Taylor Marshall Groupie Makes a Typical Personal Attack

Last updated on: November 2, 2019 at 7:37 pm By Dave Armstrong

I just ran across this today in a search. It’s very illustrative insofar as it is ultra-typical of 1) the reactionary mindset, and 2) the clone-groupthink / conspiratorial fan club for Taylor Marshall mentality. This guy calls himself “Tradical” and runs the reactionary Tradicat blog. He was “responding” [cough] to my article, Reactionary Infiltration of Taylor Marshall’s Book, Infiltration (5-30-19). He calls his hit piece, “Reactionary Reaction to a Book by Dr. Taylor Marshall” (6-10-19). His words will be in blue below. *****... Read more

C. S. Lewis: Aversion to Crass “Christmas” Commercialism

Last updated on: November 1, 2019 at 2:27 pm By Dave Armstrong

From: The Collected Letters of C. S. Lewis, Vol. II: Books, Broadcasts, and the War, 1931-1949, edited by Walter Hooper, HarperSanFrancisco, 2004: I couldn’t agree with you more about the commercial rush of ‘Xmas’ as distinct both from the Christian festival of Christmas and the old Germanic feast of Yule. The idiotic exchange of cards which have nothing to do with the Nativity by people who care nothing about Our Lord — this maddening interchange of presents which no one wants to... Read more

C. S. Lewis: Views on Procreation & Contraception

Last updated on: November 1, 2019 at 12:27 pm By Dave Armstrong

From: The Collected Letters of C. S. Lewis, Vol. II: Books, Broadcasts, and the War, 1931-1949, edited by Walter Hooper, HarperSanFrancisco, 2004: The three ‘reasons’ for marrying, in modern English are (a) To have children. (b) Because you are very unlikely to succeed in leading a life of total sexual abstinence, and marriage is the only innocent outlet, (c) To be in a partnership. What is there to object to in the order in which they are put? . . .... Read more

Halloween Joys & the “Baptizing” of Pagan Customs

Last updated on: October 31, 2019 at 1:24 pm By Dave Armstrong

Guest Post by Rod Bennett and Mark Shea Mark Shea made a great statement on this: I have to say that my feelings toward Halloween have mellowed with the years. As an Evangelical, I used to dislike it intensely as a night given over to the devil. But as time has gone on, I find I enjoy the rare opportunity for the whole neighborhood to turn out and all visit each other. I love the brisk night air. I love... Read more

Debate: Masturbation Okay in Moderation or Intrinsically Wrong?

Last updated on: October 31, 2019 at 12:59 pm By Dave Armstrong

Friendly agnostic / deist and regular on my blog, VicqRuiz, (words in blue below) commented on my article, Masturbation: C. S. Lewis Explains Why it is Wrong, and I responded. If we go through another round of discussion, I will add it later. ***** I think you and Lewis are quite right that a man (or woman) can become obsessed with this practice to the extent that it becomes mentally very harmful. Similarly, one can become obsessed with gambling to the... Read more

Immaculate Conception of Mary (Classic Catholic Commentary)

Last updated on: October 30, 2019 at 4:42 pm By Dave Armstrong

St. John Henry Cardinal Newman (1801-1890) Newman, while still an Anglican, thirteen years before his conversion, preached a sermon at Oxford University, entitled, “The Reverence Due to the Virgin Mary” (March 25, 1832), which included these words: Who can estimate the holiness and perfection of her, who was chosen to be the Mother of Christ? If to him that hath, more is given, and holiness and Divine favour go together (and this we are expressly told), what must have been... Read more

Great Catholic Mystics on the Blessed Virgin Mary

Last updated on: October 30, 2019 at 12:40 pm By Dave Armstrong

[book and purchase information] Mary and Joseph: Vision of This beauty, which I saw in our Lady, was exceedingly grand, though I did not trace it in any particular feature, but rather in the whole form of her face. She was clothed in white and her garments shone with excessive lustre that was not dazzling, but soft. I did not see St. Joseph so distinctly, though I saw clearly that he was there, as in the visions of which I... Read more

St. Paul on Sinners in the Church (Notorious Galatians)

Last updated on: October 29, 2019 at 6:34 pm By Dave Armstrong

The example of the Galatian congregation proves that Christians can be tremendous hypocrites and sinners. It’s nothing new and will always be with us, because Christianity is a very difficult path. ***** The Apostle Paul on the Galatians as Miserable Sinners * Galatians 1:6 (RSV) “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and turning to a different gospel” * Galatians 3:1-3 “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you, before whose eyes... Read more

Intercession of the Saints in Heaven on Our Behalf

Last updated on: October 28, 2019 at 11:48 am By Dave Armstrong

[Book and purchase information] Revelation 5:8 (RSV) And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and with golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints; Revelation 6:9-10 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne; they cried out with... Read more

Masturbation: C. S. Lewis Explains Why it is Wrong

Last updated on: November 20, 2021 at 2:01 pm By Dave Armstrong

From: The Collected Letters of C. S. Lewis, Vol. III: Narnia, Cambridge, and Joy 1950-1963, edited by Walter Hooper, HarperSanFrancisco, 2007; 3 June 1956; letter to Keith Masson, pp. 758-759: You rather take the line that a traditional moral principle must produce a proof of its validity before it is accepted: I rather, that it must be accepted until someone produces a conclusive refutation of it. But apart from that: — I agree that the stuff about ‘wastage of vital fluids’ is... Read more