Tertio ?

I subscribe to some twenty periodicals. Most of them focus on genealogy and local history, some are of general interest.

For over a year now I subscribe to Tertio, a christian weekly magazine ("christelijk opinieweekblad"). It is the only publication that I read from cover to cover, because I want to keep informed on a somewhat more profound level than the news which is supplied by newspapers or even general magazines.

But the exercise requires discipline and is not always fruitful.

About half of the articles I do not understand because they are written in professional jargon which is impenetrable to ordinary mortals like myself. This is especially true for articles concerning philosophy and theology. But even sociologists and education specialists have their own specific grandiloquent styles to show off. If ever I have thought I was an intellectual, I have now lost that illusion.

About one third of the articles make me cringe. Sometimes they even make me blow my top : they wallow in political correctness, dreamy multiculturalism, almost absolute relativism (a nice find isn't it ?), postmodernism (whatever that means) and ... religious gobbledygook in which sacred scripture, tradition and dogma are submitted to the critical analysis and piercing insights of present day "specialists", who feel the urge to reinvent the wheel as if nothing has been done or explained correctly over the last 2000 years.

When I read this publication, or peruse the "zillion" "traditional catholic" websites (mainly located in North America) I sometimes wonder what remains of the "one and only" catholic church : almost everyone appears to have his own à la carte creed and insights.

But who am I to criticise or to complain about other people's opinions ? "Die Gedanken sind frei ..." (bad joke).

I like the remainder of the articles, which - in as far as I'm concerned are right on the dot. But I have a terrible confession to make : in the religious field, and fortunately in that field only, I tend to be attracted to conservative traditional viewponts. Ouch !

But those articles are enough for me to keep buying and reading the publication. It most certainly is good exercice for the gray matter.

http://www.tertio.be/index.htm.