Answerbag: allanbz's answers

Answer to What's the origin of the word "trivia"?

Wed, 25 May 2005 23:13:54 -0700

What's the origin of the word "trivia"?

Of note too is that the "three ways" referred to the trivium, the first three courses of medieval education (logic, rhetoric, and grammar, which were followed by the quadrivium, arithmetic, astronomy, geometry, and music). Picturing quibbling logicians, rhetoricians, and grammarians may...

Answer to What languages were used in The Passion of the Christ?

Fri, 25 Feb 2005 19:34:46 -0800

What languages were used in The Passion of the Christ?

A slight correction of the other entries for this question: Aramaic is not a dead language. There are still Aramaic speakers in various dialects, predominantly in Syria, but scattered around the region as well. Most, I believe, speak dialects in the Syriac branch.

Answer to Why are Catholic Priests forbidden to marry?

Thu, 03 Feb 2005 00:41:00 -0800

Why are Catholic Priests forbidden to marry?

Some Catholic priests can marry. The eastern patriarchates, while in full communion with the Holy Catholic Church, under the authority of the Roman Pontiff, and bearing the whole faith and Tradition handed down to them from Jesus and the apostles, have their own disciplinary law, individual...

Answer to What is the reasoning for the pelican in most of Mother Angelica's pictures?

Wed, 02 Feb 2005 23:29:18 -0800

What is the reasoning for the pelican in most of Mother Angelica's pictures?

While I am not familiar with Mother Angelica, the pelican probably refers to Christ. I think that the association came about because medievals believed that the pelican would stab its breast with its beak to provide blood for its brood, just as Christ gave His blood for mankind. [Edit:...

Answer to Why are all important mafia bosses called Don?

Wed, 02 Feb 2005 22:14:07 -0800

Why are all important mafia bosses called Don?

It is a title in Spain (Don/Dona) and Italy (Don/Donna) descending from Latin "dominus," master, lord. It is thus cognate with French/British/Portuguese Dom/Dame and British Dan (judge). Back to the entertainment aspect. Interestingly, you'll note Puzo's _Godfather_ can be...

Answer to What is considered "fashionably late"?

Wed, 02 Feb 2005 21:53:47 -0800

What is considered "fashionably late"?

Late enough to arrive when the party is in full swing, rather than at that period when people are staring awkwardly at their feet. Even better, right at the inflection point when the transition from the latter state to the former is taking place, early enough that you're noticed by everyone...

Answer to What is the sound of one hand clapping?

Wed, 02 Feb 2005 07:06:58 -0800

What is the sound of one hand clapping?

This is one of the most famous beginnings to a Zen koan in the West, though it is relatively recent. A koan is akin to a mini-catechism, though where in Christian catechisms, the content (answers) is more important, in Zen Buddhism, the process of working out the proper responses to the koan is...

Answer to How is punk rock different from rock?

Fri, 21 Jan 2005 19:54:00 -0800

How is punk rock different from rock?

[This repeats many of the above answers, but I've gone this far, may as well post. I'm sure much of this is subjective and even wrong by somebody's lights, so have at it.] Punk is a subgenre of rock originating in the seventies as a reaction to other music on the airwaves at...

Answer to Where I can learn about the basics of psychology?

Fri, 21 Jan 2005 19:09:48 -0800

Where I can learn about the basics of psychology?

Anonymous's answer is a bit misleading. Disclaimer: My training was preparing me for work in psychophysics (the psychology of perception) though I abandoned the field, alas. Much of _Psychology Today_ (from my experience with the magazine) is concerned with clinical and pop psychology,...

Answer to Why do people get so excited about seeing celebrities when they are just normal people?

Fri, 21 Jan 2005 18:47:32 -0800

Why do people get so excited about seeing celebrities when they are just normal people?

With tongue firmly in cheek: Typically, celebrities are not "just normal people;" they are more celebrated and famous than normal people. Normal people do not get feted by the press, mobbed by groupies, or excoriated from the pulpit. Celebrity writers tend to write in a manner...

Answer to What books are good for teaching children the Catholic faith and its beliefs?

Wed, 19 Jan 2005 23:18:35 -0800

What books are good for teaching children the Catholic faith and its beliefs?

The Bible of course. Concentrate on the New Testament for the younger ones, and gradually show how specific passages in the Old Testament point to Christ. The Catechism of the Catholic Church serves to guide interpretation of the Bible according to the faith of our fathers, and is...

Answer to What is the Catholic church's stance on premarital sex?

Wed, 19 Jan 2005 22:16:00 -0800

What is the Catholic church's stance on premarital sex?

It's the same as every Christian denomination's stand on sex outside of marriage. "The deliberate use of the sexual faculty, for whatever reason, outside of marriage is essentially contrary to its purpose." It makes mock of the covenantal union, and is a grave offense against...

Answer to Is there a god, and either way, how do we know?

Wed, 19 Jan 2005 20:02:20 -0800

Is there a god, and either way, how do we know?

Objectively, there is no one single definitive proof of God's existence that trumps all arguments against it. We know God exists by signs, thought, revelation, prayer, and love. We believe in His existence because we see many of the things in this world that point to Him, that speak of...

Answer to What are some things a Baptist man can do to appeal to the parents of a Catholic woman he'd like to date?

Wed, 19 Jan 2005 19:49:09 -0800

What are some things a Baptist man can do to appeal to the parents of a Catholic woman he'd like to date?

Convert! (Sorry, just making with the funny.) Assuming that your respective religions are important both to you and to them: First: Love their daughter and be loved in return. This is the primary requirement of any daughter's parents. Second: I find myself offended when certain...

Answer to What is eschatology?

Wed, 19 Jan 2005 18:20:59 -0800

What is eschatology?

It is the study of last things and the end times. In Christian theology, it covers inquiries that focus on personal last things (what happens after we die? what is the mechanism of resurrection? is there a purgation before we see God? how is immortality reconciled to imperfect flesh?) and also...

Answer to How did the months of the year get their names in Spanish?

Wed, 19 Jan 2005 13:14:21 -0800

How did the months of the year get their names in Spanish?

From the Latin months of Iberia's Roman conquerors: Mars, Roman god of war: marzo Aprilis, "sacred to Venus," cognate with Greek Aphrodite: abril Maia, Roman goddess: mayo Iuno, Roman goddess: junio Iulius Caesar, deified Roman consul: julio Augustus, deified Roman emperor:...

Answer to What is the etymology of the word democrat?

Fri, 17 Sep 2004 04:23:31 -0700

What is the etymology of the word democrat?

It is from the Greek. Demos is "people." Kratos is "rule" or "power." Democracies originated in ancient Greece, forming in response to a breakdown in oligarchic (government by the aristocrat class) rule. Democracies would typically empower a larger portion of its...

Answer to Is there any doctrinal basis for Christian boys being circumcised?

Mon, 13 Sep 2004 01:11:21 -0700

Is there any doctrinal basis for Christian boys being circumcised?

Short answer: no. Long answer: The Mosaic laws require that boys be circumcised (Genesis 17:10ff, Joshua 5:2ff). When Chrisitianity was new, a faction of Christians of Jewish descent ("Judaizers") demanded that all Christian converts of Gentile descent be inducted into the old...