Friday, March 1, 2013

"Smell the Rotting Souls"

Some of you may have read this article by Dr. Peter Kreeft already but today is the first time I've seen it: The Winning Strategy. As you may know, I'm quite fond of people who are blunt-spoken and very few are as straightforward and blunt as Dr. Kreeft. He tells it like it is and, in a world obsessed with being politically correct, I appreciate not having to wrestle with too much "fluff" to get to the meat of an article. No worries with Dr. Kreeft; you won't get pandering here.

In his article The Winning Strategy, Dr. Kreeft says something that really caught me off guard because I have become so used to people tiptoeing around the issue of sin, softening the blows in order to please the crowds (who do not want their comfort disturbed by something as ugly as sin or the eternal loss of souls).

"I don’t mean merely that Western civilization will die. That’s a piece of trivia. I mean eternal souls will die. Billions of Ramons and Vladamirs and Janes and Tiffanies will go to Hell. That’s what’s at stake in this war: not just whether America will become a banana republic, or whether we’ll forget Shakespeare, or even whether some nuclear terrorist will incinerate half of humanity, but whether our children and our children’s children will see God forever. That’s what’s at stake in “Hollywood versus America.” That’s why we must wake up and smell the rotting souls. Knowing we are at war is the first requirement for winning it". - See more at: http://www.integratedcatholiclife.org/2011/01/kreeft-the-winning-strategy/#sthash.yrBdPAos.dpuf

You can't state things much more bluntly than this, can you? And Dr. Kreeft is right. We need to understand that we are in the midst of the greatest spiritual war in the history of humanity.

And the "casualties" of this war could be our children.

Yes, Dr. Kreeft, it's time for America to wake up and smell the rotting souls.

17 comments:

  1. Thanks for sharing this, Mary. I like Peter Kreeft for the same reason~just the hard cold facts. We need more like him.

    ReplyDelete
  2. O wow... thank you so much for posting this. I want to scream out: YES. THIS is what it's all about! THIS is what's really important. Again, thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Priest No. 1: "Shall I say it as it is in my sermon?"

    Priest No. 2: "Don't you dare! We mustn't frighten the congregation. They'll leave the Church, or go to another one. Our finances will go down. The Bishop will get upset. We may well be moved ourselves as failing priets and ..."

    Priest No 1: "But we must tell them about sin and evil. Surely we should save their souls ..."

    Priest No 2: "They can always read the Bible ... or go to RCIA and other classes. Don't rock the boat ... that's what I tell you. Take it from me. I've been a priest for ages. Just don't rock the boat!!!"

    ReplyDelete
  4. Mary,

    I haven't read this article by Peter Kreeft, but I will. I should read and then comment. I'm always doing things in the wrong order!

    I have just finished listening to a talk given by Peter Kreeft. I think it was called Winning the Culture War. It had a very positive message about the state of the Church (things aren't as bad as they may appear) which I found very encouraging.

    Off to read the article...

    God bless!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Mary,

    I had read this Peter Kreeft article before! I'd just forgotten its title. It seems to me that what we need to do is concentrate our efforts on ourselves. We must become saints in order to change the world. I once read that the best weapon against the evil in the world is confession. Each of us must start with ourselves, overcoming our own inclinations to sin. I hadn't been expecting such a simple solution but I can see it makes sense.

    God bless!

    ReplyDelete
  6. OOO... Sue's comment made a bumper sticker image flash through my mind. How about somebody designing one that says, "Change the world. Become a saint."

    I love Peter Kreeft for the same reasons you do. God will hold us to account if we don't speak the truth.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi Karin,
    Yes, we do. This is the kind of straightforward talk that people need to hear because it's eternity that's at stake. Thanks for commenting!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi Nancy,
    And maybe people would listen if they understand how serious things are.

    God bless!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi Victor,
    You make a very good point here - no one wants to offend anyone these days so people fail to speak up. Even priests. We just don't hear all that much about sin, satan, or hell at church. Meanwhile there are souls in deep mortal sin who need to know that they are in danger.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hi Sue,
    Great comment! We start with ourselves and then it spreads outwards from there.

    The article was excellent. It may put some people off but I prefer directness when it comes to spiritual matters - it keeps people from becoming confused.

    God bless!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi Barb,
    It would change the world, wouldn't it? If this was everyone's aim things would change so quickly!

    I figured you liked Peter Kreeft:) You write in a straightforward manner too.

    Thanks for commenting!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Sweet Mary, thank you for sharing. Also for your words of healing to my soul. Blessings.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Wow, what a stark perspective. I wish everyone could read this.

    God Bless you.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hi Grace,
    I know that one day you will be completely healed.
    "She will conquer" - I truly believe this Grace. I know that this is what God wants for you. You will be triumphant in Him.

    Hugs to you, my friend!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi Michael,
    It is pretty stark, isn't it? I wish everyone could read it too.

    God bless!

    ReplyDelete
  16. I'm not familiar with Peter Kreeft either so I will head on over to your link. He reminds me of Fr. Cropi (what that his name?) from EWTN. The one who was bold and straight forward in his preaching but then "fell from grace" and was removed from TV. Thanks for the tip Mary and God bless!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Mary..just letting you know that I sent you that e-mail to the address on your blogger page. Hope you got it...let me know xoxo

    ReplyDelete