Problem of Good: Further Discussions with Atheists

Last updated on: April 5, 2021 at 11:59 am By Dave Armstrong

This is a follow-up to my article, Problem of Good: More Difficult than Problem of Evil? (4-3-21). The discussions took place in a long thread (currently 895 comments) on atheist Jonathan MS Pearce’s blog, A Tippling Philosopher. Words of my four dialogue opponents will be in various colors. ***** Geoff Benson: I’ve read your article but it takes me back to my early days discussing the philosophy of religion, and addresses issues we’ve covered so many times. I’m not trying to be ‘anti... Read more

Problem of Good: More Difficult than Problem of Evil?

Last updated on: April 3, 2021 at 1:13 pm By Dave Armstrong

Atheists love to discuss the problem of evil, which they consider a knockout punch to Christianity: or at least to the notion that God is good and all-powerful. Recently an anti-theist atheist polemicist noted that someone “constructed an annotated bibliography of more than 4,200 philosophical and theological writings on the problem of evil published from 1960 to 1990—nearly one publication every 2½ days, and that is only in English.” They milk it for all it’s worth. And for our part,... Read more

Is Sola Scriptura Biblical? (vs. Dr. Greg Bahnsen)

Last updated on: April 3, 2021 at 10:45 am By Dave Armstrong

[see book and purchase information] According to Wikipedia: Greg L. Bahnsen (September 17, 1948 – December 11, 1995) was an American Calvinist philosopher, apologist, and debater. He was a minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and a full-time Scholar in Residence for the Southern California Center for Christian Studies (SCCCS). He is also considered a contributor to the field of Christian apologetics, as he popularized the presuppositional method of Cornelius Van Til. I am replying to an article, “Is Sola Scriptura a Protestant Concoction?: A Biblical Defense of Sola Scriptura“ by Dr. Bahnsen; transcribed... Read more

The Weavers (1949-1963) & the New Leftist McCarthyism

Last updated on: March 28, 2021 at 3:11 pm By Dave Armstrong

It’s good once in a while to look back in history, in order to ascertain the pedigree and “background information” on various strains of thought and movements of our present time. It struck me in watching — for about the fifth time — a documentary about the legendary folk music group, The Weavers (called The Weavers: Wasn’t That a Time!), how different some things were among those even considered “far left” in the 50s and 60s. The Weavers (Pete Seeger, Lee... Read more

The Papacy & Infallibility: “Keys of the Kingdom”

Last updated on: March 28, 2021 at 12:20 pm By Dave Armstrong

Chapter Ten of My Bestselling (and Probably Most Well-Known) Book, A Biblical Defense of Catholicism A Biblical Defense of Catholicism (my first book) was completed in May 1996 and “officially” published in June 2003 by Sophia Institute Press. The following is from pages 211-233, 238, minus the final section, Petrine panoply: fifty New Testament proofs for the pre-eminence of St. Peter: which I have long since linked as its own self-contained article. It was published in The Catholic Answer (Jan/Feb. 1997 issue).... Read more

Catholic Mass as “Idolatry” Reductio ad Absurdum

Last updated on: March 27, 2021 at 2:35 pm By Dave Armstrong

Some Protestants want to claim that the Mass is idolatrous? I could just as easily say (only rhetorically, not actually) that their denial of worship of Jesus in the consecrated host is blasphemy, since they are going against the very essence of the ritual and miracle by denying that He is really there (therefore they refuse worship and maintain that the bread and wine are never transformed). * [excerpt from a Treatise on Transubstantiation that I wrote in 2005] *... Read more

Cardinal Newman’s Premises Re Doctrinal Development

Last updated on: March 26, 2021 at 2:12 pm By Dave Armstrong

[book and purchase information] Everyone has axioms that they can’t absolutely prove, by definition. That goes for atheist, nominalist, realist, pedestrian, blue-eyed, left-handed moth catcher, everybody. My epistemological position is that nothing can be proven absolutely, in a purely philosophical, logical sense, but that one can have a certitude of faith. I think that would be a supposition common to both Newman and a presuppositionalist. Cardinal Newman’s theory is a helpful paradigm for understanding development, which is only one aspect of Church history. Personally, I... Read more

Loftus Lies #24: David Madison & Atheist Cowardice

Last updated on: March 26, 2021 at 12:58 pm By Dave Armstrong

Atheist author and polemicist John W. Loftus wrote an article entitled, “Dr. David Madison, Debunker Par Excellence!” (3-25-21). His words will be in blue. ***** I’m a big fan of former Methodist minister and biblical scholar Dr. David Madison, who no longer believes. He understands how best to debunk Christianity. Really? I never noticed that. I have refuted his attacks on the Bible and Christianity now 44 times (without a peep in reply) and, frankly, it was always very easy to refute his nonsense: so... Read more

Development of Doctrine: an Exclusively Catholic Concept?

Last updated on: March 25, 2021 at 3:38 pm By Dave Armstrong

[book and purchase information] Reply to a Protestant apologist’s comments (in blue) on a public discussion board: ***** Do you even comprehend that whether Newman’s theory is seen as “development” or “evolution” largely depends on one’s philosophical presuppositions . . . ? No, because that is a non sequitur. You seem to believe that one’s philosophy almost entirely colors their perceptions of theology, ecclesiology, and Church history. I don’t buy that (not nearly to the extent that you do). I continue... Read more

Pope Francis vs. Same-Sex “Marriage”: The Record

Last updated on: March 25, 2021 at 2:29 pm By Dave Armstrong

[book and purchase information] All words are those of Pope Francis (both before and during his papacy), except for additional text in blue. ***** 1) In the coming weeks, the Argentine people will face a situation whose outcome can seriously harm the family…At stake is the identity and survival of the family: father, mother and children. At stake are the lives of many children who will be discriminated against in advance, and deprived of their human development given by a father... Read more