Greetings! If you are a new reader in the Bubble, I hope you will enjoy the unique way we operate around here. I want you to feel at home in the Bubble, so let me acclimate you to our Bubble ways. ;)
Below is a welcome message for secularists and atheists, laying out expectations and my philosophy of dialogue. After the letter, I describe the purpose of my blog, so that there is no confusion as to what we do here. Please read both sections, and then feel free to dive into the conversations! You'll soon discover that this is a very interactive (and entertaining!) blog....
A Welcome
To Secularists and Atheists!
To Secularists and Atheists!
Dear leftists/secularists/atheists:
You are welcome in the Bubble! In fact, I encourage your comments and perspective. I will give you a fair hearing, I will not misrepresent you, and I will remain respectful in my questioning and responses. I often use Dennis Prager's saying, "I prefer clarity to agreement," and I really mean it.
You should know up front that I do not dialogue in order to reach "consensus." Some issues can't be reconciled. I dialogue so that we can have clarity about what each of us believes, which facilitates understanding but not necessarily agreement. It also allows readers to see both sides presented, and from there they can form their own opinions. This blog is for the lurkers as much as for anyone.
If you do not enjoy being challenged in your philosophy, if you do not like being pressed to go further, if you do not like questions (and more questions), then this is not the forum for you. But if you like a Socratic-type dialogue, then make yourself right at home here in the Bubble!
Finally, if you are commenting anonymously, please give a pseudonym so that we don't confuse you with the other anonymous commenters.
Thanks, and I hope to hear from you soon!
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The Purpose of My Blog
The Purpose of My Blog
I want this to be a teaching blog, primarily for Catholics.
I want Catholics to see that our Faith is cohesive, consistent and reasonable, and I want them to be able to teach it in their own homes and communities, and defend it in the world. I want to help make up for the catechesis deficit we've had for the past two generations.
Do I expect to be attacked for speaking the Truth bluntly? Yes. We live in a "feel good" world, and if what I present doesn't make you "feel good," then I risk feeling your wrath. That's okay, and I can take it.
Can I be counted on to dialogue respectfully and unemotionally with those who disagree? Yes, absolutely. But I will speak the plain truth as I see it, even if it's unpopular or makes people uncomfortable. I don't sugarcoat, because a) we need to be able to dialogue like grown-ups, and b) it wastes time. Time is valuable, people! Many may chafe at my straight-talk approach; they are free to read other, more soothing blogs.
Do I hope to plant seeds for the non-believers or Catholic-bashers, maybe even winning them over to our side? Of course! But that is not my primary aim. Pope John Paul II once said that it's impossible to correct every error we encounter, but we must always speak the truth. I know that some folks will never be convinced, and others will react with a knee-jerk emotional outburst. I accept that. I won't censor them, and I will occasionally dissect their words to get to the truth of the matter.
By the way, in matters of politics and policy, the opinions on this blog are my own. In matters of theology, I don't give my opinion, I simply pass along what the Church teaches. Truth originates with God, and our only job is to seek it humbly, then live it.
But in addition to being a teaching blog, I want this blog to be a learning blog, with me as the student. First, I want to learn what makes leftist/liberal/atheist minds tick. Why do they think as they do? As I've said before, the secularist mindset makes no logical sense to me (except when a secularist is able to follow his or her premise to its logical conclusion, and then I will accept the answer).
I also want to learn from the amazing women and men I have befriended on these blogs. So many of you have struggled with heavy crosses, and have grown more virtuous and holy as you humbly die to self and cling to Christ. I want to keep learning at your feet, which is why I so enjoy reading your edifying comments here and on your own blogs.
A teaching blog and a learning blog. Yep, that's what I want this to be. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
Blessings!
Leila
