(written in 1997) *** [This is one of my own very favorite papers] * * * A Catholic friend asked me: Hey, I’ve got an apologetics question that I’ve been trying to answer for months (from my wife). She has trouble identifying with Mary because of Mary’s Immaculate Conception. In my wife’s mind, the special graces given to Mary through the perfect relationship she had (has) with God, make it impossible for the rest of us to emulate/imitate her. She... Read more
[compiled and edited in 1994] *** Who can conceive, my brethren, that God should so repay the debt, which He condescended to owe to His Mother, for the elements of His human body, as to allow the flesh and blood from which it was taken to moulder in the grave? . . . Or who can conceive that that virginal frame, which never sinned, was to undergo the death of a sinner? Why should she share the curse of Adam,... Read more
[originally posted on 11-17-17] *** I’m delighted to see liberals and/or feminists starting to do the same thing now. The fact of these recent revelations shouldn’t surprise anyone in the slightest: not one bit. The only surprise is: why did it take liberals and mainstream (largely liberal and secular) society so long to finally say “enough is enough“? Could it be, it’s because the very sexual revolution that liberals have championed for so long, has arguably played a key role in bringing... Read more
Matthew 1:24-25 (NRSV) . . . Joseph . . . took her as his wife, [25] but had no marital relations with her [RSV: “knew her not”] until she had borne a son . . . This would involve probably six months, bare minimum. We don’t know at what stage he was aware that she was pregnant. All we know is that it was after they were “betrothed” (Mt 1:18). The word “until” does not necessarily imply that Mary and... Read more
On my Romantic and Imaginative Theology web page I have many Harry Potter links. The articles / books / audio files are from all perspectives: some favor the series, some oppose it, and some offer both sides, or ambiguous or uncertain or neutral opinion. Almost all of the links are from a Christian perspective (Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox alike; for example, John Granger: a leading proponent, is Orthodox). Ultimately, then, I am not “against” Harry Potter, yet I would strongly... Read more
Protestant apologist Steve Christie (a nice guy, not an anti-Catholic, and worthy debate opponent) asked on my Facebook page (words in blue henceforth): Just out of curiosity, which ecumenical council was infallible – The second ecumenical council of Nicaea In 787 that affirmed the Councils of Hippo and Carthage in the fourth century, which stated 1 Esdras was Scripture and part of the Old Testament, or the later ecumenical councils of Florence and Trent which stated it wasn’t? Which of... Read more
vs. Pastor Ken Howes (LCMS) This was a discussion on Facebook underneath a link to my post, “Sola Scriptura Can’t Definitively Refute Christological Heresy (The Sad Case of Evangelical Apologist and Philosopher Dr. William Lane Craig and Monothelitism).” Pastor Howes’ words will be in blue. *** Sola Scriptura, sed non nuda. The principle of Sola Scriptura, suggested by the writings of St. Augustine [I disagree!] and first enunciated specifically by St. Thomas Aquinas, says that any doctrine of the Church... Read more
This is from a Facebook thread, dated 7-8-13. I am including — for the sake of brevity — just my own thoughts. There is much further thought-provoking (and civil) discussion from many viewpoints in the original thread. Just follow the link above. *** As I’ve stated many times; I receive kneeling, on the tongue, but I don’t believe an argument can be made for one way being intrinsically superior to another. It is culturally relative to some extent, but ultimately... Read more
This was originally a lengthy Facebook discussion (7-24-14) about my article, Were Vernacular Bibles Unknown Before Luther? (Luther’s Dubious Claims About the Supposed Utter Obscurity of the Bible Before His Translation) [6-15-11]. Dr. Edwin Tait’s words will be in blue, and words of Pastor Ken Howes [LCMS] in green. ***** Here I go again with the nuancing and qualification: 1. Luther was not lying when he said that there was a pretty common opinion to the effect that the Bible as a... Read more
The Sad Case of Evangelical Apologist and Philosopher Dr. William Lane Craig and Monothelitism [originally posted on 10-22-17 on my Facebook page] *** I noted recently (for the second time) that Dr. William Lane Craig, an [ostensibly Protestant] apologist and atheist debater, is a Monothelite heretic (the belief that Christ had only one will, rather than a human will and Divine Will). I also made comments about how this relates to the Protestant rule of faith: sola Scriptura: The Protestant... Read more
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