Showing posts with label truth vs. propoganda. Show all posts
Showing posts with label truth vs. propoganda. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Catholic Media Review blogger on TV
If you are considering attending the March for Life to greet our new President this year, watch to my first TV interview and get motivated.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
The failure of "4 months, 3 weeks, 2 days" in the USA
Jill Stanek's column on the release of "4 months, three weeks, two days" the Cannes Film Festival Award winning pro-abortion Romanian film highlights the fact that American critics were overwhelmingly supporting the film, which is now only open in 17 theatres, to the critics' disappointment.
To make matters worse, that little Indie film "Juno" with the suprisingly pro-life plot not only takes 4 Academy Award Nominations, but made over $100 million so far, and has it's soundtrack topping the music charts. This is an indication that "Juno" has achieved cult status, like it's twin, "Napoleon Dynamite".
That's why we need to publish at Catholic Media Review. We obviously reflect a greater majority of the American people with our pro-life, pro-family views, than the mainstream critics, and our viral growth in popularity in the month we have been blogging has proven this to be filling a need.
To make matters worse, that little Indie film "Juno" with the suprisingly pro-life plot not only takes 4 Academy Award Nominations, but made over $100 million so far, and has it's soundtrack topping the music charts. This is an indication that "Juno" has achieved cult status, like it's twin, "Napoleon Dynamite".
That's why we need to publish at Catholic Media Review. We obviously reflect a greater majority of the American people with our pro-life, pro-family views, than the mainstream critics, and our viral growth in popularity in the month we have been blogging has proven this to be filling a need.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Eat, Pray, Love--Book Review
I received this book as a gift. I was intrigued by its subtitle: "One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia." Those are three countries I might not have thought to string together in one sentence. Okay, maybe as part of Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego as in "Name three countries that begin with the letter I".
As I read Elizabeth Gilbert's introduction, I began to wonder if this was going to be a mushy New Age-y kind of book. Ms. Gilbert allayed my fears somewhat by noting that she, too, is skeptical of those Westerners who write effusively of finding Enlightenment in some mystical Eastern religion without doing the hard work necessary. She refuses to name her Guru or her Guru's Ashram to protect her privacy and the privacy of her pupils who came to study at the Ashram. (I suspect that it would be easy enough to figure out who and where from the hints Ms. Gilbert sprinkles through the book.)
First, though Ms. Gilbert sets the scene. She is married to a man she loves and respects, they have just bought the perfect house in the perfect New York suburb, she has a successful career as a freelance writer, she and her husband are discussing having children-so why is she on the floor of her bathroom sobbing every night? Why is she so desperately, so profoundly unhappy?
Not particularly religious, she finds herself praying to God and the answer comes, "Go back to bed, Liz." (Hey, a practical God! I like that!) She does and manages to sleep. Her problems aren't resolved, but crying on the bathroom floor won't help, either.
Ms. Gilbert's divorce is acrimonious and prolonged. During that time she enters-or, rather, plunges into an intense relationship with "David." This relationship is another emotional roller coaster but David does introduce Ms. Gilbert to his Guru, who becomes her Guru. Ms. Gilbert begins her discipleship.
She also decides to learn Italian for no other reason than she loves the way the language sounds. And it's something she does merely for her own enjoyment. The idea of living in Italy for a time begins to germinate.
As part of a freelance writing assignment, Ms. Gilbert joins a "yoga tour" that includes the island of Bali in Indonesia. The tour guide introduces her to a Balinese healer, who reads her palm and tells her that she will lose all her money, but regain it quickly, and come to live with him in Bali and teach him English. Sure enough, shortly after her return home, her divorce is finally over and she has given up most of her financial assets. Her relationship with David is also crumbling. Ms. Gilbert decides there is no better time to move to Italy for four months. And, as the Balinese healer predicted, she is able to strike a deal with a publisher, receiving an advance in return for a book about her adventures.
And what adventures they are! Ms. Gilbert is blessed with an extraordinary ability to make friends despite language barriers. She is open to new experiences, willing to leave the tried and true, the comfortable. Her writing, especially about herself, is wry and witty. She discusses serious subjects but doesn't take herself too seriously--most of the time. I was annoyed by her "knee-jerk" liberalism, her unnecessary jibes at conservatives, Republicans, and President Bush. Fortunately, those references were few.
Ms. Gilbert's theology, however, is suspect. She has read something of the great Christian mystics, but it's not clear that she has a good sense of the context of their writings. she refers to Pius that as Pius XI, admittedly a minor error, but somewhat annoying. More problematic, she makes an offhand statement equating the Taliban and Fundamentalist Christians, which is just plain intellectual laziness. Granted there are some Fundamentalists who hold extreme views (Fred Phelps comes to mind), but when was the last time you heard of any "Fundies" decapitating infidels? And broadcasting the video over their Internet?
She does caution about the dangers of false yogis--and that there are plenty of them willing to take advantage of naive Westerners. Initially enthralled with Bali and Balinese culture, she recognizes there are snakes in this paradise, too. There is also love. After nine months of celibacy, Ms. Gilbert finds a man who wants nothing more than to spoil her; pamper her. And she has finally grown sure enough of her Self, that she can accept his gift.
It's ironic-and Ms. Gilbert admits this--that the decadent, consumerist Western civilization is what allows Ms. Gilbert to travel and live abroad to find herself. she recognizes the advantages she has as a Western woman that her counterparts in India and Bali do not enjoy. She has learned a lot about herself during this year, but comes away with (and promotes) the idea that all paths lead to God, so it's okay to cherry-pick the methods that "work" for you as an individual. She also believes that by achieving and maintaining her own miner core of peace and happiness, she will spread that to others (kind of like a viral infection). There is no sense of a "Communion of Saints," or that we have any obligation to our fellow humans. (How does one reconcile the violence of abortion with inner harmony? How do you justify treating humans lower than animals? Or women lower than men?)
The danger of this book is that it makes self-fulfillment sound too easy. Dropout for a year, gorge yourself in Italy, live in an Ashram in India for four months, find a good healer in Bali and -Bingo!" you've got a best-selling book, a boyfriend who is wealthy, exotic, and madly in love with you. a very seductive message if you're a restless young adult, looking for something to believe in.
According to Ms. Gilbert's website, Eat, Pray, Love has been optioned for a movie. I'm not sure how this will work, since much of the book involves her thoughts and feelings which usually don't translate well to screen. And will the audience sit through her agonizing divorce?
On the March Hare scale: 2.5 out of 5 Golden Bookmarks, mostly because of the weakness of theology and philosophy. MS. Gilbert is an entertaining and good writer. This book might be a good choice for a young adult christian reading group, especially if they can examine how the differences in Eastern vs. Western religious traditions affects our view of the relationship between humans and between humans and the natural world.
As I read Elizabeth Gilbert's introduction, I began to wonder if this was going to be a mushy New Age-y kind of book. Ms. Gilbert allayed my fears somewhat by noting that she, too, is skeptical of those Westerners who write effusively of finding Enlightenment in some mystical Eastern religion without doing the hard work necessary. She refuses to name her Guru or her Guru's Ashram to protect her privacy and the privacy of her pupils who came to study at the Ashram. (I suspect that it would be easy enough to figure out who and where from the hints Ms. Gilbert sprinkles through the book.)
First, though Ms. Gilbert sets the scene. She is married to a man she loves and respects, they have just bought the perfect house in the perfect New York suburb, she has a successful career as a freelance writer, she and her husband are discussing having children-so why is she on the floor of her bathroom sobbing every night? Why is she so desperately, so profoundly unhappy?
Not particularly religious, she finds herself praying to God and the answer comes, "Go back to bed, Liz." (Hey, a practical God! I like that!) She does and manages to sleep. Her problems aren't resolved, but crying on the bathroom floor won't help, either.
Ms. Gilbert's divorce is acrimonious and prolonged. During that time she enters-or, rather, plunges into an intense relationship with "David." This relationship is another emotional roller coaster but David does introduce Ms. Gilbert to his Guru, who becomes her Guru. Ms. Gilbert begins her discipleship.
She also decides to learn Italian for no other reason than she loves the way the language sounds. And it's something she does merely for her own enjoyment. The idea of living in Italy for a time begins to germinate.
As part of a freelance writing assignment, Ms. Gilbert joins a "yoga tour" that includes the island of Bali in Indonesia. The tour guide introduces her to a Balinese healer, who reads her palm and tells her that she will lose all her money, but regain it quickly, and come to live with him in Bali and teach him English. Sure enough, shortly after her return home, her divorce is finally over and she has given up most of her financial assets. Her relationship with David is also crumbling. Ms. Gilbert decides there is no better time to move to Italy for four months. And, as the Balinese healer predicted, she is able to strike a deal with a publisher, receiving an advance in return for a book about her adventures.
And what adventures they are! Ms. Gilbert is blessed with an extraordinary ability to make friends despite language barriers. She is open to new experiences, willing to leave the tried and true, the comfortable. Her writing, especially about herself, is wry and witty. She discusses serious subjects but doesn't take herself too seriously--most of the time. I was annoyed by her "knee-jerk" liberalism, her unnecessary jibes at conservatives, Republicans, and President Bush. Fortunately, those references were few.
Ms. Gilbert's theology, however, is suspect. She has read something of the great Christian mystics, but it's not clear that she has a good sense of the context of their writings. she refers to Pius that as Pius XI, admittedly a minor error, but somewhat annoying. More problematic, she makes an offhand statement equating the Taliban and Fundamentalist Christians, which is just plain intellectual laziness. Granted there are some Fundamentalists who hold extreme views (Fred Phelps comes to mind), but when was the last time you heard of any "Fundies" decapitating infidels? And broadcasting the video over their Internet?
She does caution about the dangers of false yogis--and that there are plenty of them willing to take advantage of naive Westerners. Initially enthralled with Bali and Balinese culture, she recognizes there are snakes in this paradise, too. There is also love. After nine months of celibacy, Ms. Gilbert finds a man who wants nothing more than to spoil her; pamper her. And she has finally grown sure enough of her Self, that she can accept his gift.
It's ironic-and Ms. Gilbert admits this--that the decadent, consumerist Western civilization is what allows Ms. Gilbert to travel and live abroad to find herself. she recognizes the advantages she has as a Western woman that her counterparts in India and Bali do not enjoy. She has learned a lot about herself during this year, but comes away with (and promotes) the idea that all paths lead to God, so it's okay to cherry-pick the methods that "work" for you as an individual. She also believes that by achieving and maintaining her own miner core of peace and happiness, she will spread that to others (kind of like a viral infection). There is no sense of a "Communion of Saints," or that we have any obligation to our fellow humans. (How does one reconcile the violence of abortion with inner harmony? How do you justify treating humans lower than animals? Or women lower than men?)
The danger of this book is that it makes self-fulfillment sound too easy. Dropout for a year, gorge yourself in Italy, live in an Ashram in India for four months, find a good healer in Bali and -Bingo!" you've got a best-selling book, a boyfriend who is wealthy, exotic, and madly in love with you. a very seductive message if you're a restless young adult, looking for something to believe in.
According to Ms. Gilbert's website, Eat, Pray, Love has been optioned for a movie. I'm not sure how this will work, since much of the book involves her thoughts and feelings which usually don't translate well to screen. And will the audience sit through her agonizing divorce?
On the March Hare scale: 2.5 out of 5 Golden Bookmarks, mostly because of the weakness of theology and philosophy. MS. Gilbert is an entertaining and good writer. This book might be a good choice for a young adult christian reading group, especially if they can examine how the differences in Eastern vs. Western religious traditions affects our view of the relationship between humans and between humans and the natural world.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
BIRTHPANGS: THE SERIES, BOOK ONE, FIDELIS
BIRTHPANGS: THE SERIES, BOOK ONE, FIDELIS
Written by Anthony R. Horvath, Published by Suzetto Enterprises, Publication Date: November 16, 2006, Trade paperback, Amazon Price: $10.85, 308 pages.
Fidelis by A.R. Horvath is an action-packed fantasy novel filled with imaginative descriptions of what the United States and our culture could be like in the future if it continues on its current course. While the story is a fictitious fantasy, the picture it presents is quite realistic and believable.
Following a series of nuclear explosions in this country, the various groups who are at war for control over the county are similar to many of the political factions in our nation today. For example, there are the Rangers, a group of men and women throughout the country who support pro-family middle class values. This group never gave up their hunting rifles as their pre- nuclear war government had commanded. There is another group resembling the conniving, crafty politicians of our day, who pretend to want what’s best for the people, but are more concerned with what is best for their own needs. This group is in possession of machine guns.
Put quite simply, Fidelis depicts the battle of good vs. evil. Similar in nature to the writings of C.S. Lewis and JRR Tolkein, Fidelis bears a Christian theme, includes Scripture passages, and is rich in Christian symbolism.
The main character in Fidelis is Fides, (Latin for “faith.”), a young husband and father, living in the heartland of the United States, in Terra Haute, Indiana, at some unknown time in the future – with his beautiful, devoted wife, Melody, and their four children.
Fides is an affable, responsible, and hard-working man who is primarily concerned with protecting and providing for his family. Fides is a construction worker and work is scarce in these hard times. When he is offered a lucrative job in Peoria, IL, he readily accepts it, leaving behind his family, just as an outbreak of a rare and devastating new disease occurs. His intuitive wife has misgivings about him leaving, but Fides knows this is an opportunity he cannot pass up, so he embarks on his journey with his neighbor and co-worker. And, what a journey it is! It is a journey that involves danger, suspense, and adventure – one that tests his faith, his fortitude, and his ability to persevere – physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Little does he realize how much this “job” will impact his entire future.
During his absence, a nuclear war takes place and the entire world, has changed drastically - all factions in the nation have risen up in battle against one another. In the United States, some of the major cities have been destroyed and are in total devastation. However, Fides has been ill while all this was taking place and he awakens from a coma when the nuclear strikes have ceased, to discover a broken world. Realizing that he has been separated from his family for a long time, he embarks on a journey to unite with them, encountering numerous obstacles and battles on the way. His journey reveals the horrors and wonders of this altered world, as he awakens to realizations about his own soul.
Early on in his trip, Fides quickly bonds with Fermion, an intriguing and mysterious character, who, in addition to possessing some nifty super powers, seems to have many of the answers to secrets of survival in this new world. Fermion possesses a type of wisdom that initially puzzles Fides, but which later proves to be very useful to him. Along the way, Fides meets several other individuals struggling for survival in this new world – many of whom are basically good people, others, evil by choice – who teach him valuable life lessons and help build his character. He joins forces with different groups (both male and female) who support healthy moral choices, and becomes a strong battle warrior, learning what truth, love, hope, fidelity and obedience are all about, under Fermion’s guidance.
There is a prophetic message presented in this first book of seven in the BirthPangs Series. Will all the disasters and the devastation that have occurred as a result of man turning away from God lead to the end of the human race? What will happen if things become worse and people continue to turn away from their Creator? Fidelis only hints at the possibilities, but it certainly poses a relevant concern for the future.
In his clear, easy to read writing style, Horvath presents us with a story that grabs our attention from the first page and holds it until the very end. He introduces us to an interesting array of characters, which he describes in picturesque terms, often using colorful dialogue and action to effectively allow the characters to “speak” for themselves. Many of the scenes are described in considerable detail, allowing the reader to clearly envision the scene as if it were being shown on a movie screen and to analyze possible outcomes. As an aid to the reader, Horvath adds a handy concise index of character and group names at the back of the book with a line or two identifying each one. This is particularly helpful if the reader needs to put the book down and return to it later.
Fidelis appears to be most appropriate for teenagers and adults due to the detail in the story and the reading difficulty level. There are many exciting battle scenes in the book, which make it particularly appealing to males. Both Christians and non-Christians alike will find Fidelis enjoyable, as it focuses on man’s universal struggles of good vs. evil and truth vs. propaganda. Fides is an action- packed, imaginative fantasy that subtly instructs, entertains, and intellectually provokes the reader. It is fascinating reading.
Fidelis is available for purchase from http://www.birthpangs.com/, as well as Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble. An excerpt from the first chapter is available for free online at http://www.birthpangs.com/download-part-of-chapter-1/. The website hosts a spin-off role-playing game and a discussion board frequented by the author.
~copyright Jean M. Heimann October 3, 2007
Crossposted at Catholic Fire.
Written by Anthony R. Horvath, Published by Suzetto Enterprises, Publication Date: November 16, 2006, Trade paperback, Amazon Price: $10.85, 308 pages.
Fidelis by A.R. Horvath is an action-packed fantasy novel filled with imaginative descriptions of what the United States and our culture could be like in the future if it continues on its current course. While the story is a fictitious fantasy, the picture it presents is quite realistic and believable.
Following a series of nuclear explosions in this country, the various groups who are at war for control over the county are similar to many of the political factions in our nation today. For example, there are the Rangers, a group of men and women throughout the country who support pro-family middle class values. This group never gave up their hunting rifles as their pre- nuclear war government had commanded. There is another group resembling the conniving, crafty politicians of our day, who pretend to want what’s best for the people, but are more concerned with what is best for their own needs. This group is in possession of machine guns.
Put quite simply, Fidelis depicts the battle of good vs. evil. Similar in nature to the writings of C.S. Lewis and JRR Tolkein, Fidelis bears a Christian theme, includes Scripture passages, and is rich in Christian symbolism.
The main character in Fidelis is Fides, (Latin for “faith.”), a young husband and father, living in the heartland of the United States, in Terra Haute, Indiana, at some unknown time in the future – with his beautiful, devoted wife, Melody, and their four children.
Fides is an affable, responsible, and hard-working man who is primarily concerned with protecting and providing for his family. Fides is a construction worker and work is scarce in these hard times. When he is offered a lucrative job in Peoria, IL, he readily accepts it, leaving behind his family, just as an outbreak of a rare and devastating new disease occurs. His intuitive wife has misgivings about him leaving, but Fides knows this is an opportunity he cannot pass up, so he embarks on his journey with his neighbor and co-worker. And, what a journey it is! It is a journey that involves danger, suspense, and adventure – one that tests his faith, his fortitude, and his ability to persevere – physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Little does he realize how much this “job” will impact his entire future.
During his absence, a nuclear war takes place and the entire world, has changed drastically - all factions in the nation have risen up in battle against one another. In the United States, some of the major cities have been destroyed and are in total devastation. However, Fides has been ill while all this was taking place and he awakens from a coma when the nuclear strikes have ceased, to discover a broken world. Realizing that he has been separated from his family for a long time, he embarks on a journey to unite with them, encountering numerous obstacles and battles on the way. His journey reveals the horrors and wonders of this altered world, as he awakens to realizations about his own soul.
Early on in his trip, Fides quickly bonds with Fermion, an intriguing and mysterious character, who, in addition to possessing some nifty super powers, seems to have many of the answers to secrets of survival in this new world. Fermion possesses a type of wisdom that initially puzzles Fides, but which later proves to be very useful to him. Along the way, Fides meets several other individuals struggling for survival in this new world – many of whom are basically good people, others, evil by choice – who teach him valuable life lessons and help build his character. He joins forces with different groups (both male and female) who support healthy moral choices, and becomes a strong battle warrior, learning what truth, love, hope, fidelity and obedience are all about, under Fermion’s guidance.
There is a prophetic message presented in this first book of seven in the BirthPangs Series. Will all the disasters and the devastation that have occurred as a result of man turning away from God lead to the end of the human race? What will happen if things become worse and people continue to turn away from their Creator? Fidelis only hints at the possibilities, but it certainly poses a relevant concern for the future.
In his clear, easy to read writing style, Horvath presents us with a story that grabs our attention from the first page and holds it until the very end. He introduces us to an interesting array of characters, which he describes in picturesque terms, often using colorful dialogue and action to effectively allow the characters to “speak” for themselves. Many of the scenes are described in considerable detail, allowing the reader to clearly envision the scene as if it were being shown on a movie screen and to analyze possible outcomes. As an aid to the reader, Horvath adds a handy concise index of character and group names at the back of the book with a line or two identifying each one. This is particularly helpful if the reader needs to put the book down and return to it later.
Fidelis appears to be most appropriate for teenagers and adults due to the detail in the story and the reading difficulty level. There are many exciting battle scenes in the book, which make it particularly appealing to males. Both Christians and non-Christians alike will find Fidelis enjoyable, as it focuses on man’s universal struggles of good vs. evil and truth vs. propaganda. Fides is an action- packed, imaginative fantasy that subtly instructs, entertains, and intellectually provokes the reader. It is fascinating reading.
Fidelis is available for purchase from http://www.birthpangs.com/, as well as Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble. An excerpt from the first chapter is available for free online at http://www.birthpangs.com/download-part-of-chapter-1/. The website hosts a spin-off role-playing game and a discussion board frequented by the author.
~copyright Jean M. Heimann October 3, 2007
Crossposted at Catholic Fire.
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