Scott Bradford: Off on a Tangent

Church & Religion

Links relating to faith and spirituality, mainly Catholic Christian but also key works from other faiths. The Catholic Church is the “one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church” of the creed. It was established by Christ and is led by successors of Peter under Holy Spirit’s protection.

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BibleChurchLearningLiturgyLives of SaintsNewsOrganizationsOther: IslamOther: JudaismOther: Various

The Holy Bible is the canonical Christian scripture. Its Old Testament (the Hebrew scripture) is mostly the same as the Jewish Tanakh. The New Testament is the distinctive Christian scripture. Catholic Bibles contain the full canon; Protestant Bibles omit seven “deuterocanonical” books.

This section includes official Catholic websites, canon laws, and proclamations. It includes information from the Holy See (the Pope and the Vatican), the Diocese of Arlington, my own home parish, and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

This section includes documents, reference works, books, archives, schools, and online learning providers that offer a wealth of information about faith and religion. It is a mix of official Catholic material and third-party sources, mostly about Catholic Christianity but also some non-Catholic and non-Christian material.

This section includes references relating to the liturgy and worship of the Catholic Church. It includes information about the liturgical calendar, the readings of the day, the order of Mass, and resources to find local Mass times anywhere in the world.

A wealth of information about thousands of canonized Catholic saints. The saints are members of the “church triumphant” in the greater Communion of Saints. They are models of the faith and friends in heaven who we venerate (but do not worship).

This section includes sources for news, commentary, and analysis of current events in the world of religion. These links are mostly focused on Catholic Christianity, but some cover non-Catholic and non-Christian faith traditions as well.

  • Arlington Catholic Herald
    The “official news outlet of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Arlington” in northern Virginia.
  • Catholic News Agency (CNA)
    An EWTN service providing “reliable, free, up-to-the-minute news affecting the Universal Church.”
  • Crisis Magazine
    Offering “authentic Catholic perspectives on church and state, arts and culture, [and] science and faith.”
  • Crux
    Offering “smart, wired, and independent coverage of the Vatican and the Catholic Church.”
  • National Catholic Register (NCRegister)
    An EWTN service providing “timely news reporting from across the United States, from the Vatican, and from around the world.”
  • New Advent
    Kevin Knight’s popular aggregator of interesting Catholic news.
  • OSV News
    An Our Sunday Visitor (OSV) service that “communicates the truth of what is happening in the Church and the world.”
  • RealClearReligion
    A RealClear Media Group (RCMG) service providing “news, analysis, and commentary that explores the role of religion in public life.”
  • The Catholic Thing
    A publication that aims to “bring the best Catholic thought and action into the public square.”
  • The Pillar
    A publication offering “smart, faithful, and serious journalism” from “Catholics who love the Church.”
  • Vatican News
    Official “news portal of the Holy See” by the Dicastery for Communication.

Links to various charities, organizations, associations, and advocacy groups that work for a more just and righteous society at home and in the world. Organizations listed here are Catholic or, if non-Catholic, do not violate Catholic moral beliefs.

  • American Life League (ALL)
    Catholic pro-life organization “committed to the protection of all innocent human beings from the moment of creation to death.”
  • Becket (Becket Fund for Religious Liberty)
    A “public-interest legal and educational institute with a mission to protect the free expression of all faiths.”
  • Cardinal Newman Society
    Catholic organization that promotes and defends “faithful Catholic education.”
  • Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington
    Serves “the needs of the vulnerable, regardless of their faith, on behalf of the Catholic Church in the northern part of Virginia.”
  • Catholic Relief Services
    An “international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community” to “assist impoverished and disadvantaged people overseas.”
  • DC Central Kitchen
    A “nonprofit and social enterprise that combats hunger and poverty through job training and job creation.”
  • Knights of Columbus
    Catholic fraternal service organization founded by Blessed Father Michael J. McGivney.
  • Manhattan Declaration
    A “call of christian conscience” asserting the right to refuse to comply with immoral civil edicts.
  • Militia of the Immaculata
    An organization that aims to “win the whole world for Christ through the Immaculata, Mother of God and of the Church.”
  • World Central Kitchen
    An organization “deeply committed to serving delicious, chef-prepared meals to people with the dignity they deserve.”

Islam, whose adherents are called Muslims, is the largest non-Christian religion. Its holy book is the Qur’an, which dates to the 7th Century and, according to Islamic belief, was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad by the angel Gabriel. The two major branches of Islam are Sunni and Shia (or Shiite); most Muslims are Sunni.

Judaism is the religion of the Jewish people; it is among the oldest existing religions and was one of the first monotheistic faiths. It is based on the ancient Mosaic covenant between God and the Israelites recorded in the Torah. The Jewish scripture, or Tanakh, which includes the Torah, is also the basis of the Christian Old Testament.

Information and material about faiths other than Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. These include “eastern” religions like Buddhism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Jainism, Shintoism, and Taoism; distinct splinter groups from the major faiths like Baha’i and LDS (Mormonism); and influential ancient religions like Zoroastrianism.

Scott Bradford is a writer and technologist who has been putting his opinions online since 1995. He believes in three inviolable human rights: life, liberty, and property. He is a Catholic Christian who worships the trinitarian God described in the Nicene Creed. Scott is a husband, nerd, pet lover, and AMC/Jeep enthusiast with a B.S. degree in public administration from George Mason University.