Author Archives: William Ockham

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About William Ockham

I am a father of two with eclectic interests in theology, philosophy and sports. I chose the pseudonym William Ockham in honor of his contributions to philosophy, specifically Occam's Razor, and its contributions to modern scientific theory. My blog (www.teilhard.com) explores Ignatian Spirituality and the intersection of faith, science and reason through the life and writings of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (pictured above).

Nerd and geek

Originally posted on There Will Be Bread:
A couple of weeks ago the Albany Times Union, (note: the paper hosts a mirror of this blog on their website)  ran a reprint of an editorial from the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. To…

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The Evolution of the Term “Big Bang

Reader Jonathan Lace sent an excellent article on the history of the term Big Bang used by the New York Times. The history is interesting not only for its own sake but also for the example that a revolutionary idea … Continue reading

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The Teilhard de Chardin Project Play in Toronto Starting November 20

The following is courtesy of reader Mary Beaty of Theatre Passe Muraille in Toronto. Ms. Beaty posted it in the comment section to a post and am copying it here as it deserves its own mention. This looks like a … Continue reading

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Teilhard de Chardin Quote of the Week (November 17, 2014): The Power of Love

“Love isn’t something we invented. It’s observable, powerful, it has to mean something… Love is the one thing we’re capable of perceiving that transcends dimensions of time and space.” This quote is not from Teilhard de Chardin, but it could … Continue reading

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Sunday Reflection 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (November 16, 2014): Taking Risks for God

This weekend is the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. The readings can be found here. The Gospel is about the parable of the talents. When I was younger, I was this parable strange on a couple of levels. First, I … Continue reading

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Feast of St. Albert the Great (November 15): Patron Saint of Scientists

Originally posted on Teilhard de Chardin:
St. Albert the Great, Patron Saint of Scientists Today is the Feast of St. Albert the Great who, along with St. Dominic, are the patron Saints of scientists.  In honor of this Feast Day, I am…

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The Role of Religion in a Scientific Age

I came across an excellent article by Richard Kropf, a retired priest, author, theologian and Teilhard de Chardin scholar.  Fr. Kropf is also a writer for the Huffington Post and had a thought-provoking article last week.  He talked about how … Continue reading

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Flannery O’Connor’s Manhattan Memorial (Teilhard de Chardin Reference)

  I found this article from the New Yorker re the Flannery O’Connor induction to the American Poets Corner at St. John the Divine Cathedral in New York, with a nice reference to Teilhard de Chardin’s impact on her writings. … Continue reading

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Teilhard de Chardin Quote of the Week (November 10, 2014): Contemplation, Charity and Unity

  “Isn’t it odd that both of us . . . have the same weakness for the self-centered life of contemplation, undisturbed by anything, and in which no ‘third party’ . . . is unwelcomely added to the two essentials, … Continue reading

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Sunday Reflection, Feast of Dedication of the Basilica of St John Lateran (November 9, 2014)

“God is our refuge and our strength, an ever-present help in distress.” — Psalm 46:2 This Sunday is the Feast of Dedication of the Basilica of St. John Latern. The readings can be found here. In the U.S., we just completed … Continue reading

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