The concept of the fundamental option in ethics as a way of life is a profoundly significant theory. It emphasizes the basic orientation of an individual's moral life as a continuous and overarching commitment rather than a series of isolated actions—think of the whole versus the parts. Rooted in Christian theology, it seeks to explain how humans make profound... Continue Reading →
Merton-Cardijn Option
"There are no passengers on spaceship earth. We are all crew." ~ Marshall McLuhan In 1965, Louis Monden, S.J., published “Sin, Liberty, and Law.” The book discusses various themes, including the meaning of freedom and determinism, the contrast between legal ethics and situational ethics, and the mystique of evil in society. It is a... Continue Reading →
Third Agers: Who are they?
Louis J. Putz, CSC, viewed life as a chain consisting of three links: the age of learning, earning, and returning. The third age represents that period in life when individuals have the opportunity to give back their knowledge, talent, and experience in service to others. Early in my life, I had a mentor who was... Continue Reading →
The best lesson I learned from Eli Goldratt
I recall several conferences where Eliyahu M. Goldratt, the author of "The Goal," would say, "Don't worry about things you cannot control or influence." On two occasions, he repeated this message to me, once while sitting in my Jeep while driving around in Detroit because we were lost. His philosophy resonates with Stoic principles.... Continue Reading →
What Say Ye, Marshall about Living with AI?
McLuhan would likely analyze AI through the lens of his media theory, particularly his famous concept that "the medium is the message" and his ideas about how technologies extend human capabilities while reshaping our sensory ratios and social relationships. McLuhan views AI as a profound natural extension of human cognitive capabilities, similar to how he... Continue Reading →
Our Mantra: SEE-JUDGE-ACT.
Merry Christmas and my thoughts for 2025. For decades, our mantra has focused on the SEE-JUDGE-ACT. I use it in all my teaching, keynote addresses, and workshops. Sometimes, I use it subtly; others, it is more like a call to arms. As we approach the new year, I'm excited to share that our mantra, which has... Continue Reading →
McLuhan and Cardijn having a cup of coffee.
In this era of growing mass communications, multimedia, and the rise of autonomous technology such as AI, we must discuss what we do in religion, including what and how we study history, scripture, culture, praxis (CST), etc. We must realize that a religious message delivered through a personal conversation is far different than what is... Continue Reading →
Nice to meet you. I am Prudence. Have we ever met?
The See-Judge-Act method or Observe-Discern-Act method, as many have called it, is used for theological reflection and social action. The key is ACT. It involves seeing reality, judging/discerning/reflecting, and finding ways to act. The See-Judge-Act method has a rich historical lineage. It was employed by early Greek Philosophers and is exemplified in the Sermon on the Mount. The early followers of Jesus, particularly as a teaching tool and... Continue Reading →
The Next Big Thing usually extends the Last Big Thing.
A useful Rule of Thumb: The Next Big Thing usually extends the Last Big Thing. This pattern refers to how innovations and technological advancements such as Artificial Intelligence often build upon or extend existing successful technologies or ideas rather than emerging in isolation. It suggests that significant breakthroughs are frequently evolutionary rather than revolutionary. Some... Continue Reading →
“It’s a strange, strange world we live in, Master Jack.”
What Joseph Cardijn saw in his time was all about jobs, workers’ lives, the dignity of work, and what it means to be a human being made in God's image and likeness. Today, we learn from those who came before us, and once again, the situation is about jobs. What it means to be made... Continue Reading →
Innovate ~ Educate ~ Collaborate 
You must be logged in to post a comment.