Today on Kresta - December 14, 2009

Talking about the "things that matter most" on Dec. 14

4:00 – Christianity Caused the Crash?
Recently the Atlantic magazine ran an article under the provocative headline “Did Christianity Cause the Crash?” The article itself was much less silly than the headline, but even so, its effort to tie Christian religious movements to the crash was a pretty implausible stretch. However, the topic of Christianity and the market deserves some serious attention, because (the absurdity of the Atlantic notwithstanding) recent shifts in Christian religious attitudes really are related in important ways to the American economy. So—Did Christianity Cause the Crash? Dr. Greg Forster has the answer.

4:20 – December 14, 1799 – George Washington Dies / The Political Philosophy of George Washington
George Washington is revered as the father of his country, a clever and skilled general, and a man of restrained principle -- but not as a political thinker. Though Washington left little explicit writing on political philosophy, on this 210th anniversary of Washington’s death, Jeffry Morrison is here to examine his key writings, actions, education, and political and professional lives. He finds that Washington held closely to a trinity of foundational principles -- classical republicanism, British liberalism, and Protestant Christianity -- with greater fidelity than many of the other founding fathers. In unearthing Washington's ideological growth, Morrison reveals the intellectual heritage of his political thought and shows how these beliefs motivated him to action.

4:40 – Reflections on Music and the Incarnation of Christ
As we move through the season of Advent, Brian Nelson finds his thoughts naturally turning to the mystery of the Incarnation. But this year, he says, they are more personal than in the past, closer to home. As a classically trained composer, he is asking questions like “What are the implications of the Incarnation for the arts, and for music in particular?” and “Is there a proper theology of music?” We look at Music and the Incarnation of Christ.

5:00 – Kresta Comments

5:20 – Be a Man!: Becoming the Man God Created You to Be
Men are rediscovering the importance of the spiritual life. And Father Larry Richards is helping them do it. While some writers apply a one-size-fits-all approach to the Christian life, Father Richards draws on his many years of ministry and his own experience as a man to inspire other men as men. In Be a Man!, he recounts his struggles to learn true manhood, as well as the inspiring stories of others he has served in his decades as a priest. He tells men how to focus on the right goal, how to live as a beloved son of God, of the need to acknowledge one's faults and to live according to the Holy Spirit, to be a man of true love and of wisdom, to appreciate properly the differences between men and women, to pursue holiness, and to make a difference in the world. We explore how to become the man God created you to be.

5:40 – December 13, 2004 – Vatican issues a “Notification on the book ‘Jesus Symbol of God’ by Father Roger Haight S.J.”
Five years ago yesterday, the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued a “Notification on the book Jesus, Symbol of God by Father Roger Haight S.J.” With the leadership of then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the Congregation stated that the book contains serious doctrinal errors regarding certain fundamental truths of faith. We look at Haight, Jesus, Symbol of God, and the impact of the notification. Dr. William Loewe takes us through it.