, but they are not infallible and they lived in a different time.

@Moderatemuch @Xavier__Toto Based on mental health science, data, and experience. Fear is destructive to the soul. The superior understanding of "fear" in the Bible is "awe." We should marvel at the wonders of the created cosmos and that should inform how we live. Let's not return to medieval oppression.

Fear based conversion… is “terrible” By what definition? We work out our salvation in fear and trembling, the fact that we are going to die is a MAJOR REASON FOR CONVERSION. A SPIRITUAL EXERCISE that is common in the history of the church, is to pick a day to plan your death, and live as if you are going to die on that day! Fear of God and death is a BEAUTIFUL REASON for conversion. And fear of death is not coercive.

@Xavier__Toto Jesus saved the woman who could have lawfully been stoned to death. Is that not evidence enough? Jesus was not some far-right, angry, red-pilled alfaux male trying to "save the West." He was far above the farce of reactionary politics and faith.

@MidnightPhilosX (2) He would visit those on death row, warn them to repent, remind them that they are receiving the due punishment for their sins, and urge them to be grateful for the opportunity presented to them to prepare for death.

@Xavier__Toto What would Jesus? Execute a criminal or call him to repentance? Perhaps He would pay regular visits to the imprisoned, trying to counsel him. This need for retribution is of man, not of God. The excessive focus on death and the afterlife obscures the gospel.

@MidnightPhilosX (2) It is your excessive loathing of death and killing that is weird and perverted.

@Xavier__Toto I prefer a society that's not built on a death cult. No thanks.

@MidnightPhilosX (2) If you love the human race and human dignity, you must love capital punishment.