Distribution of Divine Graces by Mary & Other Human Beings

Last updated on: October 10, 2018 at 2:06 pm By Dave Armstrong

In my paper, Mary Mediatrix vs. Jesus Christ the Sole Mediator?, I wrote: My argument (in the paper, Mary Mediatrix: A Biblical & Theological Primer must not be taken to prove more than it intends to prove. It was basically an exercise in creating what I call a plausibility structure and to show that the notion of Mediatrix is not immediately able to be dismissed as contrary to Scripture in the sense that it blatantly contradicts it. In no way do I claim that Scripture Alone proves Mary... Read more

John Calvin Misunderstood Trent’s Doctrine of Grace

Last updated on: October 10, 2018 at 1:11 pm By Dave Armstrong

1 Corinthians 3:9 (RSV) For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building. The following is from John Calvin’s commentary on Corinthians: 9. For we are fellow-laborers with God. Here is the best argument. It is the Lord’s work that we are employed in, and it is to him that we have devoted our labors: hence, as he is faithful and just, he will not disappoint us of our reward. That man, accordingly, is mistaken who looks to... Read more

Semi-Pelagianism and Arminianism: An Introduction

Last updated on: October 9, 2018 at 2:38 pm By Dave Armstrong

The position of many Protestants (particularly many Calvinists) on this issue is hopelessly contradictory and incoherent, with regard to the soteriology of Arminianism and/or Pelagianism and semi-Pelagianism. The definition of the latter is as follows (from two highly authoritative non-Catholic sources): [Semi-Pelagianism], while not denying the necessity of Grace for salvation, maintained that the first steps towards the Christian life were ordinarily taken by the human will and that Grace supervened only later. (Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, edited by F.... Read more

Man’s Grace-Enabled Cooperation w God (1 Cor 3:9)

Last updated on: October 9, 2018 at 2:11 pm By Dave Armstrong

Dialogue from a public Internet Discussion Board with a Protestant, whose words are in blue. * * * * *If the Holy Spirit “inspires,” “enables,” “prompts,” “causes,” “initiates” (or whatever synonymous term you like) our good works, how then, can it be said (of Catholic theology) that they originate with us? All we’re saying is that the human being in good graces can cooperate with God. This is — it seems to me — an explicit, undeniable, Pauline doctrine. God begins... Read more

Seidensticker Folly #27: Confusion Re John the Baptist

Last updated on: October 10, 2018 at 12:12 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... Read more

Seidensticker Folly #26: Spiritual Bodies R Still Bodies!

Last updated on: October 9, 2018 at 11:39 am By Dave Armstrong

Atheist and anti-theist Bob Seidensticker 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 or Christian arguments, point... Read more

Seidensticker Folly #25: Jesus’ Alleged Mustard Seed Error

Last updated on: October 8, 2018 at 3:05 pm By Dave Armstrong

Atheist and anti-theist Bob Seidensticker 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: “In this blog, I’ve responded to many Christian arguments . . . Christians’ arguments are easy to refute . . . I’ve heard the good stuff, and it’s not very... Read more

No OT Judgment = No 2nd Coming & Last Judgment

Last updated on: October 8, 2018 at 9:30 am By Dave Armstrong

The argument (critical of either God or the Bible) runs as follows: 1) God can’t command the killing of children because that is an absolute evil. 2) Yet Old Testament passages refer to this kind of thing. 3) From that we conclude that either A) God is evil, or B) the Bible is in error and is being inaccurate about what God has done and His good and benevolent and all-loving nature. I’ve written about this general issue many times,... Read more

Catholic Merit vs. Distorted Caricatures (James McCarthy)

Last updated on: October 7, 2018 at 4:06 pm By Dave Armstrong

A Catholic correspondent wrote to me:*The person with whom I am debating is Jim McCarthy, author of The Gospel According to Rome. He quotes Dogmatic Theology for the Laity by Matthias Premm as follows, It is universally accepted dogma of the Catholic Church that man, in union with the grace of the Holy Spirit must merit heaven by his good works . . . we can actually merit heaven as our reward . . . Heaven must be fought for; we have to... Read more

“Doing Something” for Salvation: Dialogue w Evangelical

Last updated on: October 7, 2018 at 3:35 pm By Dave Armstrong

Craig Kott was a friend of mine at the non-denominational, evangelical Arminian church that I used to attend (1980-1982, 1986-1989). His words will be in blue. ***** I agree that there must be some fundamental philosophical difference between us which is causing us to see things so differently . . . Good. On that, at least, we are in full agreement. Let me make this plain: the requirement that I must DO ANYTHING (whether it’s lighting candles before St. Dionysus, or... Read more