Dialogue: [Irrational?] Leftish Reactions to Coronavirus

Last updated on: April 7, 2020 at 11:45 pm By Dave Armstrong

Paul Connors critiqued at some length the reasoning in my article yesterday about coronavirus, “Black Death” Mentality On Display at Patheos Catholic” in the combox for that piece. Of course, I counter-replied. His words will be in blue (and if he responds further, all of that and my replies will be added here). ***** While there are definitely exaggerations in posts from other authors, your own post is a view through strongly rose-colored glasses, mixed with a few misleading statements. Have you... Read more

“Black Death” Mentality On Display at Patheos Catholic

Last updated on: April 7, 2020 at 11:44 pm By Dave Armstrong

Now, I have already offered blistering critiques (two times) of the political and theological “right” and how they have exploited the present crisis to set forth goofy, wacko conspiratorial, apocalyptic theories of God’s judgment and wrath, and why He is supposedly judging etc. But there is also a need to critique what is going on, on a wide scale, on the political and theological left (or “non-conservative” observers, if you will). I have maintained for many years (my main article on... Read more

Explanation of Coronavirus Statistics (Dr. JD Donovan)

Last updated on: April 7, 2020 at 11:43 pm By Dave Armstrong

The following commentary comes from Dr. JD Donovan. His credentials follow: Dr. JD Donovan received his BS degree in Chemistry from the University of Notre Dame and his PhD in Biophysics and Theoretical Biology from the University of Chicago. * Always pursuing interdisciplinary topics, he has worked in university departments ranging from Physics to Physiology as well as industrial basic research developing new technologies for diagnostic testing. As a teacher, he has served mostly in small liberal arts colleges... Read more

God Wills to Heal Everyone Through Faith or By Request?

Last updated on: March 25, 2020 at 10:18 am By Dave Armstrong

Biblical Refutation of “Hyperfaith” / “Name-It-Claim-It” Teaching [Bible verses: New American Standard Bible (NASB) unless otherwise indicated] * * * * * 1) Jesus: Illness Not Necessarily Due to Sin John 9:2-3 His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he should be born blind?” Jesus answered “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents, but it was in order that the works of God might be displayed in him.” 2) Enduring Sickness and God Smiting With... Read more

Scripture on Being Co-Workers with God for Salvation

Last updated on: June 6, 2026 at 12:41 am By Dave Armstrong

[from my 2013 book, pictured above (see purchase & general information); available in Spanish and French as well); passages are KJV unless otherwise indicated (RSV)] The purpose of this book was described in the Introduction: The notion that arose in my mind was to simply provide Bible passages (usually one verse; sometimes a few together) that would be (in my humble opinion, anyway) the very best “answers” to a large number of one-sentence questions. The format might remind one of the popular TV game show... Read more

My Outlook & Goals During This Coronavirus Crisis

Last updated on: April 7, 2020 at 11:42 pm By Dave Armstrong

[written yesterday on my Facebook page] *** I will continue to be optimistic, faithful, hopeful, humorous, always grounded in Holy Scripture and the Holy Catholic Church and apostolic Tradition; seeking to put things in worldwide and historical perspective; while always seeking to be realistic about the true issues and dangers we are facing. I will not be pessimistic, grumbling and complaining, running down Holy Mother Church or the Holy Father or bishops or priests (or local or national governments). I... Read more

Secular Psychology vs. Scriptural Bodily Mortification

Last updated on: March 23, 2020 at 10:44 am By Dave Armstrong

This was a comment (+ my reply) underneath my article for the National Catholic Register: “Bodily Mortification is Quite Scriptural” (2-28-19). His words will be in blue. ***** Penance and repentance are, of course, part of Christian endeavor. But I would be interested in what psychologists at, say the University of Michigan, have to say about the concept of “mortification.” Is there a “slippery slope” danger of unhealthy physical and psychological mortification (frequent when I was in Catholic school and we... Read more

Redemptive Suffering Offers Spiritual Benefit to Others

Last updated on: March 23, 2020 at 9:59 am By Dave Armstrong

In the Christian life, it is understood by all that intercessory prayer helps others. We pray for people in order for them to receive some sort of blessing or guidance from God. It’s equally understood that God (not the one who prays) is the ultimate cause of all answered prayer. Yet (knowing that) this is one of many ways that God chooses to involve us in His providence and workings among mankind. What is not so well-known, however, is the notion of suffering or... Read more

Steve Skojec Sez Patheos Catholic Writers Ain’t Catholic

Last updated on: March 22, 2020 at 3:05 pm By Dave Armstrong

The New Testament Condemnation of Divisiveness, Sectarianism, and Factionalism Someone in one of his comboxes cited my collection of pro-Pope Francis links: “Pope Francis Defended.” Radical Catholic reactionary Skojec (head honcho at One Vader Five) replied: “That you would link to Patheos only shows you are not someone to be taken seriously.” And again: “Patheos Catholic is anything but. And that’s what you linked to. Dave Armstrong is no exception.” He has also referred to “the Patheos ‘Catholic’ crowd” (9-18-19). Now someone... Read more

St. Newman vs. Inconsistent Protestant Iconoclasts

Last updated on: March 21, 2020 at 3:19 pm By Dave Armstrong

The following was taken from St. John Henry Cardinal Newman’s book, Lectures on the Present Position of Catholics in England (1851; Lecture V [1. (2.)], pp. 180-181 in the 1918 edition: London: Longmans, Green and Co.). ***** (2.) Take again a very different subject. A Protestant blames Catholics for showing honour to images; yet he does it himself. And first, he sees no difficulty in a mode of treating them, quite as repugnant to his own ideas of what is rational, as... Read more

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