MSI Press Blog

  We live in a world that prizes immediacy, clarity, and control. Yet life—especially in its most tender, chaotic, or mysterious moments—rarely offers any of these. What if the very complexity we resist is the doorway to deeper peace? Theological concepts like kenosis (self-emptying), the hypostatic union (divine and human natures in Christ), or the communion of saints aren’t just abstract doctrines for scholars. They are lenses—radical, reframing lenses—that can shift how we see illness, injustice, aging, and even our own limitations. 🌿 Kenosis: The Power of Letting Go In Philippians 2, Christ “emptied himself,” taking the form of a servant. This isn’t weakness—it’s divine strength expressed through vulnerability. When we face burnout, caregiving fatigue, or the loss of control in aging bodies, kenosis invites us to reframe surrender not as defeat, but as sacred participation. We become vessels, not victims. 🔥 The Trinity: Relationship as Reality The Trinity isn’t a puzzle...

  Free will is one of the most enduring—and elusive—concepts in human thought. It sits at the crossroads of philosophy, neuroscience, theology, and ethics. To ask whether we have free will is to ask:  Do we truly choose our path, or are we simply walking one laid out for us? 🔍 What Is Free Will? At its simplest, free will is the ability to make choices that are not predetermined. It implies agency—the power to act according to one’s own volition. But this definition quickly tangles with deeper questions: If our brains are shaped by genetics and environment, where does freedom begin? If God is omniscient, can our choices be truly free? If society constrains us, are we choosing—or reacting? 🧠 The Science of Choice Neuroscience has complicated the picture. Studies show that decisions may be initiated in the brain before we become consciously aware of them. Yet consciousness still plays a role—perhaps not in initiating choice, but in shaping it. Some argue that free will is an i...

  From the spiral of galaxies to the symmetry of snowflakes, the universe seems to whisper of intention. The  teleological argument , also known as the argument from design, asks a bold question:  Is this order accidental—or authored? 🧭 What Is the Teleological Argument? At its core, the teleological argument posits that the complexity, order, and apparent purposefulness of the universe point to an intelligent designer. The term  teleology  comes from the Greek  telos , meaning “end” or “purpose.” Philosophers from Plato to Paley have argued that the universe behaves not like a random collection of matter, but like a system with goals. “Just as a watch implies a watchmaker, the universe implies a designer.” — William Paley 🌠 Examples of Cosmic Design Fine-Tuning of Physical Constants:  The gravitational constant, the speed of light, and other parameters are so precisely calibrated that even slight variations would make life impossible. Biological Com...