Eating meat is not evil
Q: If God loves all of His creatures, why did He create a fierce life situation where to remain healthy His creatures must (kill and) eat other living things?
SCHOOL ELECTIONS
Web Search
by YAHOO! SEARCH
by YAHOO! SEARCH
What kids want to know
Dear Readers: You’re not the only ones who ask me questions. Here are some queries from students in the sixth grade of our religious school. Tell your kids to write to me and I’ll answer them, too, one of these days.—Rabbi Gellman
Trinity hard to fathom
Q: I’m a 66-year-old Lutheran. I have a sound religious faith and have always had a strong interest in learning from reading the Bible. What I’ve never understood is our concept of God the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I don’t know to whom I should pray. I would rather just pray to God. If we’re to pray only to God, though, why all this talk about the other two? Also, we’re commanded to have only one God.—S., Quakertown, Pa.
It’s ‘Thou shalt not murder’
Q: In light of military past, will I ever go to heaven, since one of the Ten Commandments says, “Thou shalt not kill”?
God, Abraham and Isaac
Q: Attending Catholic school as a child, I remember being bothered by the story of Abraham being tested by God. God asked Abraham to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, up to Him. Once God saw that Abraham was willing to do what He asked, God stopped Abraham from killing Isaac. It was only when I became an adult that the story made sense to me. God only asked Abraham to do what God knew He would have to do one day—namely, to offer up His only son, Jesus, to be killed to save the world from their sins. God needed to know that Abraham loved Him as much as God loves us. Am I reaching in making this connection or is it a reasonable one?—P.
Passover, Easter unite us
For Christians and Jews, all of our religious holidays divide us except for Passover and Easter. Passover and Easter divide us by bringing us closer together. Let me try to explain this exquisite spiritual contradiction.
Evil leads to crisis of faith
Q: I’m a fortysomething male raised as a Catholic. I was generally made to attend Mass on Sundays until I was confirmed. I’ve been happily married for 16 years and have a wonderful 10-year-old daughter who we’re raising as a Catholic. All of this would lead one to assume that I’m a person of faith, or even somewhat religious. Yet, I have no faith.
Essentials of world religions
Q: I saw a T-shirt recently that described various religions’ basic beliefs digested into one sentence for each faith. Why not commit a column to the similarities and differences among the various beliefs? A paragraph on each would be enlightening. Keep up the good work, or the God work, if that’s more appropriate.—D.
Suffering is over in heaven
Q: My question is about heaven, and in particular the belief that we’re united in heaven with the souls of our departed relatives. My late wife of 59 years had a father who was a sadistic pedophile. Not only did he destroy her self-confidence but also her idea of marital life. She confided to me that she tolerated sex only because she wanted to be a mother—and she was a great one! I can’t imagine that reuniting with him would be her concept of heaven. Any thoughts?—G.
The spiritual role of angels
Q: There’s a feast day in Catholicism at the end of September (29th) for three saints who are also angels: Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. I’ve been taught that these are three of the seven archangels. Do you know the names of the other four? I also pray to my personal guardian angel, but I don’t know his name, either.—M., Long Island
Entertainment Calendar
Best bets:
- Thu 5/17: Tyler Perry's Madea Gets a Job
- Fri 5/18: An Evening with Yanni
- Fri 5/18: Michael Feinstein presenting the Sinatra Project
- Fri 5/18: Lee "Scratch" Perry
- Sat 5/19: Collective Soul
- Sat 5/19: Louis Prima Jr.
- Sat 5/19: Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons
- Wed 5/23: Jazz vocalist Jane Monheit
- Thu 5/24: North Sea Gas
- Fri 5/25: An Evening of Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake and Serenade
- Sat 5/26: Rich Little
- more events »
The Feed / What’s Happening Now
Latest Updates
East Side
Gathering in grief, determination
Clarence
Expanded animal shelter opens doors
City & Region
One of MLK Park shooting victims dies
Most Commented
Most Viewed
Dr. James Corasanti Trial
Investigator puts speed of doctor car at 46 to 52 mph
Bills & NFL
Respectful Young is here to learn
City of Buffalo
Man charged in '94 murder of neighbor
North Buffalo/Hertel
Warning comes with polar bears’ exit
Niagara Falls
Wallenda concerned about his welcome
Bob DiCesare
Bills bet rebounding Young has a lot in reserve
Stay Informed
Newsroom Tips
Have a news tip you think The Buffalo News should investigate?
Call The News tip line at 849-4475 or email us at investigations@buffnews.com.
All calls and emails will be kept confidential.
Buffalo Marketplace
Marketplace videos
Watch the latest offers, products and services from our advertisers.
Browse our print ads
It's the ultimate advantage for Buffalo consumers. Never miss another ad again!
Buffalo Savers: coupons
Buffalo coupons at your fingertips.
Just click and print. It's Easy!
Browse our print ads
Newspaper Ads
Browse our print ads
Special Sections
Buffalo Savers
Local coupons
Featured coupon
Latest Blogs
Politics Now