Ecumenical Dialogue: Protestant & Catholic Soteriology

March 20, 2019 By Dave Armstrong

C. Michael Patton (Th.M. Dallas Theological Seminary, 2001) started the Credo House (formally, Reclaiming the Mind Ministries) in 2006. The ministry began in a seminary classroom as Michael dreamed of ways to introduce lay-people to the same type education that he was receiving while at seminary. Michael was on pastoral staff at Stonebriar Community Church for six years with Chuck Swindoll. The following is my reply on his blog to some of his remarks in a post / thread entitled: “Roman... Read more

Why Conform to Orthodoxy and Sacred Tradition?

March 20, 2019 By Dave Armstrong

A friend of mine commented on my Facebook page (edited slightly for prudential reasons): Certainly, no blogger / writer / apologist / theologian is going to be everyone’s cup of tea, and it’s good that there is a diversity of views, backgrounds, personalities, etc. If someone is pushing forward a viewpoint that someone else views as heterodox, it seems better to allow them to debate, engage, and discuss their disagreement (so long as it remains civil, charitable, and respectful), than... Read more

Did Miracles & Supernatural Gifts Cease in 100 AD?

March 19, 2019 By Dave Armstrong

From my book, The One-Minute Apologist (Sophia Institute Press, 2007), pp. 22-23. ***** The Bible teaches that “when the perfect comes, the imperfect will pass away.” Thus the Catholic Church cannot claim that its ministers today enjoy the gifts and authority that Christ gave to the Apostles. ***** THE ONE-MINUTE APOLOGIST SAYS: The idea that spiritual gifts or charisms, or even offices in the Church, were intended for the apostolic age only and not for all times is not taught... Read more

Seeking a Spouse & Happy Marriage? Be Friends First

March 19, 2019 By Dave Armstrong

I always recommend trying to be friends first when looking for a potential marriage partner. It worked great for my wife Judy and I. We were friends for seven months, then best friends for ten, then we got serious and romantic and knew we would get married. All of that supported getting to know each other as people. I knew Judy was a quality person who loved God, and had all the right priorities, and that is what is far... Read more

Are My Books Difficult to Read?: Objective Amazon Standard

March 18, 2019 By Dave Armstrong

+ Comparison with Other Authors I ran across this tonight in my usual scanning of the Amazon lists of bestselling books. I’ve always said that my books (and writings in general) probably require a high school education to have the most impact on a reader. Secondly, I’ve reiterated that I am trying to challenge and “stretch” readers to expand their horizons in the theological realm. I resist at every turn, calls for “dumbing down” or simplifying, because I think it is... Read more

Debate w Atheist on Consistent Ethical Vegetarianism

March 18, 2019 By Dave Armstrong

Jon Curry is a friend whom I know in person (not just online). I’ve been to his atheist meetings, and he’s been to my house twice, to deliver a talk. He’s a former evangelical Protestant and atheist. We drive each other nuts but we keep talkin’! His words will be in blue. ***** Your argument takes you out of the fire and drops you right in the frying pan in my view. If you successfully argue that the bible sanctions... Read more

Omnipotent & Omniscient God & “Absolute Proof” of Same

March 17, 2019 By Dave Armstrong

This is part of my reply to atheist “Grimlock”: from a larger fascinating discussion. He keeps claiming that Jesus came nowhere near “proving” that He has these attributes. But I think I showed that His demands are “rationally impossible” to meet. ***** What would be a scenario in which Jesus “demonstrated” that He was omnipotent to your satisfaction? Make the stars rearrange themselves to say “atheists are special pleading hyper-rationalists”? Then you would believe He is Who He claims to... Read more

Fair Ecumenical Discussion & Catholic First Principles

March 17, 2019 By Dave Armstrong

I’ve touched on this question many times before, in various papers. Recently, as part of [one of] my job[s] as staff apologist and forum moderator at The Coming Home Network, I was answering a question from an evangelical Protestant. I’ll paraphrase or re-state his questions (in blue) and give my answers as in my return letter to him: * * * * * Catholics make it very difficult because they so often become dogmatic and take a position of “absolute... Read more

Dialogue w Karl Keating Re “Official” & Self-Publishing

March 16, 2019 By Dave Armstrong

There is the possibility (during my lifetime?) that Blessed Cardinal Newman will be canonized, so that my three quotations books will sell like hotcakes. [that has now come true: praise God! It will likely happen sometime in 2019] I always say that the golden age for Catholic apologetics was about 1997-2007. I started my website in 1997, and had four best-selling apologetics books from 2002-2007. I even sold 2000+ copies of my first book on my own before it became... Read more

Debate on Ethical Vegetarianism, Jesus, & the Bible

March 16, 2019 By Dave Armstrong

This is a dialogue with the thoughtful vegetarian Sogn Mill-Scout, whose words will be in blue. I’ve abridged it from the very long original exchange, which was in three parts (one / two / three). ***** We can choose to recognize that we are all part of the vast number of sentient beings that are united in our capacity to suffer and feel pain. It is our unique privilege as a species to be able to choose to refrain from... Read more