History of Christmas Trees & Their Symbolism

Last updated on: December 22, 2020 at 4:59 pm By Dave Armstrong

[this was also published in The Catholic World Report on 12-22-20, under the title, “Christmas Trees: Christian Symbolism & Development of the Custom”] ***** It appears that virtually all who look into the origin and Christian symbolism of Christmas trees trace the first overt example to St. Boniface (bet. 672-679 to 745 or 755). The story he is most famous for (related to the evangelization of Germany) is his Elijah-like cutting-down of the sacred oak tree of the thunder-god Thor, around the... Read more

Dialogue w Christian “Outside of Orthodoxy”

Last updated on: December 21, 2020 at 12:30 pm By Dave Armstrong

This took place underneath my article, Atheist Ignorance of Christianity: Typical Example. Words of Sandy Plage will be in blue. ***** In the spirit of Charlie Brown’s Christmas, I would like to say “good grief.” Why the heaping scorn and ad hominem put downs of WCB and every other atheist under the sun? You yourself are engaging in “relentless scorn and put down.” Can you not see this? I deny that I do that. I am polemical and passionate and sometimes... Read more

Seidensticker Folly #68: Atheist Fairy Tales & Dogmas

Last updated on: December 21, 2020 at 2:19 pm By Dave Armstrong

Atheist and anti-theist Bob Seidensticker runs the influential Cross Examined blog. He asked me there, on 8-11-18: “I’ve got 1000+ posts here attacking your worldview. You just going to let that stand? Or could you present a helpful new perspective that I’ve ignored on one or two of those posts?” He added in June 2017 in a combox: “If I’ve misunderstood the Christian position or Christian arguments, point that out. Show me where I’ve mischaracterized them.” Delighted to oblige his wishes . . . Bob (for the record) virtually begged and pleaded with... Read more

Jesus the “Nazarene” Redux (vs. Jonathan M. S. Pearce)

Last updated on: December 19, 2020 at 1:42 pm By Dave Armstrong

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. Jonathan wrote the article, “Jesus the ‘Nazarene’ – What Is the Prophecy?” [12-5-20]. Then I replied with Jesus the “Nazarene”: Did Matthew Make Up a “Prophecy”? (Oral Traditions and Possible Lost Old Testament Books... Read more

Demons, Gadara, & Biblical Numbers (vs. JMS Pearce)

Last updated on: December 18, 2020 at 1:07 pm By Dave Armstrong

Atheist and 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. ***** Jonathan wrote a paper called “On Harmonising Biblical Contradictions” (7-23-17). I replied with “Gadarenes, Gerasenes, Swine, & Atheist Skeptics” (7-25-17). He then counter-replied with “The Demons! The Demons! Replying to... Read more

Dual Fulfillment of Prophecy & the Virgin Birth (vs. JMS Pearce)

Last updated on: December 18, 2020 at 12:57 pm By Dave Armstrong

Jonathan M. S. Pearce’s “About” page (for A Tippling Philosopher) 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. ***** Atheist anti-theist writer Jonathan M. S. Pearce wrote a post entitled, “The Mistranslation of ‘Virgin’” (12-7-16). I replied with Reply to Atheist Jonathan MS Pearce: “Mistranslation” of “Virgin”?... Read more

Jesus the “Nazarene”: Did Matthew Make Up a “Prophecy”?

Last updated on: December 17, 2020 at 11:47 am By Dave Armstrong

Reply to Jonathan M. S. Pearce from the Blog, A Tippling Philosopher / Oral Traditions and Possible Lost Old Testament Books Referred to in the Bible 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.” I am responding to his article, “Jesus the ‘Nazarene’ – What Is the Prophecy?”... Read more

Christmas: Theological (Reformed / Calvinist) Opposition

Last updated on: December 16, 2020 at 12:59 pm By Dave Armstrong

. . . With My Biblical and Historical Refutations I have always been fascinated and revolted by this sort of thinking, which is simultaneously so unbiblical and anti-historical in nature, whereas ironically the same opponents of Christmas have viewed themselves as exceptionally “biblical” and “Christian” in a way that we lowly, pagan Christmas celebrants allegedly are not. Much of this thinking was at root, anti-Catholic as well, or even anti-Anglican or anti-Lutheran (anti- any Christians group other than extreme Calvinism /... Read more

Timeline: Star of Bethlehem, Herod’s Death, & Jesus’ Birth

Last updated on: December 15, 2020 at 8:20 pm By Dave Armstrong

Chronology of Harmonious Data from History, Archaeology, the Bible, and Astronomy For background and complete argumentation and documentation, see my previous articles: December 25th Birth of Jesus?: Interesting Considerations [12-11-17] Star of Bethlehem, Astronomy, Wise Men, & Josephus (Amazing Astronomically Verified Data in Relation to the Journey of the Wise Men & Jesus’ Birth & Infancy) [12-14-20] I am drawing the present summary entirely from those two articles. ***** I. Herod the Great 1) It is commonly accepted by historians (see, e.g., Encyclopaedia Britannica)... Read more

Star of Bethlehem, Astronomy, Wise Men, & Josephus

Last updated on: January 22, 2021 at 2:14 pm By Dave Armstrong

Amazing Astronomically Verified Data in Relation to the Journey of the Wise Men & Jesus’ Birth & Infancy Matthew 2:1-12 (RSV) Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, [2] “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him.” [3] When Herod the king heard this, he... Read more