Is Catholicism Unbiblically “Rationalistic”? (Orthodox Criticisms)

Last updated on: March 11, 2020 at 10:41 am By Dave Armstrong

From my book, Orthodoxy and Catholicism: A Comparison : 3rd revised edition, 2015; co-author: Fr. Deacon Daniel G. Dozier, whose words below will be in blue. This was drawn from chapter five: pp. 75-103. *** The following is directly based on a discussion with two Orthodox Christians on a public Internet board. I will do my best to reproduce their arguments and to not misrepresent them. The differences here are important, I think, in understanding the different approaches to theology and philosophy... Read more

Attempted “Dialogue” with an Anti-Catholic Orthodox

Last updated on: March 10, 2020 at 5:01 pm By Dave Armstrong

This was from public debates on my old Internet discussion group, with a former Catholic Orthodox: from 1997. His words will be in blue. ***** Dave’s essay [see link] . . . is based upon a view which, though normal in Roman Catholicism and Protestantism, is wholly different than that found in Orthodox Catholic Christianity. “Wholly?” Where does that leave us, then, outside the fold altogether, according to you? Or are the Eastern Catholics in the fold because they share... Read more

Dialogue w Orthodox on Why Catholics Become Orthodox

Last updated on: March 10, 2020 at 4:01 pm By Dave Armstrong

This is an exchange with four people: from my old Internet discussion group (3-20-99). Words of the first person (Catholic) will be in brown, two Orthodox participants’ words in blue and green, and a Protestant in purple. ***** A Catholic wrote:*I was thinking about this Catholic/Orthodox, or Orthodox/Catholic, thing last night and I started wondering . . . Why is it that you see Catholic Christians leaving the Catholic Church for the Orthodox Church but you never see Orthodox Christians... Read more

Sinners in the Church (by St. John Henry Newman)

Last updated on: March 9, 2020 at 12:00 pm By Dave Armstrong

From: Lectures on the Present Position of Catholics in England (London: Longmans, Green and Co., 1918; originally 1851), Lecture IV: pp. 129-132-133, 136, 138. I’ve added some paragraph breaks. ***** I allow there are true charges which can be brought against us; certainly, not only do I not deny it, but I hardly could deny it without heresy. I say distinctly, did I take upon me to deny everything which could be said against us, I should be proving too... Read more

Defining “Church”: “Exchange” w Anti-Catholic Zealot

Last updated on: March 9, 2020 at 11:11 am By Dave Armstrong

An anti-Catholic Protestant who goes by the delightfully charitable nickname, pearlsb4swine, roused himself out of inactivity on Disqus (over a year) to comment underneath my article, Blessed Virgin Mary Will Soon be Promoted to Godhood? (vs. Douglas Wilson). He made nine comments over the span of three days. Knowing the usual tactics of anti-Catholics (and trollers in general) — from my 24 years of online apologetics — , I made a few replies and challenged him: Your choice is this: either... Read more

John Bugay a Bitter Anti-Catholic? Who Woulda Thunk It?!

Last updated on: March 6, 2020 at 2:51 pm By Dave Armstrong

Mary May be Promoted to Godhood? / Pope Benedict XVI was a Pantheist?, Etc., Ad Nauseam John wrote yesterday on Tribalblogue (and yes, the mention of me is how I found it): Most people know me as someone who knows Roman Catholicism in a very thorough way. My Protestant friends look to me for advice when they interact with Roman Catholicism in one way or another. Some Roman Catholics know me as an apostate, and some (Dave Armstrong Google Alert) consider... Read more

Anti-Catholic “Humor”: St. Thérèse of Lisieux as Hitler

Last updated on: March 6, 2020 at 12:22 pm By Dave Armstrong

John Bugay Tries to Justify it Based on Historic Anti-Semitism [see a larger version of this image] [The following controversy with one of the most vocal online anti-Catholics occurred in November 2011. John Bugay’s words will be in blue] John Bugay posted the caricature above, of my blog, at Tribalblogue [eventually minus the original Hitler mustache and bangs], complete with additional middle school toilet humor. It’s an instant classic (in terms of documentation of anti-Catholic vitriol, contempt, and bigotry) and apparently considered... Read more

Blessed Virgin Mary Will Soon be Promoted to Godhood?

Last updated on: March 5, 2020 at 4:53 pm By Dave Armstrong

vs. Douglas Wilson Lately, with the much-ballyhooed debate between two Reformed Protestants: Douglas Wilson and Bishop “Dr.” [???] James White, concerning whether Catholics are Christians or not, renewed discussion on the legitimacy of Catholic baptism (and thus, no need for rebaptism of a convert to Protestantism) has arisen in Protestant (particularly, Reformed) circles. Wilson says Catholic baptism is valid, while White denies it (but of course, White is a Baptist, so he would deny the validity of all infant baptism, including all Reformed... Read more

Dialogue: Orthodox Compromises on Contraception

Last updated on: March 5, 2020 at 1:48 pm By Dave Armstrong

This was a public response to a public critique of a paper on my site by my friend William Klimon: Contraception: Early Church Teaching, and subsequent follow-up expressed opinions. It occurred during the first half of March 2001. My opponents’ words will be in blue, green, and purple. ***** Thanks for your critique. I much appreciate its reasonableness and amiable, inquisitive nature. On Dave Armstrong’s “Orthodoxy” page, under the “Doctrinal and moral compromises” section, there is an article decrying the “changing standards” of Orthodoxy... Read more

Schisms & Heresies in Eastern Christianity Before 1054

Last updated on: March 4, 2020 at 2:43 pm By Dave Armstrong

In my paper, Roman See as Historic Standard-Bearer of Orthodoxy (+ the Ecclesiological Absurdity of Anti-Catholic-Type Eastern Orthodox Arguments Against Roman Primacy & Apostolicity) [1997], I cited five notable instances of Eastern schism before 1054: a. The Arian schisms (343-98) b. The controversy over St. John Chrysostom (404-415) c. The Acacian schism (484-519) d. Concerning Monothelitism (640-681) e. Concerning Iconoclasm (726-87 and 815-43) This information came from historian Christopher Dawson. He was referring to the Eastern, or Byzantine Empire, which was... Read more