Christians often misunderstand the role of government, thinking it either must enforce all Christian moral positions, or none at all, becoming completely hands-off. The reality is that a government should be formed to promote and defend the common good, making sure people are treated fairly, and not unduly harmed:
As a Christian who not only is a vegetarian, but one who see there are moral, and even spiritual reasons, for someone to be a vegetarian, I’ve often been asked what I make out of the Scriptural texts which suggest Jesus ate meat. While I have written answers to those questions before, giving nuanced interpretations of Scripture (following, at times, the insight of others), from time to time, I consider the topic, and consider new, speculative answers to the question; this is what has led to my newest post:
I'm getting confirmed in a few months and I really like TEC because of their three legged stool and inclusivity of all views of scripture. Are Catholics allowed to rely on reason like the Episcopalians? Sorry if this sounds dumb! Christ's blessings!
Mary followed the example of her son, living her life as a life of pure love, pure self-giving to others; she willingly followed Jesus where he should go, letting Jesus direct her, which is why, when she came to the end of her earthly life, she accepted death:
https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2026/08/jesus-and-mary-models-of-self-emptying-love/
While Tolkien’s Christian faith is apparent throughout his writings, he did not normally write allegories, and his major texts should not be read as allegories for the Christian faith. He primarily wanted to write stories to entertain himself, his friends, and his readers. He wanted to tell the stories which he liked to hear but found no one had written. It is one of his few allegories which makes this point clear:
https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2026/08/tolkien-said-he-did-not-like-or-write-allegories/
The events surrounding the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool might, in some ways, appear insignificant, as there are other, graver issues around, but they are important in the way they reflect the general direction the US is going. Fascist and other authoritarian dictators punish minor offenses with extreme penalties. If they claim to be Christian, they love to have us focus on culture wars, in the name of Christ, while having us ignore the importance of Christ’s real teachings for society at large:
https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2026/08/reflecting-on-the-reflecting-pool/
After years of being atheist, I’ve finally felt like I believe in god and I feel faith. I grew up around a family that wasn’t religious what so ever, I feel like I need to find myself. How can I start when converting to Catholicism? Is there an easy way? I’d like to attend a church near me but I have terrible social anxiety and it’d be much worse because I’d have to go alone. I know at some point in time, I’ll have to go and I need to be baptized, but is there an easy way for me to start before I begin attending church?