Is God the Author of Evil? (vs. John Calvin)

Last updated on: June 27, 2020 at 11:04 am By Dave Armstrong

[excerpt from my book, A Biblical Critique of Calvinism (Oct. 2012, 178p), pp. 13-22. Follow the link for content and purchase information] *** I’ll be using, the (public domain) translation of Institutes of the Christian Religion by Henry Beveridge, produced for the Calvin Translation Society in 1845, from the 1559 edition in Latin; reprinted by William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company (Grand Rapids, Michigan), 1995, and available online at the wonderful Christian Classics Ethereal Library site. My own Bible passages are from... Read more

Catholic Mystics & Contemplatives on Purgatory

Last updated on: June 27, 2020 at 8:40 am By Dave Armstrong

[From my book, Quotable Catholic Mystics and Contemplatives (April 2014, 304p), pp. 224-230. Follow the link for book and purchase information] The Servitor’s own father, who had led a very worldly life, appeared to him after death, and with a woeful aspect showed him his agonising purgatory, and the chief sins for which he had incurred it, and explained to him distinctly how he was to help him. The Servitor did this; and afterwards his father appeared to him, and told him... Read more

Catholic Mystics & Contemplatives on Hell

Last updated on: June 26, 2020 at 9:41 am By Dave Armstrong

[From my book, Quotable Catholic Mystics and Contemplatives (April 2014, 304p), pp. 145-151. Follow the link for book and purchase information] [I]n Hell, the souls have four principal torments, out of which proceed all the other torments. The first is, that they see themselves deprived of the vision of Me, which is such pain to them, that, were it possible, they would rather choose the fire, and the tortures and torments, and to see Me, than to be without the torments and... Read more

Have Heterodox Catholics Overthrown Official Doctrine?

Last updated on: June 25, 2020 at 3:09 pm By Dave Armstrong

Dialogue with anti-Catholics James White (words in green), Eric Svendsen (blue), Andrew Webb (brown), and Phillip Johnson (purple). This series of exchanges took place on Bishop “Dr.” [???] James White’s sola Scriptura discussion list (which was by invitation only). It occurred between 23 May and 3 June 1996. *** The Catholic unity of belief is itself a myth. Catholic apologists would like to paint the Catholic church as a monolithic organization where everyone agrees on every point of dogma. Nothing could be further... Read more

“Turretinfan” Calls a Statue of Jesus Christ an “Idol”

Last updated on: June 24, 2020 at 2:31 pm By Dave Armstrong

. . . While His Buddy Bishop James White Praises the Statues of “Reformers” Calvin, Farel, Beza, and Knox [originally posted on 6-8-10; expanded with extra links on 6-24-20] *** I’m not kidding folks. “Turretinfan” or TAO (I always affectionately refer to him as “The Anonymous One”) actually did this. Reporting on a story about a statue of Christ being struck by lightning and collapsing, he put up a post entitled “Gideon Would be Pleased . . . “ (6-15-10)... Read more

Does God “Want” Men to Sin? Does He “Ordain” Sin?

Last updated on: June 24, 2020 at 1:42 pm By Dave Armstrong

I’ve often heard Calvinists deny that they believe God is the author of sin, and I try to be as charitable as I can in accepting their report of their own belief-system. Information such as the following makes that difficult to do. I think that logically their system requires Him to be exactly that. The words below (in blue) are from “Turretinfan”: whom I call “The Anonymous One” (TAO): one of the most exasperatingly illogical, incoherent amateur theologians I have... Read more

Marian Veneration: Reply to Evangelical Adrian Warnock

Last updated on: June 23, 2020 at 11:15 am By Dave Armstrong

[originally 12-10-19 on Facebook] *** A few weeks ago, I ran across an article by evangelical writer Adrian Warnock, entitled, “The root of Catholicism’s error and a lesson for us” (3-30-06). He argued that Jesus didn’t like people calling His mother “blessed”. I responded with my post, “Did Jesus Deny That Mary Was ‘Blessed’ (Lk 11:27-28)?” I notified Adrian on his blog, and he replied with this gracious note: Thanks Dave, it is always an honour when I see someone has... Read more

Ven. Fulton Sheen on the Bodily Assumption of Mary

Last updated on: June 23, 2020 at 10:43 am By Dave Armstrong

From: The World’s First Love, Garden City, New York: Doubleday Image, 1956, pp. 113-118, 121: *** The dogma of the Immaculate Conception wilted and killed the false optimism of the inevitable and necessary progress of man without God . . . As in the definition of the Immaculate Conception, the Church had to remind the world that perfection is not biologically inevitable, so now in the definition of the Assumption, it has to give hope to the creature of despair. Modern... Read more

Reply to a Critic: Am I Un-Ecumenical & Anti-Protestant?

Last updated on: June 22, 2020 at 4:25 pm By Dave Armstrong

[see book and purchase information] *** These comments and my replies occurred underneath my article, “The Absurdity of Claiming That the Mass is Idolatrous” (National Catholic Register, 6-17-19). I originally posted it exactly a year ago today on Facebook (6-22-19). Words of my critic (whose nick was “Casting Crowns”) will be in blue. *** Hey Dave, I typically find converts like yourself to be among the most militant. Your articles seemingly have a propensity to cast all denominational and non... Read more

Review of Bp. Barron’s Word on Fire Bible (The Gospels)

Last updated on: June 22, 2020 at 2:20 pm By Dave Armstrong

I’m very excited to offer my thoughts about Bishop Robert Barron‘s new offering, The Word on Fire Bible, Volume I: The Gospels: published on 15 June 2020: just a week ago as I write. First off, before I begin my own analysis, let me introduce you to this fabulous Bible with some words from Brandon Vogt, the Content Director at Word on Fire Catholic Ministries, and a very fine and influential apologist in his own right: [It’s] an extraordinary project... Read more