Dialogue: Has God Demonstrated His Existence (Romans 1)?

Last updated on: September 1, 2018 at 1:41 pm By Dave Armstrong

This is a follow-up dialogue with my friend, atheist Anthrotheist, concerning my recent article, “Seidensticker Folly #13: God Hasta Prove He Exists!” Seidensticker stated (as recorded in that paper): Let’s make clear what compelling evidence for God would look like. This wouldn’t simply be the clouds parting one day just as you wondered if God existed. It wouldn’t be unexpectedly coming across a photo of a beloved relative who had died. I’m talking about something really compelling—something like everyone in... Read more

Vigano / Pope “Investigation”: Opinions Round-Up #2

Last updated on: August 31, 2018 at 3:36 pm By Dave Armstrong

[see Round-Up #1 for 15 “pro-Francis” and 15 “pro-Vigano” articles (August 25-29, 2018) ] ***** In the spirit of “hearing all sides, so as to best ascertain the truth,” I shall now offer readers another chance to do just that, by listing / linking and categorizing important and informative [mostly] Catholic articles on this entire debacle (17 “fer” Pope Francis, 17 “agin” [August 27-31, 2018] ): “Pro-Pope” Twitter account of Cindy Wooden, Rome Bureau Chief of Catholic News... Read more

Impressions: State of the Vigano / Francis Controversy

Last updated on: August 31, 2018 at 1:39 pm By Dave Armstrong

I still have to do much more reading on both “sides,” but my bare impression at the moment (and it is no more than that), from collecting articles “pro” and “con” for my readers in another “Round-Up” (see my first one), is as follows: 1) The “pro-Vigano” folks seem to mainly be collecting positive appraisals of Abp. Vigano’s character from bishops, and various “guilt-by-association” charges (the pope hung around Bishops X, Y, and Z, who are liberals and soft on... Read more

Orthodox, Protestant, & Jewish Clergy & Sexual Abuse

Last updated on: November 22, 2021 at 2:21 pm By Dave Armstrong

See my previous related paper, Scandalous Sexual Misconduct Committed by Protestant Clergy. It provides access to 838 detailed Protestant clergy abuse reports. My only point in documenting these horrors is to document the facts that they don’t only occur in Catholic circles (since that is all we hear about in the media). It’s just not true. I utterly condemn the heinous sins and at the same time tell the truth about where they are occurring (and that is everywhere, pretty much). If we pretend... Read more

Leaving the Church for Insufficient Reasons (Damon Linker)

Last updated on: August 30, 2018 at 5:20 pm By Dave Armstrong

Damon Linker is a well-known writer, who used to be the editor at First Things and has also been an editor at Newsweek and The New Republic. He now writes for The Week. He just announced that he is leaving the Church because of the sex scandals. I understand this on a purely emotional / “passionate” level but not at all by a reasonable analysis. I recently published an article for National Catholic Register, entitled: “The Sex Scandals Are Not... Read more

Seidensticker Folly #13: God Hasta PROVE He Exists!

Last updated on: August 29, 2018 at 3:06 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.” He added in the combox: “If I’ve misunderstood the Christian position or Christian arguments, point that... Read more

Vigano / Pope “Investigation”: Opinions Round-Up

Last updated on: August 29, 2018 at 12:48 pm By Dave Armstrong

Most Catholics seem to agree (and we need all the agreement we can get!) that — at a minimum –, a serious investigation has to take place. I like what my friend, radio host and author Al Kresta has stated: It is the opportune time to begin treating our bishops and priests like fellow Christians with distinct gifts but no more gifted or called than any member of Christ’s body. They are called to serve the people of God and... Read more

Catholics’ Underemphasis on Justification by Faith

Last updated on: August 28, 2018 at 11:27 pm By Dave Armstrong

It’s true that Catholics have heard this message of justification by faith relatively less than Protestants (a lot less, in fact). I think this is because of the natural human tendency (which I’ve often noted) of dichotomizing things and going to extremes in overreaction to opponents. Why this happened in history is obvious: 1) Protestants went too far and adopted faith alone (sola fide), so Catholics — in practice — tended to go too far in the other direction and overemphasize the importance of... Read more

Romans 1:26-27 Condemns Homosexual Sex

Last updated on: August 28, 2018 at 1:22 pm By Dave Armstrong

Sorry to be so untrendy and unfashionable. I happen to believe in God’s inspired revelation; and I don’t “hate” anyone. I love all people, as a disciple of Jesus Christ. I hate sin and how it destroys lives and cultures and makes human beings miserable and despairing and without meaning in their lives. Folks may think they are “happy” for a while, in bondage to sin (of whatever serious type), but it won’t last. They’ll end up broken, and in... Read more

Abp. Vigano / Pope Francis Crisis: Three Current Reactions

Last updated on: August 27, 2018 at 8:18 pm By Dave Armstrong

1. “The pope is more plausibly and likely guilty than innocent, and I strongly believe he is guilty.” 2. “The pope is more plausibly and likely innocent than guilty, and I strongly believe he is innocent.” 3. The charges are worthy of serious consideration. Wait till a full and impartial investigation is made to make a judgment. Every man — even a lowly and/or despised pope! — deserves the right to defend himself (and/or to be defended). Innocent until proven guilty.... Read more