David Madison vs. the Gospel of Mark #9: Chapter 10

August 20, 2019 By Dave Armstrong

Christian Biblical Ignorance / Jesus vs. Marriage & Family? / Divinity of Jesus This is an installment of my replies to a series of articles on Mark by Dr. David Madison: an atheist who was a Methodist minister for nine years: with a Ph.D. in Biblical Studies from Boston University. His summary article is called, “Not-Your-Pastor’s Tour of Mark’s Gospel: The falsification of Christianity made easy” (Debunking Christianity, 7-17-19). His words will be in blue below. Dr. Madison has utterly ignored my twelve... Read more

David Madison vs. the Gospel of Mark #8: Ch. 9 (“Mean” Jesus)

August 19, 2019 By Dave Armstrong

This is an installment of my replies to a series of articles on Mark by Dr. David Madison: an atheist who was a Methodist minister for nine years: with a Ph.D. in Biblical Studies from Boston University. His summary article is called, “Not-Your-Pastor’s Tour of Mark’s Gospel: The falsification of Christianity made easy” (Debunking Christianity, 7-17-19). His words will be in blue below. Dr. Madison has utterly ignored my twelve refutations of his “dirty dozen” podcasts against Jesus, and I fully expect that... Read more

David Madison vs. the Gospel of Mark #7: Ch. 7 (Gentiles)

August 19, 2019 By Dave Armstrong

“Spiritual” Kingdom of God: Old Testament Precursors

August 18, 2019 By Dave Armstrong

As with many words and phrases in the Bible, kingdom of God has more than one meaning. It’s obvious in many passages that “kingdom of God” (and the equivalent “kingdom of heaven”: used only by Matthew) in the New Testament refer to a spiritual reality, as opposed to the physical and “institutional” messianic kingdom to come. This was foreshadowed in the Old Testament in the motif of changed “hearts” that served and followed God: especially in Jeremiah: Jeremiah 31:33 (RSV) But... Read more

David Madison vs. the Gospel of Mark #6: Chapters 5-6

August 18, 2019 By Dave Armstrong

Supernatural & Miracles / Biblical Literary Genres & Figures / Perpetual Virginity / Healing & Belief / Persecution of Jesus in Nazareth This is an installment of my replies to a series of articles on Mark by Dr. David Madison: an atheist who was a Methodist minister for nine years: with a Ph.D. in Biblical Studies from Boston University. His summary article is called, “Not-Your-Pastor’s Tour of Mark’s Gospel: The falsification of Christianity made easy” (Debunking Christianity, 7-17-19). His words will... Read more

Old Testament Sacrifices: Killing Animals to be Saved?

August 17, 2019 By Dave Armstrong

An atheist asked: “How can killing an animal cancel human sin? Why would a good God set up such a scheme?” First of all, I’ll dispose of the implication (“good God”) that it’s intrinsically wrong to kill an animal from the outset. I’m unaware of a vegetarian entrance requirement among atheists, so as not to “murder” animals and commit the sin of eating a Big Mac or a Whopper. Until that happens, I’ll take a pass on dealing with the... Read more

Why Jesus Was So Unpopular (Parallel with Socrates)

August 17, 2019 By Dave Armstrong

Great human beings are routinely vastly misunderstood. For example, here is the gist of what Plato wrote about the cause of the well-known ancient Greek philosopher Socrates’ persecution and death, in his Apology: At his trial, Socrates is accused of two things: impiety (asebeia) against Athens’s gods, by introducing new gods, and corruption of Athenian youth, by teaching them to question the status quo. He is accused of impiety because the Oracle at Delphi said there was no wiser man in Athens then Socrates,... Read more

Masturbation: Gravely Disordered According to Catholicism

August 16, 2019 By Dave Armstrong

Catechism of the Catholic Church: Offenses against chastity [2351 is about lust] 2352 [link] By masturbation is to be understood the deliberate stimulation of the genital organs in order to derive sexual pleasure. “Both the Magisterium of the Church, in the course of a constant tradition, and the moral sense of the faithful have been in no doubt and have firmly maintained that masturbation is an intrinsically and gravely disordered action.” [138: CDF, Persona humana 9] “The deliberate use of... Read more

David Madison vs. the Gospel of Mark #5: Chapter 4 (Parables)

August 16, 2019 By Dave Armstrong

David Madison vs. the Gospel of Mark #4: Chapter 3

August 16, 2019 By Dave Armstrong

Unforgivable Sin (Blaspheming the Holy Spirit) / Plots to Kill Jesus / Rude Jesus? (“Who is My Mother?”) This is an installment of my replies to a series of articles on Mark by Dr. David Madison: an atheist who was a Methodist minister for nine years: with a Ph.D. in Biblical Studies from Boston University. His summary article is called, “Not-Your-Pastor’s Tour of Mark’s Gospel: The falsification of Christianity made easy” (Debunking Christianity, 7-17-19). His words will be in blue below. Dr. Madison... Read more