Loftus Lies #22: Paine, Stanton, & Twain Were NOT Atheists

Last updated on: January 18, 2021 at 1:13 pm By Dave Armstrong

Even an unplugged clock is right twice a day. And it’s relentlessly wrong, too, for all but two minutes in a 24-hour day. Atheist author and polemicist John W. Loftus cited G. K. Chesterton in his article, “Excerpt From “Unapologetic: Why Philosophy of Religion Must End” (3-24-20): “If something is worth doing, it’s worth doing badly.” Then, lo and behold, he supported his own citation of this famous maxim by doing precisely that. He opined: My specialties are theology, philosophical... Read more

Star of Bethlehem: 2nd Reply to Arrogant Aaron Adair

Last updated on: January 18, 2021 at 1:52 pm By Dave Armstrong

I have replied to atheist physicist Aaron Adair once already: Star of Bethlehem: Reply to Obnoxious Atheist Aaron Adair (Plus Further Related Exchanges with Aaron and a Few Others in an Atheist Combox) [1-14-21] He has come back with a new hit-piece: “Who do you say I am?” Bad Commentary Research on the SoB [1-18-21], which was a “reply” to my post, Bible Commentaries & Matthew 2:9 (Star of Bethlehem) [1-13-21]. What follows is my counter-response, which was also posted underneath his article in the Tippling... Read more

Purgatory in the Bible (vs. Calvin #60)

Last updated on: January 15, 2021 at 12:27 pm By Dave Armstrong

This is an installment of a series of replies (see the Introduction and Master List) to much of Book IV (Of the Holy Catholic Church) — and some portions of Books I-III — of Institutes of the Christian Religion, by early Protestant leader John Calvin (1509-1564). I utilize the public domain translation of Henry Beveridge, dated 1846, from the 1559 edition in Latin; available online. Calvin’s words will be in blue. All biblical citations (in my portions) will be from RSV unless otherwise noted. Related reading from yours... Read more

Star of Bethlehem: Reply to Obnoxious Atheist Aaron Adair

Last updated on: January 15, 2021 at 5:13 pm By Dave Armstrong

Plus Further Related Exchanges with Aaron and a Few Others in an Atheist Combox Aaron Adair is an atheist physicist, who wrote the book, The Star of Bethlehem: A Skeptical View (2013). He initially wrote me a cordial letter after seeing a few of my recent posts on that topic, and I responded in kind, at considerable length. But — sadly — it quickly descended to the usual anti-theist atheist insults. My reply below under an absolutely atrocious, abominable put-down post... Read more

Bible Commentaries & Matthew 2:9 (Star of Bethlehem)

Last updated on: January 21, 2021 at 1:55 pm By Dave Armstrong

Atheist Jonathan MS Pearce takes the position that the star of Bethlehem can only reasonably be interpreted (according to the biblical text, which they of course don’t believe in) as a supernatural occurrence, as opposed to a natural one (conjunction, supernova, or comet being the three most suggested possibilities): as I have argued. Moreover, he claims that this “star” specifically shone down on (to identify) the “house” where Jesus was, even though the biblical text (Matthew 2:9) never states this and... Read more

Star of Bethlehem: Natural or Supernatural?

Last updated on: January 13, 2021 at 1:00 pm By Dave Armstrong

I assert that the star of Bethlehem was (most plausibly) a conjunction when the wise men first saw it, and a bright Jupiter, when they saw it in Jerusalem and over Bethlehem: without ruling out the possibility that it may have been a supernatural manifestation, as I have made clear in my other recent papers on the topic. I think the natural interpretation can be harmonized with a straightforward reading of Scripture (as well as astronomical data on conjunctions, provisionally... Read more

Steve Skojec’s De Facto Schism is Complete: By His Own Report

Last updated on: January 11, 2021 at 8:30 pm By Dave Armstrong

All of the following verbal diarrhea took place on his Twitter page, on 1-11-21: ***** Steve Skojec says that he doesn’t “profess the same faith as Francis” and that if a Catholic must profess the same faith as the supreme head of the Church, then, by golly, he’s “not in communion with him.” And he’s not because the pope is not “in communion with the Church.” He thinks the pope is “a heretic.” He pontificates that the pope “doesn’t adhere... Read more

Pearce’s Potshots #12: Supernatural Star of Bethlehem?

Last updated on: January 14, 2021 at 3:45 pm By Dave Armstrong

Biblical View of Astronomy, Laws of Nature, and the Natural World 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 am replying to the following portion of Jonathan’s article,... Read more

Pearce’s Potshots #11: 28 Defenses of Jesus’ Nativity

Last updated on: January 9, 2021 at 2:12 pm By Dave Armstrong

Featuring Confirmatory Historical Tidbits About the Magi and Herod the Great Atheist anti-theist Jonathan M. S. Pearce’s “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 am replying to Jonathan’s article, “Mental Contortions Required of Christians to Believe the Nativity Accounts” (12-23-19). Although he likely has... Read more

Summary Thoughts of a Trump Supporter (Jan. 6-7, 2021)

Last updated on: January 13, 2021 at 3:45 pm By Dave Armstrong

***** 6 January 2021, 9:07 AM ET: * Dems in Georgia (at 9:26 AM ET the next morning) are still rounding up enough dead and multiple voters to eke out a “victory” of “0.1%” for Ossoff, so they can control the Senate. [it turned out to be 0.8%: so I was 0.7% off . . . ] Warnock “won” by “50.8%” to “49.2%.” * Remember, Biden “won” in Georgia “49.5%” to “49.3%” against [legitimate] President Trump. Trump beat Billary... Read more