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

Reply to an Academic Snob’s Insults of My Apologetics

March 15, 2019 By Dave Armstrong

[Y]ou are an untrained popular Catholic apologist. . . . As far as I know you hold no graduate degrees in philosophy, theology, history or any other relevant field. Noting a fact is not an expression of personal animus. At most it is an expression of indifference. . . . [P]eople wishing a quality dialog go to Michael L[iccione] or Bryan Cross rather than your blog. [Etc., etc. (he threw out numerous additional insults along these lines] By all means,... Read more

Reply to Protestants on “Excessive” (?) Marian Devotion

March 15, 2019 By Dave Armstrong

[this occurred on Protestant Jerry Walls’ Facebook page (public post). His words will be in blue; those of other Protestants in various colors] OFF CENTER “Let us entrust the new year to Mary, Mother of God, so that peace and mercy may grow throughout the world.” –Tweet from Pope Francis It is further telling how many Roman Catholics cannot see, or will not acknowledge, that this sort of statement is off center. It’s easily understood in theological context: Why pray to... Read more

Biblical Knowledge of Atheist “DagoodS” as a Christian

March 14, 2019 By Dave Armstrong

. . . Specifically, the Biblical (and Patristic) Teaching on Abortion “DagoodS” is a very thoughtful atheist with whom I have enjoyed many challenging dialogues (see them listed under his name on my Atheism web page). I’ve also met him in person several times. This critique of mine has to do with his deconversion from Christianity. It seems self-evident that if an atheist did not have an adequate understanding of Christianity or the Bible when he or she was a... Read more

Theistic Argument from Longing or Beauty, & Einstein

March 14, 2019 By Dave Armstrong

I think the theist can make a strong, general appeal to beauty and aesthetics as an intrinsic part of the universe, and as necessary in their own way as breathing and brain waves. I would contend that there is a link between the beauty we perceive in the order and proportion, dramatic contrast, design, symmetry, color, etc., of creation, and the God Who lies behind all that. In other words, it could be argued as a subset of the teleological... Read more

Hallmarks of Catholic Theological Liberalism (The “Dirty Dozen”)

March 13, 2019 By Dave Armstrong

1. They think contraception (which all Christians before 1930 condemned as grave sin) is fine and dandy. (Note: Natural Family Planning, or NFP is essentially different from artificial contraception, and is fully supported by the Church, as I have written about several times). 2. They favor radical secularist / unisex feminism and women priests. 3. They think Jesus (and inspired Scripture) could be in error, and teach theological error. 4. They favor divorce, or at least a very loose application... Read more

Debate: Argument from Non-Belief (ANB) (vs. Atheist)

March 13, 2019 By Dave Armstrong

From an atheist discussion list; uploaded with editorial permission from Steve Conifer, whose words will be in blue. The original exchange was extremely long, so I have abridged it for the sake of brevity, focus, and the patience of readers. Good philosophical discussions usually don’t have a neat and tidy ending, as complete concessions or admissions of defeat are rare. My goal is to let atheists speak for themselves (rather than be caricatured by opponents) and to demonstrate how a Christian apologist... Read more