Criterion of Catholic Orthodoxy: Degree of “Pearcianism”

Last updated on: June 22, 2021 at 2:09 pm By Dave Armstrong

My frequent sparring partner, atheist anti-theist Jonathan MS Pearce (from A Tippling Philosopher) wrote a glowing article, praising the late Fr. Raymond Brown to the skies (“Exodus Sidebar: Jesus As the New Moses, Myth upon Myth”: 6-22-21). The irony, comedy, and absurdities therein were simply too much for me to possibly resist, so here was my reply, in his combox: ***** So a Catholic exegete is “masterful” and “great” and writes “superb” books and is sufficiently qualified for you to... Read more

2nd Amendment & Assault Weapons: a Dialogue

Last updated on: June 21, 2021 at 12:09 pm By Dave Armstrong

Mike Johnson is a Facebook friend. This time my words will be in blue (because they are a lot fewer than his). This exchange occurred on my Facebook page. ***** There are three types of people who are pro gun control: * A: They are simply very uninformed, not very curious and very easily led. These people are not bad, just too trusting. This is the majority of the anti-gun people. B: People who use the topic as a way... Read more

Random Thoughts on Poor Internet Discourse

Last updated on: June 19, 2021 at 2:35 pm By Dave Armstrong

[compiled from seven Facebook posts: dated 2016-2019] ***** Thought Police and Shutting-Up of All Legitimate Dissent is Now Standard Practice Online (Even for Christians) (6-4-16) Now it’s very common to demonize and savage someone, simply because they dared to express a different opinion. We talk about the thought police and PC and censorship. * But on so many (most?) Christian (including Catholic) sites online, where any significant discussion takes place, the game seems to be to make any person who disagrees... Read more

One Peter Five & Crisis Magazine Stop Combox Farces

Last updated on: June 19, 2021 at 12:52 pm By Dave Armstrong

Growing Movement of “Internet Reform” & the Realization of the Worthlessness of Much of Online “Discourse” As I recently noted (Steve Skojec: “Traditionalism” = “Sewer”, “Toxic”, “Tribalism”), Steve Skojec of the One Peter Five site has recently publicly expressed his disdain for the oft-observed abominable and sub-Christian behavior of what he calls “traditionalists” (and what I call radical Catholic reactionaries: though in fact there is much overlap, as in most large sociological groups). The fact that he has considered himself... Read more

Atheist Pearce Agrees: Let’s Stop Mutual “Dishonest” Charges

Last updated on: June 18, 2021 at 8:52 pm By Dave Armstrong

Atheist anti-theist Jonathan M. S. Pearce is the main writer on the blog, A Tippling Philosopher. His “About” page states: “Pearce is a philosopher, author, blogger, public speaker and teacher from Hampshire in the UK. He specialises in philosophy of religion, but likes to turn his hand to science, psychology, politics and anything involved in investigating reality.” His words will be in blue. ***** I have engaged in many dialogues / debates with Jonathan. In atheist vs. Christian debates there will, predictably and understandably, be lots of “heated”... Read more

Problem of Evil & of Good: Great Dialogue w Agnostic

Last updated on: June 17, 2021 at 6:56 pm By Dave Armstrong

This began when “axelbeingcivil” started the discussion on my blog, on 7-7-21. His words will be in blue. ***** A belief in demons, even the devil, does not mean a belief in Hell or eternal separation from God. God sends malicious and malevolent spirits to serve his purposes at several points in the Bible, and they are described as faithful attendants of his court. When Satan appears in the Book of Job, he is given no reproach or chastisement. If... Read more

Did Moses Exist? No Absolute Proof, But Strong Evidence

Last updated on: June 14, 2021 at 11:16 am By Dave Armstrong

Pearce’s Potshots #35, in Which Our Brave Hero Classifies Moses as “a Mythological Figure” and I Reply! Anti-theist atheist Jonathan M. S. Pearce, with whom I have had many dialogues, lately denied the historical existence of Moses altogether: [I]t’s worth noting that the Louvre museum in Paris has a stele concerning Sargon’s victories and reign dating to 2300 BCE. We have actual contemporaneous evidence of the existence of this man from 1000 years before Moses was supposed to have existed.... Read more

Pearce’s Potshots #34: Atheist Throws a Screwball Pitch

Last updated on: March 23, 2023 at 4:40 am By Dave Armstrong

The material formerly here has been re-worked, modified, and edited and is now included only in my book, The Word Set in Stone: How Archaeology, Science, and History Back Up the Bible (Catholic Answers Press: March 15, 2023) *** Photo credit: Moses with the Tablets of the Law, by Guido Reni (1575-1642) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** Read more

Edomites: Archaeology Confirms the Bible (As Always)

Last updated on: June 10, 2021 at 2:31 pm By Dave Armstrong

Adam Lee is an atheist writer and activist, who runs the blog, Daylight Atheism. He has written articles for AlterNet, Salon, the International Humanist and Ethical Union, Canadian Freethinker, Freethought Today, Free Inquiry, and Secular Future, the newsletter of the U.K.-based National Federation of Atheist, Humanist and Secular Student Societies. ***** In this article I will be responding to a portion of his post, “Let the Stones Speak: Part 2” (unknown date). He wrote: The Israelites in Transjordan The King of Edom According to Numbers 20, while the Israelites were... Read more

Moses, Kadesh, Negev, Bronze Age, & Archaeology

Last updated on: March 23, 2023 at 4:37 am By Dave Armstrong

The material formerly here has been re-worked, modified, and edited and is now included only in my book, The Word Set in Stone: How Archaeology, Science, and History Back Up the Bible (Catholic Answers Press: March 15, 2023) * Photo credit: Moses striking the rock (1630), by Pieter de Grebber (1600-1652) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] * Read more

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