Monthly Archives: August 2010

False Religions

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I’ve decided to do an on-going series of posts on false religions—or more precisely, fictional religions. It occurred to me today that I’ve recently ruined a number of book reviews by dwelling on the author’s presentation of religion and its reflection on the Catholic Church. I should stop doing that. On the other hand, I read a lot of fantasy novels, and most of them incorporate some kind of religion or religions, and many of them do seem to include some kind of criticism of Catholicism. (In a number of recent books, the description of the local religion seems little more than Bishops Behaving Badly. What am I supposed to think?)

So my plan is this. When I’m reviewing a book, I’m simply going to review the book. And if the book has an interesting, compelling, or repellent religion, I’ll write a post just about that. That way, I can scratch my itch in peace. And in time, I’ll have an interesting little museum of “false religions“.

Five Favorite Devotions

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So Julie tagged me with this “Five Favorite Devotions” meme that’s been going around the Catholic blogosphere. After some thought and pondering, here are mine:

  1. The Liturgy of the Hours (aka the Divine Office).
  2. The Rosary.
  3. Spiritual reading, and study in general.
  4. The Oramus prayer
  5. The Novena to the Sacred Heart (in times of need).
  6. Adoration.

As a Lay Dominican, #1, #2, and #3 pretty much come with the territory—not that I only do them because I’m a Lay Dominican, but that I probably wouldn’t have become a Lay Dominican if they didn’t work for me. #5 is for particularly serious needs, generally for other people, so it’s an on-again, off-again kind of thing. #6 depends on time and opportunity, both of which are scarce.