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Christ-centered, Reformed, Presbyterian, Calvinist-but-not-too-Calvinist; frequently liberal. I like to think of myself as ecumenically minded but am secretly suspicious of my own bias. I enjoy libraries and the books inside them. Also medieval history (esp. medieval reception of Biblical, classical and patristic sources, and the ways that their interpretations have persisted or been rejected).

My profile image is a raven from the Aberdeen Bestiary. Corvus in divina pagina diversis modis accipitur, ut per corvum aliquando predicatorum, aliquando peccatorum, aliquando diabolus intelligitur. (The raven is understood in a variety of ways in the sacred scriptures: sometimes it means a preacher, sometimes a sinner, sometimes the devil.) It reminds me that I am simul justus et peccator.


Oct
1
accepted Have any real people been de-canonized?
Sep
30
comment Why was taking census a bad thing?
Exodus 30:11-16 links the census to a half-shekel tax per person. Some Jewish commentators (Rashi, Ramban, etc.) say that David's problem could be that he didn't levy the tax ("atonement money" or "ransom") required by Law.
Sep
29
revised Distributing the bread before consecrating the wine
added 100 characters in body
Sep
29
comment Distributing the bread before consecrating the wine
I was sort of expecting a Catholic objection that the priest must receive both before anybody else does, or an Orthodox objection that it violates the unity of the epiklesis. I will try to edit the question to make it less poll-like.
Sep
29
comment Distributing the bread before consecrating the wine
Yes, when you have larger numbers, there will be a delay somewhere! Pre-distribution is a clever solution.
Sep
29
answered What is the reason to genuflect when the Incarnation is mentioned?
Sep
29
awarded  Supporter
Sep
29
asked Distributing the bread before consecrating the wine
Sep
27
comment What is an apostle?
It does record it in the case of Paul, in Acts 9 - it's the "road to Damascus" incident. Verse 16: "This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel."
Sep
27
comment Have any real people been de-canonized?
Thank you for the clarification on St Philomena; I've removed her from the question.
Sep
27
revised Have any real people been de-canonized?
hopefully make the question clearer
Sep
27
comment Have any real people been de-canonized?
I'm using "de-canonized" as a way of saying "declared that X is not to be considered a saint". I agree that it is awkward.
Sep
27
asked Have any real people been de-canonized?
Sep
26
answered Did God ever really help the Hebrews in battle?
Sep
25
awarded  Editor
Sep
25
revised Did Christians stop the practice of Berith (Brith, Bris?) immediately?
reword last para to attribute Paul's views more clearly to him
Sep
25
comment Did Christians stop the practice of Berith (Brith, Bris?) immediately?
Sorry - I was trying to paraphrase Paul, who is writing to Christians in his letters. I will try to reword the answer to make this clearer.
Sep
24
comment What are vows? Are they relevant even today?
@Flimzy, I think it is exclusively Catholic jargon, or at least that's the only context where I've seen it. I don't know the history of the term - perhaps you or I should ask this as a separate question?
Sep
24
comment What are vows? Are they relevant even today?
@Flimzy I was suggesting that they are what is meant by "other religious", being avowed members of religious orders who are not clergy. The Catholic Church uses the noun "religious" to refer to those people.
Sep
24
answered Did Christians stop the practice of Berith (Brith, Bris?) immediately?