Seidensticker Folly #38: Eternal Universe vs. an Eternal God

Last updated on: April 16, 2020 at 4:26 pm By Dave Armstrong

Atheist and anti-theist Bob Seidensticker, who was “raised Presbyterian”, 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 also made a general statement on 6-22-17: “Christians’ arguments are easy to refute . . . I’ve heard the good stuff, and it’s not very good.” He added in the combox: “If I’ve misunderstood the Christian position or Christian... Read more

Seidensticker Folly #37: “What is a Contradiction?” 0101

Last updated on: April 15, 2020 at 12:40 pm By Dave Armstrong

Taylor Marshall vs. Timothy Gordon (Hatfields & McCoys Redux)

Last updated on: November 20, 2021 at 12:28 pm By Dave Armstrong

The basic trouble with going far right on the ecclesiastical spectrum: radical right; radical Catholic reactionary, is how far right does one go? Is there actually a breaking point? Who determines where that is? Hence, we will see divisions and in-fighting amongst the reactionaries when one makes a move further right, because being a reactionary is all about being one’s own pope (the more so, the more influential and famous one becomes within the movement). Thus, when there are disagreements,... Read more

Famed Atheist Champion Antony Flew Became a Deist

Last updated on: April 14, 2020 at 1:53 pm By Dave Armstrong

Studies in Flew’s Justification of His Change of Mind and the Predictable Reaction of Atheists [Antony Flew’s words will be in blue] *** For a prior overview about Flew’s importance in the world of philosophy and the resurgence of theism in those circles, see Dr. Phillip Blosser’s blog article (filled with links to interesting related materials), Former atheist, Antony Flew, now believes in God. See also his page on infidels.org, which gives several links to older papers. The flurry of stories on this... Read more

Communion Posture: Examples from the Book of Revelation

Last updated on: April 14, 2020 at 6:13 pm By Dave Armstrong

Matthew DuBroy (his words in blue below) commented on Dan Burke‘s public Facebook thread, and the following comment of mine that I made on it. ***** 1. Every Catholic has a canonical right to receive Holy Communion kneeling, and on the tongue. If they are denied this right, they should appeal to the bishop, and if needs be to the pope. It can’t change unless canon law changes. 2. Therefore, to call anyone a schismatic simply because this is what... Read more

Is God Judging the World for Communion in the Hand?

Last updated on: April 13, 2020 at 3:31 pm By Dave Armstrong

This is one of the new conspiracy theories that people are foolishly sopping up like a sponge. But does it line up with the Bible? No. The Bible teaches that worship and reverence are matters of the heart, the spirit, and one’s interior disposition, not posture. I’ve shown this again and again. And communion in the hand massively took place in the first thousand years of the Church. So could God be judging the world because of it? Again: No!... Read more

Dialogue: Is Coronavirus the Way that God Judges?

Last updated on: April 13, 2020 at 11:40 am By Dave Armstrong

This was a stimulating, challenging follow-up discussion of my post, Priest Blasphemes God (Coronavirus = Judgment?) “Heinz” commented underneath the post on my blog. His words will be in blue. Then, Stephen Howe offered a critique. His words will be in green. ***** Ah, I totally agree with you that these conspiracy theories are neither edifying nor true. But I am also willing to see a glimmer of truth in this misled man. Some of your counterarguments, Dave, rest on how “sensible” it is and... Read more

“Why Did God Kill 70,000 Israelites for David’s Sin?”

Last updated on: April 13, 2020 at 11:07 am By Dave Armstrong

1 Chronicles 21: 1, 5-14 (RSV) Satan stood up against Israel, and incited David to number Israel. . . . [5] And Jo’ab gave the sum of the numbering of the people to David. . . . [6] But he did not include Levi and Benjamin in the numbering, for the king’s command was abhorrent to Jo’ab. [7] But God was displeased with this thing, and he smote Israel. [8] And David said to God, “I have sinned greatly in that I have done this... Read more

Jesus’ Resurrection: Scholarly Defenses of its Historicity

Last updated on: April 12, 2020 at 12:03 pm By Dave Armstrong

Easter: Myth, Hallucination, or History? (Edwin M. Yamauchi, 1974) Was the Tomb Really Empty? (Robert H. Stein, 1977) The Shroud of Turin and its Significance for Biblical Studies (Gary R. Habermas, 1981) The Shroud of Turin: A Rejoinder to Basinger and Basinger (Gary R. Habermas, 1982) Knowing that Jesus’ Resurrection Occurred: A Response to Stephen Davis (Gary R. Habermas, 1985) Review of William Lane Craig’s Book, The Historical Argument for the Resurrection of Jesus During the Deist Controversy (Gary R. Habermas, 1988) Resurrection Claims in... Read more

“Three Days and Nights” in the Tomb: Contradiction?

Last updated on: April 12, 2020 at 10:31 am By Dave Armstrong

Many people think that Jesus Christ was crucified on a Wednesday (or sometimes Thursday), in accord with the “three days and nights” of Jonah’s stay in the fish’s belly, or that it was not possible for Jesus to be crucified on a Friday. Orthodox Christianity has always held that Jesus was crucified and died on a Friday afternoon (hence, Good Friday), and rose from the dead in the very early morning on the following Sunday (hence the Christian day of... Read more