Today’s episode will be a mailbag episode with 4 really good questions from people in the Conversation of Our Generation community. I really appreciate the feedback I’ve been getting and wanted to hear what’s on people’s minds, so I put a call out on Twitter for questions. If you want your question answered, you can submit your question below.
Submit your Mailbag Question here:
Questions for Today’s Mailbag:
- Which book would you advise for young men/women read that you wish you would have read? – @glass_zealot
- Which is the most beautiful place you’ve ever visited and why? – @glass_zealot
- If everything you said for the rest of your life had to come out of 1 book, which book would that be (cannot be the Bible)? – @FRANKCUNHAIII
- Is Libertarianism compatible with traditional Christianity? – @ManlyVirtue
Which book would you advise for young men/women read that you wish you would have read?
I’d say the Bible is one that everyone ought to read and too many of us neglect that. However, I think for this question, I should focus on uninspired works. So, I have to say that Abolition of Man would be my uninspired choice. It is such a good criticism of the way we’re taught to think and builds a vision of how we ought to think as Christians. This work frames all criticisms of Modernism in a way that young people can understand.
Which is the most beautiful place you’ve ever visited and why?
I'm going to answer this one three ways, giving the most beautiful natural place, most beautiful building, and the most beautiful cities I've seen. The most beautiful natural place I've been would have to be the Safari I went on. It was truly the most incredible place I've been in so many ways. But, Machu Picchu and Ireland are close runners up.
One of the most incredible places built by men would be La Sagrada Familia. It is incredibly beautiful, and it's amazing to see history being made. I remember seeing some of the old churches and wishing I could have taken part in their construction, and I was able to put my money toward the building of this beautiful church.
My top cities would be London, Grenada, and Cuzco. Grenada and Cuzco have the quintessential small European city feeling (even though Cuzco is in Peru). When I read Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises, I picture the cafes looking like the ones in those cities. London is incredible because of the old architecture and winding roads. It's interesting to see an unplanned city that actually came up organically.
If everything you said for the rest of your life had to come out of 1 book, which book would that be (cannot be the Bible)?
I'm taking this question to mean that I get one book to refer to in arguments or debates not that everything I say has to be found in it. If that's the case, I would probably choose the Summa Theologica. The reason is that I'd be able to do a lot with that book in evangelizing others and catechizing my family.
Is Libertarianism compatible with traditional Christianity?
I think ideas expressed by libertarians can be compatible with traditional Christianity. However, I think the only "ism" that is perfectly safe to believe in is Catholicism. Every other political ideology falls short. They are useful for highlighting some aspect of what is true, but cannot uncover the fullness of Truth.
But, can a version of libertarianism be compatible? I'd say yes, if by that you're talking about people who believe Liberty is a primary virtue, distinguish Liberty from licentiousness, and that we have duties that correspond to rights. The Bible criticizes the overly-decentralized time of the Judges while also saying that the monarchy was not what God wanted for His people.
I think we live under an atheistic, or at least secularistic, government. And, if we want to be good Christians, we need to expand our liberty to be able to do that. Our government isn't currently directing us to the good like your traditionalists would want. Maybe the problem of the time of the Judges is less bad than a time of tyrannical government.
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