The Calvinist’s words will be in blue. ***** Thanks for writing and for deciding to link to my page. I like your website — it is very classy, visually appealing and well-presented. You asked: On your page, you say that justification is not part of the gospel. But wasn’t the problem that Paul was addressing to the Galatian church justification by faith plus works? And since in 1:8-9 he condemns those who were teaching this, calling it a “contrary gospel,”... Read more
Reply to Common Atheist Critiques Concerning the Christian Epistemology of Belief in the Bible and God Atheists often chide Christians for placing faith in the Bible: that it is God’s inspired and infallible revelation. They argue that we can’t possibly know or prove that. But all of us (including atheists) extrapolate the truthfulness (at least in general terms) of a work based on things in it which we can easily verify or substantiate. Then we trust the writer for the... Read more
This exchange took place on the Debunking Christianity blog, underneath a post by John W. Loftus, called “No More Funerals!” Words of atheist “DagoodS” (whom I have met in person) will be in blue, and those of a second unknown atheist in green. ***** We all would like people who truly deserve it to get what is coming to them, but wanting it to be so doesn’t make it true. Nor does wanting hell to be untrue make it untrue. Are your religious... Read more
I first gave my thoughts on my Facebook page today after Dr. Christine Blasey Ford’s testimony (or most of it). Then I remarked after Judge Kavanaugh’s testimony and questioning. I am a conservative and a Republican (as is well-known among my readers) and virtually all of the commenters on my page thought she was a liar or on drugs or has mental problems, etc. I don’t think so. I simply think she is mistaken due to severe trauma. I thought... Read more
[excerpts from reference sources will be in blue; Bible verses (NASB) will be indented] ***** I. THE WORD The English gospel is derived from the Anglo-Saxon godspell, which meant “good tidings” and later, the “story concerning God.” Gospel is the usual English translation, in the New Testament, of the Greek euangelion (pronounced yoo-ang-GHEL-ee-on), from which, in turn, we get our English words evangelical, evangelist, etc. The Greek euangelion means, literally, “good message” or “good news.” Seven definitions from standard Protestant reference works, follow: In the N.T. it denotes the good tidings of... Read more
In the 1850s Irish immigrants couldn’t sit at the lunch counter. “No Irish need apply.” In the 1860s, native Americans couldn’t sit at the lunch counter (if they were fortunate enough not to have been slaughtered or sent to a concentration “re-education” camp). In the 1870s, Catholics couldn’t sit at the lunch counter (anti-Catholic know-nothing nativism). In the 1880s, Chinese immigrants (who tirelessly worked on the railroads) couldn’t sit at the lunch counter. In the 1890s,... Read more
“TinnyWhistler” replied in the combox of my paper, “Dialogue with a Hostile, Anti-Christian Gay Activist”. I counter-responded. His words will be in blue. ***** It’s interesting that you chalk up anti-religious sentiment to “Oh well, it’s always been there and if people don’t like me it must mean I’m following in Jesus’ footsteps”. Have you never had an honest conversation with someone who left the faith of their childhood because of hatred they observed or experienced by Christians? Actually yes:... Read more
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 good.” He... Read more
The original part of the following essay dates from June 1982, when I was an evangelical Protestant. I have decided to keep the old paper intact, but to comment (in blue) on portions which — as a Catholic — I feel need further elaboration or reinterpretation from a Catholic perspective. I hope this format will help the reader understand the commonalities and differences between Catholics and Protestants, and (as the case may be) to better comprehend my own change of... Read more
[warning to readers: if you are squeamish or uncomfortable with descriptions of homosexual acts (or think that any talk of them at all is distasteful or impermissible), do not read this article. Some details had to be included because of the scientific-medical information that I necessarily had to provide in order to adequately answer my friendly opponent’s objections] * The words of my opponent (a 17-year-old “bisexual agnostic”) will be in blue (see corresponding dialogue with him). The words I cite from a medical article... Read more
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