Comparative Soteriology (Salvation): A Handy Chart

Last updated on: September 3, 2018 at 4:42 pm By Dave Armstrong

TOTAL DEPRAVITY CALVINISM Yes ARMINIANISM See note LUTHERANISM See note CATHOLICISM No All these belief-systems accept original sin and sola gratia: absolute necessity of God’s grace to be saved and to have the results of the Fall overcome (“total inability”), and deny Pelagianism and semi-Pelagianism: the doctrine that man can initiate salvation. Classic Arminians and Lutherans (along with Catholics) are often falsely accused of semi-Pelagianism because they believe in human free will. Lutherans also falsely accuse Catholics of same, in their confessions, because we deny... Read more

Seidensticker Folly #14: Something Rather Than Nothing

Last updated on: September 3, 2018 at 4:10 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

Heaven-Earth Communication in Book of Revelation

Last updated on: September 2, 2018 at 9:23 pm By Dave Armstrong

James White Contradicts Explicit Biblical Teaching on the Communion of Saints Yet Again! Reformed Baptist anti-Catholic apologist Bishop “Dr.” [???] James White, stated in his post, “A Brief Comment on the ‘Communion of Saints’ and Catholic Blogger ‘Devman'” (7-22-09): [T]here is a fundamental separation between those who are alive in this world, and those who are alive in the next. . . . You simply do not find the saints on earth communicating with the saints in heaven . .... Read more

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

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