Prologue

” Preach , and if necessary , use words “

St. Francis of Assisi

Everyone who knows me will tell you that my brief history reveals a person who is a silent believer . Someone who believes that actions and body language always speak louder than words and thus , in translation , that i am always more convinced by reflecting the Word and with it , the catholic way of life , through my life as best as i can rather than spending hours literally preaching about it , praising in tongues , or debating feverishly about and around it .

However , i have also recently recognized that there comes a time when words do become necessary .

I woke up one day overwhelmed by an indescribable intense need to read literature that was intellectually satisfying . It is perhaps not so peculiar that i eventually found my salvation in none other than theology , especially in the broad realm of apologetics . I was particularly studying an analysis of genesis .

” So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man , and while he slept took one of his ribs , and closed up its place with flesh ; and the rib which the Lord God had taken from the man he moulded into a woman and brought her to the man ” (Genesis 2)

He put Adam into a deep slumber before creating Eve . I am not implying or drawing parallels of Adam’s tardemah where there is a transition from consciousness into unconsciousness and vice versa in Adam’s awakening ; but perhaps not less profound , the transition from subconsciousness into consciousness , where , sometimes , each and everyone of us have been asleep in our own ways . I am not suggesting that awakenings are necessary , though perhaps they are , but i am one who has always welcomed the opportunity of epiphanies , regardless of their significance , sharing a semblance of Adam’s sentiments when he awoke and discovered Eve .

As Karol Wojtyla wrote ,

” In man cognition and desire acquire a spiritual character and therefore assist in the formation of a genuine interior life , which does not happen with animals . Inner life means spiritual life . It revolves around truth and goodness . And it includes a whole multitude of problems , of which two are central : what is the ultimate cause of everything and – how to be good and possess goodness at its fullest . The first of these central problems of man’s interior life engages cognition and the second desire , or rather , aspiration . Both of these functions , though , seem to be more than that , to be rather what might be called natural tendencies of the whole human entity “

Some argue that knowledge eventually entraps you . I believe that it is precisely because of that feeling that we seek the freedom we need in knowledge . The cure is commonly found within the poison itself .

” Much is required from those to whom much is given ” (Luke 12:48)

Amongst the thoughts that developed later , the possibility of dedicating a site for a collection of such epiphanies occurred to me . Some firmly assess that the pronouncement of certain philosophies require personal experience . I agree that there is no substitute for first-hand encounters and i do not in any way intend to diminish such essentiality .

All that is written here , currently and in the future , is merely the result of reflection and the testimony to knowledge gained . Furthermore , i do not claim that the content aforementioned to be infallible . My most fervent hope , of course , is to prompt and perhaps , to inspire the reflection of others on questions , issues and simple thoughts that stimulated me intellectually and at times , more profoundly within my inner depths . Maybe , just maybe , it is my contribution to paying it forward .

As for the title of this site , i was sitting down after a tiring day of reading , enjoying my bottle of beer whilst questioning the existence of the tree of the forbidden fruit . I laughed at myself when i came to realize that my favorite beer i held was also called… ‘ the forbidden fruit ‘ . The irony of the moment has since been unforgettable…and i thought it’d make an apt title here as well , despite it’s dodgy connotations…something i’d actually remember without the help of feeds .