Words Theologians Play With, by David Warren

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Founder’s Quote
October 8, 2021

*Image: Martinengo Pieta by Giovanni Bellini, 1505 [Galleria dell’Accademia, Venice, Italy]

By David Warren, The Catholic Thing, Oct. 8,m 2021

David Warren is a former editor of the Idler magazine and columnist in Canadian newspapers. …

 

David Warren“Discernment” and “life” are two words whose meanings I have changed recently. Of course, I received no one’s permission to do this, nor for a number of others I have irresponsibly left out of my theological vocabulary. I just thought I would replace them with English.

Curiously, I feel more comfortable reviewing my sins. One feels badly, to be sure (did I just acknowledge being bad?) – but feeling good when you are feeling bad is a challenge. Another word, for instance, is “accompanying.” Didn’t that used to be a sin?

Of course, even senior clerics, for instance popes, are obliged most of the time to be moderate and relaxed. We have made too much of sin in the past. Part of the challenge was to sprinkle new words over Christianity that wouldn’t sound so harsh and judgmental. …

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