When you read the title of this blog entry, you probably thought it would be about climate change disrupting whales’ food sources, or perhaps their migration patterns or mating habits. Well, not exactly. One of the indirect effects of climate change is that more whales are being struck and killed Read more…
The Great Barrier Reef along Australia’s northeastern coastline is the largest coral reef in the world at 133,000 square miles. It is home to many species of fish and other marine life. But the warming oceans are slowly killing it. Coral reefs are made up of living animals called coral. Read more…
A new report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) indicates that temperatures and climate disruption are both on the rise. According to the report, 2019 was the 2nd warmest year on record, second only to 2016. The decade of 2010-2019 was the warmest decade on record. CO2 levels continue to Read more…
Significant Days during Lent: Shrove Tuesday (aka Pancake Tuesday and Fat Tuesday, or Mardi Gras) – This is the day before Ash Wednesday. Shrove Tuesday gets its name from the tradition of shriving—i.e., a Christian confessing his sins and receiving absolution for them. It was also the last chance to Read more…
The Council of Nicea referred to Lent as tessakaronka, Greek for “forty.” The Latin is Quadragesima, which means “forty” or “fortieth.” In the Latin countries of Italy, Spain, and France, Lent is referred to by a name that derives from this Latin word: Quaresima (Italian), Cuaresma (Spanish), and Carême (French). Read more…
Today Lent is a 40-day period of repentance, fasting, self-examination, and preparation for the coming of Easter. However, the earliest evidence of Lent as a season lasting 40 days comes from the Council of Nicea, in 325 A.D., which refers to it in one of its canons. Prior to the Read more…
I hear many banks and loan companies trying to convince homeowners to take out loans against their homes to pay off various kinds of debts, such as credit cards, medical bills, or student loans. This can make sense in some situations, but anyone thinking about doing this should be aware Read more…
If you study the Qur’ân (or Koran), you will find many references to biblical persons, such as Abraham, Noah, Joseph, and Jesus. The Qur’ân even retells some of the biblical stories—except that it gets many of the facts wrong. Here is one example, from my book, Beyond Blind Faith: Reasons Read more…