Category Archives: evolution

The Jesuit and the Benedictine

Posted on January 7, 2020 by Quentin

Have you heard the story of the Jesuit and the Benedictine? It seems that they were both heavy smokers. Chatting about this one day they agreed to ask their superiors to give them permission to smoke while reading their Daily … Continue reading →

Posted in Bio-ethics, evolution, Quentin queries | 25 Comments

Who’s right? Who’s wrong?

Posted on August 22, 2019 by Quentin

Natural Law is a fundamental element of Catholic moral teaching. Here I am going to set out my understanding so that readers can correct me or develop my ideas. In fact, the concept is based on a very straightforward, and … Continue reading →

Posted in evolution, Moral judgment, Neuroscience | 41 Comments

The First Judgment

Posted on July 25, 2019 by Quentin

I would describe myself as a short man. While I like to think that I have a pleasant face, I would never describe myself as handsome. I wear spectacles – often two pairs — around my neck, and I have … Continue reading →

Posted in Bio-ethics, evolution, Quentin queries | 11 Comments

The patterns of the brain

Posted on August 30, 2018 by Quentin

No, I do not intend to write about Brexit, but I am interested in the process of decision we had to undertake before the referendum. I wanted to make an intelligent choice but all I was getting was acres of … Continue reading →

Posted in Catholic Herald columns, evolution, Moral judgment, Neuroscience | 1 Comment

Burka — the real problem

Posted on August 9, 2018 by Quentin

So Boris Johnson is in trouble again. His comment on Muslim women wearing burkas as looking like bank robbers or letter boxes has caused enough stir even to knock Brexit off the front pages. I am no particular fan of … Continue reading →

Posted in evolution, Moral judgment, Neuroscience | 15 Comments

#METOO and evolution

Posted on July 12, 2018 by Quentin

#METOO has caused a great fuss on the press and in social news. But its profile has been overtaken by new issues. It will come back with the next scandal. But in the brief break we may allow ourselves to … Continue reading →

Posted in Bio-ethics, evolution, Moral judgment, Quentin queries | 12 Comments

Attachment and loss

Posted on June 28, 2018 by Quentin

I dropped in on my old friend Denise for a cup of coffee. What I saw was a marvellous example of human nature. She was looking after her grandniece, a child under two. I simply watched. In between our conversation … Continue reading →

Posted in Catholic Herald columns, evolution, Neuroscience | 16 Comments

Forbidden fruit

Posted on April 27, 2018 by Quentin

“Our results show that the paintings we dated are, by far, the oldest known cave art in the world, and were created at least 20,000 years before modern humans arrived in Europe from Africa — therefore they must have been … Continue reading →

Posted in Catholic Herald columns, evolution, Moral judgment, Quentin queries | Tagged , , | 26 Comments

The vulgar mob

Posted on February 16, 2018 by Quentin

In January this year President Trump presented his “Fake News” awards, The New York Times led the list. But fake news is all the rage: a modern phenomenon which seems to have been born at the last presidential election. And … Continue reading →

Posted in Catholic Herald columns, Catholic Herald other, evolution, Moral judgment | 38 Comments

Original Sin re-visited

Posted on February 8, 2018 by Quentin

A number of years ago I had my own website. It no longer exists because it cannot be hosted through my current internet provider. But I was looking through the old files this week when I came across the page … Continue reading →

Posted in evolution, Moral judgment, Quentin queries, Scripture, Spirituality | Tagged , , | 49 Comments