[See also Part II] Introduction In an e-mail, I wrote (more or less “off the cuff”): As for my $00.02 on this, I think the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki was clearly immoral by just war standards, and cannot be morally justified. Pre-emption is a notion I have no trouble with, and I believe it can be synthesized with traditional just war standards, but killing 100,000 civilians, whether at Dresden or in Japan, cannot. The decision may have been “complex” or... Read more
Scott Hahn and Steve Ray Supposedly Were Motivated Primarily or Solely by Financial Gain, to Become Catholics? [all material below is public Internet material] *** One “Binky Brown” [a former Catholic] writes [on the anti-Catholic CARM discussion forum] (7-10-04): “Observations About ‘Clergy Converts To Catholicism’ “ You know the people I’m talking about: Scott Hahn, David Currie, etc.. My observation is that, if you study these men, sooner or later it becomes obvious that they were in a position where... Read more
Does the following statement (about President Trump) align with biblical teaching? You be the judge: “Massively Ignorant Bigot and Garrulous Buffoon-in-Chief”. Now here is what I believe (as best I can ascertain) is the relevant biblical teaching on the topic of honoring and respecting political rulers: 1 Peter 2:17 (RSV) Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor [even if pagan, anti-Christian, or persecuting: at that time, it was Nero] Exodus 22:28 You shall not revile God, nor... Read more
This is another discussion (posted one yesterday) with my friend, Deacon Steven D. Greydanus, from my Facebook page. It came about spontaneously today, and so (as with most of my debates), I am sharing it more widely, so that others can ponder two sides of a given debate and use their own critical faculties to see where they stand. This is what I love about back-and-forth dialogue. His words will be in blue. ***** The Great Dealmaker got no deal... Read more
Exchange with my friend, the esteemed Deacon Steven D. Greydanus, from my Facebook page. His words will be in blue. ***** “I surround myself with the best people. I know the best people.” — the president with the highest turnover rate in modern history, including five former advisers who have pleaded guilty Are you still in the ranks of the Gospel-denying “Christianist” followers of antichrist GOP, or have you departed to an irrelevant 3rd party by now? Who cares who... Read more
I was very happy as an evangelical Protestant. I underwent a conversion to Christ in 1977 after being very nominal in my Methodist faith as a child and young teenager. I was an apologist on college campuses in the late 80s and had done a lot of street evangelism also. In the late 80s I became involved in Operation Rescue, where we would block the doors of abortion clinics in order to save the lives of babies about to be... Read more
Catholics don’t deny at all that Protestants can and do have miracles in their midst. Personally, my wife and I both feel that we were healed as Protestants, from her severe pains of scoliosis, and serious depression in my case. I noted many miracles in the Wesleyan revivals, as I was compiling my book of John Wesley quotations. What I think is really the bottom-line point in the overall discussion of miracles and the differences between Protestants and Catholics is... Read more
This is an exchange I had with a woman (presumably Protestant) — words in blue –, who was objecting to my dialogue on baptism (incidentally, the Protestant in that dialogue from 2002 recently became a Catholic). ***** It is important to share the fullness of Christian truth (as we Catholics believe it to be), so that all others may also share in its blessings. The motive is love, not a sort of “we know everything and you are stupid” mentality.... Read more
1) There are many Christian views on eschatology, so that no one perspective can be very dogmatic about it, in my opinion. 2) There will be an end times and a Day of the Lord / Judgment Day at some point in history (we know that), and it could possibly be soon. 3) But as Jesus said, “no man knows the day or the hour.” I was actually highly interested in Bible prophecy in the late 70s and early 80s... Read more
Everyone who goes to hell has had every chance to repent. God gives grace enough to all for them to repent, but some (many, apparently) choose not to. It’s their fault in the end. Prayer and penance and love assuredly help them along the road, but ultimately each individual decides and each stands before God, accountable for their actions and beliefs. God’s grace is sufficient to save them. They choose not to avail themselves of it. We must simultaneously hold... Read more
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