Dialogue: Original Sin, Jesus, & Mary’s Immaculate Conception

Last updated on: November 2, 2018 at 11:40 am By Dave Armstrong

The following is from the Coming Home Network forum (where I was staff moderator from 2007-2010). The primary person I’m interacting (blue color) with is Orthodox, and seriously considering Catholicism. He may not always accurately reflect what is Orthodox belief. Those colored in green and brown are other Catholics. *** Since the Orthodox view has been presented at such length it is important (in this context) that the Catholic view is thoroughly clarified in contrast, since this is a Catholic forum and not an... Read more

“The Last Days”: Meaning in Hebrew, Biblical Thought

Last updated on: November 20, 2021 at 2:16 pm By Dave Armstrong

I was asked the following question: I would like to ask you what is perhaps a very stupid question. Even if it is stupid, though, it has always been a (small) stumbling block for me, and I have never seen it adequately addressed. Here it is: Most if not all of the writers of the New Testament seem to take it for granted that Jesus’ return and hence the end of the world is coming very soon, certainly within their... Read more

Political Polarization and Demonization: Reflections

Last updated on: November 1, 2018 at 2:40 pm By Dave Armstrong

[these are my opinions, originally expressed in a private dialogue with a severe critic of President Trump, so they may seem a little disjointed, because of my side only being presented below. But I think I get my point across] We know that liberals are far less tolerant of others with different opinions, than conservatives are: The poll [from Pew Research Center] shows almost half of liberal Democrats — 47 percent — say that if a friend supported Trump, it... Read more

Baptism & the Analogy of Circumcision (John Calvin)

Last updated on: October 31, 2018 at 1:15 pm By Dave Armstrong

[John Calvin’s words will be in blue] A Catholic wrote to me: Last week on our live [Catholic apologetic] TV program, I was doing a presentation on the Catholic view of infant baptism. The program is only 30 minutes long, hardly enough to give a full, in depth Scriptural background on the Sacrament, so it is necessary to sometimes just give Scriptural references by quoting chapter and verse without going into the context or giving a full explanation of the... Read more

Dialogue: Bible on Infant Baptism & Baptismal Regeneration

Last updated on: October 31, 2018 at 12:54 pm By Dave Armstrong

This exchange stemmed from a critique of Jack DisPennett (of the Churches of Christ or something similar) of my paper, Infant Baptism: A Fictional Dialogue. All Bible quotes, unless otherwise annotated, are from the New International Version. Jack’s words will be in blue. Quotes from my paper above will be in green. *** I. INTRODUCTORY COMMENTS *Zeke the “Jesus Freak”: Hey Cathy, why do Catholics baptize babies? It’s pointless since they don’t know what’s going on and can’t repent, according to Acts 2:38... Read more

Why Not Kick Modernist Dissenters Out of the Church?

Last updated on: October 30, 2018 at 4:42 pm By Dave Armstrong

[written in 2002, so I refer a lot to Pope St. John Paul II] The role of the pope is much different, ecclesiologically and strategically, from the role of a local bishop. Pope St. John Paul II is most definitely effecting positive long-term change by forcefully teaching truth, promulgating the Catechism and various reforms, of schools, of architecture, of moral teaching, etc. The damage of liberalism has been so profound that one must look at cures in terms of decades and generations, not “right... Read more

Döllinger & Liberal Dissidents’ Rejection of Papal Infallibility

Last updated on: October 29, 2018 at 6:02 pm By Dave Armstrong

[Cardinal Newman’s words will be in blue. Newman biographer Ian Ker’s words (heavily citing Cardinal Newman) will be in in green. I won’t indent their citations, since they are so lengthy] Many Protestants particularly offended and scandalized by the Vatican I declaration of papal infallibility in 1870. I thought it would be interesting to note the striking similarity between remarks of Protestant critics today and those of the schismatic, ultimately liberal Old Catholic movement, post-1870, led (as a figurehead with quite ambivalent... Read more

Does Papal History Contradict Catholic Ecclesiology?

Last updated on: October 29, 2018 at 5:15 pm By Dave Armstrong

I would argue that the office of the papacy is explicitly indicated in the Bible itself, and that everything we need to establish the papacy in all essentials is in the Bible. * * * The Trinity and Two Natures of Christ are “clear” in the Bible with the convenience of historical hindsight that we have, yet they weren’t fully defined till 325 and 451, respectively. * Protestants claim that the canon of the Bible was so “clear” from the outset,... Read more

Debate: The Anti-Catholic “Pope as God” Argument

Last updated on: October 28, 2018 at 5:40 pm By Dave Armstrong

[words of Paul Mansbacher will be in blue] We the Archbishops and Bishops of Ireland, prostrate at the feet of your Holiness, humbly offer you our warmest congratulations on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of your ordination to the priesthood …. our thoughts go back to that great event fifty years ago by which your Holiness was taken from amongst men and appointed for men in the things that appertain to God, was made a minister of Christ and... Read more

Seidensticker Folly #30: Small vs. Great Commission?

Last updated on: October 28, 2018 at 3:49 pm By Dave Armstrong

Atheist and anti-theist Bob Seidensticker, who was “raised Presbyterian”, runs the influential Cross Examined blog. He asked me there, on 8-11-18: “I’ve got 1000+ posts here attacking your worldview. You just going to let that stand? Or could you present a helpful new perspective that I’ve ignored on one or two of those posts?” He also made a general statement on 6-22-17: “Christians’ arguments are easy to refute . . . I’ve heard the good stuff, and it’s not very good.” He added in the combox: “If I’ve misunderstood the Christian position... Read more