Infiltration: The Plot to Destroy the Church from Within, by Dr. Taylor Marshall, is currently taking Amazon by storm. I wrote an analysis of it today in which I noted that the bashing of the Second Vatican Council was a prominent motif. Such a “spirit” (pun intended) is a prominent characteristic of radical Catholic reactionary thought. I have found, through the years, that much of the criticism directed towards this ecumenical council of Holy Mother Church falls prey to the good... Read more
Infiltration: The Plot to Destroy the Church from Within, by Dr. Taylor Marshall, is currently taking Amazon by storm: Hardcover (5-31-19): Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #146 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #1 in Christian Church History (Books) #1 in Christian Institutions & Organizations (Books) #1 in History of Religions Kindle Version (5-23-19): Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #799 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store) #1 in Catholicism (Kindle Store) #1 in Religious Studies – Church... Read more
I Respectfully Criticize the Prudence of Pope Francis’ Repeated Interviews with an Atheist Who Lies About Him (Eugenio Scalfari) 94-year-old atheist journalist Eugenio Scalfari makes notes of the pope’s “words” from memory. He’s on record not only “recording” that the pope denies hell (which is an outrageous lie and easily refuted), but (a thing far less known) also heaven and purgatory. So the puzzling thing is: why does the pope keep giving interviews to him? I expressed this position at... Read more
Dr. Eduardo J. Echeverria is Professor of Philosophy and Systematic Theology in the Graduate School of Theology at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit. He obtained his Licentiate in Sacred Theology from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome, and a doctorate in philosophy from the Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. On 15 May 2019, the second revised edition of his 2015 book, Pope Francis: The Legacy of Vatican II was published: expanding it from 237 pages to... Read more
This is a follow-up discussion: brought about by an atheist’s response to my article, “Atheist vs. Christian Ignorance of the Bible: A Brief Observation.” The words of gusbovona will be in blue. See also our exchange immediately before this one: “Dialogue w Atheist on Biblical Exegesis & Christian Ignorance.” ***** I’m not sure why you don’t like atheists thinking they are more rational or scientific than Christians. It’s practically a tautology that, if you disagree with someone on the basis of rationalism and science, you... Read more
This was my reply in the combox to the post, “The consistent ethic of abolitionist William Wilberforce” by Kate Cousino (9-15-17). ***** The discussion hinges, I think, on what one means by “single-issue” activist. Detractors of pro-life activists (I have been one for 35 years) say that abortion is all they care about. Unfortunately, now we have fellow pro-lifers (of relatively more “liberal” political persuasion) falsely accusing millions of other pro-lifers of alleged concern only for abortion and nothing else (including even... Read more
This is a follow-up discussion: brought about by an atheist’s response to my article, “Atheist vs. Christian Ignorance of the Bible: A Brief Observation.” The words of gusbovona will be in blue. ***** Atheist here. 1. Part of the problem atheists have with the Bible is that they suspect its god doesn’t care about communication with humans precisely because one must work to figure out exactly what the Bible means. Presumably the god of the Bible would know what would communicate effectively... Read more
I made a statement: “Atheist knowledge of the Bible and exegesis (generally speaking) is abominable.” Atheist “Grimlock” replied: Fun fact: If the average atheist’s knowledge of the Bible is abominable, the average Christian seems to be even worse off. (At least in the US.) [source from Pew Research] I do love me some empiricism. This is a major reason why I do what I do: I’m an educator. But at least Christians approach the Bible with respect, which makes it... Read more
[From my 2009 book, Bible Proofs for Catholic Truths (see purchase information; just $2.99 for various e-book versions] [Biblical passages are from the King James Version. My comments are italicized and in blue] ***** Exodus 29:37: Seven days thou shalt make an atonement for the altar, and sanctify it; and it shall be an altar most holy: whatsoever toucheth the altar shall be holy. Exodus 30:28-29: And the altar of burnt offering with all his vessels, and the laver and... Read more
Some strains of Protestant thought — most notably the “Landmark” Baptists — seek to find a non-Catholic “apostolic succession” all throughout Church history up to the 16th century. In the desperate attempt to claim spiritual and theological predecessors, all sorts of heretical groups are espoused, including the Montanists, Novationists, Donatists, Docetists, Cathari, Albigensians, Waldenses, Hussites, and Wycliffites. The trouble is that none of these groups fit very well into a Protestant schema. They are either radically non-Christian, even Gnostic (e.g.,... Read more
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